My Top 10 Favourite Products: The Top 10 Award

I have mixed feelings about blogging awards. I feel like a bit of a dork proclaiming that I have 'won' an award but then they are always a lot of fun to participate in. When Moxie from Moxie Reviews told me she had nominated me for the Top 10 award, at first I wasn't sure what to do. Do I just ignore it? Do I do it? The rules of the Top 10 award are that you link back to the person who nominated you, then you list your Top 10 favourite products and nominate 10 other bloggers who will then list their top 10 favourite products. As I love talking about products, and I also love sharing link love I decided that the Top 10 award would be fun...so here I go!

Firstly, thanks to Moxie from Moxie Reviews for nominating me. Moxie reviews organic and natural makeup, cosmetics and hair products from companies that do not test on animals. Her reviews are refreshingly honest and well worth checking out.

My Top 10 Favourite Products (at this point in time...ask me in a month and the list may be very different!). If I have previously reviewed these products then I have included the link to the article if you would like more details.


1. BIOeffect EGF Serum

I have read the about the science behind this serum and it really blows me away. On paper the serum should work. EGF is a growth factor that stimulates skin cells to divide and multiply, thereby filling out fine lines. Independent clinical trials have shown that it does in fact work - after 30 days there was a clear reduction in wrinkles. I have been trialling this myself for about 4 weeks and have definitely noticed a reduction in lines on my forehead. So far the lines around my eyes have not budged but they might actually be sleep deprivation lines (I have a toddler!). My skin is definitely looking more hydrated as well.

2. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel

I have been using this product on and off fr the last 10 years. I love it, although I might be hitting the age where I need to move on to the Purely Age Defying Serum. This is a really light gel serum that smells amazing - kind of herbal, kind of floral. I tend to use it of an evening and find that my skin looks so hydrated in the morning. It really seems to make my skin happy! 

 

3. Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

This creates magic for my complexion. It really gives the illusion that my complexion is flawless. It also works at reducing pigmentation - I have seen a slight reduction in my pigmented patches. There is no longer such a stark line between the pigmented and non pigmented skin. But for me, it is the evening effect the light diffusing particles have on my skin tone that I love the most.

4. MAC Paint Pot

Somehow, the MAC Paint Pot craze had completely passed me by. It wasn't until I was reading a forum and saw a makeup artist recommending that the MAC Bare Study Paint Pot be used as a primer, that the Paint Pots entered my radar. So, when I got the opportunity to go to the Estee Lauder staff store, this was on the top of my purchase list. I didn't manage to get Bare Study, instead I got Vintage Selection. This one looks a bit darker than Bare Study but is still quite light on the eye. It is very shimmery, which I LOVE. It goes on so creamy and soft then dries to become the perfect canvas to apply eyeshadow over.

5. Penhaligon's Ellenisia Perfume

I love florals and this is one of the most gorgeous perfumes I have ever smelt. It is rose with white flowers (gardenia and jasmine) and then a bit of a musky dry down. It makes me feel so feminine and happy when I wear it and I have never found another perfume that is even remotely similar - it is very unique.

6. Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask

I used to think that peel off masks were kind of crap. This mask completely changed my opinion. It brightened my skin and left it glowing. It also yanked out the blackheads on my nose. This is now my go to mask to use before I go out.

7. Jurlique Rosewater Balancng Mist

I don't do toners - don't really see the point of them. I make the exception for this mist. It is heavenly. Smells exactly like a field of red roses. It is very calming and hydrating for my skin plus it is incredibly calming for my phsyche as well. As I inhale this mist I feel a sense of serenity descend over me. Amazing stuff!


8. Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Ultimate Youth Creme

This is another product in which the science really blew me away. This creme contains the Youth Molecule which slows down cell turnover. The theory is if you can slow down cell divisions and turnover you can prolong how long your skin looks young for. The creme felt luxurious to use, it sunk straight into my skin and really left it looking amazing.

9. Nivea Light Feel Daily Face Veil

This is a cheapie (its only $10.99) but a beauty. It is a really light sunscreen. It absorbs straight in, is non greasy and is a real pleasure to wear. This makes wearing sunscreen easy. I keep a bottle in my handbag, one in the bathroom, I had one on my desk at work so I was always protected.


10. Estée Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Moisturiser

I wear this moisturiser in combination with the Idealist Even Skintoneskintone so the effect is extremely complimentary. I don't really like to wear foundation and so have found that this is an excellent compomise. You really can't tell that I am wearing it - it just looks like I have perfect skin!

Bloggers The following bloggers are incredibly passionate about what they write about, whether that be skincare, makeup, haircare or eyeshadow. I have nominated them because I am busting to know what their top 10 favourite products are. If you haven't discovered these blogs yet, I really urge you to go and have a look! Bloggers, if you have already done one of these awards before, please post the link to your Top 10 post in the comments below.

1. Yeah, yeah, ragger, ragger...
2. Makeup and Macaroons
3. The Beauty of Red Roses
4. Keeping up with me
5. Ritualeyes
6. 1000fragrances
7. The Best Beauty Blog
8. Things I Love
9. Me, my best and I
10. All the pretty faces

If I haven't tagged you but you would love to participate, then please tag yourself and mention in the comments that you are doing the Top 10 award for the rest of us to come and check out!

Have you entered my latest BIOeffect giveaway? Here's the link if you haven't checked it out yet.

Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask Review: unlike any mask I have ever tried

I had never heard of the brand Rodial until I won the Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask on Beauty Heaven. This is because it has literally only hit Australian shores in the last couple of months. Rodial is a UK skin care company that creates scientifically based, clinically tested products to treat skin concerns such as ageing and loss of firmness. Their best selling product is the Rodial glamoxy snake serum which, according to Rodial, is a revolutionary oxygenated, viper-inspired serum contains syn-ake, a neuropeptide that mimics the effects of the Temple Viper’s potent venom and a double dose of dipeptides, to instantly lift the face, freeze muscles and plump fine lines and wrinkles. It has been dubbed 'Botox in a bottle'.

Rodial describe the glamoxy snake mask, which is the follow up to the snake serum, as an innovative black ‘peel off’ formula that visibly improves skin radiance and texture. Amino acids and liquorice brighten skin tone while enriched minerals deep cleanse and purify pores to remove excess oil, dirt and impurities.

This was honestly one of the most unique masks that I have ever used. I have always thought that peel off masks were kind of crap. Sure, they are a lot of fun - as kids, my sis and I would steal Mum's Avon Cucumber Peel Off Mask and put it on our hands so that we could pretend to peel our skin off, but other than the novelty factor I have never achieved any notable results from one - not like I do with clay masks. This mask is different. It is much thicker than any peel off mask that I have tried, and because of this you have to work quickly to apply it as it becomes tacky quite fast. You then leave it on for 15-20 minutes to dry, then peel off to reveal brighter skin.

Usually I am fairly 'wordy' in my posts (fine, I waffle on a LOT!), but since this was such a unique mask and it came from a brand that is very new to Australia, I thought I would do a pic heavy post instead.

The mask comes in sexy jet black packaging

The mask itself is as black as the packaging
it comes in.

This colour really suits me - doesn't it make
my eyes pop!

Now to the fun part - the peeling begins...

The peeling continues - can I get it all off in
one go?

The 'snake skin' I shed.

My noticeably brighter new skin

The Results

The mask was really easy to peel off. It forms a really strong, tough 'skin' and I was actually able to remove it all in one go (well apart from the bits that got stuck in my eyebrows - why the hell did I think that my eyebrows needed the mask on them??). I was honestly quite shocked at how good my skin looked after I removed the mask. There was still redness and pigmentation present; however, my skin had a real luminosity about it - the mask definitely had a brightening effect. I have only used it the once, so it is possible that the pigmentation may improve with subsequent uses.

The mask smells gorgeous - I can't quite put my finger on the fragrance but I think it might be orange blossom. The scent lingered subtly on my skin for hours afterwards. I didn't moisturise afterwards and my skin never felt like it need moisturiser ie it never felt tight or dry. It also really did remove impurities from my skin. Because the mask is so thick and tough it yanked out my blackheads a bit like a pore strip would.

The Verdict

I loved this mask and was honestly shocked at the difference it made to my skin, especially after only one use. It really did seem to brighten it. It is recommended on the packaging that this mask be used 1-2 times per week; however, it is quite expensive at $85, so I plan on using it on special occasions as a skin brightener before I go out. My go to mask for such occasions used to be the SK-II Whitening Source Intensive Mask, but at $25 each they really were a luxury item for really special occasions. I estimate that you would get between 10-20 uses per tube, depending on how thick you spread it, making this a much more reasonable option for a special occasion mask. If you want immediate brighter skin, I recommend you give this a try.

Rodial products are available at Myers or online from The Facial Company.

All opinions stated in this blog are my own. I have no affiliation with Rodial. I was lucky enough to win the Rodial Glamoxy Snake Mask in a competition on Beauty Heaven.