First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser + Daily Face Cream + Ultra Repair Cream Review

I've been trying out three products from First Aid Beauty this past month. Now I'm here to report my findings!

Overall review: I love how the products come in tubes or with a pump. FAB gets points for hygiene and minimal contamination! However, keep in mind that if you buy the next size up for the Ultra Repair Cream, it comes in a jar. The pricing is reasonable, in line with its quality both in terms of product and packaging. All the products are designed to be suitable for sensitive skin. I review the products separately below.

First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
RRP: AUD19.95
Review: This is an excellent cleanser. I would not describe it as gentle but neither it is harsh (although FAB calls it a mild and gentle). For me it strikes the right balance. It's effective at cleaning without stripping the skin. I use this in morning and then at night with my Clarisonic Mia. It lathers easily so be careful not to get this in your eyes. It will sting like hell! And I mean it when I say you only need a bit to cover your entire face. The tube is massive and contains ~140g of product. I expect this to last me till the end of the year at the rate I'm going.

First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream 
RRP: AUD23.95
Review: If you're after a lightweight moisturiser that keeps your skin hydrated until you wash your face again at night, this might just be the product for you. The weather has gotten cold and dry where I live and this face cream has held up really well. I use this in the morning after cleansing. Two pumps (shown in the photo above) is sufficient for me to cover my entire face. And I almost never find myself needing to reapply.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream 
RRP: AUD14.95
Review: Out of the three products, I love this one the most! You can use this on your face and body. I use this as my nighttime moisturiser and my hand cream. I have very dry and irritated patches on my right hand from all the hand-washing and disinfecting that comes with working/studying in the health care industry. This product has been aptly named because now my hand is on its way to full recovery. My skin is not as scaly and itchy as before. I am so obsessed with this product that I've already emptied half the tube!


Have you ever tried any of First Aid Beauty products?

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment Review

GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment
RRP: AUD75
Packaging: 4.5 out of 5
Review: I cannot stress how hyped up this product has been, particularly over at Youtube land. I've been swept along with the hysteria of cult products before and coming out disappointed or underwhelmed. And yet, I still find myself wanting to try this product. I mentioned that I have a problem with blackheads here. This mask is one of the several purchases that I've made in an attempt to tackle that problem.

This mask comes in a luxurious plastic and glass jar. At least I believe it is the case from the feel of it. I gave it a 4.5 for packaging because beauty products are easily contaminated in jars. Otherwise, I think the quality is excellent. The "mud" is a dark grey with chunks in it. As it dries on your face, it turns into a lighter shade of grey. This is an expensive mask. To get more mileage out of it, I only apply it to my problem areas, essentially my T-zone. All you need is one layer and it takes 15-20 minutes to work its magic.

Now comes the answer to the most important question. Does it work? It depends on what you're after. If you want something that clears out your blackheads then this is the mask for you. Mind you, it only rids you of black heads temporarily. My pores are usually replaced with fresh blackheads by the end of the day. My skin definitely feels cleaner and looks clearer immediately after using this product. However, it is not effective at busting pimples or acne.

Overall, I do think that this is by far the best mask I've tried. It's unfortunate that it's not the magical solution that some reviewers imply it to be. Perhaps my expectations were raised a little too high from all the hype. It is still more efficacious than other masks that I've used. At this point, I'm not sure if I'd repurchase it. But I do know that until I find something even better, this is the top go-to mask on my beauty shelf.

Have you ever tried GlamGlow? Do you have a favourite mask? 

Katy Perry Roar Inspired Makeup Tutorial

If you can recall my Instagram posts a few weeks back, you'd remembered I posted photos of parts of my Katy Perry Roar costume for a jungle-themed party.

I filmed myself doing my makeup for the party. So if you want to know how I achieved the look, watch the video below!

Katy Perry had very bronzed dewy skin in her music video. She also wore very minimal makeup on her eyes and lips. I did my best to recreate the look. Products used are listed in the video. 

I apologise for the terrible full outfit photo. I didn't have anyone else to help me. And in case you're wondering, I made the flower crown and skirt myself! I hope you enjoyed the "tutorial". I did not record a voice-over because I figured my actions in the video were pretty self-explanatory. Please feel free to leave any comments on how I can improve my tutorials. Constructive criticism is welcomed here!


Have you ever been to a jungle-themed party? Who/what did you go as? 

Botani Rescue Acne Cream Review

Botani Rescue Acne Cream
Claims: "an all-natural solution for the treatment of acne, blemishes and blackheads"
RRP: AUD26.95
Packaging: 4.5 out of 5
Review: I had to toss out my La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Treatment because it has started to smell and it has lost its efficacy. Instead of ordering another tube only, I wanted to get my hands on something that I could apply during the day to combat the pimples that have been popping up lately. After reading some very promising reviews on beautyheaven and a 20% off discount, I decided to give this product a shot.

I was impressed with it, initially anyway. It helped get rid of my pimples within a couple of days, with practically no burn marks left behind. I don't know if it has lost its effectiveness but lately, I've been struggling to get rid of pimples with it. Perhaps it's because I've been experiencing more aggressive acne of late. I find that I definitely still need the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion as the nighttime treatment to tackle the acne. I noticed that this product is amazing at removing the pimple if I catch it at the early stage, especially when they are the tiny, slower growing and non-painful types.

I love that this product contains natural ingredients. It's more gentle on the skin. Sure, you don't get rid of the acne as quickly but your skin recovers more quickly because you've maintained its integrity. As for packaging, I love that the jar is made out of glass but hate that it is heavy. To keep it uncontaminated, I use cotton tips to scoop some of the cream out before applying it to my skin. Because of the inconvenience and the environmentally unfriendly method of application, I've given it a 4.5 score for packaging.

The cream is green in colour but once you work it into the skin, it becomes transparent. It has a mild scent that I can only describe as herbal, which I don't mind. This little jar contains 30g of product. It may not look like a lot but it should last me a very long time. I've been using it for 2 months and I've only just used up 10% of the product. That's what I estimated anyway.

Overall, I'm on the fence about this product. I can't say that I'd be running to the shops to get another one once this jar is emptied. If you're looking for a "natural" option for acne treatment, then definitely consider this. If you're looking for something that is effective within a day, then give this a miss.


What are your favourite zit-zapping products? Do share! 

Arbonne Makeup Primer Review

Arbonne Makeup Primer 
Claims: "Visually diminishes the appearance of fine lines and pores, creating a canvas for flawless makeup application."
RRP: AUD51
Packaging: 5 out of 5
Review: I thought I liked the Benefit Porefessional primer. Now, I am in love with this primer. If you thought Porefessional was good, this is many times better. It really smooths out my skin, creating the perfect base for foundation. I have paired this primer with my L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundation and they're a match made in heaven! My skin looked flawless and more importantly, it stayed that way for hours. On one occasion, I was at a party where the bar area of stuffy and the dance floor was packed with people and was quite hot (in the temperature sense!). Even in my semi-drunken state, I could tell that my face makeup was very much intact when I got home at 1am in the morning.

Let's take a moment to admire the excellent packaging this product comes in. It comes with a pump, which is wonderful in terms of hygiene. The plastic bottle itself is sturdy and looks sleek and "professional" (for the lack of a better word to describe its appeal).

This is not a full pump. It's to show you the consistency.

One pump is plenty to cover your entire face. My gripe with Porefessional is that when you apply it, it does not spread. It sticks to the first area you touched. With the Arbonne Makeup Primer, you can smooth and spread it all over your face evenly and to your hearts desire. To me, that's an important quality for a primer because it then enables the foundation to be applied smoothly and evenly, thus given the appearance of flawlessness.

I am thoroughly enjoying this primer. I will be repurchasing it when I run out but I believe it will be a while away since such small amounts go a long way each time! If you're interested in this product you can check it out here.

For my American readers, you can purchase the product from here or contact a consultant here.

Have you ever tried Arbonne products before?