Lookbook | Into My World

These few weeks have just flown by. I’m on my 8th continuous work day, everything seems to be a blur , 4 more days to go , not counting down am I?

On top of the work, we have been wedding planning, engagement ring shopping, house hunting and other things to top off my somewhat busy schedule. Updates coming up soon about the planning and the ring!

But for now, as promised from back when I was in Asia, here’s a look book of some of the goodies I bought. 

Michelle

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What I am wearing: a. KNACKFUSS Cape, Love21 Blouse, Zara trousers, Dotti necklace, Kingan Jones Neck Tie. 
 

Review | Weleda Soothing Facial Oil

My past skincare reviews have mainly revolved around product for normal skin, but here’s a first for sensitive skin.

I have a huge interest in products for sensitive skin because coming from a family history of atopic eczema, not all products are compatible with my skin or my little sister’s (who suffers from eczema more than I do). She finds it even more difficult to find suitable skincare products.

So when I was given this product to review, I decided to give some to my sister to have a try as well.

The Weleda Soothing Facial Oil is a perfect moisturizing product for problematic skin especially those who suffer from dermatitis, eczema and dry skin. Although the thought of applying an oil may not sound as appetizing as a lotion or cream, let me assure you this oil absorbs into the skin so quickly and doesn’t leave that greasy residual feeling.

Ingredients:

• Sweet Almond Oil,
• Prunus Domestica Seed Oil
• Prunus Spinosa Flower Extract.

Sweet Almond oil is perfect for sensitive skin as it’s fragrance free, mild and gentle on skin.  It is rich in vitamin E which is known to have great healing and moisturizing properties.  It is also rich in fatty acids to nourish and moisturise the skin.

Second to its moisturizing properties, as an oil it makes a pretty good solvent for make up.  To use as a makeup remover, just moisten a cotton pad with the oil and remove make up.

Price Factor & Where To Buy:

5/5 value for money.

RRP: $26.50

I think 50 ml soothing oil is excellent value for money compared to most of the other products I use. You don’t need much of it on a daily basis. It’s not going to break the bank at that price and being a natural product it’s most likely to be compatible with all skin including sensitive skin so I think it’s a win win situation here.

You can find the Weleda Skin care range at leading pharmacies and health food stores nation wide. Check on the Weleda website to make sure your local store stocks it.

Our thoughts:

We both found it is really easy to use. The bottle is user friendly having a controlled pour top which is pretty essential when dealing with oils.

When applying it, the oil soaks into the skin relatively quickly. We both tried using it day and night and had no complaints with oily skin in the day. It works well under make up.

My sister did notice a slight tingly sensation after application. I confirmed with her that it wasn’t a reaction to the oil, it was just a mild sensation that she noticed and I didn’t.

After using it for a few days, we noticed visibly smoother skin.  My sister was pretty stoked to find something that is compatible with her skin and doesn’t exacerbate her eczema and soothes dry skin.

In a nut shell:

The Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Oil is a great alternative for a facial cream or lotion especially for sensitive or problematic skin. I would recommend this especially for eczema ,dermatitis  or dry skin sufferers who have difficulties picking out suitable skincare products. Being a very natural product it is super mild on skin and as an oil it provides long lasting hydration and soothes and smoothes the skin over a couple of applications.

Q & A: To buy or not to buy, overseas or here?

2 weeks since arriving back here and my body is still in shock from the cold. Missing my mid-winter summer skin and the constant sun. I ended up accumulating a bit of skin care products while I was there.

There’s always the question of whether to buy designer items such as skincare or perfume from DFS stores at the airport in NZ or get it overseas, the answer is get it overseas especially if you’re in Asia. Nine times out of ten the product will be at least 20% cheaper more likely to be closer to 30% if you’re in Hong Kong or Singapore. For instance:  I got my MAC lash primer from Changi airport for 21 SGD (roughly 21 NZD) and here they sell it for about 27 at Auckland Airport. Only downside to that is it will weigh you down when you’re traveling. A very handy trick of the trade is to buy your goods from DFS in the city prior to your travels. This allows you to have the option of picking up your goods on your way back into the country so it doesn’t weigh you down.

Despite the more expensive buy overall at DFS even being tax free, it definitely saves on the luggage space which was much needed for my trip.

My trip was mainly for diving and visiting family in Hong Kong. Shopping was just for filling in time in between meeting people. In saying that I managed to buy shoes, pants and a few tops.

Plenty of reviews and look books to come! Watch this space!

Michelle

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From left to right: Chanel Mousse Douceur, Chanel Beaute Initiale Nanolotion, Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Extra, Clinique Even Better Clinical, Clinique Moisture Surge CC cream, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle EDP.

Review | Oxygen Skincare Women Indulge… Enjoy Pack

I was recently given the opportunity to try out Oxygen’s Women indulge…enjoy pack. The products featured in this amazing pack included the Purifying Honey Masque and the Hand & Body creme.

Oxygen Skincare is a range developed and made right here in New Zealand. All their products are natural containing organic extracts and are parabens free.

As you all may know if you have been reading my previous posts, I have just got back from an amazing holiday in Malaysia where I have been lounging in the sun and diving for days. Coming back to this dry and cold environment has taking a bit of a toll on my skin. I was so glad to see the pack when I got home and gave myself a mini pampering session right away.

1) Masque

It might be more difficult to notice but the skin on your body needs as much TLC as the skin on your face. Moisturizing once a day may just relieve the temporary appearance of dryness. If you have ever used a face masque before and seen a difference afterwards, I’d gladly recommend this purifying masque.

The purifying masque is liquid honey on your legs, literally. It is natural goodness, smells wonderful and really works as an intensive body treatment.

Ingredients:

The first thing that I noticed when I put the masque on my legs was the smell. It literally smelt like pure honey like I could probably put it on my toast. I then had a look at the ingredients and it has a substantial amount of Nelson active manuka honey.

Manuka honey is great for so many internal and external purposes. I could go on for days with what honey is good for. Manuka honey helps to bind moisture to the skin and also has great antibacterial properties.

Other noticable ingredients in the masque includes aloe vera juice and cucumber to soothe the skin. Apple extract helps to soothe the skin as well as to cleanse oily skin.

When applied it warms up with the skin and can be easily massaged into the skin. It’s a great item to have in the bathroom cupboard to be used on a weekly basis or even for a special pampering session.

When you think honey, you might think it’s messy and sticky but to be honest Oxygen’s Purifying Honey Masque is pretty easy to use , just apply it on cleansed skin and leave for 10 minutes or you could just apply to dry skin if you want a quick treatment. It dries up fairly quickly so you can move around and do other things. Removing it with a warm cloth after 10 minutes. The only thing I have to say about this is that it can get a little bit sticky if you don’t wipe it all off thoroughly, so my recommendation is just to hop in to the shower and wash it off.

2) Moisturizing Creme

The decadent moisturizing creme has got to be one of my favourite moisturiser’s I’ve used. On application it is rich and thick yet can still be smoothed over the skin with ease. It soothes any dry skin and retains moisture over a long period of time. A small amount goes a long way. It’s great as a hand cream as well as it is fairly thick it doesn’t rub off too easily.

Ingredients:

The ingredients is what makes this product so soothing and moisturising such as  aloe vera, apricot kernel oil and jojoba oil. There’s also vitamin e in it which helps with healing. The vanilla oil makes it smells as wonderful as it feels.

Price factor & where to make the buy:

Both products are 200 mls and very well packaged. The pamper set retails for $59.00 which I believe makes it a very good price for a gift for a friend or family member or as a nice winter treat for yourself. The masque depending on how often you use it and whether or not you apply to the whole body or just legs and arms, might last half a year to a year. The moisturiser is also a handy size to leave at work to be used as a hand cream.

The Oxygen range can be found at leading pharmacies, health and department stores and online.

In a nutshell:

This pamper pack is a great as a gift to a friend but also for yourself. The New Zealand winter environment predisposes your skin to dryness which follows with irritation. If not controlled earlier on, the Using the purifying masque on a weekly basis and the hand & body creme on a daily basis can easily soothe and rejuvenate skin.

For more information, check out their website here – Oxygen Skincare

Michelle

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L-R: Purifying Masque & Moisturizing Creme

Lookbook | Glitzy

Wow, has been a while since I last posted. Apologies for that, I actually wrote this post the night before I flew out to Asia but I didn’t find the time to post it in the end. Have a backlog of reviews and look books to show you guys.

Took a few snapshots before dinner on Monday night. We went to Number 5 in Auckland and had their 5 course degustation menu which was heavenly. One of the stand out dishes in my opinion was definitely the venison cappaccio which I have had on another occasion as well but that dish never disappoints your palette.

On another bright note, we just bought a new camera. As you guys I know I do a bit of photography for this blog and also my photography business on the side. I recently launched the official website so please check it out. For any Auckland or NZ readers here that are after photos for an engagement or wedding please contact me.

I am offering a great wedding photography giveaway, please check out my photography website for more details (linked below). Package is worth over $1600 and you can get it for zilch! Worth a look if you’re wanting to save a dollar or two on your wedding budget.

Also of you who may be wedding vendors or are crafty and hand make pretty things, I am happy to collaborate with you guys for stylised shoots- just let me know.

Here’s the website – Michelle Alisa Photography

ASOS knit dress, Zara boots, MIMCO clutch