beauty Archives - Styled By BEC

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Why I added The Ordinary Serum and Oils to my Skincare Regime

May 10, 2021 / Beauty / 0 comment

This time last year, my face had so many breakouts I couldn’t keep up the concealer to hide them all.

I wasn’t sure if it was stress, my poor eating habits due to lockdown and homeschooling, not getting enough sleep, hormones or because I had swapped my skincare range to Australian made.

But as you do when faced with an unwanted effect from change, you start to work on eliminating each factor to work out the cause.

And so I focused on the most recent change of swapping to Australian made skincare, and reverted back to my favoured Trilogy. I now use Trilogy daily on my face but I’ve also added The Ordinary facial serum and oil to boost hydration.

It was recommended from a work colleague and I had tested the oil 6 months prior when we stayed a night in the city to head to our Christmas Party. While we were getting ready and talking about skin care, my colleague gifted me a bottle. Once it was used up, I didn’t replace it and instead used Sukin which didn’t agree with my skin.

Once I went back to Trilogy, I got serious about adding a serum and oil to my regime.

I’ve been using these products for the last year and have been really happy with my skin. I get the odd pimple when it’s that time of month, but my complexion has been smooth and hydrated.

To get ready each day, I only use some BB cream, a bit of concealer on the nose and under my eyes, mascara and lip gloss.

Having a smooth complexion makes applying makeup easy. I find I use less product on my face as a result. Adding the serum and oil into my daily routine has helped the surface and deeper layers of my complexion.

The two products I have swapped to in the past year are by The Ordinary. They’re affordable and available online or at Priceline.

My Skincare Routine + Serum and Oil I’m using in my Skincare Regime

After I cleanse my face and spritz with hydrating mist, I massage a drop of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5 serum all over my face. I allow this to sink into my skin and get dressed.

The Ordinary Serum and Oils to my Skincare Regime

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum

Once dressed, I lightly pat 2 drops of The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil. I allow this to soak into my skin and then finish with my daily facial moisturizer.

The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil

The Hyaluronic Acid and B5 work together to penetrate the deep layers of the skin, and ensure hydration. The two ingredients work hand in hand for a moisture boost to the skin.

I introduced the Argan oil for extra hydration before my moisturizer. I also love to use it on the ends of my hair and those dry – out of sight areas like elbows and heels.

I’m by no means a skincare expert, but I do understand the time it can take to find the right products which will work with your skin. Affordability is also another factor.

If you’re looking to boost hydration to your complexion these winter months, why not give them a go? They are affordable and a small amount goes a long way.

Do you use The Ordinary? Which hydrating product have you found to work best for your skin?

Makeup Review – Waterproof Mascara For Watering Eyes

August 2, 2019 / Beauty / 0 comment

I’ve tested a number of different makeup brands over the last two years. I’ve mainly used natural brands to see if it made any difference to my watering eye.

After my MRI scan confirmed makeup was NOT the cause for my leaking eye, I needed to find a waterproof mascara for watering eyes that would give me volume, but wouldn’t smudge or clump.

I asked a work colleague, who is also a trained makeup artist, on what she recommended. She remembered my eye watering during our training and I was not aware of what was causing my eye to puff up and water back then.

She recommended Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara. It wasn’t in my price range… however I have tried many waterproof mascaras and they have smudged under my eye or the constant watering has washed it away. Sometimes price has to come out of the equation when you find a product that does all that you need after the failure of many.

As luck would have it, I was sent Myer gift cards for my Birthday and on my first child-free and work-free day, I went to Myer to get the mascara. While there, I also bought a lipstick, which glides on like a lip balm and the colour is amazing.

The Verdict

I think I’ve found a winner with this mascara as it doesn’t smudge, lengthens my eyelashes and is still on my eyes at the end of the day. It’s was worth the investment.

As for the lipstick, it wears off after a few hours, but it was described as a lip balm than a lipstick. I’m used to wearing a tinted lip gloss, so the Rouge Coco Flash by Chanel is a great in-between product from going to lip gloss to lipstick. It is easy to glide on and moisturising to my lips. I’m wearing colour 96 Phenomene.

I’ve never owned any Chanel makeup as I tend to go to my local pharmacy and buy Revlon or Maybelline. I can see the difference between the brands though.

Have you got any waterproof mascara recommendations? Ever tried Chanel makeup products?

How I’ve Been Managing my Adult Acne Using Essential Oils

September 5, 2017 / Beauty / 0 comment

For the last couple of months I have been battling with adult acne.

Without my BB cream on, you could describe me as having a ‘pizza face’.

A couple of months ago it got so bad I had to do something about it.

I had red pimples over my chin, on my forehead and occasionally on my cheeks.

a selfie with no makeup where you can see my pimple scars on my chin – this was a week after using my mask.

At the young age of 33, I had thought my pimple days were behind me, but sadly they re-emerged aggressively.

Of course, to combat the problem I’ve looked at what I eat, I’ve tried to get more sleep and drink more water. But I did find notice I would get a bad run of pimples when it was a certain time of month.

I have combination skin and generally use a creamy cleanser from Trilogy. I have also used a charcoal soap bar from the Washpool Soaperie (which I’ve just run out of) that would help balance the oil on my face.

What I’ve been doing over the last couple of months is managing the problem by using natural products and mixing essential oils with raw honey. This mix has helped reduce the redness and eruption of pimples on my face.

Here is what I’ve been using:

When frustrated with the redness from the pimples on my face (yes I pick – it’s not good I know and makes them worse!) I use a honey and essential oil mask which significantly helps calm the redness and I can see a big difference after just one application of the mask.

My acne mask is

2 tablespoons of raw honey

3 drops of frankincense oil

3 drops of lavender oil

3 drops of tea trea oil

I found the recipe via Dr Axe, and even though it’s recommended for acne scars, I put the mask on when I have pimples emerging on my face.

I mix all the ingredients together and then smooth some over my problem areas. For me it’s my T-zone and chin area. I leave this on for an hour.

I usually apply this face mask at night, while I type my blogs (I even have it on now as I type!) on a clean face after I’ve had a shower. I don’t coat too much on my face, or else the honey melts and drips onto my desk.

After it’s been on for an hour, I wash my face. I dab Clary Sage over my problem areas on my face and add my moisturizing cream.

And the results speak for themselves. Over the course of 3 months, I’ve had the occasional pimple or two on my chin and forehead, but usually they occur during that time of month. And my face hasn’t been anywhere near as bad before I started using the mask.

Clear face selfie with Phoebe

With a light BB cream on

This is what has worked for me. Having smoother skin has made it easy for me to apply my BB cream and foundation.

With makeup on

Do you get adult acne? How do you manage yours? Ever used essential oils to manage your skin?

Best Hydrating Mists For Summer

October 18, 2016 / Beauty / 18 Comments

Before I left for my week’s holiday with the family, I bought a new toiletry bag. I was a bit over my old one and wanted something that could be hung up and could fold really well.

I found what I was after at Big W and brought it home, only to find that once I put all my products in, it no longer folded down.

This may be motivation for me to minimize my beauty products!

Anyway, when I packed my toiletry bag for our holiday, I forgot one of my much loved and needed beauty products: my hydrating mist.

At present I use Trilogy’s Hydrating Mist Toner because it’s affordable at $27.95 and I find it does what it says and keeps my skin hydrated.

My skin tends to be more on they dehydrated side these days. Despite being a huge water drinker, living in air conditioning often zaps my skin from moisture. As does swimming in a chlorine pool. So I knew I needed to buy a new hydrating mist asap.

I ended up choosing the Replenish Mist from the Perfect Potion. And it did as it said and kept my skin well hydrated. I loved the scent too.

I can’t live without a hydrating mist and I find summer is a crucial time to have a mist on hand to spray when living in air-conditioning or being outside or just generally for skin health.

I’ve use four different hydrating mists and the only reason I stick with Trilogy is because of cost and it’s stocked at my local pharmacy, so it’s easy to purchase.

The Lavender Hydrating Mist from Jurlique is BEAUTIFUL. The scent and how it felt on my skin… I didn’t want the bottle to go empty.

Aesop also have a fabulous mist, but I found I would go through a bottle quite quickly. I still rate it up there for hydrating mists.

1. Aesop Immediate Moisture Aerosol $25.00

2. The Perfect Potion Replenish Fine Tuning Solution $34.95

3. Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist $49.00

6. Trilogy Hydrating Mist Toner $27.95

It’s great to have a hydrating mist on hand when at work for a quick pick-me-up in the afternoon.

It’s also good to spray on after having a shower when the steam has opened your pores for moisture.

It’s definitely a beauty product I can’t live without.

Do you have a beauty product you can’t live without? Got a hydrating mist you swear by?

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Importance of a Beauty Ritual When You’re a Busy Mum

August 16, 2016 / Beauty / 8 Comments

This post has been written in collaboration with Jurlique

When I was pregnant with Phoebe during Christmas 2013, my mum-in-law from South Australia sent me a stunning Jurlique cleansing pack for Christmas. She also sent a Jurlique baby products pack for my bub-to-be, Phoebe.

Since becoming 30, I have been more adamant about using products on my skin that I love.

The products I love are ones that smell fabulous (I’m old school and love rose and lavender) as they lift up my mood – and who doesn’t want to smell like flowers?! The products must also do what they say by moisturizing my skin and keeping it hydrated and looking youthful.

I remember using my Jurlique products and my skin not only felt amazing, it smelt pretty good too. I didn’t want the bottles to run out. But sadly they did.

So I did what any desperate mother did and used some of the baby products on myself too.

Since that encounter with Jurlique, it’s been one of my go-to-brands for skincare. It’s farm is also located in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia.

One thing I wish I could afford to do more for my skin is get consistent facials. But time and money prevent me from doing so.

Jurlique recognise this need for women and have created their own facial you can do at home called the Jurlique Ritual.

Sigourney Cantelo from Beauticate shares what the Jurlique Ritual entails. The video is quite calming to watch and I can almost feel myself relax as I watch her explain what each product does. You almost feel like you’re getting the calming effects of a facial – but without anyone touching your face!

I’ve noticed now that I’m in my thirties, my skin needs a bit more than just a moisturizer to stay hydrated. I very much have a cleansing, misting and moisturizing ritual, but I know I can go one better and add a serum and eye cream to ensure my skin is getting the best hydration.

And that’s what this video from Jurlique is all about. It’s about finding your own ritual that works for you. We can’t always spend half an hour on our faces each day when we’re busy mums, but we can take time out each week to give ourselves a facial.

Do you have a beauty ritual you live by? What has to be in a beauty product before you purchase it?

This post has been written in accordance with my disclosure policy.

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