Well April has been a pretty exciting month for me, with a move pending (yes I am moving again…not too far this time round though), celebrations of all kinds with friends and family, meeting and making new friends (hehe you know who you are) and of course having the opportunity to try new skincare products.
There have a been a plethora of new releases from all different brands recently, which excites me greatly as it shows that there is a change of seasons coming. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer is soon approaching and it is (hopefully) goodbye to rainy days and grey skies. However in the Southern Hemisphere, we farewell endless amounts of sunshine and get ready to rug up for winter. I have already purchased some of these new releases and I can’t wait for them to arrive for me to test and play.
New releases aside, I have had the most wonderful chance to experience some new releases this past month as well as be introduced to some brands that are still quite new to me. Today I share with you my six skincare favourites for April 2017!
***Please note that anything marked with a * has been kindly gifted to me with no expectation of a review or shout out. I have only written about these products because I genuinely do love using them and have been impressed with the results. All reviews are my own honest reviews and opinions!
Rationale Skincare Immunologist Niacinamide Serum
Rationale Skincare has been a brand that I have always been interested in (and wrote a little bit about it here) but never really bit the bullet and checked it out in real life until recently. When a store popped up nearby, I just had to go in and have a look and what I found myself doing was booking in for skin consult. The skin consult as Rationale Skincare was quite interesting and thorough as it involved a few questions and then putting your face on a machine to get ‘scans’ or photographs. What these photos and scans reveal, is a whole set of data and information about your general skin health and where some potential problems will lie and even answer some of the whys. It was quite an interesting experience and I would recommend any skincare nerd or junkie go to Rationale or a skincare specialist for these types of consults. You really do learn so much. At the end of the session, I was recommended to purchase the Rationale Skincare Immunologist Niacinamide Serum, something that had been on my wishlist anyway and I have to say, it was love at first drop!
So what is the Rationale Skincare Immunologist Niacinamide Serum exactly? Well its part of the brand’s Essential Six- six products that help prevent and repair most of skin damage, restoring skin radiance and draws on world-leading research to deliver all of the actives needed to protect and repair sun damage and maintain healthy, glowing skin. The Immunologist Serum, helps with skin clarity and calmness and contains Vitamin B3 to help boost the skin’s immune responses and targets pigmentation. It also contains other actives as well, but the main focus of this serum is to help repair and target pigmentation in the skin through Niacinamide.
My experiences with this have been nothing but amazing. As you may have seen in my routines, I have been trying REALLY consistently to use this every day and within a week I started to notice that my pigmentation around my cheek started to really lighten up. Its been about a month of using this now and I have to say the pigmentation has nearly cleared up and my skin’s overall texture has improved and my skin is well on track to being it normal healthy self again. I have been so blown away by just how potent and well this has worked for me and my skin absolutely loves this serum. Whilst factors such as texture and general skin health can also be attributed to other products I have been using in conjunction with the Rationale Skincare Immunologist Niacinamide Serum, my pigmentation from scarring has received a marked improvement and I feel this is mainly due to the introduction to this serum into my routine.
Whilst the Rationale Skincare Immunologist Niacinamide Serum is on the expensive side (at AUD$163 for 30ml), I do recommend this for anyone who has 1) the budget and 2) has issues with pigmentation concerns. I feel that it is a product that has really changed my skin in a relatively short amount of time and I am so incredibly over the moon with the results. The 30ml dropper bottle can be purchased from Rationale Skincare online.
Equal Beauty Cleansing Cloths with Hydra Glow
I stumbled upon Equal Beauty on Instagram some time ago and fell in love with its minimal aesthetic, only to be pleasantly surprised that the range was created by gorgeous Australian model, Jessica Gomez. After reading a little bit about the brand I raced down to my closest David Jones and picked out the Equal Beauty Cleansing Cloths with Hydra Glow. According to an interview with Gritty Pretty, Jessica admits that the Cleansing Cloths in the Equal Beauty range were “one of the hardest to get right”. These Cleansing Cloths are basically a ultra-mesh cloth pads containing Natural Moisturising Factors and Skin-compatible phospholipid cleanser that conditions skin while melting away layers of make-up, dirt and excess sebum. It is supposed to be non irritating for the eyes and keeps the skin hydrated and glowing.
What I love about these cleansing pads is that they really do melt off makeup and leave my skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and glowing. These could easily be mistaken as makeup removal wipes due to how they look and how they are packaged, however these are anything but. These cloths make a brilliant first or morning cleanse due to the way the leave the skin feeling. I immediately noticed that these clothes, due to its unique woven texture, gently exfoliates the skin, leaving my skin smoother and softer than ever and also aids in decongesting the skin. I can understand why Jessica took such a long time to get these right, the attention to detail to these cleansing cloths are amazing, from the woven texture to the slight concave dip in the predominantly round pad (so you get get these it out with your fingers when they are in the tub) to the formulation, she is definitely on to a winner here. I purchased these mainly for travel due to it’s convenient size and its travel proof packaging but I find that I am reaching for these all the time. I absolutely love these and would definitely repurchase them again (and maybe explore other products in the range).
The Equal Beauty Cleansing Cloths with Hydra Glow come in a plastic tub of 30 and are beautifully packaged in a gorgeous box. They retail for $49.95 and whilst they may not be the cheapest cleansing option, they truly do keep you skin smooth, soft and radiant. They can be purchased from the Equal Beauty website or from David Jones Department stores in Australia.
Sjal Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask*
Sjal Skincare is one of those skincare brands that had me curious the first time I had seen and heard of the range. A luxury skincare brand this is based on a combination of ancient eastern medicines with the latest in western biotechnology and is infused with energy through precious minerals and gemstones. Yes, you heard right – this range is infused with precious minerals including gold, silver, copper, platinum and germanium in both liquid and solid form and incorporates gemstones such as diamond, blue sapphire, ruby, amethyst, citrine, and tourmaline. Sounds rather fancy doesn’t it? I couldn’t help but be intrigued and when I had the opportunity to try Sjal Skincare’s Kashmir Saphir Perfecting Mask, I was excited but had high expectations on what results I would have. I wasn’t disappointed as this mask is in every way beautiful, indulgent and luxurious and provided me with instant results, thus making it one of my favourite products for this month!
I love a good mask and this mask is a true indulgent experience. Everything from the gorgeous lines of its geometric packaging to the colour and its silky smooth texture makes this perfecting mask, well, perfection. Sjal creators, Kristen Petrovich and her mother, Karen have absolutely hit the nail on the head with this product. As mentioned before this texture of this is like soft silk – it is smooth and glides on ever so effortlessly on the face. It is a real pleasure to apply and use on the skin and it really does just exude luxury. This has a beautiful pale blue colouring (from the copper and blue lotus) and a beautiful pearlescent finish. When applied to the skin, it makes the complexion look quite shimmering. I find that this mask does not feel heavy at all, and once applied it is very easy to forget that you have it on as it feel like a rich moistursier on the skin.
In terms of results, this mask utilises a plethora of botanicals and innovative ingredients. For example, the use of Chinese herbs, silk proteins and blue lotus are to help calm and tone the skin. Copper peptides, gold, silver and platinum for are to help lift the complexion. Natural ingredients such as sugar beets, ginger & tamanu oilact as an anti-inflammatory and are to help condition the skin. My own personal experiences with this is that it leaves my skin looking brighter, firmer and my skin texture has somehow improved. It is smoother and softer with the little ‘bumps’ that I can sometimes notice completely gone. It is a really soothing mask as well as it feels quite cool on the skin initially and alleviates any redness. It is an excellent mask to use before an event or a special occasion due to the fact it really gives the complexion a noticeable lift and beautiful radiant glow.
I don’t recommend this for everyone as the mask is a little more pricey at USD$150 or GBP£100 for 60ml. However, it is a wonderful and luxurious treat for those who have the means and want a mask to show an instant lift in the skin. This can be purchased from the Sjal online store or from Space NK UK.
Allies of Skin Bright Future Overnight Facial*
I don’t really need to go into too much detail about this one as I have written a whole blog post about it here. In a nutshell though, if I had to describe this latest release from Allies of Skin in three words it would be: easy, effective and glowing. Bright Future leaves my skin not only hydrated, but gives my skin a gradual radiance and helps to decongest my skin without causing any irritation. I absolutely have loved using this and I promise I will stop raving about it.
The Allies of Skin Bright Future Overnight Facial comes in a 50ml tube pump and retails for SGD $159 at the Allies of Skin online store.
At One Skincare Flawless Cleansing Oil
The gorgeous Franca from The Beauty Edit Store was raving to me about how wonderful the At One Skincare range was not too long ago and one day I stumbled upon their stall at a local market. It was meant to be! Heather, founder and creator of At One Skincare is such a humble, friendly, bubbly and passionate person and I loved speaking to her about her formulations and how she likes to keep her range small, simple but powerful.
The first thing I need to share is that the Flawless Cleansing Oil is a luxurious cleansing oil at such a fantastic price point. I kid you not, this amazing cleansing oil is priced at AUD$21.95 for 50ml and a little bit goes a really long way with this as there are NO fillers, just pure plant oils. Heather utilises one of Japan’s most treasured skincare secrets; cold pressed organic Camellia oil, used for centuries by Geisha to remove makeup without drying or damaging the skin along with other amazing oils. These include hemp seed oil, watermelon seed oil and pomegranate oil to not only cleanse and clean the skin but leave the skin with some nourishment. The ingredients listing is below:
Camellia oleifera (Camellia) oil^, Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) oil^, Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon) seed oil, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot Kernel) oil^, Cannabis sativa (Hemp) seed oil^, Persea americana (Avocado) oil^, Punica granatum (Pomegranate) oil
The ingredients in this cleansing oil are absolutely beautiful and I love that it is a fantastic option for ultra sensitive skins as there are also no essential oils that could potentially cause further irritation.
In terms of performance, the Flawless Cleansing Oil, does not disappoint. This oil melts off makeup and really cleans the skin, leaving it feeling nourished and hydrated. I love to use this when my skin is feeling particularly sensitive (extra moisture to the skin) or when I have a bit more eye makeup on as this doesn’t irritate my eyes. I enjoy using this as a first cleanse as I feel that I can really work this oil in to the skin, making sure I remove every last bit of makeup or sebum without having to worry about my skin drying out or feeling stripped. Whilst the At One Skincare Flawless Cleansing Oil does not emulsify, using a soft flannel or a muslin cloth with warm water will wash away the excess to leave a clean, hydrated and soft complexion. This is truly a great value purchase given its ingredients, high quality packaging and how well it performs and leaves the skin feeling.
The At One Skincare Flawless Cleansing Oil retails for AUD$21.95 at At One Skincare for a 50ml bottle.
Algenist Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drops – Champagne*
Anyone who knows me can tell you that my makeup purchases generally revolve around glowing and dewy skin and I love anything that enhances that ‘lit within glow’. I have tried a range of different highlighters/illuminators/luminizers and I do find that sometimes it is quite easy to over apply or that the formula can be a little be too ‘glitterball’, making it a little difficult to wear. However, when I was recently sent the Algenist Reveal Concentrated Luminizing Drops in Champagne, I was so impressed with the finish, ease of use, texture and just how it sat on my skin.
For many, Algenist is a brand that is renowned for its cutting edge skincare that involves the research and innovation of marine algae. The company creates some wonderful skincare products, which I personally enjoy using in some of my skincare routines. However, Algenist is not just skincare – their colour beauty line really is quite amazing by the way of textures and formulations. The Reveal Concentrated Luminzing Drops is no exception. I love the lightweight formula which can be so easily applied on to the skin for different effects and intensities. It imparts a beautiful finish that is neither glittery or too shimmery, instead it gives a really natural lit from within glow that can be intensified with a little bit more product. I love using this as an everyday highlighter. I find that just applying a little bit (half a drop for both sides) and working it into the the top part of my cheekbone gives my skin a lift without looking too done. I feel that it would be really hard to over apply this highlighter as well, due to the fact it is so easy to spread and work into the skin. It can also be mixed in with a little foundation to give a beautiful soft blurring effect (much like Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Primers), which I like to occasionally do if I am going out to a more formal occasion.
The Algenist Beauty Reveal Concentrated Luminzing Drops are an everyday makeup favourite for me due the fact it gives a beautiful subtle glow and is so versatile to use. It’s lightweight formula makes it easy and quick to apply, which is perfect for the lazy makeup girl like me. The Champagne colour suits my yellow based Asian skin quite well, but I have used this on more pink skin tones and the colour still looks quite flattering due to its pearlescent glow.
The Algenist Beauty Reveal Concentrated Luminzing Drops come in a 15ml dropper bottle and retails for USD$38 and can be purchased from Sephora USA or Algenist online (ships Internationally).
Have you tried any of my favourites for this month? What were your thoughts? Please share in the comments section below as I would love to hear what you think!
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