Review: Winter skin says yes to carrots!

Did you know that your skin loves carrots? Yes, carrots!

All this time you've been spending hundreds of dollars on luxury skin creams, formulated from scientifically derived synthetic ingredients, but all your skin really wants can be found in a humble root vegetable. Carrots are high in beta-carotene, an organic compound derived from orange fruits and vegetables, which has antioxidant and anti-aging properties.

I recently stumbled across Yes To Carrots, a paraben-free range of beauty products for hair, face and body. Yes To Carrots blends carrot juice with pumpkin, sweet potato, cucumber, natural oils and minerals from the Dead Sea to produce products that are gentle, natural and nourishing.

I've been trying the Yes To Carrots Eye and Face Makeup Remover, which I recommend for winter use or to those with dry or mature skin. The texture is so thick and creamy that you don't need to use very much. It removes my makeup well and doesn't still the eyes. Best of all, it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. The Moisturising Day Cream is also lovely, very rich and luxurious - perfect for winter ravaged skin. Its only downfall is that it has no SPF. Both products have a light natural scent that smells nothing like carrots.

Wildlife warriors will be pleased to know that Yes To Carrots products are not tested on animals.

Their prices are also pleasing.
Eye and Face Makeup Remover, 250ml $16.95
Moisturising Day Cream, 50ml $22.95

Available from David Jones, Priceline and Coles.

Cold Weather Beautifiers and Mood Boosters

This week, I've been coughing and sniffling through my first transeasonal cold for 2011.

It's miserable being sick, not only because I feel flat and exhausted but also because I see Fester Adams when I look in the mirror...puffy and pallid with dark rings around my eyes - hideous!

While it's tempting to loll about in bed when you're sick, you'll feel less like an extended member of the Adams family if you pamper yourself a little bit.

Here are some things I've done to boost my spirits while I get over this cold:

Sweet Tart nail varnish by Revlon

Painting my nails with this gorgeous, lolly-pink polish by Revlon gave me a lift and made me feel less pale and sickly.

   

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant





  

I used this Dermalogica exfoliating mask in the bath yesterday and felt really pampered. You apply a thin layer all over your face and in ten minutes the lactic acid disolves the dead skin to reveal a softer, brighter complexion. I love this, it's so gentle on my sensitive skin and doesn't leave it red like traditional scrubs.

I've been watching YouTube - it's addictive and it makes me lol.

I love Maru, and Maru loves boxes. This inquisitive, scottish-fold cat from Japan makes me smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XID_W4neJo

Flashmobs are fun. I like this one from Weeds - the music is so happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fm0LhJVPNI

This Beyonce inspired flashmob at London's Piccadilly Circus is great too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de8oaegzb_0

Lastly, if you're lucky enough to have an amazing boyfriend, like I do, get him in the kitchen. Ax made me an amazing chicken soup with ginger, barley and vegetables and it made me feel alot better ( thanks babe x).

Hope these suggestion help if you're feeling under the weather,

Love La x

Review: Moroccan Oil

By now, you're probably aware of the most coveted beauty ingredient for 2011 - argan oil. If you don't know what I'm talking about, shame on you!

The argan oil frenzy began with the highy publicised arrival of Moroccan Oil, an exotic range of deliciously moisturising, treatment products for hair.

2010 marked the death of the straightening iron and a return to natural waves and voluminous hair, leaving in it's wake, a generation of women with dry, damaged and sensitised hair. Moroccan Oil came to the rescue, armed with it's secret weapon - argan oil!

Moroccan Oil has been described as revolutionary, yet it's star ingredient is paradoxically ancient. Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the native Moroccan Argan tree, and has been revered for it's moisturising, medicinal and anti-ageing properties for centuries.

http://www.ry.com.au/

From the Moroccan Oil range, I have been using the Moisture Repair Shampoo, the Moisture Repair Conditioner and the Original Moroccan Oil Treatment. Not surprisingly, the standout product is the Original Moroccan Oil Treatment - a leave in moisturising treatment and styling product in one. This liquid gold is rich, hydrating and easily absorbed by wet hair, leaving the hair feeling soft and healthy once blow dried.

Moroccan Oil products are quite aromatic and the exotic, incense-ish scent may not be to everyone's liking.

Here's to good hair days,

Love La x

More BECCA - Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder

http://www.facebook.com/becca.cosmetics.australia



Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder, the newest product in BECCA's range of complexion perfecting products, has been a getting a bit of attention this week as the star of their latest campaign.

I purchased Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder several months ago, and although it has found a regular place in my beauty product line-up, I do not use this product as a powder foundation.

If you love the creamy texture, buildable coverage and luminous finish of I.D Bare Minerals, you will be disappointed with BECCA's mineral powder when applied as a foundation. Boudoir Skin is quite dry in comparison, with very sheer coverage that can look patchy when built up.

I recommend using Boudoir Skin as you would a pressed powder - dust it lightly over your t-zone or all over your face to set your liquid foundation and any concealing work you've done. It also works well over tinted moisturizer to build a second sheer layer of coverage or matify.

#63 Kabuki Brush AU$85, Boudoir Skin AU$50 for 7gm

Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder comes in the distinctive BECCA compact - shown above in the colour 'Bloom'. Pictured beside is the BECCA #63 retractable kabuki brush, which is presented in a pretty but pointless chocolate satin pouch (now home to my Pandora bracelet). The brush is gorgeous, high-quality and incredibly soft, yet absolutely terrible at applying this dry powder!

BECCA products are usually wonderful and we should support this great Australian company, so try their fantastic Mineral Bronzer featured in my Best Bronzers blog.

La x

p.s. Remember to check out my editing website at http://laurakeeling.webs.com/