5 Amazing Cleansers for Sensitive Skin

After struggling with the curse of sensitive skin for the majority of my skincare-trying life, I have recently discovered a few cleansers that finally agree with my skin! No longer do I have itchy, red spots or that slightly painful "tingling" sensation when cleansing my skin, and therefore I thought it was my duty to share my discoveries with the rest of the sensitive-skin world. 

QV Face Gentle Cleanser
I am now on to my second bottle of this throughout my skincare journey, I like to stray away from regular products to try new things all the time but every so often I will come back to a product I know just works, that is this baby! This cream cleanser is extremely gentle, so keep in mind it will not do a good job at removing your makeup so you'll have to do that step before cleansing! But this cleanser is fantastic for dry, sensitive skin as it is gentle enough to clean away any excess oil without completely stripping your skin and leaving you with that tight feeling.

Paula's Choice Hydralight One Step Face Cleanser*
Now this one is for anyone with oily/combination skin. It has a gel based formula that doesn't foam but is great for keeping any excess oil under control, especially in my t-zone area, without making my skin feel dry. Even though this is a gel formula, it still doesn't do a very good job at removing makeup so keep that in mind before cleansing.

Puretopia Rise Away Purifying Fresh Face Cleansing Gel*
Like it says in the name (which is a bit of a mouthful); this is a gel based formula which I would only recommend for oily skin types as it can be quite drying. It did leave my skin feeling a little tight after use however it was fine after I applied my moisturiser. This did do a better job at removing makeup that QV and Paula's choice but I still would recommend going in a makeup remover before hand.

People for Plants Cleanser & Makeup Remover*

This cleanser is excellent for dry skin! This cream based cleanser leaves my skin feeling so soft and moisturised, it does a decent job of removing my makeup too however I still need to use makeup remover for mascara or if i've used waterproof products. 

Whilst I love this cleanser for dry skin; if you have oily skin I would steer clear as I feel like it would leave your skin feeling "buttered up", like it did for me as my skin got oilier towards the summer months. Despite not doing anything to help my oiliness it didn't break me out at all, which I was surprised by.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser
This is another repurchase of mine (hence the near full bottle!) and I am yet to meet someone who has been disappointed by this little baby! It cleanses, tones, and hydrates all in the one little bottle and I have to say this is my favourite cleanser of the lot for my skin. It also does a great job at removing makeup (minus some tricky mascaras) yet is gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and your eye area. I would highly recommend this cleanser to anyone with normal, dry or combination skin as it does an amazing job at cleansing without highlighting any dry areas.

Well I hope at least one of you found this little post helpful and I would love to hear your recommendations/experiences with sensitive skin! Are there any products you would recommend?
-Kat xxx

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Elucent Whitening Skincare Review

Hello my beauties and welcome to the new year! One of my goals for 2015 is to be more active and informative on my blog this year. So I thought I would kick things off with some skincare! 

Now before I get in to the review I would like to just give a few tips to those of you know are new to skincare on the basics when looking for and trying new products.

Tip 1.

 Identify what you want in a product and choose a product that targets your skin type or problem. Got dry skin? Go for a rich moisturiser. Acne prone? A skin clearing cleanser. Fine lines? An anti-aging line. Uneven skintone? A whitening line. 

Tip 2.
Read the instructions and stick to a routine. All products should either come with an informative leaflet or have directions on the back to maximize the results of the product.  In most cases (and in the case of this line by Elucent) you cleanse morning and night, followed by either the day cream in the morning or night cream at night (just thought i'd clear that up for you), then eye cream, then serum/corrector. 

It is important to use these products in the right order (ie, clean your skin, then restore any moisture that was lost, not the other way round) and consistently to see results. Also, you should not expect results on problem areas overnight. Your skin usually takes about a month to regenerate itself so it is usually after this time frame you will start to notice a difference in your skin.  As your skin is constantly changing you need to stick to this routine in order to maximize the effectiveness of any active ingredients.

Tip 3.

Don't be afraid to ask for advice. Usually at drugstores and skincare/makeup counters there will be someone trained especially in figuring out your skin type and what products would work best with your skin. Another way to picking a product is reading reviews on blogs or websites like beautyheaven.com.au

Now on to the review!

Whitening Exfoliating Cleanser (RRP $29.99)*

The cleanser has little beads to exfoliate the skin however is gentle enough for every day use. It has a pleasant "clean" scent to it and leaves my skin feeling very soft and refreshed! My skin did feel kind of tingly the first few days of use, so if you have sensitive skin it's best to do a test patch before hand.

Whitening Day Moisturiser (RRP $49.99)*
I love that this has SPF30 which we need over here in Australia! The consistency of this moisturiser is a little on the thicker side, being somewhere between the texture of a sunscreen and a facial moisturiser to me. It is very hydrating and I personally wouldn't recommend this for oily skin types. 

Whitening Night Cream (RRP $49.99)*
Whilst thicker than the day cream in the tub, once rubbed in to the skin I think it feels a lot lighter. The night cream is also very hydrating but absorbs quickly in to the skin leaving your face feeling very smooth and soft.

Whitening Eye Cream ($49.99)*
The consistency of the eye cream is very light and absorbs quickly in to the skin. I found it to be very hydrating without leaving any oiliness or residue behind which also worked great under makeup.

Whitening Spot Corrector ( $49.99)*
This spot corrector has a really rather runny consistency and did tend to take a while to get absorbed in to my skin. Now I don't really have many dark spots to correct, I do have a few freckles and moles but I think it's pretty safe to say those are here to stay and no product is going to work miracles on them. However I had been using this product at night as more of a serum and overall I have noticed my complexion look a lot healthier and brighter. 

Whitening Hand Cream ($24.99)*
A little bit goes a long way with this stuff! Whilst it does have a rather thick consistency and takes a bit of work to work in to the skin, once it is absorbed it leaves your hands feeling soft and silky smooth.

Overall, I have been using this line for around 3 weeks now and feel like my skin is more hydrated and looking healthier. I think this range would benefit anyone looking for a new skincare routine to brighten their complexion with normal to dry skin.

Well I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years, and I will see you all again soon.

-Kat xxx

Brand Review | People for Plants

Hello beauties and welcome to another blog post! Today we are going to look at some of the skincare available from Australian brand "People for Plants". People for Plants focus' on using as many certified organic ingredients as they can and everything from their range is animal cruelty free!

Everything from People for Plants is free from:

• Parabens
• Sulphates of any kind
• Propylene glycol
• Synthetic fragrances
• Artificial colours
• Petrochemicals
• Silicones
• Phthalates
• Nature identical ingredients
• PEG’s, DEA, TEA, EDTA, MEA, carbomers, ethoxylates or 1, 4-dioxane
• Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)

So it is great for all us sensitive skin guys and gals and people concious of what they are putting on to their skin!

Now on to the products...

Cleanser & Make Up Remover* 120ml $24.95
"People for Plants Cleanser & Make-Up Remover is a creamy facial cleanser and make-up remover that cleanses, purifies and revitalises the skin. The formula features 90 per cent organically certified ingredients including the antioxidants white tea and rosemary. It also features aloe, grapefruit, shea butter and soap nut to provide a gentle cleanse that doesn’t dry out the skin. The Cleanser & Make-Up Remover leaves skin deeply cleansed, soft and healthy and is suitable for normal and sensitive skin. 

Use in the morning and night, apply a small amount on fingers and gently massage face, neck and décolletage. Rinse with warm water or use a soft cloth, such as muslin for a more thorough clean."

- Beautyheaven.com.au

This cleanser is EXCELLENT for dry skin! Some cleansers can leave your skin feeling really "tight" and dry, but this cream based cleanser and leaves my skin feeling so soft and moisturised. It does a decent job of removing my makeup too however I still need to use makeup remover or cleanse it a few times to get rid of any stubborn makeup spots (ie. mascara)!

However if you have oily skin I would not recommend this as I feel like it would leave your skin feeling "buttered up", like it did for me as my skin got oilier towards the summer months. Dispite not doing anything to help my oiliness it didn't break me out at all, which I was surprised by.

Overall I would definitely recommend this cleanser for anyone with sensitive skin and dry to normal skin. 

Mist Toner* 125ml $19.95
"People for Plants Mist Toner is a facial mist and toner that hydrates, brightens and energises the skin. The formula features 97 per cent organically certified ingredients, and completes the cleansing process by removing any last traces of make-up and excess sebum by balancing the skin with its toning properties. Rose otto awakens the senses while a fusion of kakadu plum and antioxidant-rich burdock brightens and energises the skin. Witch hazel and aloe vera nourish and soothe, leaving the skin feeling fresh and hydrated." 
- Beautyheaven.com.au

This toner comes in a neat little spray bottle which comes in handy and usually 3 pumps does my whole face. The mist is very refreshing and has a lovely scent of roses and lavender and leaves my skin feeling cool and hydrated.

I love using this product in the morning to "wake up" my skin and throughout the day when I feel like my skin is looking tired.

Day Cream* 50ml $29.95
"People for Plants Day Cream is a moisturising face cream that nourishes, energises and protects the skin. The formula features 91 per cent organically certified ingredients. The cream features precious bio-available ingredients to give skin superior hydration on top of anti-ageing and calming benefits. The cream is formulated with rosehip oil and omega 3, which helps strengthen and promote skin elasticity and plumpness while shea, jojoba and macadamia oils protect the skin. The moisturiser also features ginkgo, a detoxifying ingredient that contains powerful antioxidants to protect the skin from environmental aggressors. The cream leaves the skin feeling soft and nourished, looking visibly brighter and energised. 

To use, in the morning apply several pumps to hands, warm in palms and gently press into the skin of face, neck and décolletage." 

- Beautyheaven.com.au

This day cream comes in a nice pump packaging (yay for hygiene!) and is VERY moisturising. I honestly would not recommend this to anyone who has even slightly oily skin because it will just make you an oily mess! However if you're a dry skin gal I feel like this one is for you! This was also great on my sensitive skin and has a very "natural product" smell to it. 

Organic Lip Balm* 4.5g $9.95

"People for Plants Vanilla Bean and Cocoa Butter Lip Balm has been made with 96 per cent organically certified ingredients. The lip balm features bourbon vanilla and is combined with cocoa butter to soften skin. People for Plants Lip Balms 100 per cent natural, and are formulated with Australian certified organic beeswax to protect, coconut oil to moisturise, cocoa butter to soften and rosemary for its powerful antioxidant properties."
- Beautyheaven.com.au

Overall this is a fantastic lip balm, it is very hydrating and I love that it isn't a petroleum based product like most lip balms seem to be! This particular one does smell and taste strongly of Cocoa but honestly I wasn't too fussed on the smell! Everyone else I've asked who has tried this said they loved it though so I guess I'm the only girl who doesn't like that "cocoa" taste!

Overall I really love the People for Plants brand, if you are after a more natural skincare routine, have sensitive or dry skin I would completely recommend giving this brand a go.

Have you tried the People for Plants range at all? If so, what did you think?

-Katerina xxx

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Must-Have MAC Lipsticks for Fall

Hello beauties!
Now fall has ended here in Australia but it's just starting for our American friends. So because of this I thought I would share with you my five all time FAVOURITE MAC lipsticks for fall as these are what I found myself wearing the most!

Left to Right: Diva, Ruby Woo, Rebel, Heroine, Hang Up

Diva

This is an intense reddish-burgundy colour with a matte finish and suits all skintones. It is also perfect for that "vampy" look.

Ruby Woo

A staple in any MAC girls collection, Ruby Woo is a vivid coral based red colour with a matte finish. Again, this is a shade that would suit any skintone.

Rebel

Rebel is another popular colour for fall, also perfect for that "vampy" look. It is a vivd pinkish-purple colour with a satin finish. I find this colour works really well on olive skintones but there are no rules in makeup, only suggestions.

Herione

This is a deep blue-based purple colour with a matte finish. I think it is definitely a statement lipstick and works best with dark or olive skintones (but again, there are no rules!).

Hang Up

I feel like this is simply just a glossier version of Diva, great for when you still want that "vampy" look without the matte lips.

Left to Right: Diva, Ruby Woo, Rebel, Heroine, Hang Up

All these lipsticks are amazing quality however I do find the matte shades to be longer lasting than the rest. I hope this helped you all with your fall lipstick endeavors and i'll see you guys again soon!

I'd love to know your favourite lipsticks for fall in the comments below :)

-Katerina xxx 

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Eye of Horus | Review + Swatches

Hello again lovelies! Today at Katerina Beauty we will be discussing the relatively new on the market makeup brand; Eye of Horus. This is an Australian brand that does not test on animals (woohoo!), is paraben free and contains lots of natural goodies. This brand focus' on using ancient Egyptian formulas and ingredients such as:

• Bees Wax
• Ricebran Wax
• Canauba
• Candellia
• Jojoba
• Almond Oil
• Moringa Oil
• Sesame Oil

So lets see how these products went! Oh and just a quick warning, this is a very picture heavy post.

Eye of Horus Sun Godess Eyeshadow Palette*

So I'll start this review off with their eyeshadow palette Sun Godess. This little palette contains 3 gorgeous, bronze tone, shimmery eyeshadows which are very creamy and easy to blend! Pigmentation is decent however they do work better under an eyeshadow base. This cute little palette also comes with a mirror and double ended brush so it is perfect for travelling.

Swatched without an eyeshadow base

Eye of Horus Liquid Eyeline*

Next on the review list in their black liquid eyeliner. This little baby has a very fine felt tip for easy application. It's formula is VERY black and dries instantly so there is no worries about accidental smudging whilst waiting for eyeliner to dry! It is also waterproof so makeup remover is a must for this eyeliner. Overall I think this is a great product and would definitely recommend to anyone on the hunt for a new liquid eyeliner.

Eye of Horus Black Liquid Eyeliner Swatch

Eye of Horus Kohl Eyeliner*

Now moving on to their Kohl eyeliners, I feel like these are the star of the show. I have the shades teal and black and they are AMAZING! These eyeliners are so creamy and pigmented, they just glide on seemlessly. You have about half a minute before they dry if you want the "smudged" effect but once they dry they aint going anywhere. These are smudgeproof and waterproof once dry, and they last the whole day. If you are thinking of trying anything from the Eye of Horus line, this should be it.

Eye of Horus Kohl Eyeliners Black and Teal Swatches

Eye of Horus Mascara*

The final product left to review in this post is their mascara. It is very black, and great for lengthening and separating my lashes. I feel like this mascara is comparable to Benefit's They're Real mascara however it's MUCH faster drying (I feel like Benefit's takes forever to dry!). There was no clumping and I loved that it didn't flake off on to my under eyes throughout the day like a lot of mascaras do! However I feel like this mascara didn't do much in the way of adding volume nor did it hold a curl (two things i desperately need!). Nonetheless it was still a great product.

Eye of Horus Mascara

Well that's it for today's review, I hope you found this helpful. If you have already tried Eye of Horus I'd love to hear your thoughts down in the comments below. Until next time I hope you are all having a fantastic day!

-Katerina xxx.

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August Favourites | 2014

Hello lovelies and welcome back for another installment of my monthly favourites! These are the products I have been loving this month, if you try them hopefully you will love them too.

Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover

I have been loving this cleanser all month! It's somewhat of a gel consistancy so it's great for oily skin and leaves my skin feeling so clean and fresh. It is also 86% naturally derived with no harsh chemicals, sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, dyes or phthalates so you're not absorbing those nasties into your body. Also, it really does remove makeup and has kept my skin clear, a big thumbs up from me!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Colour Rush Lip Balm shade 220 Rumor Has it

This is a relatively new product from Rimmel and was released as part of their collaboration with Rita Ora, and these lip balms did not disappoint. I have actually posted a review and swatches on my collection of these last week if you would like to check that out HERE. These are so buttery, moisturising and pigmented, and this shade is just a gorgeous bright fuchsia colour. I think it is great for a pop of colour throughout the day.

Milani Baked Blush shade Dulce Pink

If you've been following me for a while you will know my obsession with the Milani baked blushes. Well obviously Dulce Pink is no exception. It is a gorgeous girly pink shade with gold reflects through it and like all the baked blushes, it's very pigmented, easy to blend and very well priced. I love it.

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

This is another new product I have been using this month and had to put in here. This primer worked wonders to control my oiliness and I noticed a big difference in the time it took for my makeup to get shiny. If you have oily skin I definitely reccommend checking this baby out, and best of all it was only $13.95! However I'd also like to add it didn't really do much in the way of filling in fine lines and pores so I have also been mixing in a little of my Benefit Porefessional primer just on the areas the need it.

Eye of Horus Kohl Eyeliner in Black

Now I know Eye of Horus isn't that well a known brand on the market yet, but it should be. This eyeliner is amazing, possibly one of the best I have ever tried. Once you apply it you have about half a minute to work with it before it dries and once it dries it isn't going anywhere! It is smudge proof and waterproof. I have been loving this for my waterline because it stays put for hours, doesn't irritate my eyes and is a BLACK black.

Well that's is another month of favourites gone, I hope you enjoyed them. If you use any of these products let me know what you think of them, I'd love to here another persons experience!

-Love Katerina xxx.

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FOTD: Everday Makeup | Daytime and Work Appropriate

Hello beauties and welcome back to another blog post!

Today is another Face of the Day post of an everyday makeup look that is appropriate for work and the daytime. I know it can be hard at times to find the line of what is appropriate for the day and what will make you look out of place. I find for me the best guide is the more natural looking, the better.

Here is my guide to keep your face daytime ready and to avoid looking like a drag queen (but hey if that is the look you're going for, you go girl!):

• Neutrals are always safe 
• steer clear of any dark smokey eyes
• Bright colours are fun but choose the eyes or the lips, not both.
• Less is always more.

And this is the makeup I wore out to lunch the other day:

Products used:

Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation NC25

Rimmel Wake me Up Concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent

Maybelline Fit Me Powder shade 230

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Milani Baked Blush in Dulce Pink

The Balm Mary LouManizer

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara

MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot

MAC eyeshadows: Shroom, Cork, Mystery

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette

Naked Basics Palette: Crave

Ardell False Eyelashes 113

Jordanna Eyeshadow Pencil Continuous Almond

Sigma Brow Powder Duo Dark

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Collection Lipstick 103

Rimmel Apocoliptic Lip Laquer Phenomenon 

If you'd like to see how I got this look you can check out my tutorial here:

I'd just like to say that all opinions are my own and honestly, if you want to wear a bright lip with dark smokey eyes during the day go ahead. It's your body and noone should tell you what to do with it.

I hope you all are having a wonderful day and I will catch you next time,

Katerina xxx.

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