Ever since going cruelty free mid last year my foundation collection decreased dramatically. In fact I only have two in my "foundation" drawer. I thought it was time to add a new member to the family and I chose the Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 foundation. There was a lot of hype surrounding this foundation and usually I don't purchase these type of products but it was affordable, promises full coverage and is on the yellow side so I gave in.

Claims
"Combat under eye circles, redness and other skin imperfections with this full coverage, water-resistant foundation plus concealer in one. A no mess, no drip pump dispenses just the right amount of fluid needed to achieve a flawless look and works around the clock to keep skin looking naturally perfect!" -(Milani website)

Swatches/Formula

This foundation has a thick formula that isn't runny whatsoever. In saying this it isn't drying and can be blended with both a sponge or brush. I personally prefer the coverage of a brush but the finish of a sponge. So it is all up to personal preference. In this second photo the circle swatch is the same as above just after 10 minutes and the swatch above is freshly applied. I wouldn't say this foundation oxidises at all. 


Shade 01 Creamy Vanilla is yellow-toned so it is great for those with light-warm skin tones. This shade is too light for me currently so if you are a similar shade to me i'd go the next shade up.

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation shade 01 Creamy Vanilla

Opinions
This was initially going to be a first impression but I decided to try it over a month period to properly gather my thoughts. I will still include how it went the first time I wore it but over time and with other products my feelings did change.

First impressions: This foundation is tacky, provides full coverage which takes two layers for me (due to scarring) and has a very matte finish. I paired this with my Hourglass ambient lighting powder in Dim Light to add a glow. 

After an hour of wear the foundation creased under my eyes (not terribly, but noticeable), in my smile lines and on my forehead. After three hours the foundation slightly creased more but you can only tell if you are looking up close and purposely inspecting my face. I would probably avoid using it on my forehead and between my brows as those are my dehydrated areas which tend to look dryer more than the rest of my face. Six hours later and it hasn't gone cakey and hasn't faded despite me being someone who touches my face a lot. 

I will be using this foundation to mix with others to add more coverage or on hot days because it definitely stays put.

After using roughly another 8 times:
This is why i'm not 100% a fan of first impression reviews. My opinion has somewhat changed from only using this foundation to mix with others to me loving it on its own. I truly believe you could make any foundation work just by switching out products and finding the perfect combination.

I decided to try the Milani foundation with the Becca Backlight Priming Filer and oh my goodness, it lasted from 8am to 11pm one day! After the 8 hour mark is started to cling to dry patches where previous acne was but earlier in the day my forehead and smile lines were fine. I definitely do not recommend this but this is the type of foundation I could sleep with and wake up with it still looking perfect and ready for the day ahead.

The following times I used it with different powders but found the Australis Fresh & Flawless powder + Becca Primer to be the best combination. Since it is tacky it does have to be set even if you have dry skin, this is a great powder that won't make us dryer gals and guys dryer.

I never found this foundation to feel heavy on my skin despite it being fuller coverage and I didn't notice it to oxidise. The shade is a little too light for my so in the swatch above I will include an image if it oxidised during my hand swatch or not. I even put it to the ultimate test and wore it on a 34 degree (celsius) day during physical education and it stayed put!

This is one of my new favourite foundations and I'm very impressed. I haven't tried much from Milani before but they're so good for the price.

It's no lie that I own too many lipsticks for one person, I mean I only have one set of lips, so I thought of this 5 in 1 idea. I will wear one chosen lipstick for an entire week in the hopes to use up a decent or even a little amount of it, as majority of my lipsticks have only been worn once. So in total I am wearing 5 lipsticks for a period of one week each. At the end of the week I will write up a review on the my thoughts of each lipstick so it will be informational for you and me, since I will pretty much be shopping my own stash! If you want to do this too you can join on instagram and use the hashtags #5weeklipstickchallenge and #thedailycatchup so I can follow your posts 😃

The five lipsticks I have chosen are nude/pink shades as they are what I typically reach for on a daily basis. Plus if I have to wear this lipstick for a week straight I don't want to be rocking a bold lip (personally). The reviews will be based on how they wear, last and feel rather than on the colour.

So, the 5 lippies I have picked out are:

1. Chi Chi Cosmetics Viva La Diva lipstick in O.M.NUDE!!!
2. Essence Colour & Care lipstick in 03 Life's my runway
3. Colourpop Lippie Stix in Oh Snap
4. 3ina matte lipstick (the shade name rubbed off)
5. Gerard Cosmetics lipstick in Vintage Rose

Chi Chi Cosmetics - O.M.NUDE!!!

Week one was dedicated to this lipstick by Chi Chi and I am actually impressed with how much I used. This particular lipstick lasted four to five hours perfectly and I noticed it only faded ever so slightly when eating oilier foods. It has a very creamy but not slippery formula and is comfortable to wear. When it did wear off it was only on the inner portion of my lips and the outer parts stayed in tact.

This is the lipstick you would want if you only want to touch up very minimally throughout the day. For me once was all that was needed. The Chi Chi lipsticks also come in a variety of shades and finishes so you can definitely find something you like!

Essence - 03 Life's my runway

Another week, another lipstick and this week was the Essence lipstick. Compared to the Chi Chi lipstick this one has a very moisturising and creamy formula. Beware, if you layer this too many times it can get all over your teeth!

You can get a very opaque application with one layer and has a glossy finish. Due to this finish it can feel sticky when pressing your lips together so it isn't ideal to wear on windy days, your hair will get caught. After 3 to 4 hours the glossy finish fades dramatically leaving you with a light tint. This is one you will need to reapply more frequently, roughly 4 to 5 times depending on what you eat or drink.

If you're after a lipstick that feels like a lip balm then this will be your best option. It is easy to reapply, smells nice and is very comfortable to wear.

Colourpop - Oh Snap

Like the Chi Chi lipstick these Colourpop Lippie Stix too come in a variety of formulas and shades. This one here is in a matte finish so that is the formula I will review today.

When you first apply the lippie stix it is very soft and smooth, its not a flat matte finish and has a slight sheen to it for a while. After a few hours and a meal it does leave a matte kind of stained look to the lips. If you want full opacity all day long then you do need to reapply roughly twice throughout the day.

The only downfall to this was that after a few hours and a lot of talking the dreaded white line on the inner rim of my lips occurred. This will again depend on the formula you choose. Other than that the colour lasted pretty much all day, it is affordable and smells amazing!

3ina lipstick

3ina is a newer brand for us Aussies and of course the makeup item I was drawn to were lipsticks. This lipstick has a very drying formula in the sense that you need to drag/tug at your lips to apply it. It is very thin on the lips which reminds me a lot of a liquid lipstick without the drying and tight feeling. This practically feels like you have applied nothing on your lips despite how difficult it can be to apply and has the added bonus of barely transferring!

This lipstick lasted roughly 5 hours on my lips before starting to fade and never made my lips look dry nor did it settle in any fine lines. With this one I only had to reapply once.

If you have this lipstick in your handbag or it is a warmer day then it makes the formula a lot smoother and easier to apply.

Gerard Cosmetics - Vintage Rose

First things first, this lipstick and all Gerard lipsticks are prone to melting so beware. Therefore the weather does have an impact on the formula, similar to the 3ina lipstick however that one never melts. If you store this lipstick in the fridge and then use it the formula will be drying causing you to tug on your lips but when its room temperature it is a lot creamier.

This is a very comfortable matte formula and not drying whatsoever. It isn't prone to clinging to dry patches or settling into the fine lines our lips naturally have. It does fade after eating only on the inner rims but still leaves some colour. I'd recommend and personally had to reapply about twice a day, depending on what I ate.

My favourite of all the 5 lipsticks was a tie between Gerard Cosmetics and 3ina. Both are light-weight yet have a very matte finish which is personally my favourite. In saying that I do enjoy each of the lipsticks and recommend them all to you as I wear them on a regular basis.

I want to include a lot more natural alternatives to traditional beauty items on the market. This weeks post is all about Keeko's Botanical Teeth Whitening Pen. 

Claims

"Keeko's revolutionary dentist formulated peroxide free whitening pen uses the natural power of Bicarbonate Soda & Cranberry to safely whiten your teeth 5+ shade in 7 days without damaging the enamel. Aloe Vera, Chamomile help soothe sensitive teeth while caring for your gums and promote a happy healthy mouth. Application takes 30 seconds and will, visibly whiten the teeth within 30 minutes!"

Review

• Thick consistency compared to your usual teeth whitening pens
• Easy to brush onto teeth
• Has no nasty taste, which is a massive plus!!
• Peroxide free 
• Doesn't leave your teeth feeling sensitive (unlike other teeth whitening products)
• Doesn't whiten as fast as your usual chemical teeth whitening pens, however you can achieve the same results by using this a few times a day

I didn't use this product daily like it suggests as I like to whiten my teeth when I know I have a special occasion coming up, so my teeth didn't get 5+ shades whiter. However you are still able to tell from the pictures below that it did brighten my teeth. I used up the entire pen prior to this review and it lasted me roughly two months with applications scattered throughout. 

If you are someone that loves whitening your teeth then this product is gentle enough for daily use and you should definitely check this pen out! It is a much safer and natural alternative to all the other chemicals other brands use. Especially since teeth whitening is something you are likely to ingest since it is going in your mouth you really want to be aware of what is going into your body and how it could affect you in the long run.

I will be purchasing another pen myself because I found it to work well and it is very easy to use. I am kind of going back on what I said in my last teeth whitening review here but since then I have researched the chemicals used in usual teeth whitening products and realised it is horrible for you. I love that there are safer alternatives to popular products because it means we don't need to skip out on our health when using them!

Other info

Website

Instagram

Blog

Shipping details: 

Free shipping worldwide over $38. 

Standard shipping for Aus is $3.50 (under $38)

Below $38 international is $5.99 and has tracking.

Disclaimer - This product was sent to me for the purpose of this review however all opinions are 100% honest and based off my own experience. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself and use products for an extended period of time before writing a review. For more information click here - disclaimer

Recently I was very generously gifted Mint Skin's range of masks, the Rosa Hydration MUD and Detox MUD. If you follow me on Instagram or read my blog then you will know I have a very strong interest in skincare and love face masks. So naturally, I was very excited to receive and be able to try these masks out.

Lately I am suffering from horrible hormonal break outs so Mint Skin kindly helped me out with working out a schedule to help my issues. For the past week I put the two masks to the test and wrote my review and thoughts throughout.

First things first, a little about the brand:

"Mint Skin is Australia’s newest clay based range of face masks, developed to clean, detoxify and replenish your skin.

Mint Skin was developed to fulfill a need for simple, natural, skin products without the excessive price tag. 

We deliver products that are safe, non-toxic, highly effective and fun. 

We believe in real results from your skin care. 

Our products are cruelty free and locally made, tested on people, never animals."

Schedule

If you too are suffering from hormonal break outs and it feels like nothing is working then this schedule may also suit you. Obviously you can always adjust it to suit your own skin's needs and use masks as often as you wish. This is just what we came up with and what I trialled this past week.

Monday - Detox MUD

Tuesday - Rosa Hydration MUD

Wednesday - Detox MUD

Thursday - break

Friday - Multi-masking

If you've never heard of or are new to multi-masking it is when you use a variety of masks to treat multiple skin concerns. For me congestion, stress, breakouts and dry patches were my issues so I applied the detox mask to my cheeks, jaw line, chin and nose as those are the areas where I broke out. The Rosa hydration mask was applied to my forehead as that is usually my driest and dehydrated area with no acne.

About

Detox MUD

Mint Skin recommend you use this mask if your skin is feeling clogged & congested or it is oily/acne-prone. The Detox MUD mask helps with drawing out toxins and bacteria while leaving your skin a lot cleaner, fresher and healthier.

When I used this mask for the first time it burnt around my nostrils, 100% because I applied it over the top of where I had been blowing my nose all weekend due to a cold. So if you have a cold steer clear of applying this mask too close to that area 🙈. I also made the mistake of applying it a little too close to my eyes (they even recommend not to do this lol) which are naturally sensitive to a lot of things so they watered. The next use I avoided those areas and had no issues at all. So you can all learn from my mistakes!

This mask reminded me A LOT of the famous Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay which is forever sold out. It feels tight on the skin once dried and you can slightly feel a throbbing sensation, which is why it reminds me of the mask mentioned above.

I don't have oily skin at all so I can't tell you if it helped with that but for someone with dry skin I didn't find this mask to be drying whatsoever. I also found it helped to reduce current pimples sizes which was amazing! I really do feel like this mask cleans out your skin and it is a good mask to use after heavy make up or when your skin is stressed.

This was my favourite mask out of the two because I'm obsessed with masks that dry out existing pimples!!

Rosa Hydration MUD
Think soothing, hydrating and rosy.

This mask was very gentle on the skin and not drying whatsoever despite it still being a clay mask. The Rosa Hydration MUD is the perfect pick-me-up kind of mask to give your skin a hydration and glow boost. It was also very easy to remove and the scent made me feel pampered.

In my opinion the packets the masks come in can be used for two applications. Unless you really like to pack on the product. They were both easy to use and the brush applied them evenly. To remove the masks I used warm water and a towel then followed with my moisturiser. By the end of the week I noticed my existing pimples had reduced greatly in size so now I am only left with the red marks.

Since these masks detox your skin you may experience a few break outs in the following days as it really helped to remove all the gunk out of my skin. This is a sign that the mask really does draw out the toxins and clear the skin. If you are interested in either of these masks check out the Mint Skin website, they also have bundles you can purchase.

I will continue to use these masks in my weekly skincare routine as I find they really help with acne-prone skin. If you suffer from acne due to congestion then this will absolutely help to clear that up! If you suffer from hormonal acne it will clear the existing pimples but not stop it in the future (this is an internal issue after all). If you have any questions feel free to contact them because they're super friendly and helpful!!

Other info

Website: https://www.mintskin.com.au/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mintskin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mintskinsydney/

Disclaimer - These products were sent to me for the purpose of this review however all opinions are 100% honest and based off my own experience. I only work with companies I would personally support or purchase from myself. For more information click here - disclaimer