Beauty spot: 5 facts about acne

5 facts about acne

Acne starts with congestion, whiteheads, blackheads
When little bumps under your skin form, that’s congestion – the first sign it’s about to turn ugly. When you see blackheads or whiteheads appear – you know the heat is being turned up, the pressure is on because those suckers about to get big, red and swollen. Nip pimples in the butt before they have a chance to attack by fighting back at the earliest stage possible. Do this by switching to a mineral makeup for a few days or using a clearing gel overnight like the Intraceuticals clarity treat gel, pictured.

Your cosmetics plays a big role in the state of your skin
So many girls are under the impression that your moisturizer works as a barrier against your foundation, powder and blush. This is simply not true, anything you put onto your skin is going to seep into your pores and have a positive or a negative effect. By checking out the ingredients of cosmetics before you buy will save you heartache and frustration when you’ve still got spots even with a killer skin care regime. Talk to beauty counter managers about your skin and ask for recommendations for acne friendly foundation and powder.

You can eat chocolate
It’s such a horrible myth that chocolate cause acne. I don’t know who started it but it’s completely false. Indulge in a Dairy Milk bar tonight.

You don’t necessarily need to see a dermatologist if you have pimples
If you are thinking of visiting a dermatologist for a few spots here and there, think carefully about the money your about to blow or see a GP first. Dermatologists are A. expensive and B. offer medical treatment you might not need. Try a few different recommended cleansers first. Try Origins Zero Oil Pore purifying toner and moisturizer with Saw Palmetto and Mint from Kit Cosmetics

Spot treatment works
Spot treatments are so great for drying out spots. I became discouraged after using many different supermarket brand spot clearing treatments and not seeing any results. I’ve now come to realize that paying that little bit extra for a dermatologist tested treatment will make a world of different to the redness and swelling of your spots. Try Mario Badescu Drying Lotion $48.95 or Dermalogica MediBac Overnight Clearing Gel $64.00 from Kit Cosmetics or (pictured)

How to: Get rid of adult acne Part 1

There is nothing worse than being the last of your friends covering up zits. Whether you’re just coming out of your teenage years or well into your 20′s, having acne past the age of 16 is a social nightmare. I know this as I am now 22 and still battling blemishes. When I’ve searched around on the internet for information on “what to do to get rid of blemishes” the information has been uninformative, irrelevant  and hardly ever from a source I actually trust! SO in an attempt to combat acne and misleading information I am going to be using myself (and possibly a few ring in friends) to become skin care guinea pigs over the next few weeks.

This first blog looks at Jurlique’s purifying mask range of products designed to rebalance the oils in your skin. .

Price: $55AUD 40ml

Stockists: Jurlique stores and David Jones.

Key Ingredients: Green Tea for rebalancing,

We love the: thick texture and great smell

Verdict: It’s a great product with some serious skin smoothing benefits. The thick texture draws out imperfections and leaves skin soft. It doesn’t actually clear spots but works as a mechanism to prevent spots appearing anytime soon!

Beauty Event: Jurlique – The Purely White Skin Brightening

Today in Sydney was a perfect day. I don’t usually believe in perfection but for today, I’ll make an exception. This perfect weather played host to launch the new Jurlique Purely White Skin Brightening range. Held in the picturesque Balmoral Beach, Public Dining Room beauty editors and media alike gathered to enjoy breakfast, company and skincare.

Having just moved to Sydney this was the first event I have had the privilege of attending. It’s great to gather with like minded women and discuss health, fashion and of course beauty. A gorgeous breakfast makes the morning even more enjoyable!

The event was hosted by the Vice President of Product Development at Jurlique, Isabella Richards. A skincare veteran of over 20 years I was honored to learn about the range from the makers hands.

The Purely White Skin Brightening Range is the latest release from Australian beauty brand Jurlique, the global beauty brand founded here in Australia. Jurlique provides luxury beauty products without harsh chemicals and uses plants and extracts from Australian soils to enhance your natural beauty.

Purely White is the natural way to brighten your skin. The products do so by using a new science innovation pioneered by Jurlique called VitaBrightX which is a collection of key natural ingredients including Kakadu Plum, Licorice Root, Black Elder and Willow Bark. Together these Australian farmed ingredients work to deliver a reduction in dark spots in 75% if clinical evaluation participants. (I actually feel safer with results when they aren’t ridiculous statistics like 99%, 75% just seems more truthful!)

Some key facts about the range.

The system is designed to work together, so following each step is easy and the best way to deliver results

95-98% of the ingredients are natural

Can lighten skin and dark spots in just 4 weeks.

It’s perfect for sensitive skin

The range is launched is February 2011. Get ready!

Beauty Spot: Del Aqua Hair & Beauty Spa

I once fell asleep during a massage. Yup, I fell straight asleep, because nothing relaxes me more then a day spa treatment. It was a lot to pay for nap though. Day spa’s have got to be my favorite way to unwind, mainly for the reason I feel as if I’m multitasking, receiving a much needed beauty treatment along with some seriously needed R&R.

Today I have the chance in indulge, unwind and fix a problematic skin condition at Del Aqua Hair & Beauty in Walsh Bay. Located on the shore around Walsh Bay next to the Sydney Dance Company Del Aqua is a tranquil place to rejuinvate and recharge.

On arrival I was greeted by my beautiful therapist Thez Caleo, who ushered me to a dimly lit therapy room which smelt of sweet candles and had a instant relaxation vibe. Thez who I soon found out was a Dermal Clinician assessed the poor condition of my skin to decide on the best treatment routine. Since moving to Sydney my skin has undergone some serious hardship.

I’ve been dealing with hormonal issues which has effected my skin, also I ran out of my cleanser and had no idea where to purchase it in Sydney so I’ve been using the wrong products and also I have not washed my brushes for a while as I’ve been so busy. So my skin isnt a happy camper right now. Thez at Del Aqua was able to identify every single problem my skin was going through without me saying a word. She let me know where I need to be taking extra care, apparently my eye area is beyond dehydrated. I’m not a big eye cream user, well I don’t actually use anything, but now I know I need to take care of the skin around my peepers.

The facial included a cleansing, steaming, a mask and a massage while the mask was settling. Complete bliss. The facilities at Del Aqua are five star and have the abilities to transport you out of your mundane Wednesday to a beach resort spa somewhere in the bahamas. As far as luxury goes Del Aqua has met it at the end.

To sum up my Del Aqua experience, clinical indulgence. Not only was my skin clinically assessed and treated but I was able to relax and unwind, and guess what, I didn’t fall asleep, hurrah.

The facial was provided by Del Aqua for editorial consent.

Beauty Spot: New Look for your Next Date Night?

That special time of year is upon us, not Christmas but just as exciting New York Fashion Week. Alas I haven’t made it to New York this season for the shows (pray for me to get there next season) so I’ve been keeping up with latest from the shows at style.com, the online bible for show coverage.

I spotted last night in the Christian Siriano show something super fun in the hair and makeup department. The new bun at Christian Siriano Spring/Summer 2011 Show created by Antoinette Beenders for Aveda. If I had to describe the texturized style on paper it would read something like ” a cross between a space age ‘do and a rum ball” but you know what I love it! I’m not sure I could rock it to the shops to buy milk or wear it on my next date night but for the runway it was innovative and exciting.

Antoinette from Aveda, the creator of the look says, “The Christian Siriano hair look for this season is all about different cultures mixing and blending together. The style is a modern bun—full of attitude—with sections of crimped hair cascading over it for texture. It’s a strong, contemporary twist on the classic bun.”

For those girls wanting to try the look out at home, just follow these easy steps!

HOW TO GET THE LOOK:

1. Brush hair with a Mason Pearson brush. Pull the top section of hair — from the hairline to the crown — and clip it out of the way.

2. Comb the remaining hair back into a tight, high ponytail and secure with a bungee elastic. Spray with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray for hold.

3. Spray Aveda Brilliant™ Spray-On Shine directly onto the bristles of a kabuki-style Aveda Uruku Bronzing Brush. “Paint” the sides of hair with the Uruku Bronzing Brush for shine.

4. Take the ponytail and braid it. Then twist the braid into a bun, securing to the head with bobby pins. Spray with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray for ultra-strong hold.

5. Remove the clip from the remaining top section of hair and comb to the crown. Working with small portions of hair (approximately one inch) at a time, use a micro-crimping iron to add texture from the crown to ends.

6. Brush the hair with a Mason Pearson brush to loosen the crimp. Gently pull the hair over the bun and secure at the base with hair pins. Spray with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray.

7. Pull a few pieces of hair out of the bun with fingers for extra texture. Set the look with Aveda Control Force™ Firm Hold Hair Spray.

If you do style your hair like this you MUST take photos and send them to me!

Beauty Spot: Cloud Nine

This picture below is my natural hair; please don’t click off the page yet though I promise I’m about to fix it. I can’t believe I’ve actually posted this online, call me courageous  but it’s necessary for me to be able to explain how great the Cloud Nine styler was.

Cloud Nine is a revolution in heat styling tools. The one question on everyone’s lips when a new heat styling tool is released seems to be: why is it better then a GHD? For once there is an interesting answer to this question. Cloud Nine stylers are brought out by the creators of GHD, they created what has been known as the best and improved on it, that got you interested huh?

The Cloud Nine’s revolutionary technology lies in the temperature gauge which allows you to change the heat depending on the style. What this means is no over-styled over heated hair every day. What I love is often I just need touch ups not a full style before I run out the door, pressing down 200C plus of heat everyday on your hair is going to damage it. Now you’ve got the opportunity to turn the heat down to smooth down my hair in a healthy way.

SO back to the trial, I let my hair dry naturally and just gave my roots a quick blowdry. I clicked on the Cloud Nine and set it to 150 degrees which is the recommended heat setting for creating straight her on naturally thick hair. I took the first photo during the ad break of NCIS and ran back to start styling when NCIS was back on. By the time the next ad break was on the next photo was ready to be taken. Yup, in just under five minutes the wide plate Cloud Nine iron smooth and straightened and looking healthier then ever. (AFTER PICTURE ABOVE)

Wide plate irons have often had a stigma attached to them that they are only designed for people with ringlets and that they were only for straightening. It’s a rumor I fully believed until I trialed the Cloud Nine wide plate iron. It was easy to use to curl, wave, straighten and smooth even though my hair isn’t crazily out of control. I’d call myself a wide plate devotee now even!

Verdict, loved every moment of trialing the Cloud Nine, it’s a cliché, but it really is a revolution. I’ve still got a GHD that I wouldn’t toss out, but for my next styler purchase I would invest in a Cloud Nine.

Beauty Spot: Grown

You might notice a trend with the beauty posts on An Australian Wintour, that being I’m a big fan of natural beauty. When I say natural beauty I’m referring to products that are chemical free (as they can be) and derived from organic ingredients.  Last year I went through a series of peels and laser treatments to eradicate the dirt and bacteria that was left underneath my skin from years of using cheap makeup and skincare. I’m only 21 years old and to have the much damage from using the wrong products for my skin was really scary. These days I’m so careful about what goes onto my face, that’s why I was so ecstatic when I was given the chance to review products from Australian botanical organic beauty brand Grown. (mouthful!)

Grown is a new generation of organic beauty. A few years ago you’d have to toddle down to your local health food store to purchase organic skincare and usually it would be packaged in a no frills box with little or no skin analysis. Times have changed (luckily) and organic beauty is a much more widespread concept. Grown have introduced organic beauty to nurture your skin for your prescribed condition.

The products are designed to increase collagen synthesis, restore the skins structure and balance and product against the signs of premature aging. As I said above I’m only 21 years old so it might seem a bit silly to worrying about anti aging, but what these products do is skin keep your skins looking smooth, soft and maintain a balanced complexion which is desirable at any age.

The two products I was given to test were the ‘Matte Balancing Facial Moisturiser’ designed for combination skin and the ‘Radiance Restoring Facial Serum’. I started by using both products morning and night but using the serum during the day was a bit too heavy for my skin. So I’ve been using the Radiance Serum at night and the Matte Balancing Moisturiser during the day underneath my makeup. The products are smooth, smell great, packaged beautifully and really make a different to my skin. The Radiance Serum is amazing waking up after having it on during my sleep my skin looks almost perfect the next morning I am glowing even though I hate mornings! The extent to which I loved these products is proven by the fact I’ve purchased a cleanser from David Jones to complete the regime. If you are someone who is wary of chemicals in beauty products I recommend you give Grown a go. With ingredients like Acai berry, Wheatgerm, Watermelon and White Tea your skin will be replenished, settled, happy and healthy!

Beauty Spot: Neutrogena Wave Test & Review

The picture to the left of your screen is a photo of my Friday night. This fateful evening of 18^th June 2010 consists of studying for my exams, a gold Magnum (amazing) and testing the new Neutrogena Wave blackhead eliminating pads.

The Magnum was not necessary part of the festivities but it did help to keep my spirits alive.

I was recently sent the Neutrogena wave to test out and tonight when I felt my skin was in need of some serious TLC to give it a go.  Please note I’ve got to be the world’s fussiest skin care consumer, last year I had a set of chemical peels to get my skin in tip top shape. I now continually live in fear that I might reverse the good the peels did by using the wrong skin care products. What tempted me and pushed me to try out the Neutrogena Wave was how unbelievably fun it looked. Vibrating my face on a Friday night, I really couldn’t think of any better way to spend my weekend, so I gave it a whirl.

What They Will Tell You (what the back of the box said):  Helps remove blackheads from first use. Clinically proven to help unclog pores and to sweep away dead skin cells. Basically the wave is a vibrating toothbrush for your face. But pink and shaped nothing like a toothbrush. The pads are the disposable attachments that contain the goodies to clean your face (face-wash).

What It Did For Me: Man this was fun; I really want to wash my face again. Hopefully the appeal of vibrating my face doesn’t wear off. Anyway so it successfully removed my makeup  (expect my eye makeup I wasn’t sure about vibrating my eyeballs) and got my skin looks clean and tight. I’m not sure if it eliminated any blackheads because to be honest I don’t have that many (I will let you know when I put it to the test on my flat mate).

What I Thought: I really hope the appeal of vibrating my face is as appealing as my skin will look. It’s a little hard to tell after one use, but I feel great. I would defiantly recommended during some serious moisture control because in the stripping bare process it really takes everything with it! It’s fun,  t’s pink and it’s something new and innovative, so I loved it. I would like it even more if it had some kind of storage system for my bathroom though, that reads: “Stop it, this is for my face!”

 

Happy Friday

 

Beauty Spot: Best Hand Creams

Finally you say! Something non RAFW related. I loved my time there, but I’m happy to get back to my mundane life. Here’s a lil beauty to kick us off!

If there was one thing my mother drilled into me it was moisturizing your hands in winter. She scared me by saying if I didn’t my skin would crack and I’d look like a reptile. I’m quiet afraid of lizards so it seemed moisturizing was my only option. It’s a good habit which I’ve carried after I moved out, thanks Mum! So as winter rolls around in Australia it’s time to stock up on my hand creams to keep my skin happy in the bitter cold. So here are a few of my picks for winters best hand creams to keep your hands smooth and so you don’t grow lizard hands.

 

 

 

Body Shop Almond Oil Hand and Cuticle Cream

Smells Like: A delicious cake

Feels like: The richness only oil can deliver, like the oil from the delicious cake

Clarins Hand and Nail Cream

Smells Like: My hands?

Feels Like: I stole it from my mum’s bathroom, I feel a bit to young to be using Clarins products.

Jurlique Jasmine Hand Cream

Smells Like: The Garden of Eden on your hands

Feels Like: I spent way to much money on a hand cream, but it’s worth every scent to make my hands feel this soft

Dove Conditioning Hand Cream

Smells Like: Sorborlene cream

Feels Like: My hands might end up dry in a few hours.

 I’m all about the smell of the hand cream, I often find myself stopping in public places to smell my hands over and over, probably not appropriate. Right now I’m sticking with my Jurlique hand cream, probably for the long run. Let me know what hand cream you love!