Will Jurlique's Calendula Redness Rescue Range rescue me?

Jurlique's Calendula Redness Rescue Range - Calming Mist (left), Soothing Moisturising Cream (middle) and Restorative Treatment Serum (right)

Whenever rosacea sinks its claws into my already sensitive skin, it often leaves it looking scorched, ravaged and in despair. It's a vicious cycle really -- my skin gets better, then my body will suddenly chime in and say "you're stressed, woman" and soon after the niggly bumps start to reemerge I find myself back where I started.

Square one with red cheeks.

Most, if not all, store products really aren't a cure all, but they can help to quell the fiery inferno working its way across my face.

Here's hoping Jurlique's Calendula Redness Rescue trio works to cut the blushing and the rest of the nasty experience.

I'll keep you posted about my findings.

Increase your good hair day chances with these

Bumble and bumble's Thickening Dry Spun Finish Spray (left), Alterna's Bamboo Beach Ocean Waves (middle) and Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream (right) 

Now that it’s Fall (Autumn to you) in Australia it’s almost as if the changing of seasons green-lit incessant rainfall. It’s gotten to the point where my umbrella has literally become an appendage and I already carry around enough crap with me as it is.

Heat styling or blowdrying my hair is a wasted exercise most days, because I can assure you my once smooth hair will mushroom cloud above my shoulders — that’s never a good look on anyone, me included.

My hair needs a fighting chance, so I’ve created a cocktail of sorts to help keep the frizz at bay, my waves in tact, perhaps a modicum of texture and even a smidge of volume.

I don’t think I’m asking for too much, right?

The result

In fight club terms, here's a breakdown of how I get my unruly hair to behave on super meh days...

• The straight punch - I use Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream to subdue the frizz.
• The hook - once I've combed through Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream, I'll then spray Alterna's Bamboo Beach Ocean Waves all over and comb through once more. Speaking from experience, I find any variant of Beach Spray (Bumble and Bumble, John Frieda or even Frederic Fekkai) helps to give me piece-y, windswept waves.
• The uppercut - Once my hair has air dried for the better part of an hour - but not before tipping my head over to scrunch/jush my waves - I finish with Bumble and Bumble's Thickening Dry Spun Finish Spray to further enhance the texture of my hair and to add a bit of volume.

I realise it's more product than I'd like to use, but it's the only way I can deal.

What do you typically do with your hair on rainy/humid days?

A peek at the cheeks: NARS Matte Multiple in Laos

NARS Matte Multiple in Laos

Matte Multiple. You instantly think two-in-one, especially when you finally do spot the price on the register's screen.

Girl's eyes be like, 0o. Guess, I won't be getting that lipstick tonight, too.

What exactly does this twofer do? For the cheeks you can go one of two ways:

• Apply wet (brush and water required) for a sheer wash of colour
• Apply dry (directly from the tube and use those fingers to blend, blend, blend) for a higher impact look

As for Laos being worn on the lips, I've only tried applying it straight from the tube.

Side by side comparison: Matte Multiple (top) and The Multiple (bottom)

 Matte Multiple (left) and The Multiple (right)

 Matte Multiple in Laos (left) and The Multiple in Copacabana (right)

Size and price-wise you're paying the same price for about half the product, so what gives? NARS Matte Multiple isn't trying to pretend to be her sister, The Multiple, she's actually attempting to steal the baton in order to run for the horizon.

This little sister is pigmented and perky, but if you give her a glass of water she'll cool off and simmer down.

Laos loves to vogue 

Swatches of Laos: applied dry (left) and wet (right)

Last week I put Laos (a rose coral) through its paces. We ate dinner with Scott, had Personal Training with Casey and chatted with Hannah and Michelle at work. I'd like to think I gave Laos a thorough workout.

Laos on the cheeks is a major boon. It lasts all day (including through said workout) and it's easy to apply -- I love tapping a bit of product onto my cheeks and letting my fingers do the work. As for the final look, it's seamless and effortless.

While little sister Laos loves the cheeks, she hates going out for a spin on the lips. I repeat, hates. I wore Laos on my lips for the better part of my work day last week and felt self-conscious doing so. This particular matte formula is moisture wicking, settles in all the wrong places and wears down in the most unforgiving manner. It felt like I was wearing a pair of too tight pantyhose -- muffin top abound.

Wearing Laos on my lips and cheeks

NARS Matte Multiple is available in six other shades, two of which (I think) are meant to be used for contouring.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for NARS Matte Multiple in Laos:

• $58.00 AUS / $39.00 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — when only used on the cheeks
• 1 out of 10 bags  — for the lacklustre performance on my lips

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Temptalia gave us a look at the NARS Adult Swim Collection. I must say, Lost Coast looks appetising.

Beauty in a tick: Arbonne's CC Cream

Arbonne's CC Cream

A few years ago I worked as a bank teller in a really affluent Massachusetts' town and I was hustling to burst out of there. For a hot second I was courted to become an Arbonne saleslady.

Yep, you heard it here first.

Long story short a customer had sold me on a few products; cut to me attending an Arbonne sales consultant event with said customer in attempt to serve me some Kool-Aid. In the States, if you hit your sales goals they give you Tiffany jewellery. That's right, give.

But I saw through the pyramid scheme and even had a moment when my mind flashed back to Roald Dahl's The Witches. My mind jogged to the part where the boy spied the witches convening at the hotel  -- one second they were these miserly women and by the next second they had peeled their masks off! I kept waiting for this to happen, but it never did.

Every time I hear or read the name Arbonne I instantly think of The Witches, which I realise is unfair, but the mind (mine especially) has a funny way of working.

Swatch of Arbonne's CC Cream in light (applied heavily)

Swatch of Arbonne's CC Cream in light (sheered out)

Arbonne's (C)omplexion (C)ontrol Cream promises to "mattify, moisturise and prime all at the same time." While I did share a similar experience to Arbonne's claims, I wasn't prepared for the CC Cream to slip and pool within my pores after a few hours of wear. Initially the coverage was smooth, but something gave way and forced Arbonne's variant to make my pores appear larger than life. 

If it hadn't been for Arbonne's migratory flight pattern, I could've gotten on board. 

Wearing Arbonne's CC Cream in light

If you think the 10 benefits Arbonne promotes for using their CC Cream (Primer; Protector; Concealer; Hydrator; Mattifier; Brightener; Blemish Cover; Pore Refiner; Comforter and Complexion Controller) outweighs my own personal user experience, then head on over to Arbonne to check out the other three shades (fair, medium and dark) available for purchase.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Arbonne's CC Cream:

• $49.00 AUS / $40.00 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 3 out of 10 bags — meh, I'll go back to using my Jane Iredale Foundation

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Arbonne has an amazing eye cream, but I can't seem to find it on their site.

*PR sample provided –  Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.