I am a fan of natural products because of the benefits they give. Therefore, I love using brands that incorporate natural ingredients to enhance the effectiveness of their products. Having had my hair recently permanently straightened, I have been having trouble with maintaining the smoothness and silkiness of it. I was recently quite lucky to get sent these products to review to suit my hair condition. 

REF, Stockholm Sweden is a brand that has a passion for embracing and promoting simplicity, sustainability and quality. They are driven by Swedish standards, which accounts for their name. Through the use of high-quality natural products such as quinoa, they are able to maximise the benefits in their products as well as follow their brand philosophy of using 100% vegan ingredients.


Intense Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner:

Enriched with strengthening quinoa protein, organic coconut oil and colour preserve system these shampoo and conditioners are the keys to maintaining natural, healthy hair. The quinoa protein contains essential amino acids that assist in repairing, protecting and preserving natural beauty in hair. To provide deep hydration to the hair, REF combines organic coconut oil which contains fatty acids. Coconut oil also nourishes the scalp and helps hair grow longer and faster. The colour preserve system helps maintain hair colour for long lasting illuminating colour reflection and shine. The colour preserve system consists of sunflower seed oil, which contains oleic acid that helps stop breakage and stimulate hair growth as well as REF's anti-fade system. The anti-fade system works like a natural full spectrum UV helping preserve hair colour for long.

The shampoo is used first to help lather, cleanse and get rid of any dust that may be on the hair. It also helps add hydration to the hair by providing moist. The conditioner is used next and I recommend applying and distributing it evenly through the hair and leaving in for about 3-4 minutes. This helps the ingredients to settle in the hair.


Heat Protection:

Like the conditioner and shampoo, this heat protection spray is enriched with strengthening quinoa protein and colour preserve system to nourish the hair as well as provide a protective layer against heat. The spray has a soft, sweet scent that makes the hair smell have a summery feel. The spray also gelps give shine and light to the hair ensuring that hair looks natural all the time. The directions to use this are spraying evenly onto hair before the use of any heat. I recommend using it on damp hair before blow drying and on dry hair before curling or straightening.

Dry Shampoo:

This dry shampoo is such a life saver!! I use this when I feel lazy to wash my hair because it helps freshen up the hair by adding volume, firmness and texture without the need of washing. Again enriched with the strengthening quiona protein and colour preserve system this dry shampoo is honestly a must have, especially when travelling or camping. It also smells great which is a bonus if you want your hair to be feeling fresh. The directions to using this product is shaking the can well and then holding it 15-20 cm away from hair and spraying evenly.


All of these REF products can be purchased at most hair care stores and salons.

I hope you all enjoyed this review, let me know xx

- https://www.bio-oil.com/en-us/product/introduction

First Impressions 

When I received my bio oil sample, I really liked how minimal and clean the boxing was. When I opened the boxing, a small bottle of bio oil was inside. The contents of the bottle are bright orange because of the ingredients in the oil. 

Benefits

Bio oil has many benefits to improve the appearance of skin and minimise any blemishes. Some of these benefits include improving the appearance of new and old scars, keeping skin supple and moist, improving the appearance of uneven skin, smoothing and toning ageing skin as well as helping add a supplement to skin's natural oils. 

Application Methods:

I usually apply the Bio Oil to all parts of my body to get the most benefits out. Usually, I like to apply this oil on my face after cleansing, drying and applying toner. This helps the oil settle into my face before applying moisturiser. Also, if you want your skin to be feeling soft and silky while wearing makeup, then a tip is to apply some of this oil in your foundation application brush. This helps add extra moisture to the skin as well keep the skin supple. Another use of this oil is to apply it to any uneven and/or dark spots. The oil will help reduce the effect of these as it did with mine.


Where to buy: 
Due to the effectiveness of this bio oil, many pharmacies in Australia have it in stock. This includes Priceline, Chemist warehouse and Terry white chemists. Bio oil is also available at places such as Big W and Target. If you were looking to purchase bio oil online, then the best website is here. 



Hope you all enjoyed reading this short blog and learning more about Bio Oil. Let me know your thoughts xx

                                                               Hello Beauties 😘😘😘

I am so so sorry I have been so MIA lately. I have been so busy trying to get into uni life and complete assignments on time, as well as work. I am finally on my mid-semester break so I will be able to post a lot more. Anyways, today I will be doing a long awaited post on my thoughts on the new line from coral colour cosmetics and natural glamour. I was so lucky to be sent these makeup goodies to sample and try as they have now become a part of my everyday makeup routine. 

Coral Colours

Coral colours is an Australian company, first launched in 1989. This company offers on-trend makeup products for an affordable price. This company also offers a wide range of makeup products for the eyes, lips, nails and face in various colours empowering and satisfying their customers. 

The Products: 

I was sent two of their newest lipsticks from the new matte line. These lip colours are in the shades "01878 Blush" and "01882 Sunburst". These two colours are so vibrant and are suitable for a more dramatic makeup look. Out of these two shades, my favourite is the "01878 Blush" as it matches my dark skin tone and also suitable with most monochromatic toned clothes (mostly what I own).  The "01882 Sunburst" consists of a shimmery, orangish colour. I personally am not a fan of this shade as it does not suit my skin tone, however, it would look nice for an evening look. The formula of these lipsticks is soft and silky allowing easy application on the lips. However, I would still recommend wearing a lip balm before application just to allow the lipstick to settle in well. Below are some swatches of the two colours. 

2) 

This is one of the best products I have ever tried. It is a bronzer/highlighter that adds a glow to enhance the complexion. The glow given off is soft yet enough for a natural evening look. I usually wear this as a part of my everyday makeup look because it helps brighten up my face making it more lively. I recommend wearing this with a darker bronzer on the cheekbone to help sculpture the cheekbones for a more defined look. The packaging of this is also so adorable and easy to fit in any makeup bag. The price of this is also affordable for such a high-quality product.


3)

Natural Glamour

(Left - Right):

1) Perfecting Primer: Out of all of the primers I have previously used, this one is definitely my favourite due to the smooth and soft texture it gives. This primer is suitable for wearing before foundation for ease of application as well as to minimise any pores and keep the makeup lasting longer.  This is a must have product for anyone's makeup bag. Directions: To apply this primer, ensure that the face is clean, dried and moisturised. Press down on the application tip to release the product and rub all over the face.

2) Anti-aging foundation: Made with unique vitamins and sodium hyaluronate to counteract ageing, this foundation is soft and silky on the skin allowing for easy application. This foundation has a high coverage so it can be used as a part of daily makeup routine without the need for use of concealers.  I also love how the foundation colour matches my skin tone so it looks natural. This foundation gives a matte finished looked so that the wearer looks "on fleek". The only thing I am not a fan of about this product is the citrus smell it has.

Hello Beauty Babes 💝

I am in love with organic, natural and Australian skin care products because I am a strong believer of the use of natural ingredients for skincare. When I got in touch with Mokosh I was extremely excited to be offered to collaborate with them in reviewing these organic goodies. I was send out their start kit to sample and try out. 

Mokosh skin care products are 100% certified organic, strictly free of preservatives and other synthetic ingredients, and made using pure, ethically sourced botanicals. 

Mokosh products are formulated with the idea that nature provides in perfect form everything we need for true health. We have distilled the latest scientific research to select the most potent, cell supporting and rejuvenating organic ingredients to formulate our range. Combining this western approach with knowledge from the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, we have formulated unique products that work with the body’s healing and regenerative systems, helping create balance which, according to Ayurveda, is the path to health, longevity and enlightenment.

The products:

Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator and Mask

I am loving this product because it is a cleanser, exfoliator and a mask all in one! This means you only need one product to do all of these, which is great as you save more bathroom space and also money in not needing to buy three separate products. This product has aloe vera, meadowsweet & pomegranate which all have benefits on maintaining and rejuvenating skin. Aloe vera has nutrients that are beneficial for treating acne, burns, visibility of stretch marks as well as acting as a moisturizer. Meadowsweet is used for firming skin, helping leave the skin feeling soft and smooth and looking refreshed.  Pomegranate not only has health benefits, it also poses skin benefits. Some of these skin benefits include strengthening the epidermis which helps the skin become stronger. It also contains sun protection properties so you can wear this product before going out on a sunny day without getting any sun burns (but make sure to wear sunscreen for additional protection!). 

This product comes as a powder and needs to be mixed with water for a certain time depending on what you use it for before applying it. If you are using this product as a cleanser or exfoliant then take 1 teaspoon of the product and mix it with some luke warm water to make a smooth paste. Apply on the face using circular motions. If you want to use this product as a mask, then prepare it the same way as above but leave for an additional 15 -20 minutes for the natural ingredients to really settle in. I really love using this product as part of my everyday skin care routine as it helps reduce the appearance of any redness and scars on my face. 

 

As a blogger, one thing that really attracted me to this brand is the use of natural organic products. This company has won several awards for having such natural products that deliver outstanding results. Another amazing thing about Kosmea is that they provide the local people of Lesotho (South Africa) with a sustainable income. 

For those of you that have dry and dehydrated skin this product is perfect! Although I have only used it for a week, my skin softness and plumpness has really changed. This Organic Rosehip Oil contains Linolenic Acid which is an omega 3-fatty acid that helps repair dry skin by providing nourishment hence why the dryness of my skin has begun to fade.

- http://www.kosmea.com.au/what-is-in-rosehip-oil

My first impressions when I received this product was about how adorable the packaging was. I really liked the small white box with the pink designs because that gave such a calm and relaxing feel. The Rosehip Oil is so easy to apply because it has a small squeeze top at the front which releases the oil. The only downside of this oil is the smell of it, which I am not a fan of if I am being honest. However, everything else about this product absolutely does not disappoint! 

I recommend wearing this oil after washing your face at night before going to sleep as this helps lock in the ingredients to keep the face feeling and looking refreshed the next day. Another tip that I started is putting this oil on my blending sponge as I am placing foundation on. Due to the omega-6-fatty acid, Linoleic acid, in the oil helps cells provide a natural barrier from any environmental damage, which in this case would be from the foundation. It also adds a nice glow to the skin when the foundation is being applied to give you a more fun look!

2) Apple of my Eye Cream


Do you suffer from really bad under eye circles? If so, this product is your saviour. I have used this product for a week and a half now and my under eye circles have miraculously began to disappear. My eyes have brightened up so I have started to use less corrector and concealer on my dark circles. This product comes in an adorable tube that has a application tip making it so easy to apply. The tip is also curved so that the product can be spread smoothly. I also love how this product instantly makes my eyes feel refreshed by giving a cooling finishing effect. This product smells so divinely making me want to keep applying it! 

Ingredients: 

1. PhytoCellTec™ Apple Stem Cells
2. Certified Organic Rosehip Oil
3. White Tea Extract
4. Shea Butter
5. Carrot Extract

How to get these products?

Kosmea is a widely famous skin care line that is available in most pharmacies in Australia like Priceline, Chemplus, Terry White Pharmacies. It is also found in David Jones. If you are not from Australia and want to purchase these Kosmea goodies, you can do so by clicking here. 

Having recently completed year 12 and been on a 3 month holiday I haven't had much time to focus on my skin. My skin became really dry, especially since it is Summer here in Australia, and this dryness became really concerning to me. I was looking for products to help soothen and soften my skin and came across Scrubba Body, a highly reputable, Australian company focused on delivering handmade body scrubs, goats milk and soy candles. I was extremely lucky to be sent two of their best selling body scrubs to try and review. 

The first thing you notice when you get your Scrubba Body body scrub is how minimal and adorable the packaging is. The pack also comes with a cute little spoon, which is handy when applying the scrub. The body scrub is placed inside a black bag with a white "dripped look" sign that says Scrubba Body and a coloured label which is specific to the different flavour. Each of the body scrub flavours have different benefits to best suit different skin types and more information about them can be found here: 

- https://www.scrubbabody.com.au/pages/about-us 

The Body Scrubs

From Scrubba Body Website: 

When I first opened this scrub I was drawn to that fresh smell of coffee mixed with salt (which really does smell like coffee and summer). I could not wait to try it on, so I immediately ran into the shower and tried it. After applying the scrub all over, waiting 10 minutes and rinsing it off, I was astounded by how soft my skin had gotten in a matter of just few minutes. This scrub has fresh and natural ingredients which can be seen from the eye as it is applied. 

This coconut body scrub also has many benefits including moisturising the skin and targeting infections with anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. The scrub is not harsh on the skin, therefore it is suitable to be used 2-3 times a week. I recommend using a facial toner and moisturiser after using the scrub to maintain skin softness. 

Ingredients

Ground arabica coffee beans, raw sugar, almond oil, coconut oil, salt, cinnamon, shredded coconut,  fragrance.

From Scrubba Body Website: 

Review

Benefits of Scrubba Body Scrubs

Ground Arabica Coffee Beans

Coffee beans have a powerful ability remove dead skin cells without damaging or causing any harm to the skin. Coffee gently helps restore skin's natural glow and elasticity. 

Raw Sugar

Sugar is a natural humectant so it helps hydrate and keep the skin nourished. Also, sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, which encourages cell turnover by breaking bonds that keeps skin cells together. Sugar is a great addition in the scrub to promote youthful and glowing skin. 

Almond Oil

Almond oil has numerous skin benefits due to the properties it has. It can be used to treat fine lines, rashes and signs of ageing. Not only this, it can also be used to remove eczema & psoriasis as well as dark circles & tan. 

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a powerful natural oil. It offers deep cleansing while tackling fungal infections as well as helping prevent premature ageing. 

Salt

Salt is used widely for it ability to act as an exfoliate to remove dead skin cells as well soften the skin. 

All of these wonderful, natural ingredients come together in a Scrubba Body Scrub to offer you the best scrubbing you can get! I highly recommend these scrubs to anyone because they will leave you glowing, softened and silky. 

You can purchase these body scrubs and more (soy candles, goat milk soaps and soy wax melts) through Scrubba Body's Website.

Hello Everyone!

I recently went to Sri Lanka for a family holiday and a break after my year 12 studies. During this trip I was able to explore parts of Sri Lanka that I have not ever heard of or ever been to. This was really exciting for me as I got to reunite with my relatives while we were travelling around Sri Lanka. I will add short descriptions of the places I visited (including a historical and/or religious summary) with some pictures for you to get a real taste of Sri Lanka. 

Whether it is enjoying a nice walk along the beach or eating a delicious ice cream while sitting on the sand, Matara Beach offers a pristine and calm environment for people to relax in. There is a small Buddhist temple across the bridge on a mini island (seen on the picture). The soft, sea breeze on your skin accompanies you across the bridge. This temple has to be one of my favourite temples ever as it is so peaceful. Matara beach looks as if it is kindling its own symphony - calm and unspoiled - however it is not safe to swim there. 

3) Ranminithenna Tele Cinema Village

4)"Indigenous Sri Lankan Village" Dambana, Sri Lanka

The Indigenous people of Sri Lanka are called "Vedda".

What is their history? 

According to the genesis chronicle of the Sinhala people, the Mahavamsa ("Great Chronicle"), written in the 5th century CE, the Pulindas believed to refer to Veddas are descended from Prince Vijaya (6th–5th century BCE), the founding father of the nation, through Kuveni, a woman of the indigenous Yakkha he married. The Mahavansa relates that following the repudiation of Kuveni by Vijaya, in favour of a Kshatriya-caste princess from Pandya, their two children, a boy and a girl, departed to the region of Sumanakuta (Adam's Peak in the Ratnapura District), where they multiplied, giving rise to the Veddas. Anthropologists such as the Seligmanns (The Veddas 1911) believed the Veddas to be identical with the Yakkha.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedda

An elderly Vedda with an axe

5) Trincomalee

1) Marble Beach 

2) Nilaveli Beach 

       

3) Hot wells, Kanniya

4) Koneswaram temple

Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient city in Sri lanka. It was a kingdom ruled by King Vijayabahu l. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared as a World Heritage Centre due to the remains and importance of Sri Lankan history it carries. When going to Polonnaruwa there is a map of many remaining monuments that you can visit. Because of time constraints I was only able to goto a few of these historical monuments but they were all honestly so amazing!

8) On the way attractions