By Luisa Petch and Dana Wilton
With Daylight Savings almost upon us we are gearing ourselves up for long hot, sultry nights and booking in the barbeques and cocktail parties. Yipee!
We need to say goodbye to our dreary winter wardrobes and peel out our spring dresses and sexy sandals.
A wardrobe change can make us suddenly feel alive!
But it is also time to slough away our dead skins cells and bare our bodies. A seriously scary thought for some of us!
In the coming weeks Dana and I will be giving you the inside scoop on body products, self tanning products, and sun blocks so you can hit the beach running. Yes, we will do all the dirty work for you so you can hit the shops and know just what to buy. Keep an eye on ‘The Beauty Kit’
After what seemed a VEERRRRYY long winter our skin will probably be in need of some Skin Treats to get that Spring Glow shining through and also take care of it as we slip outdoors.
Here are some products we have been trying lately.
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense For Face
SPF 50 Sunscreen PA+++
Wow what a mouthful, but that’s what you get with such a serious product.
If you have never heard of EA Eight Hour Cream I would like to know what rock you have been hiding under for my bad days.
This is a cult product. It now comes with a huge SPF50. That means up to 8 hours protection and hydration.
I was fortunate enough to give this product the ultimate test in Fiji, and I highly recommend. If you’re too busy sipping Pina Coladas to remember your sun block, this wont need to be applied continuously, therefore saving you valuable time and money. It comes in a handy sized tube for your beach bag and is also endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Enough said.
50ml RRP $38
Available at Elizabeth Arden counters
L’Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle + Firming Daycream SPF 18
Claims: Pro-Retinol A+ Elastin technology stimulates the skin to thicken so wrinkles appear to reduce and skin becomes firmer and lifted. Rose extract calms, and UVA&UVB protection prevents premature skin ageing.
I was a fan of the original Revitalift formula but drifted away from it as newer, cheaper moisturisers came onto the market. L’Oreal has reformulated the product to include more elastin and reduced the price of the Revitalift to be able to compete in the market and the strategy has worked. I noticed the product was out of stock at my local Countdown.
The one I am reviewing only came out this past month and is for sensitive skin. It is a thick formula that sinks into the skin quickly and allows for easy make up application.
On bare skin it leaves a lovely soft sheen that doesn’t look too “suncreeny”. The real test for me comes when I remove a product at night and see what state my skin is in. I was not surprised to see a relatively calm complexion.
I trust this range completely and am pleased at the new pricing and formulas. Revitalift never causes breakouts which is great for those unlucky people like myself who suffer from spots regularly but want an anti ageing moisturiser without paying too
much. I recommend this product as a good day cream. A very good all rounder.
MAC Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lipbalm
New to MAC and on range permanently is Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lipbalm.
Not too shiny or slippery, these little tubes provide lots of moisture, soft natural looking colour and a good strong sun block.
The small squeeze tube can be applied directly to lips, which I love and is a lot easier than lugging a giant tube of 8 hour cream around with you. I tried the “Just a smidge” which is a soft pastel pearly lemon colour, which would be nice if you are looking for something that gives you an almost nude slight gold shimmer - a good choice for those who don’t like the look of lipstick and cant find a non-sticky gloss they like. Sure to be a hit this summer.
RRP $40.00
MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15
Tired of my usual mineral foundation I gave MAC s new Studio Moisture Tint a go.
Permanently on range, these five neutral skin-tone shades clean up the complexion while letting the skin glow. They are similar to the popular Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser in texture, which I love.
They smooth on very easily and are not too greasy but might require a bit of powder around the nose for those women with combination skin. Apply with the Fibre Optic brush when you have the time or use clean fingers.
Don’t use a sponge with these, as you will waste the product. I wore it with some crème blush, black mascara and a tinted lip balm and felt polished and fresh…for about half the day. Needed a touch of concealer and powder mid afternoon. Good for those who don’t feel like layering sunscreen, moisturizer and foundation this spring as this product will provide all that if your skin is clear enough.
RRP $60.00