While I’ve been posting about some of my Secrets to Perfect Skin, some of you have asked me to come up with product alternatives that are more suited to a tight budget but still do a great job.  This isn’t always an easy ask as there is just so much on the market that is ‘cheap’; but effective and inexpensive don’t always go hand in hand.  So I’ve been doing a bit of research, using myself as a guinea pig and have found a few simple solutions that are both affordable and give amazing results.

First up the skin care system.  While I’ve been using Sothy’s for a number of years now, it isn’t always an affordable option depending on what else I’ve been doing with my credit card that month. (Damn you Etsy!) One of the things I knew was that finding something that had quality ingredients for a smallish price was not going to be easy. So I took my list of nasty’s and no no’s shopping with me, and spent ages pouring over packaging to make sure that I could narrow the list before subjecting my skin to any distress.

The long and short of all this is a range that gets a tick in every box.  The Trilogy range is a New Zealand based company that uses all natural ingredients and actually has an easily accessible and understandable list of ingredients available on each product. Not hidden away, but even searchable in alphabetical order on their website which impressed me.  First up I had been using their handcream which gave me near miracle results. Smelt great, went in well and had a very soothing, therapeutic effect.  So after reading what was and wasn’t in their products, I decided to give it a trial run while I was on my last trip away.  They happened to have a good special at the time on their travel minis which meant that I could get the whole range that I needed at a fraction of the cost – perfect!

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The results I got from these products was fantastic.  I’ve been suffering from regular hormonal breakouts along my jaw line which no amount of regular facials was helping. I’d been steaming, cleansing, masking all the usual, but I couldn’t seem to improve it very much.  After a week of using the full system, (cleanser, toner, moisturiser) the bumpy bits were gone.  I should also tell you that while I was testing this skin care I was getting about 4 hours of sleep a night, partying to the wee hours and working all day; so it had a heck of a lot to cope with!

From the research I’ve done on their website, it also appears that none of their products contain parabens either, which is a bonus as I know a number of readers are severely allergic to these too.  The price for each full sized bottle is around the $38 mark, but they also have regular specials. I picked up the whole system at the Myer stock take sales just this last week.  I think my favorite product has to be the spritzing facial toner as it has the most divine scent and is so refreshing. It know it is only psychological, but somehow the spritzing action makes me feel cleaner.

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The next thing I wanted to address was the whole gentle exfoliation thing I’d been asked about.  Given that every-one’s skin is different and exfoliation is usually something recommended as a weekly activity only, it is hard to give specifically general advice (see what I mean?).  However,  removing all traces of makeup with a washcloth is one way of tackling the daily exfoliation challenge.  It isn’t about a scrub, but just about making sure there is no crap left on your skin and increasing the blood flow to the surface.  And yes, you can use a standard flannel washcloth but I wanted to find something a little bit different that would only be used by me and not end up becoming part of the morning ‘wheat-bix off face removal’ system. (Anyone with kids knows what I’m talking about here).  Here is the super cool and very cute tool I found for just such a task.

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This is a Jelly Cleansing Puff. Found at a Korean beauty store, I’m sure my Asian based readers will have seen these before, but they certainly aren’t common here in Australia. But they are fantastic!  The texture is actually like squishy, wet but firm jelly, and they can be washed and squeezed out as you go.  It is an almost sponge like texture, but has enough texture to help remove any remaining makeup and if you rub gently on the skin, helps to increase the blood flow without any rough edges or scrubbing. Maybe these are just another gimmick, but they are fun to use and so far after a week of using it, I have seen an improvement to the clarity of my skin.  Have any of you used these before? Do you know anything about them?

The other thing that is huge in Asia right now, but hasn’t made it to mainstream here in Australia, is BB Cream – Blemish Balm Cream.  Basically it is a tinted moisturiser with an SPF, but has much more coverage than any other tinted moisturiser I’ve found to date.  The reason I started using this is that during winter, my skin becomes even paler and I often find that my foundation is just too dark. Even the palest porcelain colours still just don’t work.  But this BB Cream from The Face Shop is EXACTLY the right shade for my skin and gives me amazing coverage!  I use it over my regular daily moisturiser like a foundation, then set it with a clear, loose translucent powder.  It is more dewy than the mineral foundation I’m used to, but can be powdered to a matt finish.   I can’t find this exact cream on their website, but it is in store and comes in at about $52 for the tube.  I’ve been using it solidly for about the last 3 months and haven’t finished it yet.

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Of course, every time I shop at The Face Shop I pick up a few other nick nacks to try out and this time I picked up their 3/4 lashes to try.  These have fast become my new everyday favorite lashes with a good length, spread and thickness.  They also have a decent width base to apply the glue to.  They are easy to clean and remove the glue from to use over and over again, in fact I’m still on the same pair after five weeks. Which at approximately $4 a pair makes these crackingly good value!

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So there you go my friends, affordable, effective alternatives for creating a simply beautiful face!

When it comes to presenting a face that looks first class, the secret is in the skin care. As you know from my previous posts on the topic, it is as much about what you put in as what you put on your skin. So when it comes to the old argument about where to spend your cash, good quality skin care wins out for me over makeup every time.  This is not to say that it needs to cost a fortune, but I do believe in buying the best you can afford and doing your research to make sure that you know what you are really getting in those fancy packages.

Here is what I am using at the moment…

The Neutrogena eye makeup remover is an absolute lifesaver!  With the amount of eyeliner I use put together with eyelash glue and all manner of colours, it can be a big job to get it all off.  I came across this one in a moment of desperation after many of the fancier brands had failed to handle the job.  It is a two part type of liquid that has to be shaken before application, but then removes EVERY trace of eye makeup within two gentle passes!

My other super skin care secret is a salon product range called Sothy’s. It is a french skin care line and has done the most amazing job of restoring my skin to great condition after I gave it a bit of a beating.  I used to get broken capillaries all across my cheeks and it wasn’t until my beautician put me onto the Sothy’s range especially for this that they healed and stopped occurring.  The Beauty Milk has a light texture and is fantastic for cleansing the whole face slowly, gently and retaining the moisture without ending up “squeaky clean”. (In case you’re wondering, squeaky clean is actually a very bad thing for your skin. If it squeaks it’s in pain!)

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I also use the Sothy’s “Morning Cleanser” which is fabulous for a deep clean and does the trick after a day of heavy makeup, like photo shoots and such. I spend the time to remove my eye makeup first, then massage this one in for about two minutes.  I also use a fresh, warm wash cloth it ensure that every remaining trace of makeup is removed.  It is a good idea to add something as simple as a flannel washcloth to your daily cleansing routine as it provides a super gentle exfoliation and helps to clean the areas that can be left out if you just splash with water (like the hairline).

I cleanse my skin morning and night and always follow up with a gentle toner. In this case I’m using the Sothy’s toner as I like to stick to the same brands for the best results.  This toner is specifically designed for skin with fragile capillaries, so it doesn’t make the issue worse. I’m also one of those people who bruise very easily, so I know I have to be careful with how I treat my skin.

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A few more from Sothy’s as I also use their day cream and Secrets eye cream. One of the tricks to keeping your eyes looking good that I am glad I learnt at a young age is NOT to use moisturiser around your eyes! The moisturiser increases the water content in the cells which stretches out the cell walls. So it is like inflating and deflating a balloon each day. Not a pretty picture.

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I talk a lot about wearing sunscreen on this blog, and many of you have asked which formula I use that is non greasy and goes very well under makeup to still keep it looking matt. This is the one – Sun Sense Daily Matt Formula by Ego.  It can be found in most chemists and I think Priceline also carry it.  It has a fantastic texture that is absorbed quite quickly and is perfect for face and neck.  It is a little more expensive than the regular kind, so I keep this one for my face and use a regular 30+ for the rest of my body.  And if you’re wondering, yes, I use these all year around not just in summer.

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I do regular at home facials at least once a week, and use a stronger exfoliate once a week to help renew the skin surface. There are a few different products I use for this type of regime but this Bubble Peeling by Shills I bought in Singapore simply because I loved the packaging.  I’m not going to recommend a particular exfoliating product because I find that this can be a difficult area for a lot of people, particularly if you have very sensitive skin. After a good clean and exfoliation, I also like to use a deep cleansing mask and the Vitality Mask from Sothy’s has lasted me for a good twelve months.

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The Palmer’s body oil is one of my all time favorite products that I use almost everyday. I believe it is designed as a bath oil, but I apply it all over my skin after a nice warm shower and let in soak in.  It has a somewhat chocolaty smell and makes you skin super silky.  It’s inexpensive, quickly and easy to put on (but don’t use too much!) and leaves you feeling far more strokable than before.

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Last but no means least is the Paw Paw ointment.  This stuff is fantastic for lip conditioning, but I only ever use it at night. I know a lot of people like to apply this all day or under their lipstick, but I find that as it has a low melting temperature, it cause lipstick to bleed!  So I stick to using it when I’m sleeping so my lips are all plump and kissable in the morning.  And the Vaseline? Well this stuff is handy to keep around for all manner of things but two in particular. Using a little Vaseline on your eyebrows helps to keep them in shape and nice and glossy.  The other trick I use this for is on my teeth to stop my lips sticking, but only if I’m doing a particularly long photo shoot or something of that nature.  You can’t always grab a drink on the catwalk, so it helps to know that you’re not going to have any lipstick malfunctions.

And that is all the basic skin care products I’m using at present in a nutshell.  If you have any specific questions about these please feel free to shoot them through, but remember I can only give you generic advice on which products I like and not the perfect thing for you.  The Internet hasn’t quite reached the touch and feel level just yet!

Today’s red lippie is an old favorite, but one that no-one seems to have heard of.  It’s by Boots No.7 and called Moulin Rouge.  That’s a pretty great promise right there in that name I think.  I found this one in a moment of panic when I realised I’d left the house without a single lipstick in my bag and had a meeting in a half hour.  So I raced into the chemist and picked this one out in a hurry as a stop gap.  Since then it has gone on to become a favorite both for colour, texture and wear.

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I’m wearing it here with a fantastic cheap lipliner in red “Savvy by DB” available at Priceline for about $5.

But there is a problem with this one though… I can’t find it anymore!!  So I don’t know how helpful this recommendation will be for you, but if any of you know of secret stashes of this one, or your local chemist still has it in stock, I suggest buying them out and sending me a spare if you can.  It has brilliant coverage and a velvety texture that stays that way all day.

In hindsight, this may not be the best recommendation given the scarcity of this lipstick’s availability, but if any of you have tried the new Boots No. 7 reds, I’d love to hear about them here.

Wow, what a big few days it has been! Travelling, talking, tasting and generally getting girly in Tasmania.

Although it is only the next state over, I’d never been to Tasmania and never then, been to Hobart.  When I was asked to join The Lindy Charm School for Girls on their latest Hobart trip, I was thrilled to have the chance to do something I love in a brand new place.  Now they had warned me that it was a tad cooler down there, but I am so, so glad I came prepared for the worst.  When we hit the road on Saturday morning to head in and set up for the class, the temperature on the building thermometer read minus 2 degrees! The only other time I’ve experienced that kind of cold I was dressed for snow and certainly not in a dress and heels.  The good thing is that I can now tell you I have put my Dressing with Glamour in the Cold tips to the test and they passed with flying colours.

Hobart is such a beautiful city. It has a wonderful sense of history and serenity that made it feel a whole world away. There was a hospitality and genuine sense of interest found in everyone I met.  Whether it was swaping stories with the lady who ran an antique store out of town, or people on the street; I’ve never felt so welcome in a  new city as I did in Hobart.  On the very first morning, my friends and I were wandering around the square at Salamanca looking for somewhere to eat for lunch, when a lady came rushing over to us.  She’s seen us looking a bit lost, recognised me from this blog and came to give us a recommendation – so thank you lovely mystery reader! You made my morning with your smile and hospitality.

Then it was off for a spot of vintage and op shopping, antiquing and Irish coffees; wins all round!  (You’ll have to wait for another post to see the haul)  Basically, it was a tailor made dream day put together by our lovely hostess who knew our weakness for a bargain.

The next morning we headed off in that minus 2 degree weather to meet our eargely awaiting debutantes, and here’s what happened….

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