Mecca Maxima and Lush Skincare Haul !

Hi guys, Haul time ! Haul time ! YAY !! 

I am so excited about this haul, I shopped at Mecca Maxima and Lush and have some goodies to share. I am very happy with my purchase and so excited to try all this.

 Mecca Maxima goodies (From L to R)

Origins Never a Dull Moment Skin - Brightening Face Polisher
I have been wanting to try a new scrub and I love Origins and brightening products, so decided to pick this one. Will have to see how it goes.

REN Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser 
This was recommended by the Mecca SA, based on my current cleanser which is The Body Shop Vitamin E cleanser, she suggested that this is gentle but a foaming cleanser. I am excited to try this.

Origins Dr. Andrew Weil Mega-Bright eye cream 
This was again a recommendation by the SA for hydration and dark circles so am curious to see how it performs. I am yet to find a good eye cream and nothing seems to work for my horrendous dark circles.

REN Glycolactic Radiance Renewal mask 
I picked this because I have heard so much about this mask and had to try it and to be honest my skin can definitely benefit from this good stuff. 

Soap and Glory Rich & Foamous Shower Gel 
I loved the Soap & Glory Breakfast Smoothie scrub and wanted to try one of their body washes, so decided to pick this one. Well, I guess you can sense a pattern, foamy, brightening !

3 Current Favorite Masks !

In today's post I am sharing the face masks I have been enjoying lately. In my previous post about masks I mentioned, that I haven't found a life changing mask but it will be safe to say that I have found something close :)

The two masks on the left (as in the pic above) are cleansing masks. Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask is a deep cleansing charcoal mask and I love using it during the colder months. As the name suggests, it is a thermal mask and feels warm to start with but cools down afterwards. My skin feels soft and clean after using this.

 Aesop Parsley Seed Mask is a new addition to my stash and I absolutely adore it. It is a pricey little number, but so worth it, in my opinion. It is my favorite of all masks I have tried so far. My skin feels so so soft and smooth after using it, its an awesome experience. I love the smell too, very herbal and spa like. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is a hydrating mask that has to be left overnight and leaves your skin feeling plump and good. Its wonderful to use during the colder weather when your skin is feeling parched. 

Which are your current favorite masks ? Have you tried any of the ones mentioned ?

Citrus Heavan in a Bottle ! Review Origins Refreshing GinZing Scrub Cleanser

If you love citrus smelling products, then chances are you will love the Origins GinZing line.  I loved the Ginzing moisturizer and more so have been loving the Origins Ginzing Refreshing scrub cleanser. 

Origins GinZing is a gel cleanser with scrubby bits. It smells super awesome and I love using it in the morning as the refreshing citrus fragrance helps me wake up a bit better. 

What the company says 

This 2 in 1 scrubby cleanser is fortified with radiance-boosting Panax Ginseng and Caffeine.  Jojoba and Carnauba Wax gently exfoliate to help unclog pores.  Skin looks smoother, brighter.  Feels perfectly refreshed and squeaky clean.  Plus, our uplifting 100% natural essential oil blend of Grapefruit, Lemon and Spearmint perks you up so you're ready to face the day! 

The Good

• Awesome, refreshing fragrance 
• 2 in one product, scrubs and cleanses at the same time
• Gentle yet effective for everyday  
• Leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh
• Doesn't leave the skin stripped 
• Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates free as mentioned on Sephora website

The Bad

• None

The Price 

• 26 AUD

Available at Mecca and Kit Cosmetics. 
Overall I really enjoyed this scrub cleanser and will recommend giving this a go. 

My Current Face Masks on Rotation !

Let me start by saying that I have never used a face mask that has made me feel that I have completely new skin, but nonetheless, I love me some face masks. 

I usually have some pamper time on the weekends comprising of a face scrub, face mask, body scrub and a hair mask. 

Anyways, lets get on to today's post, and have a look at my current face masks on rotation..

I have been using the above pictured four face masks since a couple of months now, and these are (from L to R) Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask, Racinne Ultimate Aqua Blanc Brightening masque*, Origins Clear Improvement mask and Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque.
 
Note - I have normal to dry skin.  

The 'Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask' and 'Racinne Ultimate Aqua Blanc Brightening masque*' are cream like masks, you just apply them like a cream and you don't need to wash them. 

The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight mask (100 ml - 34$) is an intensive hydrating mask which works its magic overnight and helps make skin feel refreshed, hydrated and plumper. This mask smells awesome. It has a cream type consistency which you can just slather over your skin and your skin will soak it all up. I find that my skin feels a lot softer, smoother and full on moisturized after using this. I have been enjoying this as an overnight pampering treatment and would now be getting more use of this with the cold season just around the corner.

The Racinne Ultimate Aqua Blanc Brightening masque* (75 ml -37$) is also on the same lines as the Origins one. It is additionally also supposed to help with pigmentation and help skin looking smooth and youthful. I cannot vouch for the pigmentation as I have not been using just this, but overall I have been really enjoying it. I use it when I have to go out for that brightening pick.

The 'Origins Clear Improvement mask' and 'Queen Helene Mint Julep masque' are more focused on deep cleaning and clearing the pores. I don't have big pores or problematic skin (knock on wood) neither do I have oily skin, so I am not the best person to review these, but I like using them. 

I would classify The Queen Helene Mint Julep masque (226 gms - 4.14$) as a summer mask, not that you can't use it in winters, just that its fun using it during summers. Its a cooling, refreshing, minty and awesome smelling mask which just screams summer. My skin feels cleaner, smoother and much more better after using this. I purchased this from iHerb.com, its a damn good mask for the price.

The Origins Clear Improvement mask (100 ml - 34$) is also on the same lines of the Queen mask, but more like an expensive sister of it. I use it when I am not feeling good about my skin and my skin is giving me problems. I don't think you need both the Queen and the Origins one, one can do and the cheaper one is definitely the bomb.

Which masks are your favorite ? Do you have a life changing mask ? 
 *This product was provided by the company for consideration.

Haul-a-thon Week I - Duty Free haul

Hi everyone, 

As mentioned in my previous post, it is Haul-a-thon time this week at The Vanity Bag Diaries.

This post features my duty free haul from the Changi airport. So I really tried to be a good girl and spent less on makeup and a bit more on skincare ;)

I have been wanting to try Origins since a while now and this is what I bought from the brand, Origins 'A perfect world moisturizer', 'GinZing eye cream', 'Clear Improvement Charcoal mask'.

N now to  some makeup n bits ..
I am no longer an OPI Virgin :). Maybelline Rocket Mascara was one of those counter purchases.. Estee Lauder Pleasures has always been on my wishlist ..

From OPI, I bought Original Nail Envy, Rapid Dry Coat and Pink Flamenco (swatched HERE).I have tried all three n I must say I am a fan :)..

I did not buy much makeup, as I usually go crazy, keep hoarding and am unable to use it all and it pains me to see them go wasted .. so anyways this is the star product that I treated myself to ..*drumroll* YSL Rouge Pur Couture number 4 .. A haul cannot be complete without a luxe lipstick :)

What is your favorite of the haul ?