IndieAna- In Search of the HolyGrail

Another day, another The Ordinary product review. Anyway, now having dehydrated skin, I decided it would be the perfect time to introduce some Hyaluronic Acid, an ingredient known for its hydration, into my routine. Yep, and I chose to give The Ordinary HA Acid 2% + B5 serum a try. Taken from Deciem - "HA can attract up to 1,000 times its weight in water. The molecular size of HA determines its depth of delivery in the skin. This formulation combines low- medium- and high-molecular weight HA, as well as a next generation HA cross-polymer at a combined concentration of 2% for multi-depth hydration. This system is supported with the addition of B5 which also enhances surface hydration." The HA serum comes in a 30 ml glass bottle with dropper. Fingers crossed I don't tip it over, because I am hopeless when it comes to remembering to screw the lid back on. I know! It doesn't really have much of a scent to comment on. The serum has a fluid consistency, but not over...

Wanting to include a vitamin C product into my skincare routine, choosing one from The Ordinary was a no brainer as it is such an affordable option. Deciding on the Vitamin C product to use was the hard part. I had previously used MAP, which I liked, but I wanted a higher percentage of Vitamin C in the hopes to really make a difference to my skin. After much deliberation, I settled on the Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone. I wanted some bang for my buck and 30% is a very high percentage of vitamin C. Taken from Deciem - "Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant and its pure form of L-Ascorbic Acid has been shown to help reverse multiple signs of skin aging while brightening the skin when applied topically. This water-free formula provides 30% pure LAA which remains completely stable due to the presence of very light silicones, this formulation feels smooth on the skin despite the suspension format of the formulation." The product is packaged in a 30 ml squeeze tube w...

I've been meaning to add glycolic acid (aha) into my skincare routine again. I had considered purchasing the much raved about Pixi Glow Tonic. Of course, I ended up going with a cheaper option, this one from The Ordinary. The Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution actually has a higher concentration of the Pixi Glow Tonic, which I believe is 5%. Taken from Deciem - "Glycolic Acid is an alpha hydoxyl acid that exfoliates the skin. This 7% toning solution offers mild exfoliation for improved skin radiance and visible clarity. The formula also contains a studied Tasmanian Pepperberry derivative to help reduce irritation associated with acid use. The formula is further supported with inclusion of ginseng root and aloe vera for both visible radiance and soothing benefits." The glycolic toner comes in a decent sized bottle with 240 ml of product. The bottle is clear with the simple Ordinary label slapped on. I actually really like the simple packaging, certainly runs with th...

The reason I didn't write a monthly Beauty Favourites post in 2017 was because I spent much of it trying to finish set products in my project pans. I see the value in panning, but it meant that I didn't try many new products. I do have a handful of faves that although not new in 2017 were new to me, so I thought I would rave about them to you. Skin79 Water Wrapping Sunscreen - This is the best physical sunscreen I have used, ever . It is so easy to apply. There is no greasiness and no white cast, once absorbed, my skin is dry to the touch. I love that it's not thick and doesn't feel like I'm wearing a mask, yet it is hydrating. It's amazing, unfortunately it can be difficult to find. Australis Fresh and Flawless Powder- I am always late to the party, but last year (that is so weird to say!) I fell in love with this powder. It is so soft and creamy. Gives me that airbrushed look without being cakey. This finishing powder sets my foundation and ...

There are still so many products from Deciem brand The Ordinary that I am yet to buy, but what I was most excited about trying was the "Buffet" serum. Taken from Deciem - "This formula combines a comprehensive array of studied technologies to target multiple signs of ageing at once. The technologies are Matrixyl 3000 peptide complex, Matrixyl Sunthe'6 peptide complex, Syn-Ake peptide complex, Relistase peptide complex, Argirelox peptide complex, Probiotic complex, in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes." The serum is packaged in a 30 ml clear glass bottle. It has a dropper to dispense product. The cloudy looking serum has a lightweight feel. I use 6 drops in total of this peptide packed serum for both my face and neck. It absorbs into my skin very quickly and has so far played nicely with any products I've applied afterwards. After using morning and night for 3 weeks, I have noticed some subtle changes ...

Ok, so that time of the month has come around that I get to show you my rubbish. Only the beauty rubbish of course. I got through a few makeup and skincare items and some items that I am binning unfinished. L'Oreal Infallible Matte Foundation - I don't think I have ever bought a high end foundation. It takes some trial and error to find a good one, but I'm always glad that I'm not paying too much. In saying that, the L'Oreal Infallible foundation is quite expensive at RRP, so I bought it during the Priceline 40% off sale. Repurchase? I am not in need of any foundations at the moment. When I do need a replacement, I really want to try the new Infallible foundation. If I'm not happy with it, I would definitely consider buying this one again. Skinn DermAppeal- I didn't think I would use a physical exfoliator again until I tried the Dermappeal. It is very gritty and is almost like a micro-dermabrasion at home. I use this product once a week, ...

The Ordinary is a brand that I was very interested in trying. I've heard so many things, some good, some not so good. I figured at the affordable price point I could at least buy one product.  I needed a Vitamin C serum and out of the 4 available I narrowed it down to the Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%. This appeared to be the one that would suit my needs. Taken from The Ordinary - "A brightening hydrator with stabilized vitamin C derivative." There is a lot more info, so click the link if you want to know more. The serum is packaged in a 30 ml squeeze tube with screw-top lid. The serum is more like a light lotion in texture and consistency.  It has a light non-descript scent, I appreciate that there's no synthetic fragrance.  I apply the serum after toning, morning and night. It is easy to apply and I find I only need a small amount for face and neck. The product absorbs fairly quickly into the skin.  There's no residue, but my skin ...

In this January Favourites post I have some products that were not new to me in the month of January but because it's the first time blogging on faves for a very long time, I thought I'd share. Just a handful of products, but I'm loving them (obviously, lol) ColourPop Ultra Satin in Femme- I recently reviewed the Ultra Satins and I really love this formula. If interested you can check out my review here . Out of the shades I ordered, Femme was the most unique. Sunsense Sensitive Invisible SPF 50+- This sunscreen is fantastic. It is my new favourite. It's a physical SPF that is not greasy and does not cause a white cast like many physical sunscreens I have tried in the past. I will have a review of this SPF next week. Poni White Knight Mascara- I was lucky to have been given this product to trial. It is a tubing mascara that provides length and volume without smudging or flaking. I have not used another mascara since receiving this one!  ...