5 Antipodes Skincare Products You Should Try

3 things...

Firstly, I have totally neglected this blog but if you're still hanging around, thank you so much!

Secondly, I won't bore you with my excuses for being MIA in beauty blogging but just in case you're wondering (yes, Mum, I'm talking about YOU!), no I am not pregnant again.

And thirdly, I received a lovely Antipodes skincare package at the start of LAST year.  Took photos of it.  Tried all the products.  But forgot to blog about it...

...until now!

If you haven't heard of Antipodes before, you clearly don't browse the skincare aisles like I do in Priceline!  The skincare brand hails from New Zealand and I'm so glad I was introduced to their products.

1.  Antipodes Grapeseed Butter Cleanser

The first Antipodes product I tried was The Grapeseed Butter Cleanser because I was so intrigued by it.

Being a "butter cleanser", I was expecting a smooth butter-like balm but there are white bubble-y bits.

Anyway, it turns out that the white bubble-y bits are the exfoliating hibiscus flowers so everyone keep calm and exfoliate!

It also comes with a cute wee spatula.  Hi there!

You apply this onto dampened skin in circular motions and rinse off with a cloth.  The instructions recommend an organic cotton cloth, but the closest thing I could find resembling that in my house was an organic cotton nappy liner...ummm, no thanks, I'll stick to my non-organic face washer.

My skin feels nice and soft after I use it but if I don't apply serum or moisturiser shortly afterwards, it can feel a tad dry.

I also must mention that I wasn't too keen on the scent at first - it's a bit lavender-ish?? - but I got used to it after a while.

2.  Antipodes Divine Face Oil

I only used this a couple of times before my Mum stole it off me because she loves everything that contains rosehip oil.

Funnily enough, even though it is a face oil, I used it on my nails and cuticles and it really nourished them.

Side note :  My Mum used this on her face and gives this a big thumbs up!

3.  Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Day Cream

This is only a 15ml sample sized tube so I used it up in no time.  It smelt so yummy because it reminded me of vanilla ice cream.

But because it was only 15ml, I can't tell you much about the long term benefits of using this moisturiser.  My skin was happy for the short time this tube lasted.

4.  Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

Definitely my favourite Antipodes skincare product from the package.

It contains manuka honey active 20+ and it just felt like a luscious treat for my forever dehydrated skin.

It's also good for clearing up blemishes which is why I like to apply it on my chest area.  Anyone else get chest zits???  So annoying!!!

5.  Antipodes Jubilation Ultra Nourishing Hand & Body Cream

If you love a nice big tube of hand and body cream, you will love this.

I'm the worst when it comes to moisturising my hands and body...I don't know why...maybe it's because I am lazy...?!!!  But yeah, this tube is gonna last me foreverrrrrr!


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So, what have you been up to this year?  Can you believe we're already flying towards March already?!!!  Have you tried Antipodes products before?  What should I try next?  #iasktoomanyquestions

Dear Bunty : Happy 2nd Birthday!

TWO years!!!

We've had you in our lives for 2 whole years and everyday has truly been a blessing.

Yeah, I know...so cheesy huh?!

People always say you are your Dad's double - you both have that soft smooth skin, rosy cheeks and that chin!

But little do they know that you are in fact, my mini-me...

You are my baby beauty blogger because you love makeup!  You love powdering your face, applying lipstick and getting your toenails painted.  You love your Essie!!!

I also found you yesterday using my eyeliner!!  You gave yourself a monobrow!  LOL!!!

You love turning up the music to bop and dance like no-one's watching ya.  I LOVE dancing too.  FYI, we are both daggy dancers!

I love how you're becoming Miss Little Independent by doing things by yourself.  You learn things really quickly because I only have to show you once and you've already etched it into your memory.
That said, you become easily frustrated when you can't do things your way.  We have to watch that fiery stubborn temper of yours.

We are really enjoying having those gobbledygook conversations with you.  You babble on and on - something that I like to do too!!

Your favourite food is ice cream.  And you hate vegetables except broccoli and sweetcorn.  You have a knack for finding our secret stash of junk food in our bedroom.  We can tell that you will love junk food just like your parents.

We're not throwing a birthday party this year for you because we're too lazy!  Besides, we're already going to your mate's birthday party so we'll just take a picture of you and his cake so you'll think that you did have a party LOL!!!

Anyway, the stars aligned and I had an unexpected day off work today { I twisted my damn neck! } and I ended up baking you a birthday cake.  { Ahem, I wasn't actually planning to because LAZY! }  It's a reduced sugar wholemeal chocolate and olive oil cake - you LOVED it.

Keep being awesome and I pray to God that it'll be Terrific Twos and not Terrible Twos!

Love you lots like jelly tots,

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Mama xxx

Skincare Review : Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cleanser, Toner & Moisturiser

Can you believe that I did some gardening last weekend?  Who even am I???!!

The flowers in the photo are from my garden - aren't they pretty?

And the trio of Paula's Choice products were kindly sent to me for review........like a bajillion years ago!!!

Ooops!

I actually used this trio a few months ago when we were still in Winter...but it wasn't rich enough for my severely Winter-fied skin back then so I stowed them away and brought them back out now that we are in the warmer months of the year.

Verdict :  My skin likes these products a lot better now that we are in the warmer seasons!

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Softening Cream Cleanser :  My favourite product from the range.  It cleanses my skin beautifully without making it that horrible squeaky clean feeling, where I have to dowse my face with moisturiser immediately.  My skin feels soft and supple after using this.

Note :  If you don't close the lid by popping it shut, there will be dried crusty bits of cleanser at the opening tip - which are not easy to clean off!

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Enriched Calming Toner :  I'm not a big fan of toner because I have lazy-itis.  That said, this is pretty soothing after a blackhead-squeezing session.

Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturiser :  I shall ignore the fact that the label is spelt with a "z" in moisturiser.  And well, this is a lovely moisturiser but as I mentioned before, I needed something MORE enriching during the cold winter months.  You can always supplement with a serum beforehand though.

Overall, this was a great introduction for my skin to Paula's Choice products.  I'd love to try more of their bestselling products to see if they work wonders on my skin too.

Have you tried any Paula's Choice products before?  Which one do you recommend?

How To Get Your Old Instagram Name Back

This is a bit of a geeky slash techie post for all those who have permanently deleted their Instagram but had a change of heart and now want to get their old username back.

Previously this was NOT possible but I DID IT TONIGHT AND SO CAN YOU!

{ And if you're a regular reader who isn't interested in reading this post, before you click away, I'm now @LingOutLoud on social media so DO NOT BE ALARMED.  It is still me! }

So allow me to share my experience...

When I started this blog last year, I snapped up all my usernames @LingOutLoud on the social media outlets I use - Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

But I was already active on these social media outlets as @Xyling.

And I thought I could EASILY juggle 3 blogs/Youtube channels and 3 social media personas AS WELL AS be a full-time working mum and wife.  And have a social life.  HAHAHAHA!!!
Yes, please laugh with me.  I thought I was the Blogging Beyonce...!!!  Hahahaha!!! #thereisonlyonequeenBanditaintme

Anyway, everything escalated out of hand and I decided to delete all of my social media personas and just use one.

I started with Instagram and permanently deleted my @LingOutLoud account.  And I thought I would just convert @Xyling to @LingOutLoud for consistent branding { even though I was mainly posting beauty stuff on that account as I use it for my beauty blog }.

Well...

Instagram would not allow me to use my old username even though the account had been permanently deleted.

What I should have done was this - Change @LingOutLoud to another random username and then delete it.  This would free up that username for me to use.

I WAS GUTTED.

And I stewed on it for days!!!!  I am OCD with bloggie stuff.

Anyway, fast forward a few months...to tonight...

A voice in my head { it sounded like me so it was actually me...! } said I should try and change my @Xyling username to @LingOutLoud.  #iampsychic

It had never worked before.  I tried it MANY times beforehand.

But tonight it worked!!!

So I am guessing Instagram has changed its policy on using old usernames.

YESSSSSS!!!

If none of that made ANY sense to you, just follow these 4 easy step-by-step instructions on how to get your old Instagram username back :-

1.  Go to your Instagram

2.  Tap on Edit Profile to edit your profile

3.  Delete your current username and type in your old username that you want back

4.  Tap Finished to save

Now this will NOT work if your username has been snapped up by someone else!!!  Obvs, duh!

If this helped you, please LIKE it, SHARE it and PIN it.

Review & Swatches : Bobbi Brown Telluride Collection

I was recently sent a few items from the newly released Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Telluride Collection and I had instant *heart eyes* because...well...take a look yourself...

Such a beautiful collection, right??!!!

I was IMMEDIATELY drawn to the Telluride Eye Palette $95 { can you blame me? } which has 7 complementary neutral eyeshadows.  My current favourite combo is Velvet Plum Metallic and the Antique Rose together to create a bronzey-rosy look.

Such a shame it doesn't have a matte medium brown shade I can use for my brows though otherwise it would be perfect.

The dual ended brush is pretty good too with the fluffy end for blending and the flat end for lining.

Bobbi Brown Telluride Eye Palette is fantastic for those who love their neutrals - everyday, work, weddings - and because it's smaller than the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, I'm definitely going to be taking this travelling instead { sorry UD! }.  It is a bit of a splurge at $95 but hey, you deserve it *winks*

Next up, I was intrigued by the New Telluride Pot Rouge For Lips & Cheeks $44 because of the unusual shade - it's milk chocolate brown.  When swatched, it's a warm mauve brown but once blended { it blends beautifully btw! }, it becomes more natural looking and really helps contour my cheekbones.

This multi-tasking blush { because you can use it on lips too! } works well with the Shimmer Brick Compact in Sunset Pink $72 because a light dusting of the  superfine powder helps set the cream but also adds a touch of 'je ne se quois'; a subtle radiance.

Side note : My shimmer brick looks a little worse for wear because Mr Postie didn't handle it with care *sad face* but I pressed it back in and it still does it's thang ;)

Last but not least, there's the Twilight Glow Lip Trio $82 which consists of :-

• Bobbi Lip Pencil - a long lasting nude brown pencil which helps accentuate lips
• Bobbi Sheer Lip Color - mauve brown lipstick which is so on trend
• Twilight Shimmer Lip Gloss - mocha coloured gloss with microshimmer

Anyway, that was a long blog post so if you've read this far, I hope I've convinced you to go to your nearest Bobbi Brown counter to check out the Telluride Collection.  It is Limited Edition so don't leave it too late!

Did any of these products tickle your fancy?  What is getting added onto your wishlist?

Disclosure : Thanks to Bobbi Brown PR for providing these items for consideration.