{BEAUTY REVIEW} | Estée Lauder DayWear Matte

Hi beauties! Today’s review is quite exciting. After lots of research, Estée Lauder has created a moisturizer to specifically target South African skin concerns. Many South Africans suffer from shiny, oily skin and large pores. Daywear Matte is here to help you say goodbye to shine and Hello Matte!

Now, if you’re familiar with Estée Lauder’s OG and iconic DayWear moisturizer you’d know that it is packed with the free radical fighting and damage repairing Super Anti-Oxidant Complex. DayWear Matte contains the same powerful elements but in a gel crème form. This formulation means you are getting the same benefits along with shine control, oil absorption and control and pore minimizing. Like all Estée Lauder products, DayWear Matte has gone through strict assessments and is dermatologist tested. DayWear Matte is also tested to be non-acnegenic which means it won’t cause or agitate breakouts.

DayWear Matte is still housed in the chic, soft turquoise jar topped with an elegant gold screw-top lid. (Details, details. I LOVE talking about packaging) The crème has the same, lovely and subtle cucumber scent and has a thick, gel like consistency. It absorbs quickly into the skin and wears quite comfortably.

I don’t suffer from particularly oily skin but I did try out DayWear Matte to see how it would feel and what effect it will have on my skin. I personally expected it to pull moisture from my skin and make my face feel tight but I experienced none of that. While keeping skin matte and smooth, it does not compromise on hydration. I will continue to use it along with my other moisturizers because it makes for an amazing primer under makeup. I did, however, decant small amounts and ask my husband and Aunty Nona who both suffer from oily skin to try it. After the first use, Aunty Nona was really delighted with the outcome and she has since told me that nothing has felt this comfortable on her skin. There were visible results on the husband after only a few days and he has since said he is noticing that the pools of oil he continually observes have definitely diminished. The only drawback I can think of is that it doesn’t contain any SPF.

I will pop a list of the ingredients used to formulate DayWear Matte at the bottom of this post.

You can purchase Estée Lauder’s DayWear Matte for ZAR515 (30mL) and ZAR620 (50mL) online here at esteelauder.co.za or in-store at your nearest Estée Lauder counter.

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

Ingredients (DayWear Matte): WATER\AQUA\EAU , ISODODECANE , BUTYLENE GLYCOL , POLYPROPYLENE , DIMETHICONE , BIS-PEG-18 METHYL ETHER DIMETHYL SILANE , GLYCERIN , AMMONIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/VP COPOLYMER , PYRUS MALUS (APPLE) FRUIT EXTRACT , LENS ESCULENTA (LENTIL) FRUIT EXTRACT , CITRULLUS VULGARIS (W ATERMELON) FRUIT EXTRACT , LAMINARIA SACCHARINA EXTRACT , NARCISSUS TAZETTA BULB EXTRACT , CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT , TREHALOSE , ERGOTHIONEINE , ALGAE EXTRACT , LACTOBACILLUS FERMENT , CAFFEINE , ACETYL GLUCOSAMINE , HORDEUM VULGARE (BARLEY) EXTRACT\EXTRAIT D'ORGE , THERMUS THERMOPHILLUS FERMENT , POLYSILICONE-11 , ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER , PROPYLENE GLYCOL DICAPRATE , TOCOPHERYL ACETATE , HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEEDCAKE , SODIUM LACTATE , SODIUM HYALURONATE , ETHYLBISIMINOMETHYLGUAIACOL MANGANESE CHLORIDE , LECITHIN , TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE , LAURETH-23 , TROMETHAMINE , CITRIC ACID , CYCLODEXTRIN , CAPRYLYL GLYCOL , LAURETH-4 , OLETH-10 , SODIUM PCA , SILICA , FRAGRANCE (PARFUM) , HEXYLENE GLYCOL , DISODIUM EDTA , BHT , PHENOXYETHANOL , LINALOOL , BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL , BENZYL SALICYLATE , BLUE 1 (CI 42090) <42547>

(Please be aware that ingredient lists may change or vary from time to time. Please refer to the ingredient list on the product package you receive for the most up to date list of ingredients.)

{BEAUTY REVIEW} | The Body Shop Hemp Rescue Balm

Hemp is one of the oldest crops in the world and the non-hallucinogenic variety is commonly used to make oils, fabrics, paper, foods and even biofuels and building materials! It is known as a ‘miracle crop’ as it helps to structure and regenerate soil between food crops. It is also four times more effective at capturing carbon dioxide than trees and protects biodiversity because it requires no pesticides and provides a home for local wildlife.

For many years now The Body Shop has been using cold pressed Hemp Seed Oil in their Hemp range. The crop is farmed in co-operation the French Community Trade so while The Body Shop only uses the oil, the farmers use every part of the yield ensuring no waste and no contribution to climate change. Hemp seed oil contains 80% polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, carotene, calcium and magnesium which makes it extremely good for the skin.

The iconic Hemp Hand Protector (one is sold every 9 seconds!) got a bit of a makeover this year for The Body Shop’s Enrich Not Exploit™ Campaign. The tube has been redesigned in a limited edition packaging by renowned street artist Ben Eine and using his famous typography communicates the message of change. R30 from the purchase of each tube goes to a pre-selected charity (you can choose Our Planet, Our Animals or Our People) until 31 May 2016. 

New to The Body Shop is the Hemp Rescue Balm. It is described as, “expert care for ultra-dry zones” and contains cold pressed hemp oil with shea butter, beeswax and other natural oils. It comes in a cute tin (reminds me of sardines!) and looks like solid coconut oil when you open it. The texture is a lot like Vaseline once you touch it but it is completely non-greasy.

Once the product is on the skin it absorbs fully (no residue) and provides heavy duty moisturization which lasts at least 8 hours. It’s really convenient if you need a surge of instant and long-lasting moisture for areas like elbows, knees and heels. The skin feels smooth and velvety soft. It can also be used in small amounts as a hair serum and to combat dry patches on the face and body. I’ve also been using it on my lips and I’m really happy with the results.

The scent is quite earthy, it smells like the Hand Protector but slightly subtler. It really does the job but don’t expect to smell like a flower garden or a fruit smoothie.

The Body Shop’s Hemp Rescue Balm is an essential for the dry Winter. Your skin will love you!

You can purchase the Hemp Hand Protector in 100mL (ZAR130) and the Hemp Rescue Balm 100mL/87g (ZAR235) at The Body Shop.

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

{BEAUTY REVIEW} | Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream

Happy Monday lovelies! Today I will be reviewing Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream. It recently won at the Elle Beauty Awards in the luxury moisturiser category so I am quite excited to share my opinions with you.

Rose Day Cream claims to deeply hydrate, protect and soothe the skin on the face. It is said to be especially good for dry skin, irritated skin and skin prone to redness. The cream is formulated with rose petal extracts, wild rose hips and rose petal wax. There’s also some avocado oil and shea butter for moisture as well as St. John’s wort and marshmallow extract to soothe and calm the skin.

I’ve been using just over a pea-sized amount of Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream for just over a week now, every day after cleansing and toning my skin. The first time I used it, it felt quite oily on my fingers which made me a bit apprehensive. I put it on my face anyway and it absorbed almost immediately and left a delightfully soft, non-greasy feel on my skin. The rose scent is really pleasant and comforting and the cream lasts all day on the skin. (I must point out however that if scented moisturizers are not your thing you might want to skip this one.) It’s also superb under makeup and provides a perfect base. I had been suffering with a bit of sunburn on my nose and the Rose Day Cream also really helped to soothe the burn and eliminate the dry skin afterwards.

Dr. Hauschka products are certified natural and are free from synthetic fragrances, dyes and preservatives. I am really happy with the effects and results of the Rose Day Cream and it is definitely something I will consider purchasing again. It is the perfect moisturizer for the dry Johannesburg Winter.

You can find the Rose Day Cream and other Dr. Hauschka products at spree.co.za

Dr. Hauschka’s Rose Day Cream retails at ZAR380 for 30mL.

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox

P.S Keep checking for more beauty reviews of the Elle Beauty Awards winners!