11 uses for Lanolips Lovely Lanolin Golden Ointment

I love versatile products which is why when I tried Lanolip's  Lovely Lanolin Golden Ointment and kept finding different uses for it, I made sure it's always in my handbag wherever I go.

Packed with 60% medical grade lanolin, Manuka honey, apricot oil and vitamin E - ingredients that soothe, smooth, heal and rebuild the skin's natural protective barrier.

This light golden coloured ointment is thick and highly moisturising so a little goes a long way. It can take a bit of rubbing for the product to absorb into the skin but it is worth the extra effort for the multitude of miracles it performs on problem skin. So far, I've found 11 uses for my little tube of golden magic ointment:

1. For itchy skin. Allergy and ezcma, psoriasis sufferers can rejoice and stay off steroid creams with the use of this ointment for minor and temporary relief of itches. Even nappy rash can be soothe with this little beauty. 
2. On mozzie bites - A life saver when bitten, it soothes the bite and settles swelling.  Now I just have to work out how to get those mozzies to stay away from me. 
3. As an ultra hydrating lip balm - when you'r lips are dry or chapped, nothings seals it and moisturise it like this ointment. It also has the slightly sweet taste of honey that makes it lip-smacking delicious. 
4. As a lip exfoliator - layer it on a thicker than you would use as a lip balm and leave for a few minutes before rubbing it off gently with your fingers to remove the flakies bits off your lips. Trust me, you will love the resultant kissable soft lips.
5. for dry elbows and knees  - it's the bee's knees for it (sorry, for the lame pun - I just couldn't help myself). 
6. As a heel softener -  keep those feet happy and cracked heels at bay by rubbing a bit on and popping on a pair of cotton socks when you head to bed at night. In 2 weeks weeks, you'll have no cracks or rough heels in sight. 
7. As a cuticle cream - soften cuticles and treat rough/ragged bits from your fingers by rubbing this in any time your digits feel dry.
8. For Minor burn treatments - it seals the burn and blister area and helps prevent bacteria getting in. It also helps skin to heal faster. 
9. As an intensive hand cream - too greasy for normal use but if your hand is super dry or like me, you do chores and wash dishes and hand wash clothing leaves your hands under stripped of moisture, then this will be your S.O.S ointment. 
10. As an extreme weather barrier - this is great for air travel or when visiting the snow where air is dry and thin. When applying on my face, I spritz a bit of water to wet it first to make the ointment spread more easily. 
11. As an after-shave balm - its soothes and calms irritated skin after shaving as well as provide hydration and less than a pin head size of the ointment is needed for rubbing in to the chin and each side of the face. 

So if you are after a multi-purpose product or just lacking space when traveling and want to pack light, pack a tube of this and you will be set for almost all sorts of skin situations. 

Lanolips Golden Ointment RRP A$28.95 for 50g at David Jones, Priceline, Adore Beauty online and Terry White Chemists.

How to: Keep Skin in tip-top Shape During Winter

The extreme winter weather currently experienced by many parts of the Australia can be very harsh – your health starts to falter with the gripping flu, your energy sapped with the weather and you just feel like hibernating till Spring comes around. Worse yet, your skin suffers from a lack of vitamin D, dry and scaly skin and chapped lips.

And hydration is key to combat these conditions in these cold and chilly season so make sure to drink up on water and for your skin, keep them hydrated these products. They will be a saviour for the remainder of this winter.

Khiel’s Rosa Arctica Youth Regeneration Cream - 50ml 

A rich moisturiser that creates a thin veil of protection on the skin to lock in the moisture – it has a faint chocolate scent thanks to the cocoa butter and contain plant based squalene (olive source) to moisturise, vitamin E for anti-oxidising properties and the extract of rosa arctica the resurrection flower Haberlea Rhodopensis to help increase cell vitality for skin renewal. I had a small sample that I used for a week and it helped to keep my skin bouncy, moist and looking fresh. I personally love this in extra the mornings before the applying the SPF for its smooth matte texture or on top of a treatment serum at night.

RRP A$84 online or at Kiehl's counters at selected department stores

Clinique Turnaround Overnight Radiance Moisturise - 50ml 

For skin that need an extra helping hand, this is the one of the champion of night creams – slap this non-greasy but easily absorbed moisturising treatment all over the face before going to bed and this to help increase cell turnover and brighten dull winter skin. While is a great hydrating moisturiser, it’s name to fame is the time release salicylic acid that gently exfoliates to re-texturises skin, help fade blemish marks and smooth unevenness so your skin feel brand new in the morning again. With a week of use, you get velvetly soft skin with a healthy radiance that keeps your looking fresh. It seriously is that good that I’d say it’s made its way into my HG list of treatment products! 

50ml RRP A$90 online or at Clinique counters in department stores.


Uriage Thermal Water for Sensitive Skin 

Sourced from the thermal spring capital of France in Uriage-les-Basin, the name-sake water spray has highest percentage of trace mineral in any thermal water spray on the market. This thermal water not only hydrates and refreshes but has therapeutic properties and in France, patients with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis go in droves to the French Thermal Centre to soak and bath in its mineral rich water.

Uriage thermal water is so soothing on irritated skin, even the most sensitive skin type will benefit from its calming and healing effects and the fine mist is just perfect to set your makeup – what a multi tasker! 

RRP A$10.95 / A$26.95  for 50ml / 300ml. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order online.


Now lets not forget the body during the winter months, even if you cover it up under layers of clothing

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream - 200ml

This lightly fresh scented whipped texture body cream with 25% shea butter is a dry and dehydrated skin sufferer’s dream come true as the emollient cream is readily absorb by the body without leaving a greasy residue and keeps skin moist all day long. Along with linseed, marshmallow extract and apricot oil, you get all day hydration and within 3 days, any scaly parts of skin is transformed into the soft smooth skin, without any dry patches in sight. 

RRP $59.95 at  L'Occitane counters in selected departments, L'Occitane concept stores or online.                                                                              

Soap and Glory: The Breakfast Scrub - 300ml 

Exfoliation is another key factor to banish dull dry skin so this Soap and Body salt body scrub is the perfect aide for the job. This is my favourite because it smells like crème caramel thanks to its sugar and cupuacu scrubs particles to polish and buff while the almond and milk extract softens and nourish skin. Best of all, there is no hint of film or residue on skin after washing off unlike other salt body scrubs I’ve used before (I’m looking at you Body Shop body scrubs!)

RRP A$18.95 at Kit Cosmetics counters and online.

Uriage Bariederm Soothing Repair Barrier Lip Balm - 15ml 

Chapped lips are a common occurrence in winter and there is no better way to sooth and repair it than with an intensive lip balm. Bariederm barrier lip balm is a paraffin based product that forms a film over lips to lock moisture in and cold air out and prevent further dryness whilst provide relief from any cracked lips or chapness. The best thing is that an application last through light eating and drinking so meaning that you don’t have to re-apply frequently to the appearance of flakies at bay.

RRP A$19.95. Available at selected Melbourne or Sydney Stocklists or contact the company to order directly with them online.  

Refresh PLUS Everyday Dry Eye Drops - 30x0.4ml applicators

And finally, if you suffer from dry eyes because you are a frequent flyer, have been staring at a computer screen for way too long like I have or have foreign matter get stuck into your eyes, you will welcome this refreshing eye drops to relieve irritated or dry eyes. The innovative packaging resolves the problem with normal eye drops bottles where they can become contaminated very quickly and need to be thrown out after 6 weeks. You’ll appreciate these Refresh PLUS eye drops which come in single applicator so that you always have a fresh and sterile dose of eye drops every time. 

RRP A$15.70 at selected pharmacies and optometrists.

How have you been keeping your skin hydrated this winter?

Products features in this post were provided for consideration.

Review: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

When the seasons change, so does my the texture of my skin. It's no different this season and due to the crazy hot-cold weather currently playing out. Add to that, my recent fraxel procedure (I'm still working up the courage to blog and post photos about it), my skin has been super dehydrated, fragile and sensitive to the external conditions.

During the days whilst my skin was peeling and healing, I need a ultra gentle moisturiser to keep skin my moist and hydrated and give it a layer of protection.

My dermatologist recommended Cetaphil for its gentle basic moisturising properties but my skin was so dry during this, I would have been slathering the stuff every 1/2 hour - not something I was wanting to entertain. Luckily I had a tub of something even better on hand to use during this critcial period of skin trauma.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream - 125ml 

Back in May when I has a skin consult at the Kiehl's counter, I was already prone to dry skin so was provided this jar of moisturiser for intense hydration. Little did I know that this tub would be so handy months later for more than your average dry skin conditions.

• Rich and nourishing but non-greasy and light textured, the formula has a good slip and a gel consistency but does takes some rubbing to absorb into skin. 
• Contains Imperata Cylindrica extract, a catcus plant that thrives in the Australian dessert and Antarcticine which contains a clycoprotein extracted from organisms from Antarctic sea glaciers that provides hydration and protection from extreme harsh conditions so is good for our dry climates as it helps to retain moisture in skin. 
• Is scentless and non-irrating, even for extremely traumatised skin and can be use over open cuts or wounds. 
• Provides immediate hydration that lasts all day in most conditions. While my skin was healing and peeling from the fraxel treatment, I applied after washing my face in the morning, and topped up during the day when my skin was feeling tight (about 6-8 hours later, especially during the first 2 days after treatment) and then again at night. 
• This leaves skin hydrated and feeling comfortable and helps rid the tight feeling when skin is overly dry. On normal dry skin this would be able to provide all day hydration and can last up to 24 hours (although one would usually have washed their face at least once by that time and reapplied but it's good to know it would last that long in extreme conditions). 
• This would be suitable for those with extremely dry or wind-chapped, and would help those suffering from ecezma or mild dermatitis to sooth and hydrate. 

This is truly a hard working hydrator that skins well into skin and lasts all day. It's little wonder that the Ultra Facial cream is Kiehl's hero product and has been on it's best sellers list internationally for so many years. As part of Kiehl's 160th anniversary celebration, they've even put out a limited edition with the heritage packaging - chic no?

RRP A$64 at selected Kielh's counters at  Myer, David Jones stores or Kiehl's online.
This product was provided for consideration.

SOS For Winter Skin

Winter is notorious for cold conditions that dries out the skin. Add to that mix the sudden changes in temperatures as you head from heated indoors environments to plunging outdoors temperatures and you're bound to have a recipe for dry flaky patches and wind burnt chapped lips, all of which are symptoms I'm experiencing lately.

I've been using the following products to combat the windburn and drying effects of constant extreme weather changes in an attempt to restore moisture back into my skin and lips.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster 30ml*

• Packed full of hyaluronic acid (which is able to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water) and glycerin (a humectant), this gem binds moisture on  skin to keep you hydrated for hours on end.
• Restores moisture balance and revitalises skin and helps reduce and soothe the dry patches on cheeks and those sore runny noses. 
• A clear slightly viscous liquid, it is scented with lavender essential oils that also helps to calm skin from irritations and quickly absorbs to give baby soft skin - no joke!
• Also contains panthenol for tissue repair and algae extracts to restore the moisture balance. 
• You don't have to have parched skin to use this, if you're your skin is feeling tight or dry,  it's enough reason to pick this up and apply before your other normal skincare products to bind in the moisture content and relieve you from dry patches and lines, especially under the eye area. 
• Best used after washing on slightly damp clean skin to lock in all that glorious moisture content and you only need a few drops to get instantly softened skin.

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$100 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

This is a FITE product and its sale will help fund a female entrepreneur in a developing country. To find out more, visit www.joinFITE.org


Clinique Comfort On Call 50ml 

• This heavy duty cream is used to relieve seriously dry skin, and by serious I mean the wind-burnt dry cracked skin type of serious. 
• Given its its richness (a rich body cream texture), I recommend using this creamy balm at night as it's probably too heavy to use during the day, especially if you intend to apply makeup over your skincare products and take a bit of time to fully absorb into skin. If you're outdoors in the extreme weather during the day, then use it during the day as well - just make sure you top it with sun protection. 
• Contains olive fruit oil, shea butter to deeply moisturise, citrus jabara fruit extract to calm and trace amounts of hyaluronic acid to keep the moisture in. 
• Creates a barrier after application to prevent further damage and help to keep skin's moisturised whilst it soothes redness and irritations from extreme weather and reduce flaky skin. 
• Like all other Clinique skincare products, it is fragrance free and relatively scentless, which helps for those who are easily senstised by fragrance in their products (I'm usually not but when skin is irritated, anything can happen). 
• I don't use this every night, only when I find my skin very dry and would use for a few days during that period before converting back to my normal lighter moisturisers. 

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$83 at Clinique counters.

Dermalogica Climate Control Lip Treatment 4.5g

• This little lip balm is a godsend for my perennially dry lips which just cracks during winters. Seriously no amount of  daily exfoliating has stopped my chapping, it has only minimised it. With this lip treatment, I have only minimal exfoliating work to do at night - hallelujah!
• Contains Anti-Ozonate Complex to heal cracked, chapped lips and leaves a protective waxy film that prevents moisture from leaving and harsh extreme conditions from further drying up lips and gives hours of protections before any re-application is needed.
• Although fragrance free and goes on clear, there is a light but distinctive medicinal taste (most likely due to the Alkyl benzonate) to this balm which reminds me of zinc stick. It's not a deal breaker for me and honestly you shouldn't be licking your lips anyway as it dries them out even more so the taste should act as a deterrent for you lip-smacking people out there.
• Also good for bits of rough skin like finger and sore red noses or anywhere that needs soothing and protecting. 

Ingredients listing:

Helianthus Annuus (Hybrid Sunflower) Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ozokerite, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Lecithin, Oils Of: Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange), Geranium Maculatum, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed, Superoxide Dismutase, Bisabolol, Extracts Of: Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon), Fumaria Officinalis, Fumaric Acid, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender), Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf, Trifolium Pratense (Clover) Flower, Echinacea Purpurea, Symphytum Officinale, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Boron Nitride, Titanium Dioxide, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Silica, Butylene Glycol

RRP A$19 at selected salons or cheaper online at the Facial Company.

Botanics of Australia (BOA) Intense Moisturiser with Lilly Pilly 225g*

BOA is an Aussie skincare and haircare brand that I've recently been introduced to. Interestingly, although the products are made in Australia with local signature ingredients, it is only marketed to and sold to international overseas consumers (weird how they think locals wouldn't love to use these local products too!). The good news is it's available online for purchase locally, is well priced with a good product range and from the products I've tried so far, are fabulous and value for money.

• This moisturiser is a whipped cream texture and is between the richness of body butter being lighter and softer but richer than body lotions. It has a delightful warm sandalwood fragrance and feels luxurious when it melts upon touching the skin. 
• My favourite part is that it's non-greasy and fast absorbing - it has a similar texture and feel to the L'Occitane Rich Renewal Cream that I love and comes in a nice big jar that is easy to scoop out the product to apply copious amounts of all over the body.
• Contains grape seed oil, Cocoa butter and Shea butter for intense moisturisation with lilly pilly, an Australia native fruit  that is packed full of vitamin C and fruit acids to assist with skin firming.  

Ingredients listing:

RRP A$17.95 or  cheaper online at FashionAddict.

Do you change your skincare regime for the seasons? 
What products are you currently using?

Products marked * were provided for consideration. All other products were purchased by myself.

Review: Orly Rich Renewal Creme

The winter weather's causing havoc on my skin this month. Scaly legs and dehydrated arms are starting to show up. Add to that, my hands are getting very dry and the cuticles are looking ragged and chapped. It was time to take some action and hit myself up on some intense hydration.

Orly Rich Renewal Ultra Hydrating Creme

• The purse size 60ml tube of goodness is handy to carry arounnd and comes in 3 amazing fragrances - Passion, Peace and Paradise. I had the Peace one which is a light vanilla and white tea scent - yummy and heavenly at the some time. 
• Indeed very rich but not at all greasy - in fact is has this silken feel and is very much similar to L'Occitane's ultra Rich Cream in texture. It is absorbed quickly and starts to hydrate skin immediately.
•  Love the fact this multi-tasker can be used on the all parts of the body and works well on hands to soothe culitcles
• Leaves skin soft and silky by quenching it with moisture whilst subtly scenting it. Within 3 days my scaly arms were starting to look very normal again. 

Ingredients listing:

I just can't get enough of this stuff and could slather it on all day long. I love it for the scent alone but this beauty is a winner in the all important hydration and softening department as well - what's there not to love?

60ml RRP A$10.95 or 240ml A$29.95 at selected Pharmacies or Orly Online.

P.S. use the discount code 'beautyheaven' to get 15% of all your purchases when you checkout online. This code was provided to all members of beautyheaven, which I'm part of.

This product sample was provided for consideration.

L'Occitane Perfumed Shea Butter Collection

My love affair with French brand L'Occitane started years ago when I got my hand on their perfumed hand creams (the cherry blossom and rose are my all time favourites) and this love has deepened recently with my trialling of their latest Shea Butter offerings.

L'Occitane hails back to 1976 for its humble beginnings in the hills of the Haute-Provence. Today, all their products are still developed and produced in same southern town of Manosque, as it has for the past 35 years. It still follows traditional production methods to bring effective and pleasurable products to the market by being a socially responsible company with the use of natural ingredients, essential oils, and sustainably sourced ingredients as core ingredients in all their offerings.

This year, the latest  L'Occitane launch is the limited edition Perfumed Shea Butter Collection.

• Available in Vineyard Rose, Apricot Flowers, and Orange Honey - scents reminiscent of the orchards of Provence. The collection extends the pleasurable experience of shea butter and bring it up to a new indulgent level with these delicate fragrances.
• The collection line up includes a perfumed shea butter, perfumed ultra rich body cream, perfumed shea butter soap and converts best selling organic shea butter to fair trade status. 

Perfumed Shea Butter 30ml* - RRP A$24.95

• Comes in a cute 1/2 circle tin and is a handy size to throw into the handbag so it can travel with you anywhere you go. 
• With 95% certified organic and fair trade Shea Butter combined with organic botanical oils and beeswax for a deliciously smooth texture, it provides skin deep nourishment and protects against harsh environments. 
• My little tin of Apricot FLower is a fruity burst of summer with the light apricot scent and contains organic apricot oil to sooth and protect. 
• An emollient balm, I use this on my cuticles, my elbows, knees and rough patches for super soft smooth skin. 
• Love it as a conditioner or balm for lips. It smells delicious but is actually tasteless which is what I prefer and has now replaced all my other lip balms.
• Don't under estimate this little 30ml tin of rich goodness - a little goes a long way. I think it will easily last me a 6-9 months of use. 

Perfumed Ultra Rich Body Cream 100ml* - RRP A$36.95 

• With 25% shea butter, this is an ultra luxurious tub of crème that richly moisturise with linseed oil extra, marsh mallow, sweet almond oil, honey and softening apricot oil, providing complete care for dry or very dry skin.
• It helps restore the skin’s hydrolipidic film and provides deep nourishment and long lasting hydrating to protect it from further harsh environmental conditions. 
• I received this in Vineyard Rose and love the delicate scent of cottage roses that leaves skin just lightly scented after use. 
• Feels like Hazeline Snow that I grew up with as a kid as has the same smooth silken texture. Enriched with rose-hip oil, it is easily absorbed and although rich, it is non-greasy and just leaves skin feeling like velvet. 
• Helps damaged skin heals faster. I burnt the back of my hand during cooking over the weekend and after using this cream for 4 days, the burn mark looked like it never existed. 
• Great as a post-shave cream to sooth irritated legs and calm down bumps on legs
• Within 1 week of use, my scaly legs are smooth with almost no dry flakiness left. The dry rough heels on my feet have never felt so soft and although they are still dry looking, they are no longer cracked looking and are actually starting to smooth up - no cream has managed to do this yet so I'm mighty impressed. 

Perfumed Shea Butter Soap 100g - RRP A$8.95

Delicately scented, these soaps produce a creamy lather to gently cleanses the skin and helps maintain its natural moisture balance.

Fair Trade Shea Butter 150ml - RRP A$49.95

Encased in a metal tin, this stuff is 99.8% pure shea butter, certified organic and fair trade by Ecocert (EFT label); the remaining  0.2% is antioxidant Vitamin E - there is nothing more simple and pure than this product. It provides intense repair and hydration properties to help soften, protect and is suited for very dry and sensitive skin. This would be ideal for cracked heels, rough knees elbows and anyone with eczema or other skin irritations.


My favourite pick would have to be the ultra rich body cream. It has healing properties and is able to smooth my rough heels. If you were to only pick up one thing, you can't go past this jar of magic cream.

This very limited edition Perfumed Shea Butter range is available from 9th May at selected L'Occitane Boutiques, Myer, David Jones, and selected pharmacies.

Products marked * were sent for consideration.

Review: Kora Organic Rich Body Lotion

Most times, when I hear of celebrities launching a skincare or cosmetics line, I take a skeptical view of its launch and move on without giving it much thought. This is due to past experience of well marketed campaigns with sadly not so substantive products and the general impression that most celebrities only have a passing interest in their latest venture given it's not their normal area of expertise.

I'm sure I'm not the only cynic thinking that it's just another marketing avenue for them to flog their name given the number of celebrities clamouring to put out a product with their name on it. Whilst this experience have been fairly consistent, I think I have to re-assess my blanket view after trying the latest celebrity product from Victoria Secrets Angel, Miranda Kerr.

KORA Organics

• Kora is an organic line recently released by Ms Kerr the expectant Mrs. Bloom that features only organic ingredients in its product lines.
• The Kora line is a result of 3 years of product development and trails by Miranda and a team of formulation experts as well as a slew of product trialers over the years.
• All Kora products feature star ingredients: antioxidant noni berry juice, vitamin C, E and roship oils, known for the healing, and regenerative properties.

KORA Organic Rich Body Lotion

• Suitable for all skin types, this is a rich yet light cream that is pale lemon in colour; it's quickly absorbed into skin without feeling the slightest bit greasy afterwards. In fact I'm really impressed by the silky texture it leaves skin immediately after application which is something associated with silicone based products and there is certainly none of that here. 
• Contains moisturising jojoba, cocoa butter and macademia oil to add essential fatty acids back into skin and helps to soften and protect and hyaluronic acid keeps skin hydrated. 
• Citrusy tangerine and warm sandalwood scent that exemplifies its earthly and organic origins of its ingredients.
• I love the fact that its hydrates and softens equally well on my dry legs or arms and hands and cuticles. 
• The big 200ml tube packaging is easy to use and means it will last a long time, which is great since it isn't the cheapest body product out there so am glad that you get alot of the price you pay. 

Pale yellow, light in texture, non-greasy and not much sheen when rubbed in as seen on the right side of hand

This is my favourite body cream to date and is getting all my love this month. I'd be repurchasing another tube when this big baby runs out and am keen to try the other Kora products Miranda has put out to see if the entire line is as good as this. If it is, I may have to kill that default celebrity product skepticism for good. 

Rating: 10/10. RRP A$44.95 at David Jones stores or Kora Online.
This product was received at the MBBE event.
Click more for ingredients listings.