So, big news...

This weekend I'll be hitting not one but two major milestones for this here little old blog. Expect some changes next week, but also expect the biggest competition I have ever done.

That's all I'm gonna say.

Ok, I'll be giving away all of my favourite things, just like Oprah (lucky for me my favourite things don't include a car - too pricey to post).

Now that's really all I'm gonna say.

See you next week!

Aveeno Ultra-Calming - for irritated skin

-by Shay

I have pretty horrible skin, you know. On my body and on my face. Besides the whole oily-combination thing, I have lived with this condition called eczema for my entire life. If you don’t have it you may not know that it’s a form of hereditary, allergy-sensitive dermatitis. In a nutshell that means my skin goes whacky and develops some pretty awful rashes over certain things in the environment that set me off.

In my particular case, this is JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Dry air, moist air, hot weather, cold weather, dust mites, animal hair, dust particles, pollen, grass – I could seriously go on forever.

Unfortunately in recent years the eczema has spread to parts of my face, and it’s something I have really struggled with treating.

But don’t despair, this is a good news story people! There is a happy ending!

I’m very happy to let you know that Aveeno Active Naturals have come to my rescue and saved me from itchy, blotchy and irritated skin with their Ultra-Calming range.

I have been using the Ultra Calming Cream Cleanser on and off for ages now, well before my latest tube was sent to me for review purposes. I like to stash it in my drawer of ‘emergency’ items in my bathroom so I can use it when my skin has decided it hates me (for the millionth time).

It is the most beautiful, soap-free cleanser that left my troubled skin feeling smooth, soft and most importantly – calmed. It’s like a comforting hug for my red, raw skin. It uses a relative of chamomile (feverfew) to achieve what I once thought impossible, and remains very reasonably priced at only $13.99 for 141g.

When the weather started to warm up I pushed the cream cleanser aside, and started wondering how I could treat any Summer sensitivity that would inevitably crop up. I didn’t have to think for long, as I was sent the Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser and Ultra Calming Daily Moisturiser with SPF 15. Talk about reading my mind?!

The foaming cleanser gave the same results the cream cleanser did, although it left my skin feeling less moisturised and more ‘fresh’ feeling (which is exactly what we want for Summer). This one also retails for $13.99 for 180mL.

The daily moisturiser is absolutely lovely. It worked a treat on my red and inflamed patches, and really moisturised and calmed like nothing else has. No stinging, and no itchiness. I felt like jumping with glee!

The fact that it has SPF 15 is a huge bonus, but of course I would still add your regular 30+ underneath if you’re going to be in direct sunlight (as opposed to driving your car) for any amount of time. This one will cost you $24.99 75mL and comes in the most convenient little pump pack, which I absolutely adore.

All in all I would not hesitate to recommend this line to anyone who experiences skin troubles. You might not suffer to the same extent I do (dear GOD I would not wish that on anyone), but even if you experience redness, blotchiness or tightness these products will certainly help you even out your complexion – no matter what time of year it is.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming range
Price: Daily Moisturiser - $24.99, Foaming Cleanser - $13.99, Moisturising Cream Cleanser - $13.99
From: Priceline

For more of Shay's reviews, check out her youtube channel

This product was offered to Stuff That I Bought for editorial consideration - for more details, see our disclosure policy
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DIY Macarons & Whoopie Pies - easy as...err...pie

My love of baking is well documented on this blog. Food blogger I am not, however I love to cook sweet treats. We had a big family shindig on the weekend and I decided to take not one but two tasty desserts (I'm good like that - invite me to your next BBQ or dinner party and I won't disappoint).

However, instead of making something from scratch or creating my own recipe, I went with two packet mixes. These weren't no ordinary cake mixes though. Behold:

Betty Crocker Chocolate and Vanilla Whoopie Pies and Donna Hay Almond Macaron With Chocolate Filling. Hello, calorietown.

I was pretty confident with the whoopie pies, so I decided to make the macarons first since there was greater potential for error (i.e. if I screwed them, I would have time up my sleeve to make something else).

They were remarkably easy. Like, really easy. Donna Hay is a saint - the instructions were clear, it didn't take long to prepare the mixture, and the only extra things I needed were water and some cream. Handy hint: I drew circles on the baking paper as a guide so that all my halves were roughly the same size to easily match them up into pairs.

If the macarons were easy, then the whoopie pies were no effort at all. It's basically a packet cake mix, but instead of putting the mix in a pan, you plop it onto baking paper. Same deal - I drew circles in texta on the baking paper and then flipped it over (texta doesn't taste so good) so they acted as a guide. This mix also requires an egg, veggie oil and some milk - all stuff I assume you have already? Maybe not, if you're lactose intolerant.

Both of these get my seal of approval and will be pulled out again in future. Someone even told me they had recently read that whoopie pies are apparently the new macaron. Typical me, always ahead of the curve.

Donna Hay Almond Macaron with Chocolate Filling
Price: $7.99 - cheaper than a half dozen from Lindt
From: Coles

Betty Crocker Chocolate Whoopie Pie
Price: I think I bought it on special for $4, normally $5.55
From: Coles

Update: I made the Whoopie Pies again and added a layer of strawberry jam to the middle. Holy shit. Although I would say raspberry > strawberry. 

*I just thought I would mention, while it might look like I have some sort of affiliation with Coles, it's only because I live across the street from them and do all my shopping there. 
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Lindt Passionfruit - 'nuff said

This is the kind of post where I just need to post a picture and a moan of appreciation, right? Good. Let's get to it…

Ohhhhhhhhhhh

Omnomnomnomnom

Lindt Passionfruit
Price: $3.93 (although I bought it last week when they were 2 for $4 at Coles)
From: Supermarkets
Why you need it: Lindt Passionfruit! The tantalising sweetness of passionfruit married with the magic of Lindt dark chocolate and the creaminess of almond slivers. Hello, sexytimes.
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This Week I...

…realised I hadn't done a This Week I… post for a while
…had my fifth session of laser hair removal at Leah's Wax Works. The hair had barely grown back from the last session, save for a sparse amount under my arms. I have three more sessions to go, but I honestly doubt I will need them all. If you haven't considered laser yet, I implore you to. I won't need to shave under my arms at all this summer, and this makes me happy. 
…had to mow the lawn and trim the hedges of the lady garden before aforementioned laser appointment. I gave the Gillette Venus and Olay Bikini Trimmer Kit ($19.99 from the supermarket) a whirl and was really impressed by the trimmer. And although the razor is surrounded by one of those annoying hydrating bars that I love so much, it felt really nice on my legs because legs are flat and easier to shave, unlike trying to shave the crease of a bikini line with an inch wide razor/hydrating bar combo. The added bonus of the Olay moisturiser certainly went down a treat - no razor bumps.
…hydrated the heck out of my hair using Wella Enrich Mask for Fine/Normal hair ($25 for a 150ml tub from the salon). My hair is in terrible condition right now because I am well overdue for a cut, but I have managed to hold off for another week or two by loading up on hydration. I was just sent the new Pantene Clinicare Split End Fuser, so I'm hoping they will reverse some of my immense damage.
…remembered why I love Pineapple Freddo Frogs so much. Twin pack goodness FTW!
...did my roots using Schwarzkopf Live Salon Permanent ($15.99 from the supermarket). The colour is fantastic and it was easy to use, and it would get five stars if it came with proper gloves instead of those giant plastic bag gloves instead.
…saw In Time. Let's be honest, the main drawcard was Justin Timberlake. And while this movie isn't going to be winning any awards any time soon, it was entertaining. Justin is hot as hell, and Amanda Seyfried is hypnotising, with her cat-like eyes under her heavy fringe. I will admit I spent a fair chunk of the movie wondering how on earth she (and her stunt double) managed to run so quickly in 10" stilettos without breaking an ankle. My movie companions weren't overly impressed (they're hard to please), but it's good light entertainment. Just don't think too hard about the fact Olivia Wilde played Justin's mother. Final word: go on tight-ass Tuesday.

*the bikini trimmer, hair mask and hair colour were offered to Stuff That I Bought for editorial consideration - for more details, see our disclosure policy
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LOVE! Schwarzkopf Instant Volume Powder

My new favourite product. So much love.

Price: $8.99
From: Priceline etc etc - check www.schwarzkopf.com.au
Why you need it: Volume! Texture! Limp haired girls rejoice!

This product was offered to Stuff That I Bought for editorial consideration - for more details, please see our disclosure policy
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You SPF your face - do you SPF your body?

Do we need to do the SPF lecture again? You know you're supposed to wear it. I know I'm supposed to wear it. SPF SPF blah blah blah (and I don't say this to trivialise wearing sunscreen because it's Really Serious Business, but we have all heard it before).

While I'm diligent with it on my face every day, I have to admit that I get a bit lax on the arms and chest. Now that the sun is coming out and I'm no longer hiding under layers of leather and fur, it's time to change my habits.

Vaseline sent me their new Total Moisture Aloe Fresh SPF 15 Daily Light Lotion a few weeks ago, but before I could even try it out it went walkabout from my beauty cupboard. I'm not going to point fingers here *cough* but I hope the new owner is enjoying it.

I went and bought some anyway. No excuses for not wearing SPF though when it's less than $8 for 200ml. That's, like, the price of coffee and cake. Ridonkulous. Plus it's Vaseline, so you know it's good juice. It's lovely and hydrating, spreads easily, and smells really good (the smell of aloe always reminds me of Hawaii). Get a pump bottle for the bathroom and smaller bottles for the car and your desk. That's what I did.

Price: $7.68/200ml - $11.59/375ml - $16.31/750ml
From: Priceline
Why you need it: The easiest way to stop age spots and wrinkles on your boobies
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Current obsession: Banana Milky Ways

Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed.

Have you had a Banana Milky Way yet? They are so damn good. I didn't think you could improve on perfection from the original, but damn these little babies are four bites of heaven. Three bites if you're feeling particularly greedy.

Trust me on this one. Especially if you were a banana paddle pop fan as a tyke.

Price: 63c
From: Coles
Why you need it: Super tasty and so small it's practically guilt free (surely you can't jam too many calories into something so little, right?)
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Wedding prep: Getting my skin perfect for the big day

As I say in the video, I never intended to blog about my impending nuptials, but I have been trying so many great products lately that these all deserved a mega shout out for all their hard work.



The details:
md formulations Facial Cleansing Gel - $85/250ml
Find stockists on the Spa Universe site

Lapurete Okuru Facial Cleanser - $39.90/100ml
Find stockists on the Lapurete site

Clarisonic Mia - $179
David Jones, Myer, Priceline and some pharmacies

Antipodes Organic Avocado Oil and Rosehip Divine Oil - $33
Myer, David Jones and some pharmacies

Omnilux - starts at about $90-100 per treatment
I highly recommend Fifty Four Park - Mel and Tilly are facial goddesses. Otherwise find a salon near you on the Spa Universe site

Decleor Expression de L'age Smoothing Roll On - $110/20ml
Find stockists on the Spa Universe site

Opinion: Mens razors are better than womens razors

After a lengthy membership on Team Epilation, I'm temporarily back on Team Shaving and I have to say…women's razors suck. Like, big time sucky mcsuck-suck. Perhaps they're too busy trying to make them pink and add in stupid creamy shaving bars (which just get in the way, FYI) to actually think about the quality of the razor. Geez, lift your game, shaver brands!

Meanwhile, I was sent a parcel of Gillette Fusion ProGlide products for my dude reviewer to play with, but since he was overseas at the time, Fiance and I decided we might like to play with them ourselves. The Fusion ProGlide Power razor is battery powered so that it vibrates as you use it (there's also a non-vibey razor called Manual). Fiance didn't like it at all - he said it felt like he didn't have any control over the razor because of the vibrations, and it irritated his sensitive skin. I, on the other hand, loved it. Still love it, since I use it once or twice a week. I quite like the gentle vibrations, and the 5 blades gives a really close shave without any sort of irritation or rash. Plus, those women's brands could learn a thing or two from the little lubricating strip that quite amply does the job without getting in the way.

Pictured: Intense Cooling Balm and Fusion ProGlide Power Razor

 We also played with a bunch of the Gillette Fusion products and I found a new favourite - the shaving gel. Fiance prefers shaving foam (he has an unnatural attachment to Nivea Shaving Foam, which I really don't like) but even he admitted the shaving gel was good. I, on the other hand, re-purchased when it ran out. Dedication to the (smooth leg) cause.

The other product Fiance really liked was the Intense Cooling Balm, which I didn't try, for obvious reasons. He doesn't normally use an aftershave lotion, but he said he enjoyed using it because it made him feel manly (I feel like I'm going to cop a beating for writing this). To be fair, he also said it was refreshing and soothing. And he doesn't like using grooming products, so this is a huge compliment.

The details:
Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power - $16.99
Gillette Series Intense Cooling Lotion - $11.99
Fusion HydraGel - $7.34
From: Priceline, Coles, Woolies etc
Why you need it: For a smooth, easy shave

These products were offered to Stuff That I Bought for editorial consideration - for more details, see our disclosure policy
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Exclusive First Look: Pantene Aqua Light (plus Barney Martin)

This is really random, but a few weeks ago I was involved in a secret project with Pantene (once I get the go ahead, I'll fill you in). Along with other shenanigans, I went to the Pantene Sceptic Panel event, where we (beauty bloggers and editors) got to grill Pantene’s Expert stylist Barney Martin, Pantene’s Senior Scientist Dr Jasmine Karsono and Pantene’s Expert Trichologist Tony Pearce on all those nasty Pantene rumours that I know you have all heard and probably believe.

I also got a special sneaky peek at the new Pantene range called Aqua Light, which hits shelves today. I have been using Aqua Light for about 2 weeks now and so far I am really impressed - it's much lighter than any other Pantene, which is great for my fine hair. But don't just take my word for it - I got the inside scoop from that cheeky lad Barney Martin!

The Pantene Aqua Light deets:
Shampoo & Conditioner - $7.99/350mL
Treatment - $9.99/200mL
From: Supermarkets
Why you need it: If you have found Pantene products too heavy for your hair in the past, this will change your perception.

These products were offered to Stuff That I Bought for editorial consideration - for more details, see our disclosure policy
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The "Stuff That I Bought Lindt Dark Caramel Brownie Recipe" Post

I created my own brownie recipe from scratch. True story. I love baking and brownies are kind of definitely my specialty. So I decided to create the Stuff That I Bought Lindt Dark Caramel Brownie recipe. I actually filmed a video to show you the recipe in action, but a TV chef I am not, so a regular old post will have to do.

The stuff you need to buy aka ingredients:

• 125g butter, chopped
• 1 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
• 150g Lindt Noir Caramel chocolate, chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup plain flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder

The things you need to do aka instructions:

1. Pop the oven on to 180°C or 160°C for fan-forced. Grease an 18 x 28cm cake tin with some soft butter or margarine. Most people like to line the base of the pan with non-stick baking paper, but I actually prefer not to, as I find the edges crisp up better without it.
2. Put the butter, brown sugar and chocolate in a large saucepan and stir over low-medium heat until they look like a big brown liquidy mess (i.e. well combined).
3. Remove pan from heat. Take a sneaky lick of the wooden spoon. Beat in the eggs using aforementioned wooden spoon.
4. Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder into the chocolate mixture and stir until well combined.
5. Sneak another mouthful of batter and start to get really hungry. Pour the mix into the tin and bake for 35-40 minutes. Stare at the oven impatiently while your house smells amazing. 

These brownies are amazing on the second day once they have properly cooled and gone a bit chewy. Unfortunately it's pretty unusual for them to actually make it to the second day - straight from the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a little slice of heaven. Or a big slice, if you're being greedy.

If you try this recipe, please let me know how you go. You can probably substitute the Lindt Caramel for just about any good quality milk or dark chocolate - I'm keen to try Chilli and Orange next.

What's your kitchen specialty? 
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