The much hyped about Jaclyn Hill x Becca Cosmetics face palette finally reached Australian shores and I knew I just had to have it. I already had the original Champagne Pop highlighter compact and use it on the regular, it leaves a beautiful highlight wherever it is placed, and after having seen so many US customers rave about the face palette, I was always going to get it. Unfortunately this collaboration was marred with negativity due to the eyeshadow palette of which I cannot weigh in due to not having had the chance to purchase or try it - Australia never got this palette at all. 

The one (and only) negative to this whole collaboration is the fact that America gets all releases first, despite this company starting in Australia - it often feels as though the company's Australian roots are long forgotten in the overall success of their business. Especially when it comes to the price, it is almost 70% more expensive in Australia compared to America. Needless to say, I can be a proud Australian knowing that this hugely successful company came about from another Australian, not to mention that it means anybodies dream can be a reality just as long as the effort and desire is there.   

The moment you pick up the product, it feels high-end and luxurious. The packaging is heavy and a beautiful golden colour - of course a reflection of the product inside! Once you open the packaging and slip the well packed palette out into your hands, the luxuriousness absolutely increases. The palette itself is heavy, it's got a beautiful clasp, and it is clean and crisp. When you open it, the mirror is huge and the palette itself is golden and reflective. It truly is a well-made, well-thought out product, just screaming for you to swatch it. 

The palette has three blushes and two highlighters - although the first blush has a beautiful shimmer to it as well and would be called a luminous blush. The colours in the swatches above are listed from Top-Bottom, Left-Right: Rose-Spritz, Amaretto, Pamplemousse. Champagne Pop, Prosecco Pop. The colours all scream summer, and are just absolutely beautiful. They are highly pigmented, glide onto the skin and look so gorgeous when layered on your skin. Each product compliments each other and works so well with one another.

Amaretto is definitely one of my favourites, it is so earthy and neutral and is all that I want in a blush. Whilst in some cases I love a pinky bright blush, lately I have been all about the bronze, neutral and earthy colours. It is winter at the moment, and I think I am just craving the warmth of a bronze, earthy blush. When applying, definitely tap your brush and only apply the smallest amount (unless you are after a strong blush, then you do you) - as I said above, these are highly pigmented which is absolutely what you want in a high-end product. There is nothing worse than a product that lacks any pigmentation and is a pain to blend. 

This palette is limited edition, so if you want to add it to your collection, you best be quick before it sells out! 

Where to buy?

Australia
Sephora Becca x Jaclyn Hill Face Palette AU$89.00

America
Sephora Becca x Jaclyn Hill Face Palette US$52.00  (sold out :( sorry)


If you have this product or can weigh in on the eyeshadow palette, I'd love to hear from you - leave a comment below xo

Clockwise - Back Applicator, 2Hr Express Deluxe Bronzing Mousse, Applicator Mitt.

This little product is the number one tanning product in the industry. Loving Tan appeals to its market, not just for the beautiful packaging, great deals and discounts, but because of that beautiful, glowing, natural tan it gives. Some sunless tanners really leave a terrible colour on your skin, it looks unnatural, sometimes yellow and sometimes even a gross kind of green.

I bought this product based on a number of recommendations by people who self-tan regularly and had tried many products. It was affordable, and arrived very quickly. This product can now be bought from many different online stores, including their own, and that's what makes it so ideal - it's availability! As well as the self-tanner, I got the applicator mitt and the back applicator (which, if you have long arms, or a boyfriend/girlfriend/friend handy, you won't need!).

  I have a boyfriend handy, and he comes in great use when it comes to applying my tan - it's actually quite possible my back and shoulders look 99% better than the rest of my body which would definitely come down to his application of it - he's a natural!

I bought the 2 HR Express Deluxe Bronzing Mousse in the shade Medium. The 2 HR Express comes in two shades, Medium and Dark - I am not a regular self-tanner and as I am generally quite fair, I did not want to go all-out with the dark shade! Loving Tan also comes in a standard, 6 HR Deluxe Bronzing Mousse, which comes in Medium, Dark and Ultra Dark (they also do other products which look amazing but I have not yet tried).

I apply the tan as would any other person, and there are a million and one tips and tricks out there which you can find on youtube and other blogs, so I won't write about my technique except to say that I moisturise the heck out of my hands, knees, ankles, elbows and feet before applying. I also put a very tiny amount of tan on my hands and feet so that it doesn't look funny. 

This tan leaves a beautiful, natural, olive-bronze look to my skin and lasts about a week on me and my skin. It's a definite favourite, and one I always reach for when I want a bronzed look in winter, or, of course, summer. 

Knobby Knees - Moon Tan / Loving Tan comparison.

Where to buy?

Australia
Loving Tan 

Everywhere else
Loving Tan 

Sunset by the pool, over the beach.

It was a nice surprise when we got to go to Bali earlier in March, however much I am afraid of flying. I suffer severe flight anxiety so even the short trip (3 or so hours) was terrifying for me and the thought of being in Bali and away from home was also a cause for my anxiety to rise and lodge itself in my throat. Instead of the build-up to my trip being exciting, I was not counting down the days, instead I was panicking about the flight ahead. When I arrived I had a great time, until I realised to get home I'd have to board a plane again! Despite my flight anxiety, it was a really great trip albeit seriously humid. 

The climate in Bali is tropical and the weather was incredibly humid - the wet, sticky kind of humid. It was beautiful except for the fact I felt like my lungs were full of water and my hair was frizzy (which never happens??) but since I spent most of the time in the pool, this did not matter a great deal. Makeup and nice clothes were definitely optional due to the humidity but I was not out to impress, just relax! 

Below are some photos of my time away, it was beautiful!

View of the beach from the hotel restaurant

Hello waterfall! 

I had to take a photo of this little boat.

Why so Koi? 

Obligatory "Legs in Shot" by the pool!

I am a pale girl.. I basically have a "moon tan" (it's a sweet description?!) all year round, no matter if it is summer or winter, which is both unfortunate but also not that big-a-deal. I love my pale skin, even if it is slightly red and blotchy when I have been out in the sunshine. Occasionally you may have a special event coming up, or you just want to have some bronzed up skin to make yourself feel fresh and summer-y and that's where sunless tanning comes in! I highly recommend never going out in the sunshine without suncream slathered all over you, it's just not good for you or your skin and the pain when you're burnt is just not worth it, I've done it enough times to learn this!! If you're the lucky type who still tans even when slathered in suncream, well, I am just so jealous and you should let me know in the comments below just to rub it in (pardon the pun)!! 

There are so many sunless tanners out there; I was a bit overwhelmed when looking for one to be honest, the shelf was packed full and they all claim the exact same thing, if you're stuck just ask someone for assistance - it's their job to help after-all! Otherwise, before you even head to the store (or buy online) just google the brands because there are so many reviews/videos out there! I decided to go through with buying "St Tropez" in the white bottle, not the black bottle. I am not used to being super dark and don't want THAT much of a change, so I wanted something lighter and more 'natural' for me! 

First things first, as basically every review and / or video about how to apply fake tan mentions, skin preparation is the most important step in this process - and confidence if you're a first-timer! I suggest starting a few days before you want to apply the tan, so you can exfoliate and moisturise your skin as much as possible before tanning which means you have a soft, supple canvas for the tan to glide on and sink into seamlessly! I also suggest shaving your legs the day beforehand so the pores can close back up so the tan doesn't go spotty! Okay, having said that, let's say, one day before, exfoliate, shave and moisturise your entire body, I love using this "Clean Slate" coffee scrub (which you can purchase here) I got this for my birthday from one of my best friends, and it's similar to the Frank Body Scrub. It also has the best coffee smell (if you like that sort of thing!) and leaves your skin so, so smooth! I then shave with any regular razor, and I shower as normal. Then, before I get dressed I put on some moisturiser, I love this Vaseline spray, it is so easy to use and has no scent (this is important!) and really sinks into your skin rather than leaving a 'film' ontop of your skin. 

The day of tanning, I get back in the shower first, wash off any perfume, soaps, moisturisers etc with water - this will help the tan stick better on your skin, and not be patchy or blotchy. You can also exfoliate again if you feel like it! Then, hop out the shower, pat your skin dry and let it air dry for a little bit. Grab your moisturiser, put some on your hands, knuckles, wrists, elbows, knees, feet, ankles and anywhere else you don't want the tan to be too 'strong'. Once you've done that, you're ready to go! Take your tanner bottle, shake it up slightly and spray some onto your mitt (this is something that I think is an absolute must to get a seamless finish!). Make sure you use the same number of pumps / amount of product each time you spray it out, otherwise you could look uneven. Then, just buff (or rub / spread) it into your skin in circular motions - this tanner has a colour, so you can see where you have put it, ensuring you don't miss any spots. You can also let it dry and then apply some more if you feel like you want to be darker in any areas, like your legs for example. 

Then, the waiting begins. Depending on the product, you may have to wait 4-8 hours or if it's an express, just 2 hours. This means you shouldn't do anything that will make you sweat, you also shouldn't get in a pool or a shower or go in the rain until the tan has developed, otherwise you could end up with a streaky finish. The best time to do a tan is in the evening, before bed, that way it can develop overnight and you can jump in the shower in the morning and be ready for the day! You don't have to wait for the full 8 hours either and if you go slightly over the timing that's totally fine too! It's basically just a guide-line and you do you, as always! 

I am not a huge fan of the smell of this product, so I wouldn't go out in public without having washed off the guide colour first and getting rid of the smell. I applied my tan in the early afternoon as I was just lazing around the house and had a shower before bed and when I woke up my skin was bronzed, radiant and I felt super summer-y! 

Have you used St Tropez? What do you think? What sunless tanners do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below!