The Holy Grail of Acne Topical Treatments – AzClear Medicated Lotion

A few months ago I posted about the ban of the contraceptive pill Diane 35ed, due to a fourfold increased risk of blood clotting than other birth control pills on the market. Whilst this claim was not based on new evidence, but a review of past deaths of patients (at least to my knowledge) my doctor encouraged my decision to come off it.

So it has been almost 3 months now since I’ve been off this form of birth control and around about the 1.5 month, my skin was starting to get crazy. No surprise there, as I originally started on Diane to treat my acne-prone skin. Salicylic acid and tea tree oil treatments failed to prevent new breakouts, benzoyl peroxide only made my face red, dry and itchy without much difference in my acne and KORA organic products made my face explode with more spots than you could count on a leopard.  Note to self: when dermatologists tell you not to put oils on your face (as good as these oils are) they’re basing their advice on scientific evidence not rave reviews that are so temptingly persuasive one wants to believe such a miracle product exists!

Anyways, at my wits end I was talking to a chemist, who absolutely raved about a line called AzClear by Ego. The lotion in the line contains 20% Azelaic Acid, an ingredient I had never heard of before in the treatment of acne. So I did my research and apparently it’s a prescription only topical in the US, but in Australia it can be purchased over the counter for only $10 without a prescription (they do not keep the product stocked on the shelves though). 

Similar to benzoyl peroxide, this stuff is antibacterial but because it’s mild on the skin (particularly in lotion form) it’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin types, including those who suffer from rosacea. Yep, that’s right! There’s no drying or incessant skin peeling with this product!! The second way in which it works is by slowing down the shedding process of the skin. Normal skin sheds about one cell layer a day. Acne-prone skin sheds up to five cell layers a day. Naturally, the build-up of skin cells plays a large role in the clogging of pores. 

To sum up just how amazing this stuff is, if it continues to work in the way that it currently does I will be cancelling my dermatologist appointment and discarding my prescription for Roaccutane/ Accutane. Get your hands on this if you can! It’s popularity is on the rise and consequently I envisage it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a prescription only option in Australia and the price of it quadruples.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Inhibits melanin production; can help fade old acne marks, freckles etc.	Can’t be worn under liquid foundations or moisturisers as it “rolls” off (I use it at night only and have seen incredible results)
Does not increase skin’s sensitivity to the sun	Some sources say it should not be used for longer than 6 month periods (though my doctor doesn’t think there will be a problem – Always check with yours!)
For most, it is non-irritating/ non-drying	Takes around 4 weeks to start seeing results
The skin cannot become immune to the product’s ability to slow down the skin shedding cycle	Only comes in a small tube

Yes to Carrots C Me Blush Lip Tint

Beauty and the Bank Rating

 4/5

Price

AU$4.49

Packaging

 2.6g

The product comes in a small and easily portable wind-up tube.

Product features

-        Paraben free

-        No animal testing

Product claims

“Carmine free”

              “100% naturally derived”

              “95% organic”

Scent

This lip tint smells gloriously of peppermint candy canes.

Consistency

The product is a lightly tinted balm that leaves lips feeling smooth and supple. The buttery consistency and feel is similar to beeswax, which is one of the core ingredients.

Eco-responsibility

This product is certified by the Natural Products Association, and is not tested on animals.

Where to buy

Coles and select chemists. Specifically, Terry White Chemists and Priceline stock this product.

Buy online by visiting http://www.yestocarrots.com/

Results

Say yes to Yes to Carrots! I’ve often thought I was born in the wrong era. Lately, I’ve been obsessing over the 60s pale pink lip and smoky eye look (like 60s style icon Edie Sedgewick often wore).  So I really like this shimmery pink lip tint!

 

The peppermint smell and flavor is an instant pick-me-up. The lip tint also looks good layered over a stronger coloured lipstick for a bolder look.  

I just wish it stayed on a bit longer! Also, the tingly peppermint feeling and scent fades quite quickly.

The peppermint tingle isn’t as intense as Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm, which is a similar product. However, Yes to Carrots is cheaper. This lip tint also contains carrot extract, which is a unique ingredient in the market place.

 I’m keen to try out some more colours that are available in the Yes to Carrots Lip Tint range. I think the ‘Ready Red’ tint will be perfect to inject some more colour into the cooler months ahead. 

The All Natural Face – Eyes

Black Vegan Lengthening Mascara

 theallnaturalface.com

$11.50

Website:

“Long and Thick lashes naturally! Gives a nice natural look that you can build on. One coat gives you a little length and volume, but keep going with a couple of coats and let it dry between coats, and you get thicker longer fuller lashes. When you apply mascara wiggle your brush up from the base of your lashes to the tips when applying. Let dry between coats.”

My Review:

The first couple of times that I used this mascara I was actually disappointed. I was so used to having really voluminous, thick lashes after mascara application (almost spidery…yikes!) that the “natural” look of my lashes made my eyes seem bald. 

Then I got serious about using more natural products around my eyes, after seeing the wonders of swapping out much of my base make-up (concealers and foundations etc.) to The All Natural Face products for about two weeks (full review in the left-hand bar). So I started applying this as my every day/ night mascara. Now, I am absolutely loving this product!! My lashes are naturally in better shape; less brittle, longer and more shapely than before. I love how healthy my lashes look with a couple of coatings of this black, inky formula. Also, this is the perfect product to use on your bottom lashes as it doesn’t clump.

…So, not for those that love the false-lash effect!

Vegan Gel Eyeliner Tube in That Black

$5.75

Website:

“My gel eyeliner has the same vivid highly pigmented colors that all my stuffies do It is a smudgeproof formula that will stay on until you wash it off This is not waterproof. Shellac is the main ingredient in commercial cosmetics that are waterproof. You will not find any of that in my cosmetics!”

My Review:

I love this eyeliner!! The applicator is so precise that the finest line can be drawn on the upper lash line or filled in for a more vintage winged look. The colour is a true, inky-black as with the mascara. Plus, this stuff lasts all day without flaking off, smudging or fading. Hands-down, this is the best liquid eyeliner (though I know it’s technically titled as a ‘gel’) I have ever used.

Additionally, they have numerous shades available for those that like to mix-up their look. I am particularly interested to try the shades Nymph (shimmery forest green) and Plum. Anyone tried these yet?

Vegan Eye Shadow in Shimmer

theallnaturalface.com

$3.50 for 5g (other sizes available)

My Review:

Shimmer is a cool-toned (ice-blue/ silver) highlight colour, perfect for the inner-corners of the eye or to sweep all over the lid. This product relies on primer to have a super-pigmented effect colour-wise. Without a primer it leaves the eye-lids shimmery, though the colour pigment remains quite sheer. Hence, I have patted this product over the top of other cool-toned matte shadows to achieve a shimmery look.  

As with all mineral eye shadows, beware of fallout during application. 

Cost tip: You can stick post-it notes underneath the outer-edge of your bottom lash-line to catch fallout and shape the bottom edge of the outer-corner of the eye. Then simply remove the post-it note and blend. 

Vegan Eye Shadow in Midnight Purple

theallnaturalface.com

$3.50 for 5g (other sizes available)

My Review:

Something about this colour reminds me of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and no it’s not just the shade name! Midnight purple is a gorgeous deep, matte shade – a true dark violet. This is an excellent crease, lash-line or all over smoky eye shade, especially for those of you blessed with green eyes. I would be more inclined to say this colour is suited for night-time wear. A primer is also required to achieve a pigmented look! 

Overall, I definitely prefer pressed eye shadow powders for their ease of application, minimal fall-out and buildable colour. All in all, I will probably not re-purchase/ purchase any more loose mineral eye shadows from The All Natural Face or any other company for that matter...just my personal preference :)

Hairstyle idea for Valentine’s Day #2

Hi everyone!

Here is the link for our second hairstyle tutorial.

http://youtu.be/0mwXEpNplNw

Hope you enjoy!

For this romantic updo we used a combo of fresh flowers (Gardenias), and fake flowers to further enhance the fairytale/romance theme. 

Not too mention flowers are usually a hit on Valentine’s Day…as demonstrated by the chipmunks below…

For all you love birds out there…

In honour of Valentine’s Day and the recent release of Les Misérables, we’ve come up with some hairstyle ideas to help you feel festive this Thursday.

This is the link to the tutorial on Beauty and the Bank’s Youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8FNVRKeywo&feature=youtu.be

The first hairdo is inspired by Cosette (played by Amanda Seyfried) in Les Mis. 

Stay tuned –

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

We’ve created another hair tutorial too!

We’ll be posting it shortly!

The Best Mineral Make-Up – All Natural Face (Part I)

The All Natural Face sells predominantly cosmetics and skin care, but also some general hair care/ body and several miscellaneous items. They make all products fresh when you order so it takes a little longer for them to end up on your doorstep. Admittedly, I think many natural products are overpriced – especially on the Australian market. However, these products are so reasonably priced - overall more affordable than your standard drugstore cosmetics, and they are actually NATURAL!! Many of the products are also vegan friendly. 

There are so many products to blog about I'm goint to split the review into three parts:

Part I – Face

Part III – Lip colour and skin care

Part II – Eyes

Note: Beauty and the Bank is not sponsored by this brand. All items were purchased on our own accord.

1# Vegan Cream Concealer in Midas

Claim: Covers dark circles

Cost: $5.75

This yellow-based cream concealer comes in a clear plastic container with a screw-top lid. It melts on contact with my fingertips but once applied to the skin it appears to have a semi-powder finish. This product is excellent for concealing darkness around the eye caused by dull or dark pigments of the skin NOT darkness caused by visible veins underneath the eye area (this requires coverage with a salmon toned concealer like the Vegan Cream Concealer in Salmon to counteract the blue/green). This product is highly pigmented and tends to crease in fine lines around the inner corner of my eyes. However, on the upper lid it is a fantastic eye shadow base that conceals all redness. It is also an excellent blemish concealer.

Sidenote: Visibility of veins under the eye area is often sinus related. It is common in those who suffer from hay fever, other allergies or are typically prone to sinus infections.

2# Vegan Cream Foundation/ Concealer Pot in Almond Goddess

Claim: “The foundation can be used as a concealer or as a foundation. You get fantastic coverage with this formula!”

Cost: $6.50 for 10g OR $12.45 for 20g

Another thing I absolutely love about this company is that all foundation shades are uniform across the different formulations. I can get every shade in a mineral powder, liquid foundation or cream formula. The range of shades is impeccable…there are - wait for it - currently 51 shades to choose from! I just used the photos they provide of people wearing each shade to work out I was in the shade “Almond Goddess”.

This is my go-to concealer if I have any blemishes because it’s a tad more moisturising than the Midas concealer and is in my actual skin shade. Unfortunately, this is way too greasy for my liking as an all over face foundation, though if you have normal or dry skin types I can see this product working well. The coverage is medium, so satisfactory for those that still want some of their natural skin showing through. It gives a glowing finish.

3# Vegan Mineral Foundation in Almond Goddess

theallnaturalface.com

Cost: $12.45 for 20g (variety of smaller and larger sizes available)

These contain Boron Nitride, which is excellent for the skin. My skin looks more radiant naturally when I use this mineral foundation. As far as coverage goes, this is the best mineral foundation I have found. Additionally, the finish is absolutely stunning. Drier skin types will want to moisturise before application. This product is suitable for oily or spot-prone skin.

Cost tip: You can buy refills of the product!

4# Vegan Liquid Foundation in Almond Goddess 

 theallnaturalface.com

Cost: $13.80 for 1oz/28g

The liquid variation is for those that prefer a more sheer yet glowing finish. This is a true BB cream for it contains vegetable glycerin (hydrator), Titanium Dioxide (sun protectant), Zinc Oxide (sun protectant), Organic Jojoba oil (hydrator), Squalane oil (anti-aging agent and component of human sebum) and Boron Nitride, which softens and blurs the appearance of blemishes. However, this is not for acneic skin because of the high oil content!

5# Vegan Powder Blush in Everyday is a Goodday

theallnaturalface.com

Cost: $12.45 for 20g (variety of smaller and larger sizes available)

An excellent array of shades! This shade in particular is a gorgeous pastel pink-coral, which I wear on an everyday basis. True mineral blushes are highly pigmented! As such, if you buy the smallest jar size it’s incredibly difficult to dip a blush brush in and swirl the product around – I recommend you transfer the product into a larger container or a small zip-lock bag so you don’t end up with two coloured dots on your cheeks!