Review: Dusty Girls Makeup

Dusty Girls is a relatively new natural makeup line farmed by Moogoo; a skincare brand that has a large following in Australia and beyond, and a brand that I personally have loved for years. Moogoo have created Dusty Girls to look after our skin with makeup that is healthy and safe, and makes us glow!

3 Great Natural SPF options for face

As a product junkie, one of my greatest obsessions is scouring the internet for new sunscreens. My wishlist seems to continually grow, but I have had the fortune to try some great SPF face products and have shared my thoughts on three below. Do you have a 'holy grail' sunscreen? Let me know in the comments!

 

Mukti Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 15
If you are looking for a shine-free protective moisturiser, look no further. This one has moisturising ingredients and doesn't give that oil slick appearance or contain coconut oil like so many natural sunscreens do. It is tinted, but I would consider the colour more of a deterrence against the white cast that zinc can cause, and not a coverage for acne, marks or blemishes. In fact, Mukti consider it a unisex product, so even males can take advantage of this one! I still need to wear mineral makeup over the top of this to cover redness and acne, but I feel like it kind of 'blurs' any imperfections, making it perfect for underneath makeup. I haven't found this to make my dry but acne-prone skin breakout, which is great. It has a lovely musk smell to it, and it comes in two shades (one perfect for the pale people like me out there). The only thing is that I wish it came in an SPF 30.
$49.95 for 50ml FAIR SKIN/ MEDIUM SKIN

 

Moogoo SPF 15 Anti Ageing Face Cream
This is my most recent SPF find. It is an off-white colour, thanks to the red raspberry seed oil, which is great as it prevents the white cast that zinc oxide causes. I spread this thick cream in a generous layer all over my skin. The first time I used it I was worried as my skin looked super oily but I left it to absorb for a few minutes, and went back to the mirror to find that the shininess had dissipated, leaving only glowing skin behind. It is hydrating for a zinc cream, and has lots of skin loving ingredients such as Vitamin C and ECGC (green tea extract). I feel that over time my skin is improving with this cream, as it gives my skin much needed moisture without provoking my acne. I also wish that this came in a higher SPF, but I know that that would compromise the texture and performance.
$34.90 for 75gm

 

John Masters SPF 30 Natural Mineral Sunscreen
John Masters was my first foray into natural suncare, and I fell in love with it for days at the beach where I needed a high SPF to protect my skin from the harsh Australian sun. It gives the perfect glowy skin appearance when you are confident going bare-face during outdoor activities. It also has a stellar ingredient list, but skincare purists should know that it does contain titanium dioxide. Unfortunately, it doesn't offer the best finish underneath makeup, which prevented me from using it at Uni or in town. It can make mineral foundation look cakey, and I prefer a more matte finish when I am wearing makeup. If you are not extremely pale-faced like I am, you may notice that it can leave a slight white/purple tinge due to the mineral sunblock ingredients. Although it boasts hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, calendula and shea butter, I recommend anyone using a high zinc content sunscreen to apply moisturiser underneath to prevent dryness and flaking.
$32 for 2oz

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I hope these reviews are useful in helping you decide on a new natural sunscreen.

To summarise:
Mukti is great for a shine-free finish underneath makeup,
Moogoo is great for days when you will be getting minimal sun exposure, and want healthy hydrated skin, AND
John Masters SPF 30 is great for a day at the beach, or any time you need high protection.

Review: Moogoo SPF 15 Anti-Ageing Face Cream

Sunscreen is the single most important product in your beauty bag arsenal when it comes to anti-ageing. It is important to get your RDI of vitamin D from the sun (which many people don't get), but once you have got your Vit D, slather this product on your face. 
I have been using this product daily since receiving the (very generous) sample with my Moogoo order (the other contents I have reviewed here. I have very strict (and almost unrealistic) expectations when it comes to sunscreen:
Has to be a physical sunscreen (Zinc or Titanium Dioxide). Has to have totally clean ingredients. Can't break my face out. Can't dry my face out either. Can't turn my face into a pool of oily greasiness. And has to protect my skin from the elements (aka prevent sunburn). And I have to say, Moogoo's SPF 15 ticks all the boxes for me. 

Also, the ingredients are amazing. Check them out: Aqua, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Zinc Oxide, Squalene (Olive), Coco-Caprylate (Coconut Based Conditioner), Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Standardised Green Tea ECGC), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Stabilized Vitamin C), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Mel (Honey), Acetum (Apple Cider Vinegar), Piroctone Olamine, Allantoin, Caffeine, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Extract, Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract.

I have been applying this product to my face in the mornings after I shower. It is quite thick, and you may think that it isn't going to spread well across the face, but it softens with the warmth of your skin and rubs in quite easily. The cream isn't pure white, it is more of a very light tan colour, which I think prevents some of the whiteness that physical sunscreens can cause.

 

The Moogoo on the right, and John Masters SPF30 on the left for colour comparison

I can't attest to the anti-ageing claim they make, as I am only young and don't have wrinkles per say, but I can say that during my use of this product, the dehydration lines on my forehead seem less noticeable. Also my skin glows. And not in a 'physical sunscreen shiny' way, in a 'you have really healthy skin' way. I feel like I am doing my skin a favour when I apply this product, and any product that promises to prevent sun damage has my vote. When I run out of this sample I will definitely be buying the full sized product.

Would I recommend this product: Totally. I would especially recommend it for people with acne-prone skin that have recently transitioned to natural skincare and are freaking out over the lack of harsh acne-targeted products available. Skincare containing zinc oxide has always been amazing for my skin when suffering a breakout. It just seems to extinguish any inflammation.

Price: $34.90. Check out this product.

*Sample generously provided, but as always opinions are my own.

Review: Moogoo

I recently placed an order with Moogoo online after noticing my Full Cream moisturiser was running low. I decided I needed to try the Fluffy Shea too as my heels had been super dry. Two days later the package arrived, and I marvelled at the cute box it came in (it had a cow printed on it!), and opened it to a delicious smell which was coming from the scented straw my products were packed in. As well as the Full Cream and Fluffy Shea, they also included samples of their milk shampoo, eczema and psoriasis cream, and their SPF 15 Anti-Ageing Cream (which I have reviewed separately here), which I am extremely grateful for.  They also included a letter explaining what the benefits of the samples were and how to use them. I love Moogoo for the fact that they are a relatively small Australian company, don't test on animals and have the best customer service I have ever experienced. I have reviewed each of the products below.

Full Cream Moisturiser
I use this moisturiser every. single. day. and have reordered it for the third time. It is the only one that is hydrating enough for my skin, and prevents it from flaking off. My stomach, hips and legs get extremely dry and start itching if I don't use moisturiser daily, and this keeps it under control. Also, keratosis pilaris sufferers out there! I know how embarrassing and uncomfortable it can be- I developed 'chicken skin' all up my arms and on my thighs. But I am now proud to say that unless I irritate my skin shaving, my skin is now bump free! And this product can take all the credit. I think its because it is deeply hydrating, something that is great at getting rid of keratosis pilaris.  

Fluffy Shea
This product is so simple, but effective. Containing shea butter, borage oil, tamanu oil and baobab oil, this thick cream is heavenly for dry skin.Yum. This product to me smells exactly like creamed butter and sugar- delicious. I have never wanted to eat a product so much before. I slather a thick layer on my heels each night before bed. It sits on top of my skin, but in the morning it has been absorbed and my heels are much softer.
Milk Shampoo
I received a little bottle of this shampoo to try. I am picky when it comes to shampoo. It can't have questionable ingredients, it can't irritate my scalp and make it itchy, but it also mustn't weigh my hair down or leave it feeling like it is coated, it must smell nice but not overpowering, and it mustn't make my hair feel like straw. Moogoo delivered again with this product! Containing mild cleansers, natural preservatives and milk protein, this shampoo is the most gentle product you could wash your hair with that isn't water. Leaves your hair feeling like a softer version of itself.

Eczema & Psoriasis Cream with Marshmallow, Elderberry and More
This moisturiser is anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal to bring relief to Eczema and Dermatitis, Infant Eczema, Psoriasis and Seborrheic Dermatitis, and Fungal and Yeast Based Skin Conditions. I received this one as a sample. I gave this one to my Mum who has eczema to try, as I don't suffer from eczema or psoriasis thankfully. It is a lovely light purple cream and I think it smells quite pleasant. My Mum said it seemed to keep her itching at bay when she used it regularly (like anything, using it regularly provides the best benefits).


It appears that I am quickly becoming a Moogoo addict, slathering their products from head to toe.  I love that they are relatively inexpensive for their quality and effectiveness. I am now dying to try their Deodorant Cream and Lipstick!
Check out Moogoo's website: http://www.moogoo.com.au/


Hope you enjoyed my review. Have you tried any of the Moogoo products? Let me know in the comments below.

*Thanks to Moogoo for their generous samples. As always, any review written is my honest opinion.

My Skin and Hair Routine Exposed

I should probably start by telling you about my skin type. I have freckly, sensitive, prone to breakout skin, which used to be quite oily but since switching to natural products leans toward the dry side. My hair is long (long long long), brunette and is fairly healthy but I still suffer from dryness on the ends.

In the morning in the shower, I simply splash my face with some water. I never cleanse as I find my face gets too dry doing it twice daily. I hop out and apply my Lily Loves Pearl Hyper Hydrate moisturiser and most days, John Masters SPF30 sunscreen. On the rest of my body I rub Moogoo full cream moisturiser. I’m excited because I have recently discovered this and it has been the only moisturiser able to get rid of my keratosis pilaris completely! I use Harmonis Kiss deodorant on days when I am home, but I’m still not confident enough to use it going into town or at work, so I still use a toxic supermarket brand.

For makeup, I keep it simple. I use Bare Escentuals powder (not totally clean, I’m aware), Physicians Formula Mascara and a cheap eyeliner I picked up from a cosmetics store.

I usually wash my hair of a night time and sleep on it slightly damp, so it isn’t as frizzy and unmanageable the next day. I’ve found when I wash it in the morning it frizzes up and becomes knotty and unruly. I have to confess, I am still using a toxic conditioner. I’ve found it really hard to find an affordable toxic-free one that moisturises as well as this one. I also use Thursday Plantation’s shampoo but it seems they have had a recent reformulation and some of the ingredients now look suspect. So I fail. Anyone have some suggestions? I use coconut oil as a leave in conditioner for the ends of my hair, and sometimes as a mask.

Of a night, I use Kora’s foaming cleanser; the skincare brand of the famous Miranda Kerr, and it does a great job removing every last trace of makeup, sunscreen and pollutants on my face at the end of the day. When I have time, I apply a manuka honey mask to my face and relax. This has really helped with the dryness and has reduced my acne by 50%. I massage a few drops of Trilogy’s rosehip oil into my face, concentrating on the areas that are scarred and dry such as my chin, temples and forehead. I then rub my Lily Loves Pearl Hyper Hydrate moisturiser in.

Tada! xx