I'm not sure if it's the change in weather or a change in my skin but I've been loving lighter bases lately. They're perfect for days that I don't want a full beat face but still want some coverage. Here are the three I have been reaching for the most.

1. Dusty Girls Tinted Earth Cream in Light ($18.50)

I've been reaching for Dusty Girls products all the time since they were kind enough to invite me a blogger lunch a few months back. The Tinted Earth Cream is one of their most popular products. It's amazing for acne-prone skin and has lots of lovely healing ingredients. It's really buildable, you can get up to medium coverage with it. The best thing is that it doesn't even feel like you're wearing anything. It really, truly feels like its just a moisturiser but it makes skin look a million times better. 

2. Bioderma Sensibio AR BB Cream in Light ($43.99)

This is a new release from Bioderma and it's been all over Instagram. It's easily the best coverage BB cream I've ever used. It also wears amazingly through the day and looks fresh all day long. The only downsides are that it currently only comes in one shade (it's a bit dark for me but I can make it work) and it requires some blending to get it to sit nicely on the skin. 

3. Urban Decay One and Done in Medium Light ($52.00)

The lovely Brii was kind enough to give me a little sample of this to try out and I was immediately in love. It's perfect for my normal to slight combo skin. The coverage is matte and flawless and just sits so nicely on the skin. I ended up going out to buy the full size (of course) and I haven't looked back. It's become my summer going out base just because of how amazing it makes my skin look.

What are your favourite non-foundation bases?

Dani XO

Products in this post were provided as PR samples but, as always, my opinions are my own.

Although it's hard to tell in Brisbane, winter is on the way! Cue a change in skincare routine to banish flakes, bring back that summer glow and generally, try and look semi-respectable. Here are six of my current favourites to keep your skin in top condition in the coming cooler months.

1. Glam Glow YouthMud Mask ($28.00 for 15g)

This is the Holy Grail of all face mask, and with good reason! You can actually SEE the mask drawing out all the gunk from your face, leaving your skin smooth and blemish free. It is a very expensive little pot of goodness but, it's well worth the price tag and a little goes a very long way. I find that you only need to use this on your problem areas, meaning that even the 15g tub lasts ages.

2. Sneaky Squirrel Body Scrub ($17.95)

Coffee scrubs are all the range right now for removing tan, getting rid of cellulite and generally, giving you soft, smooth skin. Sneaky Squirrel is my favourite because it's affordable, smells like coffee cake and leave my skin amazingly smooth, soft and hydrating. All of that mean that this is the perfect shower companion for winter to quickly get rid of dry skin. 

3. Natio 10 Minute Moisturising Mask ($19.99)

Another winter wonder mask, this one is designed for getting moisture back into poor, dry, wind-chapped winter skin. In just ten minutes, this baby will have your skin feeling fresh and plump, it's a great morning mask.Even better, Natio is an affordable Australian brand that is perfect for sensitive skin.

4. Softsole Express Exfoliating Foot Peel ($8.75)

Everyone has heard of the weird beauty trend of sticking your feet into little plastic bags of fruit acid then waiting 2 weeks for your feet to peel and then having amazingly soft feet, right? Well, if you haven't, Milky Foot has been the go-to brand.....until now. Softsole is just a fraction of the price and gives the same amazing (though slightly disgusting) results. Goodbye, scaly lizard feet!

5. Bioderma Hydrabio Serum ($45.99)

I've talked about this product a LOT on the blog before, simply because it's a winner! It' packed full of hydration and absorbs in moments, without leaving skin greasy. Despite being amazingly lightweight, it's perfect for dry skin in need of hydration or combination skin that needs a helping hand.

6. Purasonic Classic Facial Cleansing Brush ($99.00)

I absolutely cannot recommend the Purasonic enough! Cleansing brushes are the perfect winter skincare companion because they're extremely gentle yet amazingly effective exfoliators. It comes with a timer so you can't over-exfoliate and three speed settings to target those problem areas. This is probably what has made the biggest difference to my skin over the years. I didn't notice how much of a difference it made until I stopped using it for a while and saw how much worse my skin was. Definitely a Holy Grail skincare product for me!

What are your favourite winter treats?

Dani XO

Products in this post were provided as PR samples but, as always, my opinion is my own.

In the last two or three years, European-branded skincare, French brands especially, have been becoming more and more popular. Brands like La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, Uriage, Avene and Nuxe have been seeing more coverage and with good reason too! These brands are the perfect mix of science and nature and most are also based on thermal water. I find that this combination usually results in fresh, clean skincare that actually works. I thought I would share three of my favourite French skincare goodies of the moment.

1. Bioderma Sebium AKN Fluid ($25.99)

Everyone and their mum knows about the Bioderma micellar water range, and with good reason too, because it's amazing! The Sebium range is not quite as well known yet but is designed for oily skin. The AKN fluid is a moisturiser designed to combat mild to moderate blemish and help smooth the skin and control sebium production. This has been an absolute wonder product for me. I do suffer from occasional breakouts, like everyone, but using this at night has really helped keep my breakouts (mostly) under control. I also love the smell, it's clean, fresh and almost clinical. It smells like something you would find at a spa or skin clinic which is always a selling point for me. 

2. Nuxe Anti-Aging Skincare Nuxellence^® Jeunesse ($75.00)

What I love most about this is that you can use it in tandem with your regular skincare as a booster. It contains hyaluronic acid and passion flower to help plump out the skin and promote cell turnover. Not only does it help skin look fresh and glowy, but it also boosts the power of other anti-ageing and hydrating products. I use this as a morning serum in tandem with my Neutrogena Hydro Boost and my skin has never looked better. 

3.  Uriage Thermal Micellar Water ($24.99)

It seems like every brand has a micellar water on the market these days but they aren't all the same. Certain cheaper brands use foaming ingredients that do help remove makeup, but can leave a greasy residue on the face. The Uriage version has a thermal water base and effectively removes even the toughest waterproof makeup but leaves your skin feeling hydrated and cleansed. This micellar water also contains cranberry extract for a little bit of a moisturising boost. You can also buy the very convenient Uriage Thermal Water Wipes which are perfect for even the laziest among us. One quick wipe over is all you need to cleanse and moisturise. 

What are your French skincare favourites?

Dani XO

Products in this post were provided as PR samples but, as always, my opinion is my own.