I cannot get over that it is December, another year is almost over and as everyone always says, where has the year gone?
It feels like just a couple months ago I was having a big christmas lunch on the deck with my family, now its only a few short weeks till we do it all over again.

As another month passes my favourite products start to shift as I try new stuff, so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon and write myself up a monthly favourites post.
I've decided to mix in a few different types of products, not just beauty related but lifestyle bits n bobs too.

Firstly, I have rediscovered my Simple Facial moisturiser and I honestly have no idea why I stopped using it. It absorbs so quickly and doesn't leave a gross residue on your skin, it has no nasties in it and hydrates my skin so nicely. I get really bad dry skin around my nose and now I have no more yucky dry patches, it's also really affordable. Two thumbs up from me.

Next up, A charcoal face mask from the brand Daily Fix, I picked this up on a whim in the supermarket one night and ended up loving it. I'd never heard of the brand and it being so cheap I didn't have a lot of faith in it. I was wrong. This mask is so nice, it makes your skin feel so refreshed, clean and soft, your pores feel so deeply cleansed. Definitely check it out, I got mine from my local Woolworths.

Now onto some makeup bits, I'm a huge makeup junkie, I love it, I love trying out peoples recommendations and suggestions and this one was actually a recommendation from one of Kylie Jenner's infamous snapchats. It is MAC lip liner in the shade Stripdown.
I'm gonna be honest, I only bought it because she said that was one of the shades she loves to wear, but I'm glad I did because I love it. It's the perfect brown nude, is super creamy (as all mac lip liners are) and lasts all day, through eating and drinking, needing only minor touch ups. definitely worth the splurge if you're looking for that Kylie lip.


Another MAC product, this one is a highlighter. I'm sure you've already guessed it, and you would be right if you guessed Soft and Gentle.
 I LOVE THIS HIGHLIGHTER, just like the rest of us makeup junkies. It gives such a nice glowy finish to where you apply it (above cheekbones, tip of the nose and cupids bow).
It photographs perfectly and is super long lasting. It's well worth your money and I would recommend it to anyone who loves makeup.

Onto the last "beauty" item, I say beauty in quotations because I'm not sure it really counts as it's a toothpaste. It's the Colgate Optic White, I didn't know it was possible to even love a toothpaste, or have a favourite, but it is. I love this stuff, it makes your teeth so white and keeps them white. It's not over powering in mint flavour but makes your mouth feel perfectly clean and fresh. Not much to say about it really, other than it does what it says it does.

Now for the lifestyle section of these favourites, my first one is a tv show, and one that I'm pretty late on the bandwagon with, it's The Walking Dead. I know, I know, it's been a favourite of what seems like the whole population for quite a while now but I never really thought I would like it. One day I was just flicking through Netflix and I decided to just watch one episode and see what all the fuss is about. I ended up watching the whole first season that night (admittedly the first season is only about 6 eps long haha). I was hooked and still am, I'm nearly up to date and am trying to avoid reading anything about the new season like i'm avoiding the plague.

Another lifestyle fave is actually a website, Pinterest, it has been hugely popular for quite a few years now, and I've always used it but this month I've just become overly addicted, I've been using it more than instagram (@melbournebelle) which is saying a lot haha. Check out my pinterest boards here

Now for a some books and music, I love to read, it's one of my favourite hobbies and I just love getting lost inside a book. One of the most recent ones I've read that I've thoroughly enjoyed were Girl Online and Girl Online: On Tour by UK Youtuber Zoe Sugg. Now these are no Da Vinci Code, these books will not change your life but they are definitely a bit of fun to read, super easy and quick and the story line and characters are very cute. One of my favourite aspects of the book was that she included real life teen struggles in the book like anxiety. Zoe did a really good job at making the issues seem fairly relatable.
Some music that I've been loving this month have been 2 newly released ablums (actually on the same date). Justin Bieber's album Purpose and One Direction's Made In The AM. I love both of them so much. The lyrics on Justin's album are perfection, this album seems so much more real and deep and true to him, mor ethan any album he has released prior. My fave song from the album so far is Love Yourself, it's very catchy so beware!!
I LOVE MADE IN THE AM!!!!! hahah, I'm a fairly big 1D fan and I honestly didn't think any album could top Four, but I was wrong! M.I.T.AM is amazing, there is a perfect balance between catchy pop songs and sweet and soft ballads. There isn't a song I don't like so far! Definitely give it a listen if you haven't already.
So that's it for this months favey faves. I hope you enjoyed reading about some of the shit I've been loving, let me know if you try any of the products or what you think of some of the music, if you want.

Thank you for reading.
MelbourneBelle. xx

Ok, so when I said I was a bit of a self tan guru I wasn't joking. I am addicted, I am a self tan junkie and I can't stop trying every new tan that emerges on the shelf. I'm starting to think I need an intervention to be honest, someone call Dr. Phil!


Today's tan review is on the new Australis Rapid Tan in the Purple Mousse shade (it comes in a chocolate shade as well), so as the name and colour would suggest this tan has a purple undertone to it, which is usually suitable for darker skin tones. I'm a little guilty, I naturally do not have a darker skin tone, quite the opposite, I have a very pink undertone. But I want the darkest tan possible so I always get the darkest shade available (I don't think I've ever bought a light shade in self tan haha).



Now I wouldn't say this has a very prominent violet undertone, if anything I saw a very green undertone, even in sunlight I had a green tinge to my skin, and I hate that. Even after rinsing the top layer off I still had a really green look to my skin, I was looking like a bloody lizard. This was easily the biggest con, but not the only.

But one thing the name got right was rapid, this tan dries quickly and develops quickly, it advertises that there are 3 stages to development, 1 hour for a lighter tan, 2 for a medium tan and lastly, 3 plus hours for a deep tan. I left mine on overnight (roughly 8-10 hours) and then rinsed in the morning. After rinsing the tan was even and had no streaks at all, it had applied smoothly and developed just as smooth.



To put the next point bluntly, the fading of the tan was bloody horrible, it went so blotchy and streaky, my hands had started to go blotchy within a day. The tan stuck to my knuckles and started to fade on the rest of my hands, giving me maybe the most horrible fake tan hands ever (ok, maybe not ever, but they were bad).
This was a huge downside of the tan for me, I love having a tan but I hate applying tan haha! So the thought of having to scrub (which took for-fucking-ever by the way) the tan off and then reapply a new coat after 3 days just wasn't an option.

I bought this tan for roughly $13-$14 but it's regular price is around the $20 mark I believe, which is far too much, you can get much better tans for the same price.
Australis Rapid Tan is also available in a spray and a lotion.

• Where to Buy: Official Website, Priceline, MyChemist, Chemist Warehouse
• Price Range: $23.00 (roughly)
• Shade Range: 2 Shades (Chocolate and Purple)
• Drying Time: 7/10
• Developed Colour: 3/10
• Lasting Time: 1/10
• Scent: 5/10 (nothing special but not horrible)
• Overall Rating: 5/10

They say correct skincare is the key to happiness... ok maybe not that extreme but it sure can help, a good skincare regime can set you up with healthy, happy skin. Being only 24, I haven't had a huge amount of practice in what a true skin care regime is but I think I've tried and tested quite a few different products.

Firstly let's just talk about what type of skin I have, basically I have very sensitive, acne prone, combination skin. So in short, a lot of shit breaks me out and my skin get dry and oily all at the same time, it's a nightmare to try and cater to all my skins needs.
I mainly suffer with breakouts on my chin, I rarely get them anywhere else and if I do they will be on my cheeks or above my eyebrows (random, I know). The one thing that I think I can give thanks to my breakouts rapidly clearing is my intake of water (I drink so much more than I used to) and also taking Zinc vitamins I think has been one of the biggest contributors
.
 Onto the dry parts of my skin, I will get very, very dry around my nose, so dry that sometimes it will peel and crack and sting, I'm 90% sure it's psoriasis and I take care of it as if it is. My oily parts are your typical run of the mill T-Zone, so in between my brows, the middle/tip of my nose and my chin.

The best thing I have learned through my many years of trial and error is 'Oil Control' washes, scrubs, toners, wipes, anything of that nature will only make the matter worse, they will suck out all the natural moisture and oils in your skin which in turn will tell your body to produce more oil. So if you are trying to control oil, steer clear of those targeted products (I know it'll be hard not to reach for that but try haha)


As for my breakouts or anyone else's, they are a very personal this, as in not everyone breakouts for the same reason. They could be stress related, hormonal, bad diet, wrong skin care, reactions, a million reasons as to why the skin breaks out. So please be wary that just because something works for someone does not mean it will work for you. It has taken quite a few years for me to find a skin care that works well for me, I still don't think I've perfected it completely but it's something I'm happy with so far.

I will start with the first thing I do, makeup removal, this is the most important step to me as I wear a lot of make up. I try to never forget this step and I always regret it if I wake up after a big night out and I still have my makeup on.
My main product I use for taking off my makeup is wipes, I know they are the laziest way and the skin experts will give you a smack on the wrist for using them. But I like them, and I'm lazy, and I don't really care (haha rebellious). If I'm feeling like doing a bit more than rubbing my face with a wipe I will use the Garnier Micellar Water on a couple of cotton pads and that does the job just as good (maybe better, but who can be fucked with it, ya know).



The ones I prefer are from the brand Simple, I love them, they get every little bit of and they cut through a lot of mascara and eyeliner and even remove most of the glue from if I wear falsies.
There are so many brands that do wipes and at so many price points, Simple Facial Wipes are affordable and worth every penny, for about $6-$8 you get 25 wipes (they go on sale at Priceline or supermarkets ALL the time).

Next is cleanser, a good cleanser can be your bestfriend, it'll pick up and remove all the gunk the wipes didn't get, you can't have a skin care regime if you don't have a cleanser. If you decide to skip on the make up removal (if you don't wear much, the wipes aren't really necessary) a good cleanser is what will be the base of your skin care. I use the Simple Moisturising Facial Cleanser, it's gentle, doesn't make my skin feel raw and dry after using it. I hate using a face wash that makes your skin feel stripped afterwards, as if the wash has taken away every single drop of moisture in your skin and it's begging to be hydrated. This cleanser is the perfect mix of keeping the skin clean but not stripping it.


Now for my final step which is moisturiser, and take a wild guess as to what brand it is...Yep, Simple. I honestly LOVE Simple's brand, they are affordable, and the products are top quality. I never feel as if i'm putting a bunch of shit onto my skin. One of the biggest reasons I love their Hydrating Light Moisturiser is of how lightweight it is, you put it on and a minute later it's absorbed and there is no oily residue afterwards which is what I've struggled to find before. This is moisturiser will suit any skin types, especially us sensitive people, Simple have no nasties in their products and are targeted at sensitive skin.


Occasionally (maybe 2-3 times a week) I will do a mask and/or scrub of some sort, I have a couple favourites but in all honesty, I haven't found "the one", they are all just good and nothing great. First one I like is by a brand you can only get in Priceline I believe,  it is called Beauty Essentials and I really enjoy their Mud Mask and their Charcoal Scrub, they both work really well and I don't have many faults with them at all and they are probably the most affordable skincare range in Priceline.



Some other notable mentions are the Garnier Gentle Makeup Remover Wipes, they get off pretty much everything and are very hydrating and only cost around $7.00 for a 25 pack.


Another great facial cleanser is the Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, this is actually really great and I happily used a whole bottle of this stuff up, only con is it tends to give the stripped feeling if you don't moisturise quick enough.


Just remember what works for me, may not work for you. Skin is a very personal thing and everyone's is different in multiple ways.
I am still trying to clear up some scarring from past breakout so I would love some suggestions for that (I have tried Bio Oil, it's not for me, unfortunately)
Also what are your thoughts on toners? I used witch hazel for quite a while but didn't notice much of difference. Tell me your thoughts!
Let me know your skin care routine, I'm always willing to try out new stuff.

Thank you for reading, talk to you soon
MelbourneBelle. xx
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Yes another self tanner review, I know, I know. But I did tell you that I was a self proclaimed fake tan guru, I apologise in advance for future self tanner reviews and mentions.

• -Shaving roughly 12-24 hours in advance. Don't shave just before you apply self tan, shaving opens up your pores and will allow the tan to seep in and give a very uneven/spotty application.
• -Exfoliating just after shaving, shaving will remove most, if not all dead skin cells but exfoliating will make sure you're as soft as a little babies booty (haha) I love using the classic exfoliating gloves that you will find at just about any supermarket or chemist.
• -Moisturising your dry areas about an hour before you intend on tanning, common dry areas are your knees, elbows, knuckles, ankles, and toes but by all means if you have any other dry areas don't hesitate to apply a light moisturiser. 

• -Moisturise! I cannot express the importance of keeping your skin hydrated, not just when using self tan but in general. Self tan can typically dry out your skin and it is important to keep that moisture in, keeping your skin hydrated will help with the tan lasting longer and will also help with it fading much nicer when it's time is up.
• -Light exfoliating, Now I don't mean scrub the shit out of your skin but still continue to remove the dead skin cells, I find using a big fluffy loofah and body wash is the best way to give a light exfoliation.
• -Be mindful of perfumes and deodorants, both of these, typically perfume, will fade and discolour your tan. Try avoiding spraying perfume directly onto your skin, pop it on your clothes instead. Skipping deodorant probably isn't really an option so try and opt for a drier consistency, like Ladies Speed Stick or a spray. 

Part 2 of my Christmas gift guide and this time it is focusing on the men in your life, whoever they may be.
Now I really struggle with buying gifts for men, I worry that I've gotten the wrong thing up until they've opened the gift and you actually remember that people are just grateful you remembered to get them anything.
My dad is easy, he has a favourite author, he has a few hobbies that he enjoys and he always needs new socks and undies. My brother it gets a bit trickier, he collects vinyl so that makes it a little easier, but other than a new vinyl album I get stuck, I end up getting him the same thing every year, a record and a gift voucher for somewhere (typically the record store haha).
If I'm buying for anyone else, friends, cousins, little kids (kids gift guide coming soon) or boyfriends, I'm doomed, I go blank, all of a sudden I have no idea what they like.

Hopefully this gift guide gives you some inspiration for the gifts for the guys in your life.



$20 AND UNDER:

• -Bond's Hipster Brief 4 Pack $12 (everyone needs undies, practical gifts are sometimes the best)
• -True Spa Men's After Hours Pack $10
• -Texas BBQ: Meat, Smoke & Love Cookbook $19.05 (YUM!)
• -Smash Spatula And Tong BBQ Set $19.98 

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS! Once again this year has flown by and it feels like just a couple of weeks ago I was braving the shopping centres the week of christmas to get my shopping done. On top of that I had NO idea what to get anyone, everything I had thought of was either wayyyy cheaper online or not even available in stores. So this year I have created a little gift guide based on presents I intend on giving this year, and I'm going to share my gift list with you in the hopes that this may help you too so you're not venturing out on the 21st of december to spend 45 minutes trying to get a parking space and wandering aimlessly in a mall packed to the walls with late christmas shoppers, like yourself ;)

This first gift guide is aimed at gifts for her, whether that her is your mum, sister, aunt, daughter, bff, whoever you choose.
I've researched options for all budgets ranging from just $10 up to the $200 mark, so there should be something in this guide to suit your budget. I hope this helps a little bit and takes some of the stresses off of christmas so you can actually enjoy the whole month of december and get into the spirit of the holidays.

So, onto the gift guide.
(the text in red are clickable links to make your life even easier haha)

$15 AND UNDER:

• -Body Shop Shea Gift Cube $9.95 (these come in so many scents)
• -Bali Body Tanning Oil $16 ($1 over, forgive me)
• -Frank Original Coffee Body Scrub $14.95
• -Lush Joy To The World Gift Set $14.95

Ok, so I'm a huge self tan junkie! I love a good tan, but I just cannot get a natural one, I become a walking, talking lobster (who is in a lot of pain might I add), so for me a good fake tan is the way to go.
I don't mean to brag but I consider myself pretty much a self tan guru, I've tried so many and have had plenty of hits but even more misses. A good fake tan is hard to come b, you don't want one that is too orangey so it looks like you've just rolled around in Dorito dust but you also don't want one that is too ashy so it looks like you've just done a yearly clean of your fireplace, it's very much a trial and error process.

On top of being a self proclaimed self tan guru, I'm also a bit of a tight ass and hate forking out loads of cash on such small products (*cough cough* St. Tropez). This tan is so affordable that you kinda forget about the cons.

A little bit about my skin tone before we get into the review, I have an extremely pink/red undertone, my skin is fairly sensitive (especially my face) and I also have Keratosis Pilaris (google it haha).



Now, time for the review. First off, this tan is actually really good, which I was actually surprised with. not that I have anything against Rimmel, they actually make some of my favourite products, but I was very skeptical about them succeeding in the tricky formula of self tanner.

I use the 'Dark Matte Mousse' and it is just that, a fairly dark (not the darkest I've used), it is matte and well, it's a mousse, so two thumbs up already for actually getting the name right.

The mousse applied really smoothly and evenly and blends nicely with a good quality glove (I use this one). It has just the right amount of ashiness and works really well with my pink undertones.



One of the biggest things I hate about self tanners is the smell, it's revolting, but honestly, I love the smell of this tan (it smells like baby wipes). Another con of fake tanning is the awkward drying stage where you can't sit down on anything and you have to hold you arms at a weird angle beside you. I dunno about you but I really don't wanna be wandering around feeling like I'm covered in sticky brown shit (not literally haha) for the whole night. The bottle of this tan claims that it dries in 2 minutes, honestly, it's not the great but shit this stuff dries quick! nothing more than 10-15 mins and it's dry, completely. Well, you're not gonna go chuck on your favourite white dress but you can sit down and not stress you're ruining the furniture, so this is a huge plus for me!

Something that isnt so amazing about the self tanner is the lasting  power, the bottle claims 7 days wear, and honestly, it's nothing close to that. With a good application if was lucky I would get 4 days wear, no amount of after care would make this tan last 7 days. This can be quite annoying as I don't want to be scrubbing it off and applying a fresh coat every four days. As for how well this tan fades, it's a bit of mixed review, there were some applications where it would fade amazingly and remove perfectly and others it was a fucking nightmare and I would skip the gym that day cause I'd scrubbed so bloody hard to get that tan off.



So all in all, this tan is pretty good, especially for it's price! It does a good job and I will continue to use it but is it amazing and life changing? No. But I haven't found a tan that is haha.

• Where to buy: Priceline, Direct Chemist Outlet, My Chemist, Big W etc.
• Price Range: $13-$17 (Direct Chemist is the cheapest I've found.
• Shade Range: 3 Shades (Light, Medium, Dark)
• Drying Time: 8/10
• Devoloped Colour: 7/10
• Lasting Time: 4/10
• Scent: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 7.5/10