It seems like this brand just came out of NOWHERE. My sister mentioned it to me saying she had heard some good things about it, then an ad for The Ordinary popped up on facebook, then I saw a few blog posts..and it made me realize: I must try this brand.

The Ordinary is a cruelty free Canadian brand which offers high quality skincare at affordable prices. Their value statement "clinical formulations with integrity" was formed due to seeing brands overcharging on skincare when it doesn't need to be so expensive. The team is specialized in materials chemistry and biochemistry which no doubt explains the success of their products. From reading multiple reviews online it's difficult to find anyone who has a bad thing to say about it. 

Today I went into Myer with my sister and bought quite a few products to try. It's so hard not to overspend who everything is so damn cheap!! 


I first heard about this product on Wayne Goss' YouTube channel (video here) where he raves on about how incredible it is. Can't wait to properly try it.

Price: $13.90
What is claims to do: "This new generation of primer is a lightweight serum-like formula that increases the spreadability of subsequent complexion makeup to help avoid unnatural and uneven accumulation of pigments especially around the eyes and on dry skin". 

From reading reviews online this primer seems better suited to those with dry skin.

Price: $9.80
What is claims to do: "This formula offers non-greasy hydration that acts as a direct topical supplement of impaired Natural Moisturizing Factors. It offers immediate hydration and lasting results with continued use."

Some reviews i've read online say that it's great for sensitive skin and gives great hydration to dry skin. The only negative thing I read said how they wish it came in a bigger tube, but for $9.80 I think it's pretty affordable to re-purchase.

Price: $21.90
What it is: A brightening serum with stabilized vitamin C derivative. pH is 6.0-7.0
What it claims to do: "Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant, brightens the skin tone and reduces signs of ageing. In its pure form, Vitamin C is unstable in water. Ascorbyl Glucoside is a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin C. It is much more stable in water but it is less potent than direct L-Ascorbic Acid. Being more compatible with water allows for a very pleasant serum texture. It is considered a gold standard of Vitamin C derivatives due to its high stability and comfortable use, but it's impossible to achieve extremely high L-Ascorbic Acid potency with this solution. Aside from the general benefits of pure Vitamin C, Ascorbyl Glucoside has been shown to offer specific skin brightening benefits."
When to use it: Apply a few drops to face in AM and PM, use before other oils and moisturizers. 

This seems like one of the most popular products from The Ordinary so i'm excited to give it a whirl

Price: $12.70
What is it: A high-strength lactic acid superficial peeling formulation (basically an exfoliator)
What does it claim to do: "Lactic Acid is an alpha hydroxyl acid that exfoliates the skin. This 10% formulation offers mild exfoliation and is supported with a purified Tasmanian pepperberry known to reduce signs of inflammation and sensitivity that is often associated with exfoliation. "
When to use it: Apply once per day. The pH is approx 3.8 so it's important to avoid mixing with other products with a much higher/lower pH. 

Price: $17.90
What is it: A stable emulsion of next-generation forms of retinoid. Retinoid is vitamin A derivatives and have anti-aging properties. pH is 5.0 - 6.0.
What it claims to do: "This product uses next-generation retinoid active technologies which have been shown to achieve better reduction in signs of ageing than retinol without irritation."

On The Ordinary website there is a lot of science jargon I don't really understand but basically from a lot of the reviews i've read people have said it has made a noticeable difference to their skin making it look healthier than ever. People have said it works with all types of skin. pH is 5.0 - 6.0
It's important to know the pH as it can alter when you use a product and what you use it with. To get the greatest benefits it's advised to mix similar pH products together otherwise it can be counterproductive to use ones on opposite end on the spectrum. I'd get into the nitty gritty details but this article here explains it INCREDIBLY and a lot better than I could. 

So basically out of my products I should use the Advanced Retinoid 2% and Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% together and avoid using the Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% at the same time. My plan is the use the lactic acid in the morning and use the other two in the evening. 

On the weekend I was fortunate enough to attend the Bloggers United event in Brisbane. I had purchased my ticket a few months ago and was uber excited. On the actual day I was filled with a lot of nerves, albeit I was mostly pumped, but very nervous at the fact that I was going to an event where I didn't properly know anyone. Eeeeek. In the end I gave my self a pep talk on the car journey there and told myself that it won't be as daunting as I think it is. Upon my arrival I met a bunch of lovely girls and felt at ease, us bloggers are all quite similar aren't we?
The event was great - it featured a few brands (such as BYS and Kiehls) which gave information about their brands vision and different products. It also featured two established bloggers on a panel who gave some advice about starting your own business and how to manage blogging. I don't see myself chasing blogging as a full time thing but a lot of their advice was really encouraging and beneficial. It also allowed time for mingling which made me really bond with quite a few other bloggers!

I think that's what I loved most about the event was getting to meet other like minded people. We were all so similar and have such a passion for creativity. It was really refreshing! Hopefully in the next few weeks a bunch of us are going to meet up again which will be great. I feel so cool now that i've finally made some blogger friends!

• Steph from The Soul Echo (just a gorg blog, her photography is amazing)
• Alex from Justashine (writes super cool interesting stuff like ingredients in makeup )
• Shivanni from Quarter Life Crisis (writing about life as a millennial) 

As an operating theatre nurse I get asked this a lot.

It isn't something I resent answering because I would ask myself it too.

So, is the operating theatre really like Grey's Anatomy? Yes and no. 

Why it is...
There are definitely handsome doctors walking around looking all important. I don't know what it is but on average the majority of people in the medical industry are so attractive. Perhaps it's just them walking about with stethoscopes around their necks which magically makes them appear more attractive? I'm not sure but there are so many beautiful people i'm faced with day to day.

Sometimes (depending on the doctor/nurses) music is played in the theatre. People plug their phones in and play cool music. One time a song came on which was off a Grey's Anatomy episode and I had to keep my chill even though inside I was like "OMGGG MY LIFE HAS COME FULL CIRCLE".

There are super cool and fascinating surgeries. When I used to watch Grey's I was always fascinated by the surgery side of things. Now I get to see a bunch myself ranging from cancer being removed, babies being born, and fixing up broken limbs.

There are emergencies every now and then. When they occur it does kind of feel like a scene off Grey's: doctors and nurses comes running in, people attaching monitoring, and medical jargon is being yelled out. It's all so interesting to watch. At first I thought I would be quite freaked out but everyone is soo efficient in what they do that the situation is always under control.

People do chat during surgeries. Sometimes it'll get a bit intense so conversation halters, but usually if there's a nice surgeon they will chat with everyone about various topics like politics or what good movies are out at the moment. A few weeks back we were all discussing favourite Simpsons episodes which was great.


Why it isn't...
There isn't much dating that goes on. In Grey's everyone is dating everyone but realistically this doesn't happen. Occasionally, yes. But not often. What I have found is that 95% of people are married with kids, and the ones that aren't are in long term relationships. Mentally I just assume everyone is married with children because even the younger looking ones seem to all have their own family.

There aren't constant emergencies in every surgery. On the show it seems like something goes wrong each surgery but this barely ever happens. Pretty much most surgeries will go smoothly.

On Grey's all you see is it being allll about the surgeons but the anaesthetist is just as essential. Anaesthetics gets really ignored on Grey's but they're super important!! Like they help a patient go to sleep and stay asleep and deal with pain stuff.

No one discusses their sex life, in the show you see Meredith discussing nitty gritty topics with whoever she's working with whilst operating on a patient..but personally i've never seen anyone get this personal. It's definitely a fabrication of the show just to bring the drama in - which I totally don't mind - but realistically that wouldn't happen. It makes great television though!

Surgery isn't just the surgeon being a one man show - nurses practically run the operating theatre! They're the ones who check in the patients, make them feel comfortable, set up all the equipment, and ensure everything is accounted for. I don't want to diminish the role of doctors in any way because they do a lot, but nurses are just as essential in the theatre and without them doctors would be screwed. It's a team effort.

I adore travelling, which you may have gathered from my many posts regarding travel. I guess I just get this euphoric feeling of seeing new places, immersing myself in cultures, and being away from reality. The past four years I have been to Europe three times, Japan, and various cities around Australia. As soon as one trip ends I mentally start planning where i'll go next.

The issue is that I don't feel fully content being still. I get so down on myself when I feel like i'm stuck in routines and doing the same thing. Even though I love my job, family, friends..I can't shake the feeling of wishing I was somewhere else. It's completely unrealistic though. You can't just travel your whole life away (unless you're a travel blogger..you truly blessed people) and at some point you need to stay put and anchor yourself to a place. This can feel quite depressing though and leave you feeling stuck in a glass box looking out at all the places you're missing out on.

When i'm travelling I feel free. You can be whoever you want to be without prior expectations. You can be spontaneous and catch the train to a nearby village. You can walk the cobblestones of an old English town and smell the coldness and fireplace smoke in the air. You can go tan topless in the South of France cause you won't get tan lines and no one will know you (i'm guilty as charged on this one). You aren't tied to anything and can simply be.

Right now i'm at a point in my life where I need change. I don't know whether this is me actually needing it or just romanticizing the idea of change. I would love to move to a new city and make new friends. Would love to have my own flat (ideally to myself) to decorate with cute homewares. Would love to find a new local coffee shop where I go to read and get my daily flat white.

So that's my main problem of being obsessed with travel is that I crave to always be doing something and struggle with letting myself be still. Maybe someday i'll be content with where I am based but for now i'll be daydreaming of new places.

I have been an extremely good girl this year. I've become quite savvy with saving money and have repeatedly opted against going on huge shopping sprees. After months of being quite good and only splurging here and there on drugstore makeup I decided it was time to go to Mecca Maxima. Albeit I didn't go CRAZY and buy up the whole store but I did buy a few bits and pieces that I have been wanting for ages. I also got a free beauty box from Mecca so a few of these items are from that.

Nars Laguna Bronzer: Have been after this for agesss so I knew it was time to give in to the temptation. Used it once last night and so far I really like it.
Blush Duo of Hot Sand and Orgasm: A blush and a highlighter duo? Yes please! Orgasm has been a cult favourite for years so the beauty blogger in me just had to buy it.
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in 'Perla': I've never tried this formulation and even though I thought I was done with my phase of liquid lipsticks..I just couldn't resist? As soon as I swatched it on my arm I had to buy it. Have worn these the last two days and I love it.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray: Not only does this smell amazing but it was only $9! As a big fan of dewy makeup and facial mists it was something I really wanted to try.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara mini: Got this in the beauty box, score! I really rate this mascara so i'm glad i've got another one.
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Lipstick in 'Rubino': Another mini from the beauty box. Haven't worn this yet but the colour it is right up my street.