So it's totally, officially, 100% not summer anymore *sad trombone sound*. Total bummer, dudes. I love me some summer and am not looking forward to winter, which is a joke of a season and totally useless except for my birthday (JULY 21ST SEND PRESENTS).

Despite the on and off weather here in Sydney, I still wanted to look summery and as getting a real tan is basically the worst thing you can ever do for your skin ever and will eventually kill you, I opted for a faux glow, trialling a total of twenty-two fake tans over the last few months. Here's my impressions of the best fake tans for your booty.

I was sent this harness thing a while ago. According to some guesses on Instagram, it could be a) an exercise thing b) a super hero costume c) a chin fat melter wrap d) a girdle e) a sex harness thing (okay, that was The Boyfriend's rather hopeful guess).

I've been using nothing but BB creams recently. The just-right coverage + sunscreen + skin benefits = Michaela face base nirvana. However, aside from trying the Garnier BB earlier this year (didn't review due to the overwhelming meh), most of my experience has been isolated to Asian market BBs and I actually haven't had much experience with Western BB creams. Enter Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone BB Cream and Jesus Titty Freaking Christ, That's A Long Name.

Can I just call it Eventone BB from now on? That's what I'm calling it, you can't stop me.

Bad blogger, Michaela! I've been using and loving this treatment for the better half of the year, yet neglected to mention it to you guys. Naughty, I know, but sometimes you like something so much, it just works its way into your beauty routine and you forget that it was once a shiny new toy to gum-flap about. 

Whatever, at least you know I've given this one a good long trial so enough excusing, more reviewing!

I left the Planet Eve booth with a few samples, including this Tropical Fruit Enzyme Facial Exfoliator. 

The Tropical Fruit Enzyme Facial Exfoliator works by harnessing the basic function of enzymes - to accelerate chemical reactions occurring naturally in a cell. In this case, the fruit enzymes found in pineapple and papaya initiate a faster cell turnover, clearing away older skin cells. This lets brand spanking new cells emerge, creating a fresh new surface from natural exfoliation.Unlike a chemical treatment, the natural enzymes are much more gentle on skin and don't leave me red and sensitive afterwards. From previous experiences, I'm finding that I prefer naturally-derived exfoliators over their physical brethren. Rather than scrub off dead skin and risk drying out my skin, I rather let my friendly neighbourhood enzymes, derived from pineapple and papaya to do all the heavy lifting for me. 

The Tropical Fruit Enzyme Facial Exfoliator works by harnessing the basic function of an enzyme - to accelerate chemical reactions occurring naturally in a cell. In this case, the fruit enzymes found in pineapple and papaya initiate a faster cell turnover, clearing away older skin cells. This lets brand spanking new cells emerge, creating a fresh new surface from natural exfoliation.

It's important to juuuuust smooth the thin gel over your face, and not rub in. It needs to sit on the surface to do its magic. There's a very slight tingly sensation upon application, and I leave it on around five - ten minutes before rinsing off and toning, et al.

I don't see or feel an instant result, but the day after use, my cheeks which can get very dry feel a lot smoother to the touch and my make-up blends in better, 'catching' on the skin less. The packaging advises to use twice a week, but I stick to about once a week, as my skin gets overstimulated very easily. I've seen consistent results from this, and have only returned to physical scrubs when I need to scrub up right then and now for a fake tan.

ERMAHGERD YOU GUISE! Apologies for a drought in posts the last few days, work was cray-cray, I was on and off planes, and with zero available daylight hours to take product photos. Like, sometimes having a job is hard!

Anyhoo, here's one product I've had stashed in my purse the last week, Qsilica Paw Paw Rescue Ointment. It's a bit different when compared to other paw paw ointments, in that the fermented fruit is combined with colloidal silica. According to Wikipedia "colloidal silicas are suspensions of fine amorphous, nonporous, and typically spherical silica particles in a liquid phase." Okay then! Other ingredients include sweet almond oil (first ingredient listed and the base of the ointment), sunflower seed oil, white beeswax, castor oil, jojoba oil, macadamia seed oil, shea butter, grapefruit seed extract, oil oil, calendula and glycerin. That's a whole heaping serve of oils! It's also petrochemical free to better aid moisture absorption. 

The Rescue Ointment is recommended for use in conditioning dry skin and moisturising dry lips, but I've been using it on my raggedy-arse cuticles too.

You may have seen me testing out some coloured circle lens contacts the last few months on Instagram (@LatherRinseRpt), and if you're a coworker, may have even partaken in the delightful guessing game Does Michaela Have Crazy Eyes Again Today.

Here's my regular, boring old eyes in their standard blue.

I love my face masks. At least once a week I'll slap one on and let the nourishing goodness seep in while ensconced in my dressing gown watching Snog, Marry, Avoid reading Latin texts,

My latest mask is this sheet version from The Face Shop. I've tried a few from here since they are complete steal at $3-$5 and covered in delightful Engrish. 

Obviously I'm not revealing anything groundbreaking here, but darn I like these little tubes of hydration.

I impulse-bought two, in Protecting Berry (in a limited edition tube) and Smoothing Cherry last week and they now have happy homes in my purse. Berry smells like a creamy berry yogurt and Cherry reminds me of Panadol Liquid Painkiller for Children, the gluggy pink one. I like both scents and they dissipate quickly.