Nivea Men - Body Shaving Stick

This is a stick of shaving balm that you apply directly to your skin.

The scent is generic "men's" scent, marine notes.

When applied directly on the skin in the shower, it creates a lubricating soapy film which works really well with a razor.
You don't get 'razor burn' and it is non-irritating.

This would be absolutely perfect for travel!

Price: 3/5 ($9.99 for 75mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Elemis - Pro-Collagen Marine Cream

This is quite nice.

It has a very faint marine smell, doesn't pill, absorbs well, and makes your face feel tighter.

Looking at the price, it is no wonder it works! :/

Price: 0.5/5 ($200 for 50mL)
Scent: 2.5/5
Effectiveness: 4.5/5

L'Oréal - Hydra Genius - Aloe Water - Normale haut bis mischhaut

This is from Glossybox!

It has a very green scent, with a marine component.

It is lightweight, hydrating, and my oily skin likes it a lot.
I didn't think I would like it as much as I did!

I could see this being popular during summer.

Price: 4/5 ($14.78 for 70mL)
Scent: 4/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Same Product, Different Scent - Crabtree & Evelyn - Hand Therapy - La Source

This has a lovely marine fragrance which I just ADORE!
A great unisex scent that could work for anyone.

Jericho - Hand & Body Lotion

This is a lotion with 'Dead Sea Minerals', a popular beauty product ingredient.

The scent is mildly marine and faint.

It develops a 'watery' feel when you rub it in, like most lotions do, which I personally don't like. 
It makes me feel like is less effective.

After applied, a slight greasy residue stays on the surface of the skin.

This is not a magic product, but if you have it, it wont upset delicate skin.

Price: 2/5 ($29.95 for 150mL)
Scent: 3/5
Effectiveness: 2/5

Woodwick Candle - Sand & Driftwood

I LOVE this candle! 
The scent is divine, and I think 'Sand & Driftwood' is a fair assessment of it.

You know how it will appeal to me.

The container is super cute as well, grey glass and a wooden lid. 
It has an old school vibe which is very cool.

The wick is made of wood as well, and makes a continuous crackling noise that is so soothing.

This is the type of candle you WANT to get to Christmas!

Price: 2/5 ($39.95 for 600g)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

The Body Shop - Body Cream - Fijian Water Lotus

I wasn't sure I would like this scent, but I was so wrong! 
It's marine, aquatic, floral and playful!
It is also delicate and quite a fresh scent.

Appealing to me on a 'water nymph' level.

It is less thick than the body butter but thicker than a lotion.

It absorbs well and leaves the skin feeling amazing.

I am SO tempted to buy the perfume of this scent!

Price: 3/5 ($26.95 for 200mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 4.5/5

Masquerade! - Sephora - Algae Sleeping Mask

So this mask is a cream that you put on before bed and is washed off in the morning.
Of course I got the algae one (you know, because in my head I'm a water nymph).
It had a marine, nitrogenous scent. 
It also has the colour of aquamarine! <3

I'm not sure if I like this over normal night creams, so I may just use this as a nap mask XD

Masquerade! - Sephora - Algae Eye Mask

I loved the serum in this! Can this be a full face mask?!
It smells marine and nitrogenous (think ammonia).

Unlike other eye masks, it is made of fabric and had a backing mesh that had to be removed first.

Masquerade! - Aritaum - Fresh Essential Mask - Pearl

Nice sturdy cloth, good size, pleasant marine and slightly-acidic scent.

Remove the word 'cloth' from above and it sounds kinda dirty XD hur hur hur

But getting back on track, I found it to be moisturising and non-irritating.

Art break - Sunken Treasure Chest for C

C had a pirate themed 30th birthday party, so I thought what better gift than some treasure pulled from its marine resting place!

So I started with a chest-shaped cardboard box. This was easier than making a box to the correct shape and it would retain better structural integrity.

The next step was to use modelling paste and pistachio shells to make seaweed and clams stuck to the box, respectively.
Once attached, the entire outside of the box was painted white (with poster and spray paint).
I used blue painters tape to protect the leather-like accents on the box.

The shells and seaweed were then spray painted gold (the spray paint making it easier to get into all the nooks and crannies). I did the inside of the box a blue-teal colour to keep that marine theme going. I latter added a bit of gold dusting to the inside as well to keep it looking valuable and not too clean.

The next step was to start adding brown paint, for the wooden outside. This took a while because like a goose, I bought poster paint, not acrylic paint. Poster paint is less viscose and has a lower colour pay-off (more translucent).

Starting to look real!

After that it was a matter of adding acrylic paint (gold, blue, green, red), some beads, gems, glitter (treasure is shiny), netting (like fishing netting), and a bit more modelling paste until I felt it looked like a real pirate treasure chest.

- I made the outside of the shells more rose gold, for a bit of contrast.

- Modelling paste was put at the base to make it look like the chest had been underwater so long it had started to integrate into the ecosystem.

- I put little pearls into each open clam and added some bigger pearls on top... nothing says the ocean like pearls XP

- I added some rose gold painted date pits because they looked interesting and added something extra other than 'clams'.

- The netting is like old fishing netting that got caught on the chest.

- I added the little gems on the outside and the glitter to make it look a little 'richer'.


Inside is a bottle of 'James Plank' ... Jim Beam... get it?! XD
Also some shiny candy, chocolate coins, and a pearl necklace (hur hur hur).
These sit on gold tissue paper and red shredded paper.

I made the replacement label with parchment and incense and acrylic paint made the 'wax seal' on top.

Verdict:  C loved it!!!

The Body Shop - Seaweed Pore Perfector

I put this on, under my moisturiser each morning and I did notice a small difference.

Did it close my cavernous face holes (which aren't my nostrils or mouth)? - No
Did it make my pores look smaller, less noticeable and resulted in less pimples? - Yes

The only reason I haven't repurchased this yet is I have a butt-tonne of other products to try and use first.

It even smells nice - marine, salty and oceanic ... I am all about that life!

Word of the Day: Oceanid

It come in a cute pump bottle, so it is easy to get the right amount each time and you don't waste product.

Love love, love this!

Price: 2/5 (rrp $24.95 for 15mL)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 4/5

Cussons - Imperial Leather - No. 42 Rockpool Hand Wash

This blue beauty caught my attention with imagery of mermaids, beautiful corals and ocean foam (all things I just projected onto the product).

So with such poetic thoughts in mind, how could I not try it?

The scent is listed on this bottle is Indian lotus and waterlily. To me, I smell is a clean, white floral (makes sense with the lily) with a hint of marine scent.
I would have preferred more salt and oceanic for a "Rock pool" name, but you can't win 'em all!

I really liked the blue colour and the lather was superb, needless to say it cleaned the hands well.

Will I buy this scent as a body wash (which I can do), probably not (I want more ocean and less white floral, damn it!), but it's a fun little kitchen/bathroom addition.

Price: 4/5 (rrp $3.99 for 250mL)
Scent: 4/5
Efficiency: 5/5