Life is pretty expensive at the moment - a supermarket shop can feel like taking out a mortgage, and actually taking out a mortgage is pretty much out of the question.
So when it comes to treating ourselves, we gotta be careful how we spend our precious pennies. Cue The Edge Tries, where we give the most-hyped and interesting new products a go and tell you honestly if they're worth your hard-earned cash.
First up? Bondi Sands' new Everyday Skincare range.
We already know and love Bondi Sands for keeping us looking bronzed when we're at our pastiest with their tried-and-true fake tan, but are they any good at skincare?
Their new Everyday range promises to make "5 hour sleeps look like 12" (me AF, doom-scrolling all night) and reckons it'll give you a "juicy" complexion, which sounds pretty good to us - so we put it to the test:
Begin Again Renewing Vitamin B3 Serum - $22.99
Name: Laura
Age: 21
Skin Type: Oily/Combination
Recently I’ve been getting into my skincare routine and being conscious about what I'm putting on my skin, but I hadn’t ventured into the world of serums until this product.
I was apprehensive about how it would work alongside the other products I’m using but so far, I've been impressed. I’ve been getting compliments on how bright and glowy my skin has been looking, which was a shock as my skin tone is typically quite uneven and super dull.
It has no scent and the consistency is lightweight, and non-sticky - which I love. The product absorbs really quickly and makes my skin feel super smooth and hydrated.
I’ve been applying it morning and night after cleansing and I’ve noticed how great my skin feels afterwards and how easily makeup goes on.
The serum includes Niacinamide, Squalane and Lilli Pilli and I won’t lie, I have no clue what any of those big words mean, but the professionals say they’re meant to reduce the appearances of blemishes and help to heal and firm the skin, and I'd say they got that right.
For my first experience with a serum, this product gets a huge thumbs up from me and I would consider buying it again...once I use every last bit of it!
Sweet Dreams Hydrating Night Moisturiser - $23.99
Name: Ricky
Age: 25
Skin Type: Combination
I'm not afraid to admit that my skin routine consists purely of whatever my GF is using, so I put a lot of trust into what she's buying.
So, I was excited to try a new night moisturiser. I have really dry skin and if I don't moisturise at night, I wake up feeling extra uncomfortable.
Luckily, I've been super happy with the Sweet Dreams Moisturiser. It has almost a silky feel to it and absorbs really well into your skin so you're left feeling like you can roll over without the risk of turning your pillow into a towel when you first get in bed.
Waking up in the morning, my skin definitely feels soft, hydrated and I'd go as far as to agree with Bondi Sands in saying it feels 'perky'.
My only feedback would be it’s scent-free, which I know a lot of people would love about it, but being a nighttime moisturizer, I feel like it’d be a great chance to have a hint of lavender or something that helps you fall asleep.
But this isn’t a review for the scientists at Bondi Sans, it’s for you. So, all in all, does it work? yes. Would I buy it again? yes.
Fresh'n Up Gel Cleanser - $19.99
Name: Mon
Age: 30
Skin Type: Combination
Am I old enough now to know I cannot ever sleep in my make-up? Yes.
Have I ever settled on a consistent, effective cleanser? No.
Do I resort to just using micellar water? Sometimes.
I invest quite a bit of research and money into other skincare, but when it comes to cleansers, I tend to just grab something from the supermarket shelf in a blind panic and hope for the best.
My first impressions of the Fresh'n Up Gel Cleanser are that it is, at the very least, a big improvement on that approach.
You get serious bang for your buck with this product - a little goes a long way, and 150mls is heaps compared to a lot of others with a similar price point.
I love a gel cleanser that works up into a decent lather, but nothing excessive. This ticks that box, and it glides on with a really silky texture, while still feeling like it takes off the grit and grime of the day.
It features Calendula Extract, Chamomile and Aloe Vera, which gives very soothing vibes, but it does mean it lacks that super invigorating 'zingy' feeling - if that's what you're after. Being a night-time showerer, a gentle cleanse suits me just fine, but I do wish it wasn't quite so lightly scented.
Most importantly, I felt like my skin was make-up free after cleansing. Looks like the micellar water can stay at the back of the cabinet for a bit!
Fountain of Youth Bakuchiol Serum - $22.99
Name: Ashlee
Age: 23
Skin Type: Combination/Sensitive
As someone with incredibly sensitive skin, I get really nervous putting anything on my face but I was happily surprised with this serum! The texture feels milky and kind of looks like sunscreen - luckily it doesn’t smell like it. I absolutely hate the feeling of oily serums underneath my makeup but I couldn’t feel this on my skin at all.
According to Bondi Sands, 92% of people who use this serum say that their skin looks less dull and I definitely feel the same. My skin looks more bright and glowy than ever.
Would I buy this product? Maybe if I was interested in skincare... Would I recommend it? Definitely! My sensitive skin has made it challenging for me to be interested in skincare products as my face normally burns but if you have the same issue, give this one a try.
Eye Spy Brightening Eye Cream - $22.99
Name: Raynor
Age: 22
Skin Type: Combination
If you’re someone who is constantly tired like me, this product is super handy.
I wake up at 5 am every day and also struggle to sleep, which means I often wake up with bags under my eyes and they love to stay there for the whole day. After using this eye cream, I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my pesky eye bags!
It feels really creamy and light, and I honestly felt like it made a difference as soon as it went on. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a magic wand, so my under eyes still looked a little dark, but it definitely brightened them up.
When I’ve got the eye cream on and no makeup, it definitely makes me feel a lot more confident leaving the house. If you’re someone who doesn’t wear makeup often, this is a really quick and easy way to make yourself look and feel a little more put together.
It works well with makeup on, too - I dabbed some under my eyes before popping my foundation and concealer on, and I reckon it made my concealer brighter.
The bottle is quite small, but trust me when I say you don’t need to use much at all. I used a pea-sized amount and it worked perfectly, so I reckon it’d last you a while if you grab one for yourself.
Overall, it made my under eyes feel brighter and hydrated - and I would absoluuuuutely recommend it to anyone who’s keen to look a little more awake. I’m not great at taking care of my skin but I’m using this product every day. She’s a winner!
