27th journal
a new foundation, the best skin tint and more influencer brand chat
Hello, hi there and a very warm welcome to the 27th edition of the journal! Thank you for coming back, we have some super fun beauty talk ahead of us.
There is a new(ish) foundation on the block and it’s truly changing the game for me, so of course I had to get you onto it as well. I’ve also put together a little list of 5 of the very best products under $30 that I’ve been loving, so of course I’m going to share them with you.
I asked what you thought of influencer or creator brands after the last journal and got some excellent insights in response, so we dive a little deeper into that. Plus, there is more new beauty on the horizon that I just can’t quite get out of my head.
Enough chit chat; let’s talk beauty!
5 Products Under $30 You Need To Know About
It is no secret that we're all feeling the pinch at the moment (and by moment I mean the last 2 years) which means handing that little beauty pick me up budget may have shrunk a bit. I know mine has, which means I’ve been expanding my horizons with more affordable brands and products. Turns out there are some truly fab products under that $30 mark so let me put you onto 5 of my favourite.
Australis Dewy + Daring Cream Blush and Bronzers
These are such a fantastic product and hit the mark for me on so many levels. It’s a creamy formula that comes in a chubby style stick format that you can really just draw onto your cheeks and blend out. Great shade options and the finish and staying power on these is fantastic. Regular price is $15.95 each but you can also find them on sale quite often.
tbh Skincare Rebound Skin Milk Activated Cica Toner
You have probably seen this pop up in your feed quite a bit - 15 of those posts are probably mine. The fact that this has the ingredient list it does and gives the results it does but is under $30?? Outstanding, phenomonal, give me 13 of them. Regular price is $29.95 on the brand site or also Priceline and Adore Beauty.
Cancer Council SPF50+ Hydration Boost
Had to sneak an SPF in here and Cancer Council are honestly doing the best work. This one in particular is part of their revamped range and fits into your routine as a SPF50 (obviously) but also as that hydrating primer hybrid a lot of us are really looking for. I’m being a bit cheeky because it’s regular price is closer to the $35 mark but it is available at Chemist Warehouse and Coles which means you can pretty much always find it for less. Their Day Wear Serum is also amazing and under $30.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara in Burgundy Haze
Gives lashes length + definition? Yes. Stays in place all day without flaking? Yes. Comes in fun shades to suit any eye colour/skin tone combo? Also yes. I spoke about this formula in the last journal and it’s here again for good reason. For many of us, mascara is the thing we don’t leave the house without and this formula is excellent. It really does deliver on performance and you can now pick it up in a variety of shades so if you are looking to subtly switch things up or just have some more fun, it’s a great way to have a play with your makeup. Regular price is $25.99 at Chemist Warehouse & Adore Beauty, but again, often on sale.
Straand Crown Fix Scalp Serum
I could pretty much include the entire Straand range in this section - they really are that good - but I narrowed it down to one of my most used and loved products. This serum is such a game changer for me and my sensitive scalp. I love to use it as an intensive treatment as part of my hair wash process, as well as between washes as a spot treatment style step. I really enjoy how calming and comforting it is, so if you’re an itchy gal like me, you need to know about it. You can pick it up anytime for only $28, but they also have a smaller version in a set for $29.
psst: if you’re after more beauty budget content then keep an eye out for the next journal edition 👀
If I Put You Onto One Foundation…
Let it be this one from Maybelline. I recently tried the viral Super Stay Lumi Matte Foundation and I was so impressed with everything about it. First of all, I got a really good shade match and was really impressed with how much came out in a single pump. I know that sounds a little silly, but I feel like the amount it dispenses often guides how much I try to apply and can lead or mislead me in that application process
I pumped it onto the back of my hand and worked it into my skin with a brush (my preferred method for foundation) and found it really responded well to this. It worked into the skin well without streaking and I feel like the mark of a good formula is one you don’t really need to change your routine to make it work.
The coverage and finish were what had me most excited though - definitely medium to full coverage but without being too intense, as well as drying down semi-matte. Really, this product just delivered on what it said it would do, which doesn’t sound like much but I do always appreciate when it just works. Will absolutely be reaching for this one again and again to continue testing it out.
This is basically a bonus under $30 recommendation as well because whilst the RRP is $35, the regular price at Chemist Warehouse is $29.99 so I am going to sneak it in as another budget win.
Mecca Launches I Can’t Stop Thinking About
There has been an incredible wave of new releases since the beginning of 2025 but here are a few upcoming Mecca launches that I cannot wait for…
Youth To The People
This brand is so well-loved within the skincare community and I think many of us were sad when it disappeared from shelves in Australia. Just this week it was announced that YTTP will be finding a new home at Mecca and I am personally am very excited to have it back in my life. I have tried a lot of the brand before and standouts include the Adaptogen Mist + Moisturiser (great for stressed out skin) as well as the Triple Peptide Oasis serum.
View the announcement here:
Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops
I am not a massive bronzer or bronzing drops user, but for some reason these are really speaking to me. I think a lot of that may be the uber cute packaging, but I am also seeing a couple of my favourite beauty creators speak about how natural they look and how easy they are to add in to your normal makeup look.
Glossier You Fragrance Family
The ‘You’ fragrance from Glossier continues to be such a favourite and it’s so exciting to see the fresh takes on an iconic scent. It looks like we have the brand new Fleur version, which brings fresh floral notes to the original warm base, as well as perhaps the return of the two limited edition variations that were available late last year. Regrettably, I did not pick one up at the time and am seriously kicking myself for passing.
Your Say…Influencer Beauty
Following last week’s piece on influencer and content creator beauty brands, I asked you, the people, how you felt about these sort of brands and how you engaged with them. The responses were really interesting so I wanted to share them here!
I think this is super valid and a issue that a lot of brand founders find themselves at risk of. If it’s your name, your face, so much of you is attached to the brand or woven through it, it’s understandable that your character or reputation are also linked. When they have an online profile and there’s question marks around past actions it’s only natural that you’d then look at a product that person is trying to sell you and be quite avoidant.
To be honest, this is probably just great advice for purchasing responsibly in general but I also absolutely agree in this specific case. When any new brand or product is launching, inevitably there is hype to be built and content that’s designed to get lots of views. There is also a real interest in seeing those ‘brutally honest first impressions’ videos right after a brand launches, so it’s best to give it some time for the heightened interest to die down. The result is that normally a little way down the line you’ll get a more neutral or honest idea of what the product is like and whether the brand has legs.
So fair. There are so many people to follow, so much content to absorb and you all want me to spend my dollars on something you made? If you’ve given me reasons to trust you and I have an understanding of what you’re about, then let’s talk about me buying your product. A good example for me is Hannah Collingwood English, a wonderful content creator here in Australia with a strong scientific background and real passion for honest communication. When she launched the Rebound range in collaboration with tbh skincare, I just knew that the knowledge and care was there, so I felt very comfortable putting my money there too.
If you have any further thoughts, leave a comment below! The beauty industry and brand space can sometimes feel like a giant, amorphous blob with decisions at every turn, so the more we can take a second and have a conversation, the better.
Non-Beauty Faves
Brimm
As much as I love a matcha or cup of tea, I am first and foremost a coffee girl. So, when I saw Brimm launching, as a super cute but also tasty cold brew option, I knew I had to try it. It’s strong without being bitter or aggressive and brings a nice rounded taste to my morning caffeination. It pairs well with my lactose free milks and honestly is so much easier to put together in the morning when I just need to get out the door (6am starts are roughhhh). Bonus points for all the yummy recipe inspo you can find over on their socials - it really makes me want to elevate my coffee game even more.
Adairs Bright Homewares
A little bit of a rogue entry but I was having a little online shop the other day and came across a whole bunch of beautiful homewares in vibrant shades. Honestly, my wishlist is so long now with pieces to help give my little home a bit of a lift. My picks aren’t necessarily cohesive but just gave me a bit of the inspiration I needed to try and breathe some new life into my space
Nodo Carrot Cake
I am forever a carrot cake lover and for some reason forget just how easy it is to make at home. I know, that sounds silly but sometimes we need a little reminder that we’re adults with free will who can go make carrot cake. The spark for me was getting an email from my faves at Nodo with a recipe for their GF carrot cake, which I did in fact make yesterday and it delivered. My partner and I ate way too many slices whilst staying out of the endless rain and it was the perfect afternoon treat. Recipe here. My finished attempt below.
The Big Three
Ok, you know how you have your big three in astrology? This is just the beauty product version of that, and yes I think I’m pretty clever thank you very much. The Sun will be something that’s going on my face on the daily, Moon is for the nighttime routine heroes and Rising is for the newcomer or rising favourite of the week.
SUN: TOWER28 SUNNYDAYS TINTED SUNSCREEN
The fact that I am currently squeezing the very last drops of this out of my second tube should be enough to tell you that I really like this product. However, I will also do my homework and share the actual reasons why I love it. So it is described as a tinted sunscreen however I basically just use it as a skin tint over my normal sunscreen. It provides a decent level of coverage, I’d say buildable up to medium so you don’t need a lot for daily wear.
Shop it here.
MOON: GUNK OFF MELTING BALM CLEANSER
Truly nothing beats this for me when it comes to a an oil cleanse or first cleanse step. This really just does it all so well, melting down any makeup and sweat and grime and SPF. It’s a true skin gamechanger and it feels so good to be starting my routine off with properly clean skin.
As a formula it’s a solid blend of nourishing ingredients that really do cleanse the skin properly - it’s basically just the best of both worlds. If you’re sensitive like me too, then you have nothing to worry about here, because it absolutely is for us sensitive skin girlies.
Shop it here.
RISING: PAULA’S CHOICE PRO-COLLAGEN PEPTIDE PLUMPING MOISTURISER
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a moisturiser that’s the Goldilocks of moisturisers - not too heavy but still delivers on hydration, contains actives but I don’t need to worry about a reaction plus it’s super cute and pink. Essentially a product that delivers on moisturising my skin without me having to think too much about it.
Paula’s Choice are always about efficacy and ingredients that are actually effective, without the fuss and that is exactly what this product is. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the peptide hype or don’t know how to fit a moisturiser into your routine during the season change, just get this one. It does the hard work for you and looks good doing it.
Shop it here.
And with that, we’ve reached the end of the 27th edition of Morgan’s Skin Journal! if you’re made it this far, I hope that means you’ve enjoyed it and would consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy it. There’s so much beauty goodness to come in 2025 and I hope you join me for it. I’ll play myself out with a little song recommendation for your week 💚