Hi. It's been looooong.
I have nothing of value to project today if that's why you're here. But if you are looking for a couple of new products for your skincare and makeup - this might be it. Following are brief reviews of products that I am currently loving.
Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid - La Roche-Posay
As you guys know, I was in Mexico for my honeymoon and sunscreen was a must. I took 2 sunscreens, 1 for the face and 1 for my body. La Roche-Posay was a life saver. I have never used a sunscreen that doesn't leave a white film. I know that Shiseido has a very popular sunscreen. My makeup instructor also recommended it. But La Roche-Posay is cheaper. I got it for $29.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart. It has SPF 60 with Cell-Ox Shield. The formula is ultra light, as it suggests. It is definitely fast absorbing and has broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. It is water-resistant and I had it on the entire time I was in the pool. It stood the test and my face was protected the entire week. For those who are allergic to fragrances and other harmful chemicals, it is worth mentioning that it is fragrance and PABA-free. This is going to be a staple in my skincare from now on.
PS: For those who don't like white sunscreen at all, the best thing is - it comes in a tinted form! The tinted sunscreen by La Roche-Posay is a combination of a mineral sun filter with Cell-Ox Shield. It is everything listed above except this one is SPF 50.
TheBalm - Mary-Lou Manizer
I've been wanting this item for a while. I used to see it on YouTube tutorials and it seemed like quite a favorite. I have trouble-some skin and I hate products that enhance my imperfections (obviously!) It is tricky for me to use highlighters because they usually end up enhancing my acne and large pores. This one is on the extreme end of highlighters because it is SUPER shimmery. I like the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks because they are subtle. A teeny-weeny bit of the Mary-Lou goes a long way. It is pigmented to the core. I love love love the packaging of TheBalm products. This product will last you forever because you will only end up using a little bit for each application. I got it for $28.00. It has a yellow undertone, so it is perfect for my complexion. It gives a beautiful glow without over-doing it. The only issue might be the application technique and the tool you use. I like using a fan brush to sweep it on the tops of my cheeks. But, I started off pretty bad with this product, using the wrong brush. It looked ultra shimmery at first. A light-hand and a nice brush is definitely needed for desired results. I like this better than my MAC Soft & Gentle. If you are all about the glow life - go ahead and splurge.
Clinique - Rinse-Off Eye Makeup Solvent
My mother got me this item (love you!) because she knows I am constantly looking for a good makeup remover. My makeup instructor also recommended the Bioderma makeup remover for sensitive skin. I am holding onto that one because it is really good. The only downside is the size of the product. It is not travel friendly. It is something you keep in your washroom for a day-to-day use. For travel purposes, I usually always keep a smaller bottle of makeup remover. I love this product. I took it to India with me for my wedding. And it is the only one I used for taking off heavy-duty eye makeup after my wedding and reception. Can I just start off by saying that I have tried every single makeup remover on the shelves of drug stores... from Neutrogena to Avon to Nivea to Rimmel to Almay to Clean & Clear to L'Oreal. You get the picture, right? This one is my absolute favorite. The best thing that beats all these other drugstore products is that it is non-oily. It is so difficult to find a non-oily makeup remover that doesn't make me run into the wall with my eyes closed having scraped black tar onto my eyelashes. All I do is... use a cotton pad and soak the product onto the cotton. I lightly press the cotton on my eyelids and leave it there for a couple of seconds so it can absorb all the makeup. It comes off right away. You have to go over it only 2 times instead of rubbing and tugging on your skin. I am an absolute hater of that oil-glaze that I got from all drugstore products. And most importantly, it is gentle for my sensitive skin. Also, reasonably priced around $20.00
Clinique - Superbalanced Makeup Foundation
I bought this foundation for my mom last year. And I used it on her for her anniversary photoshoot. It is fair to say that this photographs really well because her skin looks flawless in the pictures, without any artificial lighting or filters. Upon application, it covered her large pores and blemishes really well. It was definitely smooth and with a medium coverage. It lasted all day on her face and I didn't have to use a lot. The only thing that bothers me with foundations - when they don't come with a pump. I hate that with my MAC Studio Fix as well. It is a glass bottle as well and it gets difficult to get the last drops of the product out. Pumps on all foundations should be a makeup law. After using this foundation on her, I picked one up for myself as well. I got the wrong shade but I make it work with using powder on top. It is a perfect balance of moisture and matte and blends in well. I would also say, that it looks natural and doesn't immediately scream out foundation! It's not a thick formula and not thin either - it is just right and lightweight. As I said, it is medium coverage but it can be layered. It retails for $29.00. I would purchase it again - in the right shade.
philosophy - Purity Made Simple
I heard a lot of raving about this product, so I purchased a smaller size for $13.00 at Sephora to try it out. I took this to Mexico as well because it is a perfect travel size container. I didn't want to commit to a full sized bottle because of my sensitive skin. So, let's start with the smell - uh-mazing. It smells botanical, if that makes any sense. You need a dime size amount for your entire face - which is awesome because it is expensive. It gets slightly foamy and leaves your face feeling hydrated and healthy. I find it a little drying to use on a daily basis because I do have dry skin but I guess it would be perfect for combination to oily skin. Because it is a little drying for me - I only use it on days when I have a lot of makeup on to give it a deep cleanse. It left a little redness around my eyes because that area on my face is extra sensitive. But I don't blame the product because my eyes are just generally very sensitive. On other days, I use the Boscia Purifying Cleanser - which I also really like (despite the heavy price)! But I think this one is neck-to-neck. Overall, this is a good cleanser.
MAC Lipstick - Cosmo
Smashbox - Brow Tech (Dark Brown)
I have to start off by saying that this is my first brow powder, so I have nothing to compare it to. But I still wanted to mention it because it is pretty good. I went to Sephora and someone recommended that it is an easy product to start off with if I am new to brows. I hate using brow pencils and I was really looking for a powder. It is so easy to use - I use the darker colour to outline or define, the lighter colour to fill in and the wax to seal them in place. And my brows stay in place all day. I just wish it had more wax in the pot because I have thick curly brows that do need a little more than average. But I recently purchased the Maybelline Brow Drama to tame them in place, so I've been using less wax. The great thing about this brow powder is that you can mix the colours together. It is travel friendly as long as you carry a brow brush with you. And it looks amazingly natural. I like this product a lot and I would definitely repurchase. It is priced around $28.00
And that is everything for my current favorites. I hope the reviews were helpful.
No comments:
Post a Comment