TEO DEGAS' REVIEWS: Beauty

Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

9/25/2022

Mavala Switzerland Mini Nail Polish Baghdad, 5 ml

I've bought Mavala mini nail polishes before and I love the travel size and the quality of the product. However, this item has been a great disappointment. To start with, the photo is misleading as the colour is not orange but an orange-ish pink (see my photo); most importantly, the colour is quite translucent and, even if I use two coats, the results are quite neutral. If I had been looking for a neutral pink I might have been happy with this colour and texture, but I was looking for an opaque orange as per the colour in the photo and I got neither.

MOR Boutique Little Luxuries Lychee Flower Hand Cream 50ml

This is a wonderful lychee-flower scented hand cream with a long-lasting scent that can be used as everyday perfume. It has a semi-liquid texture, so it absorbs well and quickly. It's very moisturising. and it doesn't leave a greasy residue; after using it, my skin feels velvety. The packaging is lovely and luxurious, as well.

The main problem with the cream, to me, is that the scent is overwhelming; it masks my perfume, and it gets to my nose and throat lingering there for too long. The cream is moisturising but not enough to fix my very dry hands issues; said differently, moisturising level is medium. Besides, the back of the tube has the description and ingredients list in a very small gold lettering, so there is barely any contrast against the pink background and it cannot be read without a magnifying glass. I won't buy it again.

Burt's Bees Lip Balm Chai Tea Tube 4.25g

This is a simple, no-fuss lip balm that makes wonders for my cracked lips. It is very emollient and pleasurable to have on. I always check the list of ingredients in the cosmetics I use as this really matters to me. This lip balm has a huge array of natural wax, oils and plants extracts, something that, to me, explains, why it took me two days to get the cracks disappear from my lips after using this balm. I own other lip balms and lip treatments and this is my fav so far.

I love chai tea, so I chose this variety thinking that it might have a slight similarity with the flavour, but, to my delight, it really tastes of chai tea.

Good value for money.

I have sensitive very dry skin and this ointment works beautifully for me. No fancy packaging or scent, but the cream really soothes my skin contact rashes as well as my very dry hands. I use acrylic paint and mediums for my artwork, working sometimes with my bare hands, so this cream has helped me to counteract the dryness I get as a result. Once the ointment penetrates the skin there is no residue. However, until it does, it is a bit 'oily' if that can be said, and it takes a few minutes for the product to be fully absorbed; something that, on the other side, I expect from any ointment.

The only think I dislike is that the package does not have a list of ingredients on the jar. Coloidal oat is mentioned but, is this the only ingredient? The main ingredient? One of the ingredients? Why not having this fully displayed? I own other Dermaveen skin products and they have the list of ingredients on the back of the package, so I don't know why this cream does not.

It is not tested on animals, something that really matters to me.

Good value for money.

I will buy again.

Rimmel London Provocalips 16HR Kiss-Proof LipColour 310 Little Minx

I've been using this lipstick since it came out to the market. I love the colour, which really suit my skin colour. Most importantly, this is a good value for money lippy. It stays on all day even after eating, and, depending on what I eat, it will last till next morning before I shower. It is matte when used without the gloss coating. Otherwise, it looks moist without being glossy. The clear coating really goes quickly, so I barely use it on weekdays. This lasts me for a long time as once light coat does the job.

Mavala Switzerland Mini Color Nail Polish - Pink Cosmic, 5 ml

Let me tell you, the Cosmic Pink colour you see in the pictures and the colour you get on the nails is quite different. The bottle looks a bit purpleish or cherry-ish, but it is not. This is a very girly, festive and Cinderella-ish pink. I guess the glitter bits distort the colour in the photos because even in the photos of my hands, the colour doesn't look as prettier as in real life .

The polish spreads easily and evenly. One coat is nice enough and has decent coverage, but two coats make perfection. Despite the glitter, one coat dries off quickly

This polish has a rugged textured finish not a smooth one, which can be expected from any glittery polish. It smoothes out a bit with a clear top coat, but the textured finish won't disappear despite this. Beware, as with any glittery polish, it takes a bit of more effort to remove it. The polish chips off but not overly so, so a new spot application is enough as the polish is thick enough to cover the spot without needed of a full coat.

This is a travel-size tiny size (see my photo beside an average polish bottle), and, this being the case, it's a bit pricey for what it is. This explains the four stars not the five. On the other hand, as I have small hands, I find this sizing perfect for my DIY manicure and the brush is perfect for my nails size.

The brand is vegan and cruelty free, something that's really important to me. This is my first Mavala polish, and I will repeat.

O.P.I. Nail Lacquer An Affair In Red Square

I've been using OPI An Affair in Red Square for several years now and it's my fav red shade on the nail polish stratosphere. OPI is also one of my fav nail polish brands. Yet, there are some issues with this specific shade that I want to mention:
> This shade is one of the thickest OPI polishes I own, and I own many. One coat over a base coat and under a top coat suffices to have full coverage and to look spectacular.
> Two coats of the polish look great, but, when I apply two coats, the polish takes a lot of time to dry off (more than other OPI shades) and it tends to smudge easily even when it's almost dry.
> This shade polish starts to thicken when the bottle it's mid way, in a way that makes it difficult to apply without resorting to adding acetone to clarify it.
> This being the case, and despite this being of one those polishes that I always have in my beauty case, it is pricey, because I usually bin the bottle midway.
> This red, as most red shades, chips easily, that's why I reserve the second coat for when my nails are totally dry but I need to cover the chipping.

Beyond that, this is just a classy wonderful red that never goes out of fashion and I never get tired of.

Aphrosmile 100% Pure Rosehip Oil for Massage, 30ml

This is a wonderful oil that spreads well, absorbs quickly and leaves my skin hydrated and nourished without any greasy residue. In a way, it is a dry oil not an oily oil.

I use this oil instead of my regular hand/arm cream when I notice signs of irritation or redness in my skin, I had some cuts or wounds that I want healed, to rub my cuticles when doing my DIY manicure, and also to remove hair-color stains after DIY tinting my hair.

I love the vintage-look bottle and the branding. The drop dispenser is great to prevent using too much product and using the right amount.

The smell is nothing I would use in aromatherapy as it is the oil natural scent and it isn't especially aromatic, not bad but nothing that I would put my nose to it, if you know what I mean.

Mind, the oil can stain your clothes if falls on them, as it has the oil natural yellow-orange color.

Good product but a bit pricey.

This is a good cream overall. It spreads evenly, it's absorbed quickly and leaves my hands moisturized without any residue or greasy feeling. The mouth dispenser is well designed to prevent wasting product, something that it's really important as this cream is not such, but more a body milk. I have sensitive skin and I haven't noticed any reaction to this cream, which is great. The tube has a considerable size and it's good value for money.

On the downside, although I like this cream, I don't find it especially healing or really not better on my hands than other creams or oils. I have mixed feelings about the scent, too. On the one hand, it's subtle, but on the other, it's also odd. I would say that it has a wax/honey-ish sort of scent, but the scent is quite peculiar and it's one of those that polarize people. In my case, I find it odd but not unpleasant and it doesn't clash with my perfume, yet I don't find it appealing either.

Overall a good cream, but not intensive or really healing and it is not especially natural. No indication on whether the cream is cruelty free or not, or tested on animals or not.

Burts Bees Overnight Intensive Lip Treatment, 7.08 g

This is a good quality lip treatment, that spreads evenly and leaves my lip moisturized if I use it overnight, giving it time to do its job. A tiny amount of product is enough to cover my lips, and the tiny container can fit even in a wallet. I love the brand and the fact that the product is cruelty free, too.

However, t I find this treatment as good as any other lip treatment out there if you leave it overnight, but it's more expensive. Flavor is minimal. As the product has peppermint oil in it, there is a slightly hint/after-taste of it, something I dislike.

To be fair, this is a good product, does the job and is not glamorous, but does the same job as cheaper products I've used in the past.

Revlon PhotoRead Concealer, Light

I have been using this inexpensive concealer for over a year now and it has become my fav on-the-go concealer as well as my preferred eye primer. I use this to neutralize and cover reddish spots on my face (pimple-ish or hair plucking red spots for example) , as an under-eye foundation to cover signs of tiredness and irritation, and as an eyelid primer. Although not an eye primer per se, I use it as such. The results are fabulous as it doesn't irritate my eyelids, it settles/dries quickly, covers the area perfectly and my eye-shadow colorful palette colors are noticeably enhanced. The product spreads easily and evenly and perfectly matches my skin tone. It's thick enough to cover any area perfectly but without being greasy or too thick. I have sensitive skin and I haven't had any problem with it so far. Despite the item being quite small, the quantity of product is considerable for me to use it, on a daily basis, for months.

HASK Argan Oil Vial Repairing Hair Oil for All Hair Types, 18mL

I have been using the argan oil vial for several months, applied to my long colored dry hair after shampooing and conditioning and the results are great.

Despite being an oil, it is not greasy and it spreads easily. A tiny amount of product is enough to make my hair shine and look super healthy. The vial looks small (see my photo beside one of my mascaras), but it actually lasts me for 5+ uses, more or less depending on whether I use it just on the upper layers of my hair to add shine and smooth out or all through all the hair.

It smells wonderful, like a sweet orange sort of scent.

The vial cap is really tight, so you can safely put the vial horizontal and the oil won't spill out. Great size for traveling, too.

I am a devotee of this product because it makes wonders for my hair.

MONOI COCONUT VIAL
The Monoi coconut oil vial, which I also use, is equally good and long lasting. It smells beautifully but not as nice as the argan vial. I apply this after shampoo + conditioner, while my hair is still wet but I have removed excess water with a towel.

I have mixed feelings about this product. I love that is an Australian brand, the minimalist elegant packaging, the lightness of the product, how fast it absorbs, and the true herbal smell. However, despite this cream being lovely, it is more a milk than a cream, quite liquid-ish, the scent is pervasive so it can clash with my perfume, and it it is OK n my dry hands. The bottle runs out of product quite quickly due to the fact that I need to use more quantity of this product than with other hand creams.

Peripera Ink Velvet #16 Heart Fuchsia Pink

This is the first product I buy from the brand and I'm very pleased with it, but also a bit disappointed.

THINGS I LOVE
> Original and fun container.
> The bottle color is very close to the lipstick color, so you'll know which color you're getting by looking at the bottle.
> It smells divine, in this case of strawberries.
> The texture of this lipstick is creamy, velvety and semi-mate.
> It dries off quickly.
> It fully covers your lips with just a stroke.
> Very moisturizing, so my lips look supple and yummy.
> Beautiful rich color.
> Good priced.

NOT SO GOOD
> The name of the color, fuchsia pink, made me think that this would be a fuchsia pink. It is more a wine color with a hint of strawberry.
> It is not semi-permanent, so it stains glasses and cups even when dry. Also, it doesn't last all day. If you eat anything, it will disappear. It is true that the stain, a pinkish color, will stay on your lips for longer, but it's not the original color you put on the lips.
> Unclear whether this is cruelty free, tested on animals or not, something that's important to me.

Skin Republic Collagen Hydrogel Under-Eye Patch Collection

This is my top product in the Skin Republic range of masks, and my favorite eye treatment of the last year. It is not only inexpensive, not tested on animals, but also a great product that works beautifully on my under-eye skin. It visibly irons out fine wrinkles and leaves the area glowing and moisturized. These eye masks are solid silicone-ish patches that stick to the skin and you don't need to lie down to have them on.

DU'IT Tough Hands intensive hand cream 75g

I have very dry hands due to the frequent use of sanitizer and because I do my dishes by hand most times. I've used most hand cream brands out of there. I bought this as my usual cream wasn't available. The tub design looks like designed for traddies but I thought that, if this can help a man's hands why not mine?". I've used this cream for a couple of weeks and it's fantastic. It absorbs quickly leaving no greasy feeling, and it has really made a difference to my hands. I don't like the smell. It is not bad, just odd, not a nice fragrance, so that's why it's not 5 stars.

Lagoon Spa (Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia)

I found this place through Tripadvisor, to whom the photo is credited.

I was staying in another hotel in the area and I book my preferred package the day before. I booked by email and, just in case, also by phone. Afterwards, I received a clear email with information about price of the package, without taxes and with taxes included, length of the treatment, and pick up hour, as they offered me a free lift to their place.

I had the Lagoon Delight Package, two hours and a half of pure bliss with rain shower (ohmy!), full facial with Pevonia cosmetics, full body massage and traditional coconut scrub.

The lady at reception and the therapist were really friendly, caring and helpful. The therapist was very attentive to my needs and did a fabulous job.

The premises are inside the Seminak Villas hotel, and the treatment rooms are beautiful, and have a bath and mini-pool in the attached garden area.

I was sorry not to leave a decent tip, as I was leaving Bali a few hours later and I had got rid of most of my Indonesian money, but I thought they deserved it. Pricing was very good for such a long and good quality treatment.

I wanted to go to a nearby Post Office walking, and no way, they didn't let me do that and asked the hotel caddy driver to drop me there.

I really enjoyed my visit and I would certainly go back there if I happen to visit Bali again. Terima Kasih!

Lucas' Papaw Ointment

This is one of those quintessential Australian brands and products that will never leave your beauty case, travel kit or first-aid kit. A magic potion, the traditional type.

This is not only a cheapie, but it also makes wonders for my lips, small burns and any itchiness, even those annoying mosquito bites that seem to like my legs so much. I thought that it was just me being an enthusiast about the product until I got a bingo! moment when my former GP recommended it to me for some itchy patches I had in my body; to my surprise the product worked for those and no drug was needed.

The tubes are small but last forever, not to say the jars. I had one of the latter on my bedside table for years!

This is a 100% natural product, which is always a bonus. This is a very cheap product, which is another bonus. This product has an unique ugly look, which is not a bonus.

An awesome product overall. Perfect for travelling, as well.

Darling Nail Salon (Perth WA)

Photo courtesy of Carillon Website

Carillon City
Shop M13B
207 Murray St
Perth Western Australia 6000
(08) 9486 1777

Opening Hours:
Mon - Thur 9:00am - 5:30pm;
Fri 9:00am - 9:00pm,
Sat 9:00am - 5:00pm;
Sun 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Darling Nail Salon is located just by Llama Espresso, on the ground level in the Carillon City. The salon is quite large, with 7 awesome looking massage-chairs for pedicure, very comfortable, and six tables for manicures, all of them double, plus the dry-off stand. The salon is always clean and well kept, tastefully decorate, and it has an air of brand new that I really like.

I have been several times to this salon, every time without appointment, just walked in, and I have always been attended to extremely well and got a great service. Unlike other places around, they have never skipped steps in my pedicure, and I have left with my feet looking splendid, better than after visiting more reputed salons that have the "de-luxe" attached to the treatment. They use OPI polishes, which are my favourite brand.

The main downsides of the places are: 1/ They don't focus much on the massage. This is never a problem to me, as I prefer them to invest their time in my feet that in providing a mediocre or bad massage to my legs. 2/ Like most salons in Perth, you can find the selection of colours a bit limited, and some of them a bit dry and thick. 3/ I have seen some mani-pedi done at the same time, which looks greats in the movies, but is a bit too much for the person having it done. Perhaps they were in a hurry and asked for that?

Their pricing is standard for nail treatments in Perth.

Service is matter of fact, still courteous. If they aren't flooded with visitors, they really spend a lot of time with your feet and do things with care.

Fashion Magazines' Beauty Advice - 3

Final words, after the first and second entries on this topic.

A confession - I do love some luxury beauty products -especially make-up- advertised in fashion magazines, mostly because of the glamorous packaging and design, and their wonderful scents.

Another confession - My life at University extended longer than for most students. I was poor when I was a student, a postgraduate student and a PhD. student. Too poor, too long. I used to go to stores and use perfume and make-up testers for my beauty purposes. The expensive ones. I can be very cheeky. That is a virtue when you are poor, believe me. I could only afford things like Maybelline or cheaper brands. Being able to have something luxury today is not only a pleasure, it is an indication that I have reached a point in life that I dreamt about when I was poor. Kudos to me.

This does not change a thing what I have said about beauty products in the previous entries.

If you like luxury items be clear why you do buy them. Do not full yourself thinking that they will have a bigger impact on your physical beauty, or the state of your skin, hair or nails. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not. I would say, most times they do not.

An example of positive difference I find it in the eye shadows by MAC, which are a bit pricey -even if bought online- but they do not smudge, last the whole day and do not irritate my skin. Way better than any other brand I have tried.

An example of no difference can be found in the Chanel Foundation powder and Revlon Mineral Foundation I use in summer or the Revlon Photoready airbrush mousse and Lancôme Vitalumière foundations that I use in winter. The colouring is the only difference, and they both do a great job.

An example of negative difference. I cannot tolerate most Lancôme moisturisers, which have a burning effect on my skin. However, my skin does not react or have a problem with moisturisers from L'Oreal, Neutrogena, Nivea, Dove, Sukin and other "cheapies".

***

A fact - Chanel and Bourjois are part of the same brand and produced in the same facilities, but packaged and marketed differently.

A fact - L'Oreal owns not just L'Oreal mainstream products, but also Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Biotherm, Cacharel, Diesel, Kiehl's, Stella McCartney, Garnier, Maybelline, Vichy, La Roche, Kerastase, Redken, among many other luxury, medium quality and natural-beauty brands. Sometimes they are the same thing packaged differently with different colouring, and scent.

This being the case, if you find a medium-quality product from these holdings, there is a high probability that they have been produced in the same facilities, are good quality, and have similar qualities, minus the glamorous packaging and high price.

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