TEO DEGAS' REVIEWS: Beauty

Showing posts with label Beauty. Show all posts

5/25/2025

RoseFlower 6-colour Waterproof Mascara Gift Set

Fabulous set of colourful mascaras. I was fearing they would arrive dry (as some reviewers have complained of that) or be unnoticeable or bad quality. However, I'm happy to report that they are as beautiful as in the photos, they last all day, dry quickly, are waterproof, tear proof, and look fabulous on. Depending on your eye colour and/or glasses colour, some of these mascaras would be more flattering than the others. The brush is small and allows me to apply the product cleanly and cover even the smallest lash. I get a clean polished look with no lumps. The quantity of product on each mascara is small, but just one coat is enough for everyday purposes. I love the fact that the container is translucent and I can see how much there is left inside. Perfect economic gift set and the mascaras will get you some compliments, guaranteed. I even wear them for work.

Nailgirls Hair Cutting Scissors Shears (6.7in)

This scissors are great value for money. They aren't professional scissors but I couldn't expect that for the price. They are still very good. I sometimes trim my hair ends on my own, and the household scissors I was using were not really good. Instead, this pair cuts my hair straight, cleanly and easily, with minimum effort, in a go. These scissors tips aren't too pointy, but the blades are sharp and do the job. I have small hands and found this pair comfortable to use; not too big, not too small. The complementary comb comes really handy.

L'Oréal Wrinkle Expert Re-Densifying Anti-Wrinkle Day Cream 55+ (50ml)

L'Oreal cosmetics are a bit pricey, but I bought this one heavily discounted. Why opted for this variety? Honestly, because of the discount. This is a great day moisturiser. Unlike other L'Oreal creams, it doesn't have colouring in it, something that I appreciate. It absorbs well and leaves my skin supple and fresh, and I don't get any irritation or itchiness after application. Personally, I don't belief the claims of any brand or cream that have not been tested clinically, so I cannot comment on whether the calcium added to this cream is making my face less wrinkled because, at face value (pun intended), looks as wrinkled as before. Perhaps this is more noticeable by looking through a microscope or over a long period of time? I would say, based on my own experience, that this cream is goo for everyone who is over 35. I don't particularly like the scent, but it isn't bad either. Yet, I like the cream and I would buy it again.

Schwarzkopf Brilliance (89 Bitter Sweet Chocolate)

I've never tried this Schwartzkopf hair tint before even though this is a brand that I like.

The package contains a large colour tube, a bottle with the developer, a generous tube with post-colour treatment, a pair of average plastic gloves and the instructions leaflet. All of this is average for most DIY hair colours I've tried. As I always do, after mixing the colour I used my professional colouring bowl and comb to get the best possible results.

The quantity of product is more than enough for long hair if you want to do both regrowth and cover the rest of the hair to unify the colour.

I followed the instructions and the resulting colour was not as lovely as in the package photo, but it looks natural and nice. I left it on the roots and the rest o of the hair the time recommended in the leaflet. I would normally leave it longer on the roots as I have many thick rebel greys, but I didn't do it this time. The result is that the colour covered my greys but not enough to make the regrowth the same colour of the rest of the hair. It would have needed more time to fully achieve those results.

The conditioner tube was quite large and it can be used for at least two washes if you have long hair, or three if you have it short. However, my hair is really dry at the moment, so I used it all. It detangled my hair beautifully and left it soft and shiny.

I would say that I prefer other colouring brands, but this is still a good economic option. If your greys are many and thick, wavy or curly you might need to adjust the time to get a consistent uniform colour.

Aymorder 10-piece Nail Art Liner Brush Set

I was lured by this 10-piece set of nail art brush liners due to the variety of sizes and the good price. I risked the purchase as they could have been terrible. But they are not! Sure, they aren't a professional artist set, but I didn't want to spend a little fortune on a professional set. I wanted this to start getting familiar with this type of brush and to work on art journal and small paper projects. They're befitting.

I use them with acrylic paints/inks and they work well overall. They would have been better if they had slightly thicker bristles but, you know, these were a bargain and are not intended for artwork. They make good long flat and curvy lines with ease but, due to the bristles not being strong enough, sometimes the lines aren't clean. It might be me, as I'm just getting used to them. They're perfect for people with small hands and they're good quality despite the bargain price and the fact that they were intended for nail art not painting. These brushes work better on flat paper (e.g. art journal pads) or on surfaces that have none or little texture (e.g. cold pressed watercolour paper).

The brushes are easy to clean and can be kept in water for a long time without worry. The 'crystal' handle material hasn't deteriorated at all despite my tendency to forget brushes in water all night or for several days. The synthetic bristles get bent when left in water for long, but they recover their shape easily by drying them out with a paper towel and pressing them back into their flat shape with my fingers.

I haven't used these for nail art, so I cannot comment on how they work for that purpose.

Nothing fancy or hoo-ha about this nail polish remover. It does the job, it does not smell too bad despite being acetone based, and removes thick coats of paint with ease. If I wanted to strengthen my nails, I'd rather use a purpose-made nail strengthener. I don't think this NPR was designed to strengthen your nails, just not to further damage weak or flaky nails by adding lanolin and hydrolysed wheat protein. So, the result is that this NPR is gentler on my nails than others. Good-priced and it does the job.

Sally Hansen Advanced Hard As Nails Natural

This is a nail strengthener designed to treat flaky and pealing nails. It can be used on its own, but applying 2-3 coats on your nails, which is what the brand recommends. However, I mostly use it base coat for my manicures and on its own on my toe nails. It has a beautiful shine to it, with a slight tint, if that can be said. When I applied on its own it my nails are harder to touch than when I use a normal base. Not sure if this will result on my nails being actually stronger, but they are better covered and protected and they don't flake as much.

I've never used L'Oréal Excellence to tint my hair mostly because it's more expensive than my usual brands. Having used another brands of DIY hair colour, I can easily compare what this package has in it, the tinting experience, and the results.

THE PACKAGE
The package contains a cream colour tub, a bottle of developer, hyaluronic acid shampoo and conditioning mask, a pair of average of plastic gloves (which I hate) and a very useful instructions leaflet (great presentation and organisation of the information and illustrations, font size, etc.). Unlike other DIY hair colour packages I've used, this also includes a tube of shampoo and a comb applicator, which can be attached to the developer bottle to apply the colour directly on the hair.

THE TINTING EXPERIENCE
I used the comb applicator and I didn't find it useful for me, but I'll keep it as a mark-making tool for my art practice. I think it might be good if you have a Pixie haircut or just straight hair.

I emptied the bottle into a professional tinting bowl and used a professional tinting brush to get the best results.

Due to this colour shade being a bit lighter than my previous colour, I left the colour on the roots nearly an hour and about 20 minutes on the rest of the hair. I did NOT get any itchy or burning sensation during the long application.

The colour combo is creamy so it does not drip and spreads beautifully. Despite my long thick hair, I had enough product to cover all of it and even have some leftovers. That’s great because there is nothing worse that being short of colour when tinting at home.

I removed the excess colour once the time was up and it washed easily. To be honest, I initially thought that the shampoo tube was too small for my long thick hair. But, surprise!, the quantity was perfect; it's a fabulous creamy shampoo that leathers beautifully. The conditioner is also fab, with just a bit of product being necessary to detangle and soften my hair. I had more than half bottle left for another week at least. The results were a shiny healthy-looking hair.

THE RESULTS

Did the product cover my greys in full? Yes and it also lightened up a bit my hair. The colour looks beautiful and is true to the box photo.

Do I prefer this colour or the other ones I've used in the past? I'd say the results are very good with all the brands I've used before, but I thought the colouring mix was also creamier, more nourishing, spread better and was not irritant at all.

Would I buy this again? Totally. I'll be looking up for discounts and flash sales to get the best possible price. Yet, I understand why this is always more expensive than other brands I use.

MIND

This product has both ammonia and hydrogen peroxide.

UPDATE 13/2/25

I've used this product several times already and, although the colour is lovely, this tint has done what others never did, dried my hair badly. So, mind the time you leave the colour on on the hair because you won't notice anything if you use it just for regrowth, but your hair will be destroyed when you use the colour for longer than mentioned in the box (which is necessary for me to fully cover my white hair).

Aimeili Natural Nail & Cuticle Oil (15ml)

I bought this to treat my cuticles and nails, which suffer from my constant use of acrylic paint. I also wanted it to treat my toes cuticles that are really dry in Summer and/or between pedicures.

This is a small bottle of 100% wheat germ oil, no other preservative or additive added. No scent, either, at least to my nose.

I first tried this oil on one of my big toe cuticle and the lower part or the toe skin as it looked really dry, ugly, and hard. I've been brushing a bit of this oil for several days and I can see a noticeable difference. On my finger nails is even better; I rarely have manicures done, as I do those my own, so cuticle oil really helps any dry skin to look naturally good.

Not a fan of the brush, though, which is a bit stiff and plasticky.

I've never heard of this brand before, but the fact that the product has provided good results, is reasonably priced and it does what's meant to do without any chemicals added, has put Aimeili on my radar. Not a fancy product recommended by influencers or pop-stars, but it works.

Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick (Make It Happen)

This is a twisty crayon lipstick in an intense flattering rich. I love the pencil concept as application and outlining are precise using minimum product. It has a matte velvety texture on the lips and dries very quickly so I don't have the feeling of having any lipstick on. It does not last as much as the long lasting lipstick by the same brand, which last me all day long even after eating. This one does not last after eating but it lasts more than other lipsticks I own.

Australian Wholesale Oils Certified Organic Avocado Oil 100 ml

I was a bit worried that this oil might not be organic or a mixture. However, it is both organic and 100% pure oil.

This oil is very runny and has the avocado natural green colour. It has no specific fragrance just the oil natural scent. It is not greasy, so it absorbs well. I use it to remove hair colour stains from my skin (after tinting my hair or eyebrows, for example), to remove the same colour from my glasses frames, to apply it on irritated spots on my hands, or as a treatment when I notice that my face or hands skin is dull. It works well in all cases. I don't use it as a normal moisturiser but more like a treatment.

The design of the bottle is really pretty and classy. However, it's plastic, which is a huge let down to me as I like containers that are environmentally friendly. I love the pump system, but, in all honesty, it is a bit "squirty" at times, at least with this oil. The green oil colour stain clothes.

Overall, a good value for money and a good product.

L'Oréal Magic Retouch, 75ml, Dark Brown

I use this product regularly, between professional tinting and when my thick very-noticeable greys pop up all rebel. The product is very easy to spray and has a good focus sprayer. I usually spray it twice; I let the first coat dry and then apply again. Result, no grays! This product is especially good for the part line, not as much for temples or hair line as it can stain my skin. However, I easily remove those by rubbing a bit of beauty oil on the stained spot .

The product can stain your clothes, so I usually put a plastic cape on my shoulders. I don't apply this when I'm dressed to go out as unnoticeable unpredictable drops might stain them and ruin them if unprotected.

The product washes out completely with a single shampooing.

I always apply this product with a surgical mask on, because it has some residual "vapours" after spraying.

OPI Rapidry Spray, 55ml

I love O.P.I products so I had great expectations rethis product as I paint my nails myself at home, sometimes in a hurry before an outing or going to work.

The instructions of use on the bottle back are in a minuscule font size. It says to mist over the nails 45 seconds after applying the last coat. But last coat of what, of enamel or the top coat? Or is this product to replace the top coat? No indication of how much this speeds up the process or how long it takes to dry after application. Ain't sure if it works just with O.P.I nail polishes because the one I had on my nails was good quality polish but not this brand.

The bottle has a good spray system and the mist comes out easily.

I've tried the product twice. The first time, I didn't mind the watch, but it was perhaps a minute over the last coat application. I didn't see any speeding up in the drying time after application. I didn't apply the mist on my other hand, but used my hair drier on a cold setting. The results were indistinguishable. Besides, one of my nails with the applied O.P.I.spray smudged; to me, that's not working.

The second time I tried it, I also did a double testing. I sprayed some of the nails without top coat and they responded well, as they dried a little bit quicker than usual. I also sprayed other nails that had a top coat on, and these ones took longer to dry, and there was barely any difference with those nails where I had applied top coat but not this product on top. In short, it worked way better when I applied it directly on the enamel not on the top coat. Perhaps the product is to be used as top coat, but that's not clear anywhere.

In all honesty, I won't be buying this product again as the speeding up of the drying is so little that it's not worth my money. Besides, the bottle came 3/4 full. I thought that it might be an used bottle, but I've noticed that everyone had the same issue with their bottles, so that's the company's fault and a rip-off because the product isn't cheap by any means, even when discounted.

Rimmel London Nail Nurse Base & Top Coat 5 in 1

This is one of those products that I buy when I travel or I'm on a budget. It does the job quite nicely for a fraction of the price I pay for other brands. It is not as good as others I buy, but it's good quality nevertheless. The bottle design is simple and effective as it has the average quantity of product but isn't as bulky as others.

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 smooths 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.

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