Showing posts with label Cosmetics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cosmetics. Show all posts

1/06/2025

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.  

12/07/2024

Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate Shea Butter Hair Mask 340g

This is the first time I use this product. I really like the creaminess of this mask and how well detangles my hair with a small amount of product.

I haven't used as a leave-in conditioner so I cannot comment on that.  I've used it both as a conditioning mask (shampoo, rinse, applied mask,  left on for 3 minutes, detangled, washed out) and as a deep treatment mask (dried my hair after rinsing shampoo, applied a thick layer, left it on for 10 minutes and then washed out) and the results have been great on my hair, which looked nourished and shiny afterwards. I was fearing that I might need to use a lot of product as I have long wavy hair, but it was not the case.  I like the  creamy neutral scent, which I think is perfect for any gender.

If I compare this mask with my preferred usual hair mask from another brand, this matches the results I get from the latter. Although I bought this Maui's heavily discounted during a flash sale, I don't think I would want to pay its standard price when my other mask does the same job at a cheaper price. Having said that, I will definitely buy it again if I get it discounted.

9/20/2024

L'Oreal Elvive Moisturising & Plumping Hyaluron Plump Moisture Mask, 300ml

I was lured by the discounted priced and the hyaluronic acid in it. I know this product is widely used in face creams and serums and the results are noticeable skin wise. I don't exactly how this is achieved on the hair as hair is follicle not skin, though.
 
I don't get what the packaging means by "plumping". Like volumising? Thickening? My hair was a volumised after using it as it was before. My hair is wavy and thick, so perhaps people with fine sparse hair might have a different experience and results.

I don't particularly like the scent, the jelly like texture, the colouring added to it, or the fact that I had to use a lot of product to untangle my long hair and it does not untangle as well as other masks from other brand that I use. It didn't feel it was as  nourishing either, not even compared to other varieties from the same brand and price range.
 
On the other hand, my hair looked very shiny and healthy looking after use, and the price tag is really good.
 
Not my fav hair mask, but a good one when I'm on a budget. 

8/26/2024

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.

7/16/2024

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. 

12/13/2023

L'Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths Hair Mask, 300 ml

I've used this mask for the first time recently lured by the sale price, by the fact that I usually love L'Oreal hair products, and because I had never tried this before. 
 
This mask smells really nice. It 's a feminine scent, so not as gender neutral as other L'Oreal hair masks scents I've experienced. 
 
Dream Lengths doesn't de-tangle my hair as well as other L'Oreal masks, isn't as nourishing and, most disappointingly, it leaves me with a freezy head if I let my hair dry au naturel. Definitely, not suitable to my wavy tinted thick long hair, which is what the mask is supposed to be designed for. I'll stick to the other masks in the same price range because they do a better job on my hair and cost me the same.

11/25/2023

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water in Oil 400ml

I'm not a fan of the simple version Micellar water, but I'm a fan of this one due to the mix of water and oil. I use it all over my face, on my eyes and lips included. I have a slightly sensitive skin and I've had no signs of irritation in the long time I've been using it. This product removes my makeup wonderfully, water-proof mascara and lipstick included. It is not as good on waterproof mascara as other purpose-made cleaners, but it's still excellent. I have an age, and it works wonderfully on my skin.
 
I don't use the product straight out of the bottle. I shake the bottle and immediately, when the water and the oil are still mixed together, I squeeze a good amount of liquid into a recycled refillable spray bottle that I have from a lenses cleaner product. When I want to use it, I shake the small spray water and, when both liquids are mixed, I spray the product twice onto a makeup cotton pad, and then clean my face with the pad. In this way, the quantity of product I use is minimal, no waste, but it's enough to remove my makeup. As I use it this way, a bottle lasts me ages and it's great value for money.

11/17/2023

1000 HOUR Hair Mascara, Dark Brown, 26 g

I've been using this product for years. It is meant to be used to mask showy greys on the part line or temples area, but I mostly use it as eyebrow groomer and tint. As such is one of my fav beauty staples. The colour I use is dark brown, however, the last dark brown container I got before this one differs both in container colour and tint colour. This container looks more black than brown, but 'dark brown' is clearly written on it. I thought it would be just the container. However, the tint inside is as dark, and looks more  black than brown. You can see  my photos showing the difference in tint and colour between the last one I bought and this one, both supposedly the same tint from the same brand. As my hair is really very dark, this tint does blend well, but my eyebrows aren't as dark and this tint makes them look too dark so I have to apply it and wipe it off a bit. Overall a good product, but I think this is not really dark brown and it really annoys me that the colour is so different from my previous dark brown bottles.

11/13/2023

Rude Cosmetics Eye-shadow Palette (United Shades of Glitter)

I'm a glitter critter and this palette has been in my wish list for months. It has a great combination of colours, some of them multi-chrome. 
 
The shadows have a creamy consistency and spread easily when used over a primer. I recommend using a primer or thick foundation base as, otherwise, the glitter crumbles and might enter your eyes or scratch your eyelids when rubbing it. The shadows can be applied with your fingers or using the complimentary wand.  Some of the shadows are true to the photo, but others (the multi-chrome) loose part of their charm when applied.
 
Due to the creamy consistency and not powder consistency the product it runs out quickly. 
 
 
 
100% Vegan and Cruelty Free

Stargazer Black Lipstick

This is a great affordable lipstick for Halloween or any disguise occasion.  Quality is decent for the price. The product feels balmy  and when I checked the list of ingredients on the label, it has aloe vera, wax and several other oils as part of the ingredients. The lippy covers my lips well. This is a matte lippy, so you'd need to apply lip gloss on top to get something like in the photos. It has some sort of blueish undertone at least on my lips, but it looks a very dark brown under artificial light. This is my first  black lipstick ever and I think it's quite cool.

Lethal Cosmetics Pressed Eye Shadow (Mantis)

I'm a fan of Lethal Cosmetics eye-shadows as they look great on me and I get so many compliments on every single colour I put on. This shadow looks a bit different from the pan to the eye. I thought it would be a light warm peach, but it is a mix of peach and cold pink, so it looks beautiful. The golden flair is not so noticeable as in other multi-chrome shadows. Not what I expected, but still a wonderful colour that enhances my eye colour. This product is vegan, cruelty free and the packaging is made of a very cool folded cardboard, so totally recyclable, all of which is very important to me.  This shadow wears well all day long even when I don't use eye primer, and it doesn't smudge.

Lethal Cosmetics Pressed eyeshadow (Untamed)

I'm a fan of Lethal Cosmetics eye-shadows. I get so many compliments on them, that I'm the best ambassador for the brand. This shadow is one of my favourite ones of lately because I used to mix similar hues in the past, but now I have them together mixed in this gorgeous duo-chrome. The colours are clearly noticeable but subtle at the same time. This shadow wears well all day long even when I don't use eye primer, and it doesn't smudge. It looks great on my hazel eyes. A bit pricey but totally worth it. This product is vegan, cruelty free and the packaging is made of a very cool folded cardboard, so totally recyclable.  

5/02/2023

Clairol Root Touch-Up Root Concealing Spray, Medium Brown, 100ml

This is the first time I use this brand for hair concealer spray and I'll buy it again. I bought this tone, which is one shade lighter than the usual buy, by mistake. However, still covers well my very white greys if I apply enough quantity. The spray nuzzle is great to spray focus on specific areas or focal points. I'd recommend using a face mask when using it as the spray comes out quite gaseous and it's ease to inhale. It stains clothes easily so I put some protection when applying it. It can also stand my skin and hands, but I can easily remove the stain with water and soap. Great quality for the rest. As good as the top brand of hair concealers but way cheaper.

2/19/2023

Dermal Therapy Hand Balm for Very Dry Hands 50g

I've been using this cream for several months already and it has become one of my top-three hand creams. I find that so many creams promise the heavens on the package promo but never deliver. This is not the case here. I have dry hands. They become drier when I paint as I use acrylics and my fingers, so they become extra-dry. A tiny dollop of this cream makes wonders for me. I've noticed that if I put too much, I get itchy hands, and that's because a small amount is just enough. The cream has a buttery consistency and the smell is gender neutral I'd say. It absorbs well, but it takes a couple of minutes for the buttery coat to be fully absorbed. First time I bought it, I noticed results in a couple of days, like my hands were way less drier. The tube is quite small and a bit pricey, but totally worth it.

1/20/2023

Toni & Guy Smooth Definition Mask 200 ml

I usually buy the damage repair hair mask from this brand so I wanted to try this one to see the difference, especially because I have a naturally frizzy hair. The Smooth Definition Mask is excellent and leaves my hair looking shiny, healthy and effortless stylish. It smooths my hair layers without flattening them or losing their shape, plus no frizz. The texture is less creamier and nourishing than the other mask, and I need more product to untangle my hair. Overall, very happy with this mask. I'll buy it again.

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.

9/17/2022

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.

5/20/2022

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.

11/07/2021

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.

11/06/2021

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.