Review: Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand

What It Is: Brightening Serum

What It Does: Helps even out skin tone in areas of hyperpigmentation.

Active Ingredients: Tranexamic Acid, Vitamin C, and Licorice root.

Verdict: This dark spot serum hits just the spot (pun intended)! I love that the packaging is a rollerball, so that you can target specific areas of your face (say where you have acne scars or dark spots) to lighten them up. I’ll admit that I don’t have dark spots from the sun, so I’ve used this serum primarily for the acne dark spots that tend to be left behind after having a very painful hormonal zit (sometimes the marks can last up to a week or longer). So this serum really helps speed things up, so instead of having to deal with a dark spot for a week, it’s only 2-3 days before it’s completely gone. I really do think that the packaging makes this ideal for target areas and hand enough for you to slip in your purse and dab it on the go!

Price: $19.99

Where To Buy It: https://www.herocosmetics.us/

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Review: Christian Dior Rouge Dior Ink Lip Liner

What It Is: Lipstain

Verdict: I don’t know where I was when Dior first launched these lipstains seeing that I’m a HUGE fan of lipstains (my only defense is that they were released when I was obsessed with liquid lipsticks). Anyhow, I recently came to know about them because Cyrano star Haley Bennett’s makeup artist Andrew Colvin used these to create Haley’s lipstick look for the NYC Premiere of Cyrano (the result was very gorgeous and I wish I could find photos to share but haven’t been able to). That being said, these Dior lipstains are phenomenal. They’re long-lasting and ultra-precise (they have an ultrafine tip) so even the shakiest of hands can manage to draw a precise line to define. You can then turn the liner on its side and the flat tip dispels more colour on your lips. The only downside is that the lipstain CAN be a little drying but that’s why I always top it off with lipbalm or lipgloss to add some moisture. Other than that, these lipstains are really amazing. Sadly, they’ve been discontinued and you can only find them now on sites that still have them in stock.

Price: $22

Where To Buy It: https://www.fragrancenet.com/

Wearing shade 434 topped with clear lip balm.
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Review: Neolastin Revitalize & Firm Eye Cream

What It Is: Moisturizing anti-aging eye cream

What It Does: Seals moisture, depuffs, eliminates dark circles, and improves the production of collagen and elastin.

Active Ingredients: Matrixyl 3000, Argiriline, Eyeliss, Glucam E-20, Murumuru butter, Isopropyl Isosterate.

Verdict: When it comes to eye creams I tend to favor those that are opulent and thick, especially when I use them as overnight creams. This cream delivers in the sense that it feels both like a luxurious cashmere hug and works in keeping your eye area hydrated well into the night. The price on this may seem a little steep for what it is (I don’t think it works better than less expensive eye creams from Origins or Glam Glow), but it does deliver on its promise of diminishing fine lines and keeping your skin plump and youthful. If you have some extra cash to spend, I do recommend checking this eye cream out, but it’s not a huge game-changer enough for me to want to purchase it as a staple.

Price: $95

Where To Buy It: https://www.neolastin.com/

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Review: Boscia Pro-Retinol Repair + Renew Waterless Advanced Treatment

What It Is: Retinol Treatment Cream

What It Does: Helps diminish the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots

Active Ingredients: 0.6% Retinol, Vitamin C, and Sunflower Fatty Acids

Verdict: For best results, retinol should be used at night. You usually apply this first, prior to any other serum or moisturizer. I’ve used other retinol in the past, and for me, I haven’t seen much difference (then again I mostly use it for dark spots and not really fine lines). But I do like how this retinol has been effective in getting rid of any dark spots (being uber pale as myself can be a curse when you live in a sunny place like So-Cal). So if you’re looking for retinol that does get rid of dark spots and gives your skin a smoother, glowy appearance, then this might work out for you.

Price: $48

Where To Buy It: https://www.boscia.com/

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Review: Burt’s Bees Truly Glowing Gel Cleanser

What It Is: Gel Cleanser

Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid

Verdict: I want to preface this by saying that I love Burt’s Bee products, however I wasn’t a fan of this product. I’m a huge fan of gel cleansers and since I love many of their previous cleansers, I decided to pick this one one, thinking that I’d love it. Despite my enthusiasm, I did not like this product. I wish I could love this cleanser – but I honestly don’t. First of all, it’s not very gel-like but actually very runny and makes pouring a drop in your palm very difficult as you try to wash your face before the product literally SLIDES off of your hand. Another gripe? The scent. It’s terrible. And since the product is difficult to actually apply, I don’t think I get a thorough cleansing experience. For me, this is nothing to get too excited over. They have way better cleansers to choose from than this.

Price: $8.99

Where to Buy It: Target and Wal-Mart

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Review: Colourpop Act Natural Mascara in Black

What It Is: Defining mascara for a natural look

Active Ingredients: 100% Vegan

Verdict: Honestly, this is my new fave go-to mascara. Not only is it smudge-proof, flake-proof, and easy to apply without any clumping, the formula is simply so light that you forget that you’re even wearing mascara. Plus, it boosts your lashes in a way that it makes them gain more volume and length. In a way, it’s almost like your natural lashes, only better (or how lash extensions would look). And the best part of all of this is that its cost-effective. For such a high performing product the price is spectacular. So what are you waiting for? Pick up a tube for yourself, or two.

Price: $9

Where To Buy It: https://colourpop.com/

Wearing the Colourpop Act Natural Mascara

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Makeup Look: Autumn Vibes

Fall is in full swing (at least calendar-wise since So-Cal is more cold Spring mode weather wise), but that doesn’t mean that one can’t get into the Autumn spirit anyway! So Pumpkin Spice and all things creepy, makeup looks for fall tend to focus on rich gold and copper colours, and I’m here for that.

For this simple look, I chose to use Colourpop’s Eye Palette Head Capricorn in Charge.

This eye look is very easy to achieve:

Lid: Independent shade all over the lid, then top off with a light tap of Hustle Hard (it’s best to use your finger than a brush for this).

Crease: Use Independent again.

Lower lid: First apply Independent to the lower lash line, pulling the color down. Then use Ambition strictly along the lash line, as a liner.

Brow bone: Use a matte white shadow (I used Lancome’s Daylight).

Waterline: White eyeliner (I used Lancome’s Le Crayon Khol in Blanc).

Mascara: Colourpop Act Natural Mascara in Black

Head Capricorn in Charge Colourpop Palette

You can finish this look with any nude lippie, I’m a huge fan of Maybelline’s Liquid Lipstick in Poet topped off with Glossier’s clear lipgloss! For blush, I’d say go for peachy hues (I actually used a peachy eyeshadow from Lancome as blush).

And there you have it, a simple, glam fall look that takes give or take twenty minutes to complete, leaving you just in enough time in the morning to swing by your favourite coffee shop for the must-have pumpkin spice latte.

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Review: Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid

What It Is: Exfoliating Tonic

What It Does: Supports collagen production and accelerates the skin renewal process.

Active Ingredients: 5% Glycolic Acid

Verdict: Although this product is an exfoliating tonic, it actually has more of a toner consistency. The best method of application for this tonic is by soaking a cotton ball with the liquid and patting it all over your face. Both my mum and I have been using it, and once it’s applied we can quickly feel the glycolic acid taking effect as our skin tingles. After only a single application my mum mentioned how it banished the blackheads from her nose. I hadn’t applied any on my nose so I was unable to see those results, but the following night I decided to give it a shot, and did notice the following morning that they were less noticeable. I think I’ll be able to see more benefits as the days progress but in just a week I’ve been able to notice that my skin is brighter and the texture is definitely better, a lot smoother and soft too. If you’re looking for a product with glycolic acid that actually works, then this is the one. Try it out, you won’t regret it, actually your skin will thank you for it.

Price: $54

Where To Buy It: https://us.alpha-h.com/ or Ulta

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Product Review: The Sweet Bombs Treatery

This is one of those products that TikTok made me buy, and unlike most things that are sponsored on there, I just happened to have the company’s TikTok appear on my FYP and instantly fell in love with the opulence of it all.

I’m a tea lover and the beautiful Earl Grey Rose Tea simply oozes with Versailles vibes. You know that Marie Antoinette would be heads over heels for this rich afternoon delight. Apart from it looking exquisitely gorgeous, it tastes exactly how you’d imagine elegance and decadence to taste if you could easily bottle it up and sell it. If you ever wondered how it’d feel to have afternoon tea like a queen, then look no further than the Black Tea Milk Bomb.

I also got a Rose Lavender Glazed Shortbread and it was incredibly scrumptious. The shortbread instantly melts in your mouth the second you take a bite. I can’t describe the deliciousness of it, it’s like eating a little slice of glamorous heaven.

Black Tea Milk Bomb

I’m so enamored with these products that I went ahead and ordered their hot chocolate bombs and Pumpkin Latte ones too. If you’re looking for a luxuriant experience, then buying any of these sweet bombs is the best form of self-care there’s ever been.

Black Tea Milk Bomb before hot water.

You can check them out HERE.

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Review: Kiehl’s Avocado Eye Cream

What It Is: Hydrating Eye Cream

What It Does: De-puffs and Brightens the eye area.

Active Ingredients: Avocado, Shea Butter, and Beta-Carotene

Verdict: It’s no surprise that avocado is a superfood when it comes to nourishing the skin with its hefty dose of Vitamin C and Oleic Acid (a healthy fat) it helps prevent wrinkles and sun damage. Also, it’s fucking delicious to eat, so it’s basically a miracle fruit. So when I had the chance to try out Kiehl’s avocado eye cream I couldn’t be more stoked. This eye cream is hella hydrating and rich. It’s the sort of eye cream that you put on at night cause it’s far too fatty and thick to sit well beneath makeup. Waking up after eight hours of this cream soaking into my skin feels like bliss. The skin is rejuvinated, nourished, and hydrated. Plus, it tackles fine lines like a pro. Like I said, avocado is a miracle fruit and Kiehl’s just managed to package it in a form of a very effective eye cream.

Price: $32

Where To Buy It: https://www.kiehls.com/

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