Tag: beautyblogger

Review: Skinfix Facial Cleansing Cloths

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What It Is: Individually wrapped cleansing cloths

What It Does: Remove makeup or can be used as toner

Verdict: I’m usually skeptic when it comes to pre-soaked cleansing cloths because I use a lot of liquid liner and mascara, and those never seem to work for me at all in getting rid of makeup. Not to mention that by the time you finish up the packet, the cloths are almost dry! This isn’t the case with these at all, as each cleansing cloth is individually wrapped, meaning that not only will they remain soaked and won’t dry out, but you can also pop some of these in your handbag for any makeup emergencies, or if you need to freshen up. I’m absolutely in LOVE with the scent (it’s a fresh cucumber scent, ie. very clean-feeling). Now, if you’re looking to use this to take off some serious eye-makeup, I suggest you use about three cloths. But I do prefer these over any other pre-soaked cloths I’ve used in the past.

Price: $9.99 for 20.

Where To Buy It: Shop-us.skinfix.com

Discount Code: Up until October 31st, you can use the following CODE: SKINALLURE at the checkout and will receive 30% Off on your purchase of $15 or more.

By: Azzurra Nox

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Review: Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

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What It Is: Instant Detox Mask

What It Does: Purges pores from oil, makeup, blackheads, and grime undoing any damage to your skin that could be caused by pollution and stress.

Distinguishing Factors: Unlike any other detox clay masks that leave your skin feeling dry and mega-tight, this one actually moisturizes your skin with the help of some soothing oils such as lavender.

Verdict: I’m a huge fan of face masks and any time I take a bath I’ll do one cause it’s the only time I have the patience to wait out the full time you need to keep a mask on to reap its benefits. This one has a minimum staying time of 5-10 minutes. I left it on for about 30 minutes. Having said that I LOVE that this mask did indeed unclog my pores and lifted dead skin cells and oil from my face without making my skin feel uber dry. The botanical oils used in this mask leave your skin feeling moisturized and refreshed, but also very, very clean. This is definitely going to become one of my staples to use at least once a week. This mask is perfect for all skin types (even oily like me! The hydrating oils DO NOT make you breakout in any way!). You’re left with beautiful, supple refreshed skin as though you had gone to get an expensive facial or ya know, slept for ten hours. And we can all get onboard with that.

Price: $39

Where To Buy It: Us.caudalie.com or Amazon.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Common Water Brands pH Levels & How They Can Affect Health

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Everyone (from your doctor to trainer) is always preaching about how we need to drink more water for better hydration and also for optimal skincare. But are all waters the same? With so many brands out on the market, it’s hard to tell sometimes which ones are actually beneficial for us, which ones don’t do anything at all, and the ones that are actually causing harm.

Here are some of the ways that either too low or too high pH levels can cause you harm:

Eye & Skin Irritation

We need to worry when pH levels are either too high (above 10) or too low (below 4). If you wash yourself or drink water with pH levels that are either too high or too low you could cause irritation to yours eyes or worsen skin conditions like eczema and acne.

Upset Stomach

High pH levels or too low can also cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in some individuals. So if you’re someone who suffers from that you should probably look into what water you’re drinking and see which one would be best for you.

With so many brands out there you’re probably wondering, which one is the best for me? Below is a list of common brands and their pH Levels. Anything below five isn’t the best, and the closer to ten is the optimal number for drinking water.

Vitaminwater: 3.4

Propel Zero: 3.5

Propel Fitness Water: 3.6

Penta: 4.0

Dasani: 4.5

Function: 5.0

Perrier: 5.5

Poland Spring: 5.8

Voss: 6.0

Ice Mountain: 6.0

Crystal Geyser: 6.0

Deer Park: 6.3

Smart Water: 6.5

Great Value (Walmart brand): 6.5

Gerber Pure Water: 6.5

Arrowhead: 6.83

Evian: 7.0

Volvic: 7.0

Zephrhyllis: 7.5

Absopure: 7.5

Fiji: 7.5

Super Chill: 7.5

Evamor: 8.0

Real Water: 8.0

Essentia: 9.0

Now from that list you can see that the best brand for an optimal pH Level drinking water is Essentia. I usually drink Fiji and although it isn’t the level that Essentia is, it’s still at a healthy level. All the other waters are probably okay, but the clear loser is Vitaminwater, which is below a 4-level and could actually cause those issues that were mentioned above or worsen them.

What’s important to remember is that water with an alkaline pH improves your body’s hydration levels, supplies essential minerals, and creates a healthy pH balance in your body. However, when water has an acidic pH level you can have skin and eye irritations, stomach problems, the water doesn’t provide a good source of nutrients, and it may lower the pH level in your body causing more harm.

So next time you’re in the grocery store think about which waters are actually doing their job, and which ones you should avoid as you’re just doing yourself more harm and actually paying for it, than anything else.

Did your water brand make the cut?

By: Azzurra Nox

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Review: Covergirl Total Tease Mascara

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What It Is: Lengthening and volumizing mascara.

What It Does: Creates full, long, refined, sexy teased lashes.

Verdict: Let me just say that I’ve always been a huge fan of Covergirl cosmetics. In fact, they were the first brand I turned to when I began my venture in makeup at the tender age of twelve, with their Covergirl Lipslicks Lipsticks (not sure if they still have this line, but it was a line of lipbalm glosses that offered sheer colour for the lips). Now, having said that, this product is simply AWFUL. The lashes barely get coated with enough product to lift them, and the bristles themselves aren’t sturdy enough to lift and coat the lashes, so it makes for a weird application. Once you do turn the wand over to use the teasing side of the brush, it doesn’t do much but create a mess because since the bristles aren’t sturdy enough they never truly define nor separate the lashes. The best place for this product? In the trash. If you happen to have this product and it works for you, then kudos, but it seriously did nothing for me and it was so terrible that I just couldn’t see myself using it again.

Price: $7.94

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

By: Azzurra Nox

 

Unboxing Allure’s August Beauty Box!

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I’ve been subscribed to Allure’s Beauty Box for almost a year now, and I’ve really been enjoying it so far. Not only do they send out the latest products, but usually they’re full-size or at least bigger than trial-size samples. Which I think is quite a bargain for $15.

Every month comes with a theme, this month’s box theme is SUMMER SHORTCUTS. This box is all about lazy beauty cause honestly, who has time to spend hours getting prepped when the weather is nice outside and too many products on your face feel way too stifling in the heat?

What I got this month:

  • Hey Honey I Peel Good! Biomimetic Honey Peel Cream
  • Caudalie Instant Detox Mask
  • Vichey Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster
  • Ouai Finishing Creme
  • Skinfix Facial Cleansing Cloths

  • Rodial Smokey Eye Pen in Black

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Hey Honey I Peel Good! Biomimetic Honey Peel Cream

I’ve used other products from this company before and have been satisfied with them. I have a soft spot for peels, so I can’t wait to try this out!

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Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

This brand is also one I’ve used in the past. My mother loved one of the moisturizers so much that I ended up purchasing it for her when she was done using the one I had gotten in the beauty box. I’m a big fan of masks so I can’t wait to try this out either.

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Vichey Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster

Vichey is lauded as one of France’s best skincare brands. Despite that, I haven’t been completely sold on their products, but this seems to be a serum made up from thermal water. I usually don’t use face serums or moisturizers cause my own skin is very oily and naturally hydrated, so I’ll probably pawn this off to my mum.

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Ouai Finishing Creme

I’m honestly not a huge fan of hair products cause I rarely use any. To be honest, I may not even try this one out.

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Skinfix Facial Cleansing Cloths

I’m not really a fan of wet cleansing cloths as they never seem to work for me in getting rid of my eyemakeup (pretty much the only place where I have makeup on most days). I usually end up using these as toner or on days I’m not wearing makeup to freshen up.

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Rodial Smokey Eye Pen in Black

Okay, I’m a BIG FAN of eyeliner. More so when it’s deep black and a kohl! I can never have too many eyeliners and I can’t wait to see how this one holds up.

Keep your eyes peeled for reviews of some of these products in the coming weeks!

Which of these products would you like to test out?

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Fragrances

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I was really excited to see that I had gotten Kat Von D’s newest fragrances in this month’s Sephora Play Box. So I didn’t even wait a second to try them on. I doused myself the second I opened the box and was met with pure bliss.

Granted, I was sent only the samples and so wasn’t able to see the full potential of the perfumes’ packaging till I visited a local Sephora, and let me tell you these bottles are gorgeous! The detail is simply so opulent and intricate, showing a great care for making a bottle worth showing off on your vanity table. The style is a mixture of baroque and Gothic and just utterly so beautiful that you’ll be tempted to keep the bottles long after you’re done with the fragrances.

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SAINT

Size: 1.7-oz./50-ml.

Price: $65

Fragrance family: Floral

Top Note: Mandarin

Middle Note: Jasmine, Tiare Flower

Base Note: Musk

Time of Day: Day or night, but definitely a light fragrance that can be used as a day fragrance if that’s your choosing.

What’s it smell like: An ethereal walk in a sweet, decadent forest, if that forest is filled with sugar delicacies.

SINNER

Size: 1.7-oz./50-ml.

Price: $65

Fragrance family: Warm and Spicy

Top Note: Orange Blossom

Middle Note: Cinnamon

Base Note: Patchouli, Vanilla

Time of Day: Preferably night and it’s more of an Autumn/Winter fragrance than a summer one. It kind of reminds me of Thierry Mugler’s Alien.

What’s it smell like: Spicy and peppery. Like walking into a Yankee Candle shop when it’s filled with just Autumn Harvest and Cinnamon candles.

Verdict: I’ll admit that I’m quite picky when it comes to fragrances. I often don’t even like the ones that typically everyone else seem to love (ie. D&G’s Light Blue, Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, or Dior’s J’Adore to name a few). Having said that, I actually do like these fragrances. Would I actually purchase them myself? I’m undecided at the moment, but if I were to make a choice, I’m leaning more towards Saint than Sinner. I’m a huge fan of orange blossom, but I don’t particularly like Patchouli at all and I feel like that note completely overpowers the orange blossom. Ironically, I’m not a huge fan of jasmine, and yes the musk in Saint allows the fragrance to never be too flowery in scent, but rather gives it a sensual twist to it. As celebrity fragrances go (because apart from being a tattoo artist and makeup artist with a cosmetic brand, Kat Von D is a celebrity), this is actually the best around. So if you’re into trying a new fragrance out for Fall, I recommend either of the two, depending on your personal preference.

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You can purchase the fragrances at any Sephora shop or online: http://www.sephora.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise

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What It Is: Voluptuous volume and lengthening mascara

What Is Does: This mascara is designed to volumize and lengthening your lashes in a way that no other mascara has done before!

Distinguishing Factors: More than 200 bristles on the wand to truly grip and coat every single lash and a silky formula that makes lashes soft and voluptuous, never cakey or dry, brittle lashes!

Verdict: I’ve been wanting to try this mascara now for the past month. I’ve always been a fan of L’Oreal’s Voluminous mascara, and opted to get this mascara in Blackest Black. The brush truly helps with a smooth, even application and the formula is really soft like coating your lashes in silk. Like the other Voluminous mascaras in the series, this too delivered in volume and length. My lashes tripled in size and just looked crazily glamorous. I’ve applied two coats in the photos, and there are no fake lash inserts, it’s all the mascara’s magic! I truly recommend this mascara if you want beautiful, lush lashes!

Price: $9

Where To Buy It: Ulta, CVS, Amazon, Wal-Mart

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By: Azzurra Nox

Gettin’ Rosy Make-Up Look!

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This summer has been particularly warmer than usual, and because of that I haven’t been inclined to wear too much makeup. Hence, my choice to skip eyeliner (gasp!) and go for a fresher look. This look below is more on par with how I used to do my makeup as a teen, but I see that the look is still quite on trend!

Base

I rarely use foundation (unless I have to do a photoshoot where wearing more makeup actually helps with photos coming out better), and even then I tend to use a BB cream rather than a foundation. So, I usually just prep my undereye skin with Smashbox’s Photofinish Primer so that it’ll create a smooth canvas for my concealer (I used Lacome Long-Lasting Undereye Concealer in Ivoire). I set everything with Makeup Forever’s Ultra HD Pressed Powder in Transluscent. For blush, I went with Lancome’s La Rose Blush Poudrer and highlighted my cheeks with Jeffree Star’s Skin Frost in Peach Goddess.

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Eyes & Lips

For the brows, I used Medusa’s Makeup Brow Wow Wow which is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. This brow kit comes with a powder brow tint and a brow bone highlighter. I then applied Urban Decay’s Harajuku eyshadow on the lid (but any frosty pink shade will do the trick) and applied Urban Decay’s Anaheim eyeshadow in the crease as well as using it as a liner to give my eyes some extra definition (you can choose any taupe shade for this step, but the secret is to not go too dark because you want it to look subtle and seamless). I then applied Lancome’s Le Crayon in Blanc in the waterline to mask any possible redness and make my eyes really pop. I topped the whole eye look off with Benefit’s They’re Real Lengthening Mascara in Black.

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For the lips I decided to go with Jeffree Star’s Velour Liquid Lipstick in Calabasas, which has become my go-to shade this summer because it’s such a pretty shade of pink without it being cheesy or leaning towards the Barbie or bubblegum territory.

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I used 11 products in all (which isn’t too bad) and it took me about 20-25 minutes to apply, so you won’t be spending all day trying to get ready (cause really you’ve got places to go and memories to make!).

Let me know what you think of this look in the comments below!

By: Azzurra Nox

 

Makeup Muse: Elle Fanning

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To shake things up I decided to do my first collab with the awesome Brooke (brookeclarke.com, go check her blog out, it’s seriously tops!). We both agreed to do our take on Elle Fanning’s effortless Cannes 2017 makeup look!

One thing that Elle always has is beautiful skin, so for this look you’re going to want to prep your skin with some hydrating cream and primer. Some of my favourite light day creams are The Body Shop Seaweed Oil Control Day Cream ($20) or Clinique Superdefense Daily Dense Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 ($48), these creams are perfect for acne-prone or oily to combination skin types. If you’re more on the dry side, you’re better off choosing a richer cream.

For this look, the focus was on the lips whilst the eyes were almost left bare (almost meaning that they chose natural looking colours rather than something bold). And while the lips were supposed to be the main attraction, the look was softened by a rose/blush hue.

I attempted to recreate the look whilst putting my own spin on it so this is more of an inspiration than exact photocopy.

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Products* Used:

Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer

Urban Decay ABC Gum Eyeshadow (on lid)

Urban Decay Anaheim Eyeshadow (as liner)

Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Chic (in crease)

Wet N’ Wild Eyeshadow in Creme Brullee (on brow bone)

Medusa’s Makeup Brow! Wow! Wow!

Urban Decay Star Bronzer Natural Glow

Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Blanc (in waterline)

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Translucent Powder

Lancome Long-Lasting Undereye Concealer in Ivoire

Urban Decay Afterglow Powder Blush in Score

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost in Peach Goddess

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Rosematter

It Superhero Mascara

This is a fairly easy makeup look that can be recreated in 20-mins! Perfect for days when you’re running late or don’t feel like having too many products on your face!

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*All products used were purchased by writer.

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream

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What It Is: A nourishing night cream to soothe skin

What It Does: Helps hydrate and nourish skin as well as even out skintone while you sleep.

Active Ingredients: 100% Mango Butter, Lavender, Lemon, & Bergamot Oils

Verdict: This cream is cruelty-free so if you’re looking for a night cream that falls in that category, this is a good choice. This cream is semi-thick. I have oily skin and was a little hesitant to use this cream seeing that I’m always afraid that any thick face cream will cause breakouts. If you’re looking for a cream that truly does hydrate and nourish, then this does the job. I can’t really speak about how well it is for anti-aging purposes as I didn’t see any major differences in that regard. Although this cream works best when combined with the Pixi Glow Tonic and the Pixi Glow Overnight Serum. Would I re-purchase this product? Probably yes. I do like the consistency and that it’s made from natural products. Plus, although the cream is extremely hydrating, it hasn’t affected my oily skin any adverse way. And that’s always a bonus.

Price: $24

Where To Buy It: Target or https://www.pixibeauty.com

By: Azzurra Nox