Tag: beautyreview

Review: Yves Saint Laurent – Touche Eclat Blur Primer

Leave a comment

IMG_0980

I was really excited when I received this in one of my Allure Beauty Boxes, because the packaging for it was incredibly elegant that I was certain that the product inside would also be of excellent quality. This primer is to be primarily used before foundation, but since I don’t use foundation, I actually use primers as a base for underneath my eyes before I apply concealer as it helps keep my eyes hydrated as well as help the concealer glide on the skin without any problem.

What It Is: Blurring and Illuminating Primer

What It Does: Maximizing Skin Radiance

Active Ingredients: Corn Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Rice Bran Oil

Verdict: I absolutely LOVE this primer! If there’s one word that best describes this primer is luxurious. When you apply this on your skin it just feels so opulent and hydrating. Upon application, you instantly see how it helps create a blurring and radiant canvas on your face (in my instance, it truly helps with brightening up and blurring the dark under eyes I have). The primer has tiny gold flecks that help capture the light and brighten up any dull skin. It’s very rich and nourishing feeling. Not only that, it seems to erase pores, creating an even, smoother skin. If you really wish to have a top-notch primer, I suggest investing in this one, because it’s truly one of the best!

Price: $52

Where To Buy It: https://www.sephora.com/product/touche-eclat-blur-primer-P397615

White and Pink Strikeout Cosmetics Beauty Logo

Review: Wet N Wild Photofocus Concealer Correcteur

Leave a comment

IMG_0948

Dark undereye circles have been the bane of my beauty regimen since I was twelve years old. I have hereditary dark undereyes (being half Italian and being said that anyone from the Mediterranean is predisposed to them there’s not much I can do about them), so in other words, I’ve come across numerous concealers. Some work okay, some work very well, and some don’t work at all. What makes a concealer perfect for me is blendability, the ability to disguise the actual darkness, and no creasing factor. Throughout the years I’ve used sticks, creams, and even powders. I’ve tested high end to drugstore, and I’ve recently discovered a concealer that not only does it conceal and not crease, but it’s also very economical.

What It Is: Concealer for any light condition

What It Does: Tested Under 7 Light Conditions: 1. Clear Blue Sunlit Sky, 2. Outdoors PM, 3. Indoors PM, 4. Electronic Flash, 5. Fluorescent, 6. Bathroom Light, and 7. Nightclub Light.

Verdict: This concealer instantly brightens the skin, making it appear more awake and rejuvenated. It’s also excellent at concealing any imperfections without looking cakey or creasing. What I love the most about this concealer is that it blends like a dream. It also lasts over ten hours without creasing! It works wonders not just for dark undereye circles, but even for any acne, acne scars, or any discoloration you may have. It comes in six shades in full coverage. You can say goodbye to photo flashback and let your inner beauty shine on the outside!

Perks: Cruelty-free (always a plus when a cosmetic brand doesn’t test on animals!)

Price: $3.99

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

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Too Cool For School All-In-One Egg Mellow Cream

1 Comment

IMG_0945

If you follow my blog, then you’ll know that I swear by Vitamin A for having good skin. Having said that, one of the key ingredients in this moisturizer is egg yolk (which is rich in Vitamin A and proteins that nourish the skin). The nutrients found in eggs not only help nourish dull skin but it also brightens it. It also gets rid of acne (again, because of the Vitamin A) and because it also contains a natural antibacterial that fights acne. Since egg yolk is mostly made up of water and fats, it actually helps lock moisture into your skin cells, leaving skin feeling incredibly soft and supple. What more could you ask from a single ingredient?

What It Is: Firming Moisturizer

What It Does: This moisturizer is supposed to work as a serum, priming moisturizer, eye cream, neck cream, and sleep mask. It also targets dryness, dullness and uneven texture, and firmness.

Active Ingredients: Egg yolk, Collagen (great for anti-aging), albumen (egg white), Niacinamide, and omega oil for proper hydration that visibly plumps the skin.

Verdict: As you can tell, I have quite an obsession for overnight masks (you can check out more here), mostly because I suck at waiting out the 15-20 minutes required for face masks and who doesn’t want to wake up to amazing skin? This moisturizer (that also acts as an overnight mask) has fives uses and is packed with multiple benefits in one convenient package. I mostly use this on my face and neck, but it could also be used for the eyes. This cream has a pleasant scent (anyone who has ever used egg on their face knows how sticky and smelly it can be!). What can I say? The moment you apply this cream, your skin will look visibly plumper and will be insanely soft. But don’t worry, the effects last until the following morning. I woke up to softer skin and with no sign of redness or inflammation whatsoever (which can sometimes be the case for us acne-prone skin types). This moisturizer is a godsend to those of you that have dry or flaky skin, but it’s light enough that even those of us with extremely oily skin (as myself) can reap the benefits and won’t clog your pores!

Price: $36

Where To Buy It: Sephora.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Liquid Lip in Gwenyth

Leave a comment

juice

By now, we all know about Gwenyth Paltrow’s lifestyle blog Goop. Well now, she also has a beauty brand called Juice Beauty to go along with the blog. I’m not particularly crazy about the blog Goop (because some of the stuff on there is either ridiculous or downright dangerous/not healthy at all). But being a makeup addict, I was thrilled to find this in my Allure Beauty Box for February, although I had no high expectation cause I’m very picky when it comes to liquid lipsticks. This liquid lipstick promises to look shiny like a gloss, but without the sticky effect. The shade is named after the creative director of the makeup (ahem Paltrow) and the colour is reminiscent of the ’90s berry hues that were on everyone’s lips think Courtney Love and Courtney Cox back in the day, (unless you were wearing the matte browns instead).

What It Is: Liquid Lipstick

What It Does: Provides shine and colour to lips.

Verdict: The moment I opened up the tube and noticed how sheer the formula was I knew that I wasn’t going to be a fan. And sure enough, after wearing it for six hours, this liquid lipstick did what most lipglosses do, it BLED and it somewhat faded. Now, I know many people prefer moisturizing lipsticks and don’t care if they have to reapply (which in that case, this may be the perfect lipstick for you), however, I expect a lipstick to NOT budge once I apply it (maybe I’ve gotten spoiled ever since using Jeffree Star’s liquid lipstick where it won’t budge, smudge, or bleed for ten+hours). Also, I’m not really a fan of berry colours either. Or at least, they’re pretty to look at, but for some reason never look so amazing on me (maybe cause berry tones are made for cool skintones and although I’m pale, I have a warm skintone). But if you’re looking for a high-shine glossy lipstick, then this may do the trick for you. The formula is luxurious and the colour is vibrant, so it’s got that going for it. It just isn’t the sort of liquid lipstick I prefer.

Price: $24

Where To Buy It: Juicebeauty.com

By: Azzurra Nox

*swatch of the shade Gwenyth below

juice2

Review: L’Oreal Voluminous Superstar X Fiber Mascara

9 Comments

fibermascara

It’s no secret that one of my longest standing go-to mascara favourites is L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, so when I noticed that L’Oreal came out with a new and improved version of it, I couldn’t wait to check it out.

What It Is: Super-Volumized, Super-Extended, X-Treme Superstar Lashes

What It Does: The Black Primer portion of the mascara delivers extreme volume and depth, whilst the Fiber Infused Mascara portion create extreme length.

Distinguishing Factors: Primer and mascara. Primer creates a black lash base whilst the fiber mascara helps with extending the length of your lashes.

Verdict: What I love about this mascara is that you have both primer and mascara in one handy wand! The primer that comes with mascara is black, rather than white, which helps cut down on the waiting time (cause I usually wait for the white primers to dry up a little before adding the mascara). This black primer is created so that there is no wait time, and it helps prepare the lashes for the fiber mascara. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the fiber mascara formula. Fiber mascara means that there are little tiny fibers in the mascara that attach to the lashes and thus helps with creating a lengthening look to each individual lash. This mascara DOES deliver in helping with length if that’s your concern but it also helps with volume if that’s what you seek. I also love that this mascara was neither clumpy nor did it ever feel heavy. Bonus, there’s no flaking, smudging, or fall-out all day! Instead, what you do get is defined, extra-voluminous, and long lashes without the hassle of falsies or extensions! A definite win/win in my book.

Price: $10.99

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

IMG_0900

IMG_0901

By: Azzurra Nox

 

Review: Honest The Younger Eye Cream

1 Comment

It seems like every celebrity out there lately has a beauty brand (think Drew Barrymore, Salma Hayek, and Rihanna just to name a few), so of course, Jessica Alba decided to expand her Honest brand to include a makeup line. The unique aspect of her brand is that she prides on using natural ingredients and that it celebrates diverse beauties. Plus, since many of the products were Best of Beauty winners by Allure since their launch, I decided to check it out.

honest

Packaging: I love that it’s both simple, yet sleek and sophisticated.

What It Is: Hydrating eye cream

Active Ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid, Chamomile, and Calendula

Verdict: Now you know that I have a certain love/obsession for eye creams (you can check out some of my faves here). The skin around the eye area is the thinnest, meaning that it’s one of the first places to show any signs of aging. Plus, it feels rather refreshing whenever I keep my eyes hydrated. One of the things that set this cream apart from others, is that not only does it have hyaluronic acid (which zaps wrinkles!) but it also features barbary fig and baobab fruit, which are both rich in essential fatty acids. I know a lot of eye creams out there claim to work, but the difference between all those others and this one is that THIS ONE WORKS! Not only does it work, it works FAST. I love how it leaves my eye feeling both hydrated and soothed. Plus, I love how rich the cream feels but at the same time it is lightweight. I’ve actually used this on my forehead as well and noticed that it has tightened up the skin there and the faint expression line I had basically VANISHED. This cream will have you looking younger and rested in no time. So do yourself a favor, and treat yourself to this luxurious cream that won’t break the bank, but will leave you looking like a million bucks!

Price: $28

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

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Dior Diorshow Mascara

Leave a comment

IMG_0827

I was very excited when I received this product in Allure’s December Beauty Box! I’ve always wanted to try out Dior mascaras, since many people rave about how amazing they are and how much better your lashes will look. But I also never was willing to shell-out the money needed because, what if it was just all hype ya know?

What It Is: Lenghtening/Voluminizing Mascara

Distinguishing Factors: It was specifically designed to grab the right amount of mascara product from the tube and position it on the bristles in a way that each and every lash gets coated with the same amount of product. Absolutely no clumping!

Verdict: This mascara DOES deliver, there’s no doubt about it. And I can see why many celebrities and beauty gurus swear by it. However, as much as I do love it, for the price, I don’t think it’s that amazing. The mascara does lengthen lashes and give them volume (always a bonus!). And the brush itself is the shangri-la of mascara brushes (no clumps and perfect product distribution throughout the lashes). But I don’t know if the mascara itself (meaning the actual black goop) is that revolutionary or radically different from a drugstore brand. All in all though, I would recommend this product and am enjoying it very much.

Price: 28.50

Where To Buy It: Dior.com

By: Azzurra Nox

dior

IMG_0860

Review: Sugar Pill Liquid Lip Color in Trinket

Leave a comment

IMG_0784

What It Is: A long-lasting liquid lipstick

Perks: Cruelty-free and made in California

Verdict: I’ve tried out several liquid lipstick brands since they’ve gotten popular over the past year or so. I was looking forward to trying out Sugar Pill cause I’ve always been a fan of the brand, plus I’ve been trying to find the perfect rose gold shade with subtle glimmer. The colour I got, Trinket is simply gorgeous! The awesome thing about this specific liquid lipstick is that when applied, the colour is a rose shade, but once you press your lips together, the gold shimmer is activated. So, the more you smack your lips together, the more gold shimmer will be visible. It’s a very flattering metallic shade, and it can be worn both casually or for an evening night, especially now with the holidays, the gold glimmer will give you that much needed holiday vibe without going too overboard. As for the formula, it is lightweight, but long-lasting (and when I say long-lasting I truly mean it! I can apply this lipstick at 7a.m. and not need to reapply even once and it stays put till I remove it around 9p.m.). Another plus is that the formula doesn’t dry out your lips, your lips actually feel uber hydrated throughout the day (a much-needed bonus during the harsh winter temperatures!). So give this shade a try, and liberate your inner sugarplum fairy!

IMG_0787

Price: $18

Where To Buy It: I got mine at the Dolls Kill site (https://www.dollskill.com/) or https://sugarpill.com

IMG_0785

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Meg Rhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask

Leave a comment

I was recently gifted this product from the Allure Enthusiasts program. I wasn’t sure what to initially think of this product, since I’ve never considered purchasing something similar before. But alas, I figured I’d give it a shot and see what the hype was all about (after all could 500 million buyers be wrong?). This product is made in Japan and each box contains seven eye masks (one for each day of the week?). The heat generated by this eye mask is approximately 104 degrees F.

eyemask

What It Is: Relaxing Eye Mask

What It Does: Promotes relaxation through the use of warm steam and lavender scent.

Verdict: I tried this on after a particularly tiring and cold night. The scent is very potent (meaning if you love lavender then you’ll love it, but if it annoys you, then it’ll seem pungent). I personally enjoyed the scent and helped me to relax. Being perpetually cold and at times suffering from head colds, the eye steam aspect of this mask was what I loved the most. The box says that the warming effect only lasts 10 minutes, but it actually was more like 30 minutes for me. Wearing this eye mask is like being lulled in a soft cuddly embrace and makes you feel like you’re truly getting pampered. Needless to say, I quickly fell asleep soon after.

Price: $10.99

Where To Buy It: Amazon

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Bath & Body Works Bath Fizzy

Leave a comment

bb

What It Is: Fragrant Bath Bomb

Scent: Warm Vanilla Sugar

Verdict: Honestly, I expected a lot more from this seeing that I love Bath & Body works handcream and hand soaps. But sadly, this bath bomb just doesn’t deliver. It doesn’t do much for your skin (you don’t feel as though it has allowed your skin to be moisturized). Nor were you engulfed in a sweet scented embrace. I barely smelled the warm vanilla sugar fragrance (to the point that I wasn’t even sure it was vanilla, it could’ve been anything). I don’t know if their other scents are more potently scented, (as their handcreams deliver a crazy amount of aroma), but this warm vanilla sugar was truly weak.

Price: 6.95

Where To Buy It: http://www.bathandbodyworks.com

By: Azzurra Nox