Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Moon Child Glow Kit

December 31, 2019December 30, 2019Leave a comment

What It Is: Powder Highlighter Palette

What It Does: Creates effortless glow

Verdict: Anastasia Beverly Hills’ name is synonymous with “Brow Wizard” being the one who introduced the two products that have made having “brows on fleek” so effortless. With her Dip Brow Pomade and Brow Gel, she revolutionized brows as we know it. However, she recently dipped her toes in the highlighting pond of miracles and has brought her sorcery even to the newest Moon Child Glow Kit. I knew Allure’s December Beauty Box was going to kick some major beauty ass once it was revealed that it would be centered around Anastasia Beverly Hills products.

I’ll admit that despite owning various highlighters and occasionally using them to some degree, I still feel like a highlighting newbie. This palette packs some serious GLOW that even a highlighting amateur as myself can create some blinding light cheeks.

The palette contains highlighting colours that will suit every skintone possible. Even ones that seem a bit daring (Green? Silver-grey? Violet?) can not only be used as highlighters but also moonlight as glowy eyeshadows.

The colours are highly pigmented and the shadows themselves feel phenomenal. There’s a luxurious feel that is similar to anyone who has tried highlighters from Becca Cosmetics.

This palette is perfect for those of us who wish to ring in the new year with some serious GLOW vibes.

Price: $40

Where To Buy It: anastasiabeverlyhills.com

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Launching: Nox Girl Cosmetics!

August 1, 2019July 27, 2019Leave a comment

Shades Ophelia & Juliet pictured above.

My love of beauty products is no big secret if you follow my blog and look at the many beauty product reviews I have written, or if you know me personally and see the staggering amount of cosmetics I’ve accumulated over the years. And since I cannot beat my cosmetics addiction, I’ve decided that the next best thing would be to join them. How you may ask? By launching my very own line of cosmetics!

This idea came to me a few years ago but I had trouble executing it right away for various reasons (funding, finding the right lab, etc.). Recently, I found a lab in Canada that will make my products in the way that I envisioned them to be, high quality, cruelty-free, and vegan.

Why vegan?

Well, the main difference between vegan and traditional makeup is the use of animal by-products which are never used in vegan cosmetics. A common side effect and bonus to vegan products is that they are often gentler and safer all around, not only leaving out animal products but also toxic chemicals, parabens, gluten-containing products, and heavy metals.

I know there’s a ton of beauty brands out on the market and there’s a new one coming out of the woodworks every day, so you may wonder, what makes Nox Girl Cosmetics stand out? First of all, all my items will be LIMITED EDITION, meaning that every few months I will be selling a certain number of cosmetics that will encompass a theme. And since my other great love right next to cosmetics is books, each limited edition products will be inspired by literary characters.

For my launch, I decided to go with a classic, Shakespearean heroines. The ones I selected were some of my faves, and creating liquid lipsticks inspired by them was so much fun!

So without further ado, allow me to present you the amazing shades:

Tamora (taken from Titus Queen of the Goths) $20

Tamora is a berry-purple matte shade. The character is strong and bold and you can let your inner queen shine through with this imperious shade.

Ophelia (taken from Hamlet) $20

Critics believe that Ophelia is weak because she goes mad and drowns herself in a brook, but the truth is, she’s not afraid to stand up against the patriarchy, letting her brother know that he shouldn’t chide her to be chaste when he isn’t and how she hates the double standard that exists.

This shade is a pale peach with mandarin hues. Ophelia is sweet, but she’s no pushover, and if in the end, she cracks, it’s the patriarchal society and crazy boyfriend that are to blame, not her. That’s why this colour is both light but bold. Your lips will be sure to stand out in the crowd.

Swatches of Ophelia & Juliet

Juliet (taken from Romeo & Juliet) $20

Juliet is a rose pink shade. The character of Juliet is a hopeless romantic (who isn’t at the age of 14?) and I wanted this shade to reflect the excitement and intensity of first love.

Titania (taken from Midsummer Night’s Dream) $23

She’s Queen of the faeries, and what better way to celebrate this beautiful creature than to create a shade of nude-glittery lipgloss? It’s the perfect lightweight non-sticky lip gloss formula that will have you unleashing some serious faery vibes.

Lady Macbeth (taken from Macbeth) $20

It’s due to Lady Macbeth’s brutal ambition to become Queen, that leads Macbeth to murder the current king while he’s visiting his home. And although she’s viewed as a villain, no one can negate how badass and progressive she is for her time. What better way to celebrate her boldness than to imagine her wearing this blood-red shade? Choose this crimson lipstick if you want to channel a true leader (albeit a ruthless one).

Swatches of Tamora & Titania

Midsummer Night’s Dream Eyeshadow Palette $30

Creating a palette is difficult, especially when you’re trying to create a cohesive look. When creating these shades I tried to envision what someone like Titania would wear, and that made me decide to go with various shades of green. Because nothing shouts woodland faery like these ethereal shades.

You can shop these shades for a limited time at the Nox Girl Cosmetics Shop! These shades will be available till the end of September. In October I’ll be launching new shades (I’ll give you a hint, they’re going to be inspired by famous vampires).

*There’s international shipping for all your orders!

I’m also looking for some influencers (within the U.S & Canada for now) to receive some samples for reviews. If you’re interested please contact me with your platform info (blog or Instagram account).

Shades Tamora & Titania pictured above

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Derma Roller System: One Step to Beautiful Skin

May 30, 2019May 27, 2019Leave a comment

Every since micro-needling has become a thing, I’ve been curious about this scary yet simple procedure. But I didn’t really take the plunge to try it out until I was contacted by Derma Roller System to try out their product. Not being a fan of needles, I decided to opt for the smallest needle model they had (0.5mm) and hoped for the best.

So what exactly does a Derma Roller System do?

Well, it’s supposed to help rejuvenate your skin, treat acne scars, ease hyperpigmentation, and get rid of the first signs of aging. It’s also touted to boost any product absorption by 90%. I was a sent the DermaC+ Anti-Aging Serum and PerfectDerm Collagen Face Mask to use with the Derma Roller System, and some advise to prep the skin with serum before, although the guide I was sent with the product suggested to prep the skin by cleaning it thoroughly, then to roll the Derma Roller gently over the area you wish to treat 4 times vertically, 4 times horizontally, 4 times diagonally to the left and 4 times diagonally to the right. This should help stimulate collagen and elastin formation in the skin. One note of caution, despite what some Beauty Gurus may suggest on other blogs or YouTube, you should AVOID using the Derma Roller on your eyelids or lips. After you’re done with rolling then you should apply a collagen cream, serum or mask. You may leave the product on, or keep it on your face for 10 minutes before rinsing it off.

I’ll be honest, I was kinda skeptical at first and a tiny bit afraid. The idea of rolling 200 tiny needles into my skin didn’t sound pleasant in the least, and also had me worrying about possible staph infections (which could happen if you don’t clean your roller after each use, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CLEAN IT WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL OR HYDROGEN PEROXIDE). So, before I began, I decided to watch a few videos so that I wouldn’t end up like Pinhead from Hellraiser cause the only time that look would be cute is Halloween.

Putting aside all my worries, I decided that I was going to see what all the hype was about, and if this medieval torture device looking contraption actually delivered amazing skin.

Now, it takes 40 days for cell turnover to happen, so you need about that time to see some results. I decided to abide by that rule.

I don’t have any hyperpigmentation or acne scars, so I decided to focus on my forehead where I have a slight fine line. It’s advised to use the roller even up to five times a week if the needle size is 0.5mm (like the one I chose). I decided to first use it about two times a week before upping the dosage. The first two weeks I didn’t see much difference, but after the fourth week, I noticed that my skin looked glowing and just overall nicer in appearance.

I can’t say how this will work on deeper wrinkles (since I currently don’t have them), but I can say that the Derma Roller System does help improve one’s skintone and that if you’re looking to try out a microneedle, then Derma Roller System would be a nice one to try.

What I liked about the product itself is that it is small, easy to use, and durable. Although it is noted that one needs to change the head after a number of uses.

Should you consider getting a Derma Roller System?

If you want to see some improvement in your skin, I would recommend using this to help you fix any of your skin concerns you might have.

Are the needles painful?

I can’t say about the other sizes, but the 0.5mm were unbearably painful at all. So, if what’s keeping you from trying it is the eventual pain, then go with small needle size and maybe once you get accustomed to it you can always size up later.

Concluding Thoughts

There’s some science to this whole micro-needling hype, and it does help the skin’s appearance in ways that I can’t even explain. If you want to achieve amazing skin, then maybe you should look into investing in a Derma Roller System. It currently retails for $49.95 on their website.

*Thank you Derma Roller for sending me a bundle kit of three of their products free of charge for an honest review.

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Review: Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara

May 28, 2019May 25, 2019Leave a comment

Pat McGrath is one of the most famous and influential makeup artists in the world. She has done makeup for runway shows, editorials, and ads. Many people love the bold looks she creates, especially when it comes to the eyes. So when I was sent this mascara to review* I was really looking forward to it!

What It Is: Volumizing & Lengthening Mascara

Distinguishing Factors: Conditioning Peptides help keep lashes long and healthy!

Verdict: I am very conflicted when it comes to this product because I do love the formula, however, I really HATE the brush! The formula is clump-free and it has intense pigmentation, but then the brush was designed too big that even a person with the steadiest hand is bound to create a mess, let alone someone who’s running on little sleep in the wee hours of the morning attempting to get ready for work. I think that this mascara would 100% improve if it had a smaller brush that will help lift lashes without smudging the product on your eyelids. I’ll most likely pop in another brush and still use the mascara, but if you’re looking to purchase this item, I think you’re better off with something else. Life’s too short to waste your money on mediocre mascara.

Price: $28

Where To Buy It: Pat McGrath website

*Product was sent to me free of charge from Allure Magazine for an honest review

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Review: Medusa’s Makeup Liquid Eyeshadow

April 9, 2019April 6, 2019Leave a comment

Hello darklings! I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last beauty review! But fret not, I’ll be sharing more beauty related stuff this month as I’ve got a lot of new products to share! My current obsession is liquid eyeshadows….how do you feel about them? A do? A don’t? Let me know in the comments below!

What It Is: Liquid Eyeshadow

Distinguishing Factors: Cruelty-free & Vegan

Review: Lately, I’ve been utterly obsessed with liquid eyeshadows. So I was appropriately excited when Medusa’s Makeup April Beauty Box came equipped with their newest cosmetics venture, their liquid eyeshadows. I was also happy to have received the silver hue (GINGER), (as they have a blue hue, but no matter what shade of blue I’ve used in the past, it has always gone horribly wrong for me). First things first: The formula is long-lasting and crease-free. I don’t know whether it’s because the shadow is actually made that way or probably because I always use eyeshadow primer (currently I’ve been using Milani’s Eyeshadow Primer, as it’s identical to Urban Decay’s Primer Potion but half the price), but once I put on the shadow at 6am (my usual wake-up call during the week) it didn’t budge nor crease all the way to 9pm (when I removed my makeup).

Secondly, the colour was utterly dreamy in an elfish-fairy way. I LOVE that it’s glittery without looking too intense (especially since I wore it for work). However, if you are looking for something a bit more pigmented then the silver shade wouldn’t be your choice, as this goes on a bit sheer (think Glossier’s Lidstars). But overall, I really liked the ethereal feel this shade had and the product itself was amazing! And last but not least….how freaking adorable is the packaging?! I love that it’s both functional and small enough to slip into a tiny bag! After all, Spring is here and less is definitely more!

Price: $13

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

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Review: Tarte – Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara

January 17, 2019January 11, 2019Leave a comment

It was my birthday recently (January 8 like the awesome David Bowie & Elvis), and so I stopped by Sephora to get my free birthday gift. While I was there I saw this new Tarte mascara and since I’ve liked other mascaras from Tarte in the past, I decided to give this one a go. Especially since this one promised that it was the “wonder-bra of mascaras.” With that kind of promise, how could I NOT want to have the Pamela Anderson of lashes, right?

What It Is: 4-in-1 Mascara

What It Does: Lengthens, curls, volumizes, and conditions

Active Ingredients: Plant Waxes, Rice Bran, and Olive Esters

Verdict: All right, my only real gripe with this product isn’t the product per se, but the packaging. I’m not a fan of mascara wands that are bulky, cause it makes for a difficult application, I prefer sleeker packaging. And this packaging is way too bulky for my tastes. Apart from the packaging, this mascara is AMAZING. It truly does help with creating longer and curlier lashes. This mascara doesn’t dry your lashes out, probably cause of the olive esters that help condition the lashes. Even if you have puny lashes, this product will pump them up like you wouldn’t know! What I love about this mascara most, is that it really amps up your lashes, it gives you that false lashes look without having to wear falsies! I truly recommend in checking this one out if you get the chance. It’s easily become one of my favourite mascaras.

Price: $23

Where To Buy It: Sephora

Lashes using the Tarte Mascara, no primer, just the mascara

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HAUL: TonyMoly Korean Beauty

November 20, 2018November 19, 20182 Comments

Korean beauty products have become the biggest trend in the U.S. lately. One of the biggest Korean beauty brands is TonyMoly, who has everything you can imagine from face masks, peels, sheet masks, lip balms, creams, makeup, etc. They have skincare products for every skincare concern be it wrinkles, acne, dryness, redness, or sensitive skin. This brand recently launched in Sephora when the Korean beauty products became a popular thing. I hadn’t tried this brand till now. The packaging is obviously ultra adorable (it’ll make you feel like you’re thirteen all over again).

Egg Pore Care Set

Price: $28

Key Factors: Egg-powered ingredients such as Egg Yolk (lots of Vitamin A!) and clarifying Egg Shell Powder.

I’m Red Wine – Gel Eye Patch

Price: $6

Key Factors: Helps tighten and purify skin.

Mini Fruit Lipbalm Peach

Price: $10

Key Factors: Shea Butter and Witch hazel, helps lock in moisture and hydration.

I’m Hand Cream – Cherry Blossom

Price: $6

Key Factors: Rejuvenates skin.

Where To Buy It: https://tonymoly.us

Are you a fan of Korean beauty products? Which ones are your faves?

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Review: Medusa’s Makeup Witch Lash Mascara Bebe Travel Size

November 15, 2018November 15, 2018Leave a comment

It’s no secret that mascara is one of my fave beauty products and also one where I’m willing to try out any new one that comes out (reason why you’ll notice way more mascara reviews on this blog than any other beauty product). One of my favourite mascara products is Medusa’s Makeup Witch Lash Mascara, so when they included a travel size in November’s Beauty Box, I was thrilled.

What It Is: Super thickening waterproof mascara with a fuller bristle brush

What It Does: This mascara helps thicken and define lashes.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a mascara that can offer lift and volume in one easy swipe, then this isn’t the one, purely because it takes multiple swipes to achieve the look. That’s not saying that the mascara isn’t good, quite the contrary. Just like the other Witch Lash, this version’s brush is simply smaller meaning that it won’t fit your whole eye in one sweep, BUT the small size allows it to reach the usually difficult nooks and crannies (such as the inner corner and outer corner of the eye). But unlike the previous Witch Lash, these bristles differ (the others are more rigid which helps separate lashes, whilst these create more of a feathery lash look). One of the major pros of this product though is the size. You can pop this small mascara in your handbag, pocket, or even phone carrier! You’ll never have an excuse to not have amazing lashes with this product on your hands! It’s a mini-miracle worker (step aside ), creating length and volume on even the thinnest and smallest lashes. I absolutely recommend this product if you’re into the whole lash extension look (without the damaging effects that actual extensions cause). And for just $10, it’s definitely worth a try!

Price: $10

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

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Empties Post – First One Ever!

September 13, 2018September 9, 2018Leave a comment

IMG_1141 modified

Ever since the internet went crazy with “Empties” posts, I’ve been wanting to write one for this blog. The only caveat? Being able to accumulate enough used up products to write a post about. Seems simple, right? Not when you have far too many products and keep switching from one to another, and the guilt of throwing out something you’re not crazy about seems almost wasteful. So for me, using up a product and thinking about repurchasing the same item again means that I need to have thought it was absolutely AMAZING and willing to go through the experience all over again.

So without further ado, here are a few of my empties:

Honest The Younger Eye

I wrote a full review of this product here if you wish to read more details about it. What can I say? I absolutely LOVE this eye cream! It’s everything an eye cream should be and I think it has greatly improved the skin around my eyes tenfold.

Would I repurchase: HELL YES!

Everyone Face For Every Day Tone

I included this product in my skincare routine post. This is one of my favourite toners because not only is it lightweight, but it leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean. It also has contributed to keeping my skin acne-free!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

Even for this, I wrote a full review of this product here, if you wish to read a more detailed description. I’m usually not a huge fan of moisturizers cause even the most lightweight ones tend to make me break out, but this one lived up to its claim of being gentle for acne-prone skin, and I fell instantly in love!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Eye

This cream is a restorative eye treatment for undereye skin. I like that the cream was thick and emollient, and did work in diminishing fine lines caused by fatigue. I didn’t find anything NOT to love about this cream, but at the same time, I didn’t fall in love with it as much as I did with the Honest eye cream.

Would I repurchase: Maybe

Skin & Co. Roma Truffle Therapy Eye Concentrate

I was sad to see this finish as I added this as one of my favourite eye creams that I recommend. This cream feels luxurious and incredibly hydrating. Even a year later I still love it!

Would I repurchase: YES!

Pixi Beauty Sleep Cream

This cream was just a little too much on the thin side for my liking. I’m more into creams that feel very moisturizing and this was a little on the light side, however, it DID keep my skin hydrated and didn’t cause any breakouts. If you want to read a more detailed description, check out the review here.

Would I repurchase: Maybe

Clinique Moisture Surge

I know this is the holy grail of moisturizers for many people, especially if you’ve got oily skin. I was given this cream as a sample by one of the Clinique reps at a cosmetic shop with the promise that I would love it. Well, sorry to burst anyone’s bubble but this is simply too watery for my taste. I guess the lightweightness of it is what makes it perfect for oily skin, but I kinda love thick creams.

Would I repurchase: No

Medusa’s Makeup Grapefruit Astringent

I’m a big fan of toners and this one simply smells amazing! It left my skin feeling refreshed, and kept it from becoming oily too soon.

Would I repurchase: Yes, but they have two other scents (Rose and Cucumber) and I’m curious about the cucumber version.

There’s a satisfying feeling of completion when you get to the end of a product, and I think this is why Empties Posts are so popular. Do you have similar feelings? Would you try out any of these products?

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Get Amazing Brows Everyday!

July 12, 2018July 8, 2018Leave a comment

I’ve always been obsessed with having good eyebrows, and some people are born with naturally amazing arches, whilst the rest of us need a little help. I know that nowadays the instagram brows are the trend, but I personally prefer a more natural brow. Like most people, I don’t have time to spend twenty minutes filling my eyebrows in the morning, the steps below guarantee to give you awesome brows in less than six minutes! So go ahead and press that snooze button, get some extra z’s cause you won’t be needing too much time to get ready in the mornings with these fool-proof brow tips!

First Step:

Outline the shape you wish to have either by using an eyebrow pencil or eyebrow marker.

Second Step:

First, fill in your arch and tail using a darker shadow shade.

Then using a lighter shadow shade, fill in the first half of your brows (closest to your nose) and the top half of the arch.

I’d suggest purchasing one of those duo eyebrow shadows palettes, such as Bobbi Brown Brow Kit ($55 at Sephora).

TIP:

In order for brows to look natural you need to shade in a way where the light would naturally hit, hence the lighter shade on top, and the darker shade in the arch.

Third Step:

Using a spooley brush through your eyebrows to better blend the shadows and get rid of any excess product.

TIP:

Run some brow gel if you have unruly hair to keep brow hairs looking sharp and clean all day!

One of brow gels I absolutely love is Maybelline’s Makeup Tattoo Studio Waterproof Eyebrow Gel ($9.48).

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