Rimmel London, Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal Eye Liner - Product Review

Hello!

Today I want to talk about a product everyone should have on their makeup kits: the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal Eye Liner in the color Nude. It’s a wonderful drugstore multitasking product that will suit both beginners and people already versed in makeup.

This eye pencil has been raved about by every Beauty Guru for being the first waterproof khol in a nude color sold by a drugstore brand. Before it came up on the market, there weren’t many natural colored eye pencil options to use in the waterline besides the ones from higher-end brands. The thing is: I haven’t heard much talk about this product’s versatility. And that’s just a pity because the most amazing thing about this item is that it is good at fulfilling many of your makeup needs.

So let’s jump into it:

Face

Corrector

If you follow my blog posts you must know by now that I struggle with dark circles. Under-eye concealer has long become my best ally. However, I’ve also came to the realization that counteracting my circles’ purplish-blue color before I apply my concealer makes a world of a difference. Well, this eye pencil does a great job doing so. Since it has peachy undertones to it, it really helps disguising the blue tinges. I like to apply it not long after I’ve applied my eye cream (check my review on the Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair) directly onto the darker areas (I’d advise applying it only where you need it) and then blend with my fingers. Lastly, I apply my concealer. I really like the results I get when I do this. Honestly, it will probably not work as well as the amazing Bobbi Brown corrector but let’s be realistic, it’s much cheaper.

Blush

This pencil is super creamy, therefore it blends really nicely onto the skin and that’s why I like to use it as a blush. It’s very subtle, super easy to apply and looks really fresh and natural. Once again I apply it directly to my cheeks after I’ve applied my foundation/tinted moisturizer (don’t apply it on top of powder cause it might look a bit cakey; try powdering afterwards instead). To get the best color pay off and since this product is so easily blended I like to use my Real Techniques Stippling brush (see haul) and just pat the product onto the skin with it. If you use the brush with your usual blending motions it might come out a bit too sheer to be noticeable. All in all, it’s just a quick, foolproof way to apply your blusher and you can always apply a powder blush on top to make sure you have soft rosy cheeks all day long.

Eyes

Waterline

This is no surprise. This pencil is great to use in the waterline when you want to look more awake and fresh, especially in the morning. It also reduces the appearance of any redness you might have on your eyes. Obviously it won’t last all day but it stays true to color for about two hours and then starts to slowly fade away. In general, it lasts for about six hours in my waterline which is not bad.

Eye shadow

I also really like to use this nude khol as an eyeshadow. It covers any darkness and vessels on my lids and due to its color it also helps making me look more awake. I just apply it all over my lid up to the crease and then blend the edges with my finger or a brush: it couldn’t be easier. If you have drier eyelids, I’d recommend using an eye primer underneath in order to prevent the product from creasing into those dry patches. The primer is also a good idea if you want to use this product on its own (with no other eyeshadows) because it will keep your lids looking flawless all day long. If you prefer you can add some definition to your crease (I do so with some matte brown powder eyeshadow) or just use this pencil as a base for the rest of your eye makeup.

Inner Corner Highlight

This is probably the way I use this product the most. If I’m late to go the train (which is every morning!) and have only 3 minutes left to do my makeup I usually just do my base, apply my mascara and then pop a bit of this onto my inner corners and blend it with my finger. This makes a huge difference. It instantly makes my eyes look brighter and more awake (even more than if I apply in the waterline).

Lips

Definition

It can also be used as a lip liner. What I also love to do is outline my lips with this product and then blend it out (if you have fair skin like I do this will work in a similar way as if you’d apply concealer around your lips to make them look flawless and your lipstick standout).

Filling

If you don’t have super dry chapped lips (as I sometimes have) you can also use this product to fill your lips. First moisturize your lips and wait for a couple of minutes (this is when I suggest you start doing another part of your face). Then blot you lips with a paper tissue to take off any excess that may be left. You’re now ready to fill your lips with this pencil. To finish, apply either a balm or clear gloss if you want to rock the nude look (which looks really pretty because this khol’s color gives your lips a rosy nude tone and not that awful death looking lip you can sometimes get if you apply concealer on your lips) or go for a lipstick or gloss in a color of your choice. Using this pencil will make your lipstick/gloss last longer and besides it gives you a more neutral base to apply your lip color (that means you lip color won’t interfere with the coloring of you lipstick).

Coloring

Undoubtedly this is my favorite way to rock this product on my lips. I simply apply lip balm and the go straight on with this pencil, applying it on the center of my lips. Then I just blend it out with my fingers and – viola! a quick, great looking nude lip. If on the mood I sometimes apply clear gloss on top. The only difference between this option and the previous one is that filling your lips makes for longer-lasting color.

Will I repurchase it?

Yes! I can’t see myself living without it anymore. Besides it’s really affordable. I bought through Feelunique.com (they retail it for 4,99 Euros but I got it for a bit less on a sale they had) – check my Feelunique haul post. The only downsize to it, I’d say, is that you have to sharpen it.

Do I recommend it?

Absolutely! If you don’t have it already go and buy it! Believe me, you need this product and you definitely won’t regret buying it. It’s an amazing product to have on your makeup bag and for travelling. It’s also great for lazy mornings or for mornings in which you have slept in and need to be ready in seconds. A bargain, really!

Please let me know if you have this pencil and if so, do you use it in any other way?

Yours,

M.

Essence, My Skin Moisturizing Cream-Gel - Product Review

Hey, you!

Today I have another review for you. It's from a very affordable and very much loved (at least by me) brand. I’m talking about Essence and this review will focus one of the products in their My Skin skincare line, the Moisturizing Cream-Gel.

The My Skin is a line especially designed to satisfy young skin’s needs. The range of products in the line consists of: a gel cleanser; a face wash/scrub/mask, the all-in-one type of cleanser; a refreshing toner; two varieties of face wipes; a paper face mask; an eye roll-on; a tinted moisturizer and three different moisturizers, one for normal to combination skin, another for normal to dry skin and finally one suitable to all skin types. I’m going to review to the latter.

But firstly I’d like to share my opinion on Essence’s products since I have already tried several of the products from this My Skin line (both cleansers, the toner, the eye roll-on and the tinted moisturizer; I’ve also bought the mask but haven’t tried it yet) as well as a bunch of their makeup products and some skincare from the Pure Skin line.

The main thing I want to share is: they are super safe – so don’t be afraid to try them! I tend to stick to high-end skincare products just to be safe but I can honestly say that I have never been afraid to try a new/different Essence product. Even though their products are really cheap their philosophy is really to save on advertising to invest on better quality products. They also don’t test on animals!

Obviously their products won’t have state-of-the-art technology involved or the best anti-ageing ingredients on the market but that isn’t the brand's purpose either. Their products have in mind young girls, in their teens, with not a lot of money that want to have a nice basic skincare routine and that want to wear makeup that won’t make them break up, won’t cause any allergic reaction and (most important, perhaps) won’t lead them to bankruptcy. So if you haven’t reached your twenties but want to start taking care of your skin from an early age and don’t have a lot to spend this is the brand for you.

And before I get down to the moisturizing cream-gel itself, I just want to apologize for the detour but I really wanted to share the information because I know a lot of you might be reticent to try such cheap skincare products. And so was I before I started using their products. That’s why I decided to do a little reading, back then, and after using their skincare products for almost 2 years now (and makeup products for 7 years) I can really vouch for them.

Now, about the My Skin moisturizing cream-gel: as all products from the line it is dermatologically approved so not likely to cause any nasty skin reaction (unless you have super sensitive and reactive skin and if so I’d look for professional advice before trying any new skincare product), oil-free (so it won’t clog your pores) and has uva/uvb filters (I do still super recommend using an spf separately - this filters are not enough to stop sun damage!).

According to the description in their website this “cream-gel is absorbed quickly and offers your skin 24h of intensive moisture while protecting it from damaging environmental influences with uva and uvb filters” (once again you need extra SPF!- just saying!). “Enriched with lime and cucumber ingredients ensures a radiant complexion, it also contains light-reflecting pigments for a subtle glow”. It is recommend for all skin types.

In my perspective, I do agree with most of it.

It reads:
This energizing cream-gel is intensively moisturizing
and the light-reflecting pigments inside let the skin glow

This is a very fresh and cooling light textured moisturizer. It’s even lighter and fresher than the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel. The texture actually reminds me of the Garnier Skin Naturals Fresh Essentials 24Hr Hydrating Day Cream for Normal/Combination Skin but a tiny bit more liquidy.

It’s so light that you won’t feel like you’re pilling up too much product on your skin - if you’re like me and follow your moisturizer with sunscreen (as you should) and then a full face of makeup. At the same time it keeps my skin moisturized for a good 8 hours I’d say – keep in mind I have combination skin.

I particularly love this cream to use in the morning, because it really gives a more awake and radiant appearance to my skin but in a very subtle, non-oily way. It’s almost imperceptible – it gives me glowing but not shiny-looking skin.

Don’t get scared though: in the packaging the product glows in the dark. It won’t happen on your skin though, if you massage it in (which is super easy due to the almost liquid consistency) – so don’t worry.

The scent really helps to wake me up as well. It has a very citrusy fragrance but toned down by the clean scent of cucumber.

I really enjoyed using it during my beach vacation. I would slather this on my face throughout the day, every time before I’d reapply my spf. This kept my skin from getting dry due to the sea salt and also was a great way to refresh my skin. And since the prince range is bellow the 3euro mark I didn’t feel guilty to go through this cream in such a short amount of time (a little over a month – liberally applying it on my skin up to 5 times a day!).

It also works perfectly before my gym classes. I go to the gym right before dinner. And since I hate exercising wearing makeup – if you do, you’re much more likely to get clogged pores – I usually wipe off my makeup right before leaving to the gym. I don’t like to have my face without any moisturizer on it but I hate to use my more expensive moisturizers when in an hour time I’ll be washing them off during shower. This, I found, was the perfect solution. It leaves my skin feeling: fresh again after taking my makeup off; moisturized but not with that heavy feeling that would bother me during exercise. And, once again, it's super affordable so after my practice I wouldn’t mind having to shower it off.

Those are some of the reasons I so adore this product.

 

Unfortunately, I would say it is not moisturizing enough for very dry skin and I probably wouldn’t advise you to use it as a night cream either no matter what your skin type is, because you might need a bit more moisture.

However, if you are the type of person that hates the feeling of moisturizer before going to bed (and it is better something than nothing – am I not right? ;)) or live in a hot humid place and just want something refreshing on your face to help you get to sleep - this might be the perfect nighttime product for you.

For people with really oily skin during the hot summer months: I’d recommend using the mattifying version of this product on your T-zone or using a serum with mattifying properties also on your T-zone (I really like the Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner Serum) to prevent your skin from every looking greasy but keeping the glowing and fresh looking skin.

Do I recommend it?

Absolutely:

•   To normal and combination skin: to apply all mornings all year long.

•   To oily skin: to apply all mornings except in the summer months (unless you apply just to your cheek area or with a mattifying serum underneath it in your t-zone).

•   To dry skin: to apply in the mornings during hot weather.

•   If don’t have super sensitive or super dry skin.

•   If you haven't reached your thirties yet. (If you have: it's time to start spoiling you skin with some better quality products ;) : I'd sugest looking into French Pharmacy brands because they have products that are as effective as the ones from high-end brands but much cheaper)

- If you have acne-prone skin Essence has this Pure Skin line that has products specifically designed to prevent and/or disguise acne spots, in case you’re interested - however, if you have serious acne issues you’d better seek a Dermatologist’s advice.  

 Will I repurchase this product?

- Yes, I probably will. But, for now, I’m very curious to try the mattifying version.

Sorry for all the rambling but I really wanted to be thorough. 

Please leave a comment down bellow telling me if this post helped you! I'd also love suggestions of products to review.

Yours,

M.

Nivea, Refreshing Cleansing Mousse - Product Review

Hi! 

I'm sorry for not having posted in a while but things have been kind of hectic around here. I promise from now on to do my best to post as often as I can. Hopefully, I'll manage to do it at least twice a week. 

But let's get down to business. Today I am going to talk about another drugstore/highstreet product, this time a cleansing type of product: the Nivea Daily Essencials/Aqua Effect (the name of the collection varies from country to country) Refreshing Cleansing Mousse.

To be honest, I tend to invest more money in skincare rather than makeup. However no matter how much I enjoy my high-end skincare goodies I have to admit that I would love to find cheaper surrogates. So when I saw this product in the supermarket shelves I felt compelled to give it a try. 

It reads: Refreshing Cleansing Mousse

It reads:
Normal to Combination Skin
Deeply cleanses and hydrates
Vitamin E and Hydra IQ

It is a very interesting product. It comes in a plastic bottle wherein it has a very liquid consistency but when you press the pump the product transforms into a white foam. I have to admit it took me a while getting used to. 

This is a very gentle cleansing product which doesn't strip the skin nor does it leave the skin feeling tight afterwards, meanwhile it does do its job. It works well both if you apply it to dry skin (and take it off with a cloth as advised by Caroline Hirons) or to wet skin during your shower (as I usually do). I didn't enjoy using it so much in the beginnig because I was used to cleansers that left my skin feeling squeaky clean, which this doesn´t. However after a couple of weeks of using this mousse I noticed that my skin was as clean as before and with less dry patches. 

It reads:
- Nivea Aqua Effect Refreshing Cleansing Mousse
Enriched with Vitamin E & Hydra IQ
Deeply cleanses and hydrates the skin
Provides a unique cleansing experience thanks to its extra gentle formula and its pleasant fragrancy
- Application:
Its formula becomes a soft foam during usage. Apply the cleansing mousse, gently massaging the face, neck and décolleté. Avoid contact with the eyes. Remove with water. Discover the new, practical and easy to use, cleansing experience
- Dermatologically tested

Ingredients list

The smell is ok. It is clean, fresh and bit soap like. I always have to use two pumps to wash my face cause one is definitely not enough. That means that it lasts less than the normal Nivea gel cleanser which costs aproximately the same (in Portugal both products cost around 5euros) - if I use them once a day, the mousse lasts about 2-3 months versus the gel that lasts 4-5 months. Despite that, since this is not a very expensive product you might think the formulation is worth the extra money, I know I do.

Do I recommend this product? 

Yes, if:

- You have normal to combination skin (might not be enough for oily skin and there is a specific version of this mousse for dry and sensitive skin)

- You are on the lookout for a cleanser that does its job without stripping your skin of its moisture, leaving it soft and supple afterwards.

- You don't want to spend too much money on a cleanser

- You want a cleanser that doesn't irritate the skin (if you have very sensitive skin you might want to try the mousse in the pink bottle instead).

Pay attention, though:

- Keep in mind that I only use this product in the morning because even though it does its job as cleanser it does not provide such a deep cleaning as I prefer at night. So if you have combination skin or normal skin that gets easily congested you may have to alternate this cleanser with an unclogging one or besides cleansing you have to exfoliate or use a purifying mask a couple of times a week to keep your skin in check.

Will I repurchase it?

- Even though I liked this product it didn't impress me enought to make it onto my "Can't live without them" list. It is a good product and a decently priced  one. It worked really well for me as morning cleanser, especially because I don't think I need such purifying cleansers (as the ones I used to use) in the morning. So I might repurchase this in due time but for now I am really curious to try other cleansers and also it gives me the oportunity to share a larger number of produts with you.

I hope you find this review helpful. And please let me know if there are any products you would be interested in a review.

Yours,

M.

Essence, Stay all day Concealer - Product Review

My first review will be about Essence's Stay all day 16h longlasting concealer.

I decided to start my reviews with this product both because it is very cheap (and as such many more of you might actually be interest in trying it out) and because it is a product I have a love/hate relationship with.

But first things first.  The Stay all day 16h longlasting concealer (couldn't they have picked a shorter name?) is  a liquid/creamy  concealer (liquid but with some consistency to it) with light-reflecting pigments that the brand claims to be very longlasting, up to 16 hours (the key is in the up) and which is advertised as perfect to cover dark circles, redness and shadows and give you a radiant look.

Let's start on the love/hate thing then. When I first bought this product, I guess it was around Christmas, I used it a couple of times and then put it away. I bought it on a whim: it was super cheap and had ligh-reflecting written in its description (which for me translates as: I have to have it! - if my under eye area is concerned). But then, when I tried it the next morning I couldn't have hated it more. It was not about the consistency or the colour but the fact that it looked streaky and instead of covering my dark circles it would build up in my fine lines. I put it away and didn't  think about it again until the day I run out of under eye concealer. With no other alternative available I had to use it. I started applying it with my fingers and just wanted to cry, it looked awful. In pure desperation I grabbed a foundation brush to try and fix the situation and surprise, surprise it worked and it actually looked ok. There was still some product accumulated in my fine lines but nothing I couldn't deal with.

From then on I have used it almost every single day up to now and have to admit that this concealer scored some points with me:

- The colour (20- Soft Beige) is a perfect match for my under eye area, just a little bit lighter than my skin tone, and it has a certain salmon undertone to it that helps with the bluish of my circles. I have to admit though that the colour selection couldn't be much worse - there are only two colours available and they're not that different I guess, so if you have a darker skin tone this product isn't for you.

- I really like the coverage of this concealer, it covers enough but not too much, . By this I mean, I don't look flawless but I look very natural and awake especially due to the light-reflecting pigments that make my skin look brighter.  I don't really care for full coverage concealer in a daily basis and think that in me it just looks a bit unnatural but I also HATE my under eye circles and like to have them disguised to a point that they are there but just barely noticeable (is this strange? I guess i must be crazy for not prefering a full coverage concealer... ).

- The duration isn't bad at all. It certainly doesn't last 16 hours, so the packaging is deceiving but in the website they say it can last up to 16 hours not that it actually lasts 16h, but anyway it was unnecessary to have the 16h duration reference on the product's name. Especially because the truth is not that bad, this concealer lasts  6-8 hours without a powder on top and up to two more if powdered (so 8-10 hours) which is not bad at all for the price. It is also very resistant, even when I am sweating a lot or have been crying it barely moves and I love that I don't have to worry about it melting all over me.

- The application is the thing I least enjoy about this product. I can't really apply it quickly with my fingers and be out the door - if you don't have any fine lines you may get away with doing it, though. I always have to use a brush to apply it. It looks best applied with a classic foundation brush - I used the Sephora one- and then gently pated with fingers on the edges to ensure a seamless blend. More recently I discovered that when applying it with the Real Techniques foundation brush (comes in the Travel Kit) I didn't really find a need to pat the edges because this brush blends the product while applying it in a fantastic way.

- About the fine lines build up problem, I found a good solution recently. I started following Lisa Eldridge's site (she is amazing! - she is the Queen of makeup) and the way she applies under eye concealer makes it much less prone to get into those lines, not just with this concealer but in general. She also makes Youtube videos so if you want to learn about this tip, I strongly advise you to check Lisa Eldridge's website.

All in all, even though it bugs me that I can't really apply it with my fingers I have to admit that this concealer isn't bad at all. In Portugal it costs about 3euros and brings 7ml of product. It is not one for using on pimples due to the light-reflecting properties (unless you want to highlight those problematic areas - and if so: great, keep doing it if that's your thing! :)) or for reapplying throughout the day (it's not liquid enough for you to be able to do so without your makeup looking cakey) but I do advise it if: you have a light skin tone, want an under eye concealer with light-medium coverage, want something to brighten your under eye area and make you look more awake  (you can also use it to illuminate the bridge of your nose or any shadowy areas you might have - but not to correct redness because of its salmony tones), don't wear make up for more than 12 hours daily (the most you'll get from this concealer), have a foundation brush (or doesn't need one- skin under the eyes is not dry and no fine lines), want a concealer that you don't have to worry about in case you cry or sweat a lot and most important want a good quality concealer for the cheapest you can get them (at least in Portugal) and that will last you a really long time.

Sorry for the testament but I really wanted to be thorough. Please tell me if there is anything I can help with.

I hope it was helpful. :) 

Yours,

M.