Friday 24 August 2018

Review THE FACE SHOP Marble Beam Blush 03 Lovely Violet

I have seen baked blush before but never  marble blush with pretty mosaic pattern so when I spotted these on jolse I though to myself if it was one of the gimmicky products which looks good in the packaging and is actually a waste of money or a hidden gem by the faceshop, after some contemplation I added this to my cart and crossed my fingers

I have been on a look out for marble paper because pure white background is really high maintenance so far no luck but the exterior of this blush case has a marble design so I guess I will including this in a lot of flatlays in future.


This blusher has a mix if three different shades that help to give an illusion of natural fresh look to the cheeks with a healthy glow. There are flecks of white, followed by a pastel purple and then a deep mauvy purple together when These shades when blended together give dimension to face.


There are about three blush shades and one highlighter in the collection. I am not a fan of orange and coral shades, and I have too many pink shades in my collection so I picked up this purple color because I dont have anything unique like this in my collection.



I found the swatches by the brand a little misleading and inaccurate. Because in the pictures these show up as intensely pigmented blush but in reality tgat is not the case




The compact packaging is inspired by cushion foundations (very thoughtful of the brand) The transparent lid/cover keeps the blush secure from harm. And prevents the mirror from getting  dust all over it. There is also a pretty cute dense bristles brush, which picks up the product nicely and feels very soft on the cheeks.  Moreover the mirror makes this very convenient and purse friendly


THE FACE SHOP Marble Beam Blusher 03 Lovely Violet

The color is a purple/mauve and shows up as  shimmery /frosty cool pink color on fair skin. On medium complexion this shows up as a pink toned highlighter.  The cool pink brightens my sallow cheeks I looks pigmented in the pan but the color pay off is not that strong. I usually apply this on top of another blush to give a nice sheen to my face
The cherry on the top is the floral/ baby powder like scent. I like my makeup products to be scent free but this has a subtle fragrance which is quite nice actually. The texture is soft so if you apply to much brush the powder crumbles easily


So not only this makes a cute prop for flatlays its a very useful as a blush topper/highlighter. The price point is very attractive. The design is beautiful .
This is suitable for fair to medium skin as the pigmentation leans more towards sheer to medium side.

You can purchase this at jolse website for 12.93$ 



***Product sent for review, opinion stated above is honest and my own 
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Wednesday 22 August 2018

Review Aritaum Mono Eyes eyeshadows : Jack burgundy G07

I enjoy eye shadow palettes but sometimes I prefer picking mono eyeshadows over palettes as it gives me more control over my makeup choices.

The second-generation Mono Eyes have improved the adherence and smoothness.
Trendy color line-up with clear and vivid colors fit for shading make-ups.
The fine particles are smoothly adhered to the skin without cluttering.

A well raved product in the beauty circle I picked this M.A.C look alike eyeshadow to see if it could possibly be a very affordable dupe option in the market.
I dont have a single red eyeshadow in my collection and after watching two taiwanese dramas (lot of consorts involved :D) I wanted to wear red eyeshadow on my lids.

So I picked this Jack burgundy G07 color
 I will start with the packaging which resembles M.A.C mono eyeshadows packaging a lot. The top is transparent so the color is visible. The lid closes with a very satisfying click. I found the  pan size to be quite adequate and gives a lot of room to swipe brush. Overall I found the packaging on sturdy side and  not a slightest bit cheap looking. The pan is removable/ depot-able so if you happen to own an empty magnetic palette (like Z palette) you can create you very own customized palette with these eye shadow




This collection comes in a huge selection of different formulas like matte, shimmer, glitter, satin, baked etc. There are over 50+ colors and finshes available.


This color is very pigment, see the amount of color pay off from a single swipe. The lasting power is good as well. Stayed on my lids vibrant for 5 hrs then began to fade a little around the edges.  I didnt experience any kind of fallout with this particular shade.

The texture is soft and buttery. It blends really easily with out kicking up any powder. The color is similar to one shown in the brand swatch which is good as well



The color is beautiful deep burgundy red. I think the shade is quite versatile and one can totally pull off a spring or fall makeup look with this (Depends on which other colors you pair it with) To get intense color and add more drama to my eye makeup look I applied this to my lid with a help of wet eyeshadow brush and was stunned by the opacity. It looked surreal. All in one I am of opinion that this definitely qualifies as great dupe for M.A.C eyeshadow and now I am tempted to try more colors.

For the price this eyeshadow is a steal granted how pigmented it is for a korean eye shadow. If you are building your makeup collection or looking for some great mono eyeshadows. I highly recommend you to try these. I promise you won't be disappointed.

This retails for 6.98$ on jolse web site

Product sent for review all opinions stated are honest and my own
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Tuesday 21 August 2018

[Review] Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Cleansing Foam & Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel

I am reviewing two amazing budget friendly products by Secret Key from the Lemon Sparkling range.

I tried the peeling gel from the same  lemon sparkling range by Secret Key and was so impressed that I got myself the foam wash to go along with it .

Features
Lemon water, lemon extract, and carbonated water eliminate skin wastes.
Ample and creamy bubbles smoothly cleanse sebum and skin wastes.
Glycerin and betaine help keep the dry skin moist after cleansing.

Contains citric acid to exfoliate and brighten skin. The foam clears pores and removes dirt and sebum from the skin
Since I have oily/ dehydrated skin I prefer foam wash as one they feel so refreshing in the morning and two they do an excellent job of cleaning my face.


 Ingredients
Water, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid, PEG-90, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycol Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamide DEA, Betaine, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Water (90ppm), Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract (10ppm), Carbonated Water (47ppm), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (47ppm), Collagen, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Donkey milk, Alpha-Bisabolol, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance, Hyaluronic Acid

What surprised me most was that this contains ingredients for mosturizing and nourishing skin.


The packaging is a regular flip cap tube which holds 120 ml of product. I find the bright yellow packaging very pleasant on the eyes.

The cleanser inside has a creamy texture. A little is required to form foam. I take a dollop of this cleanser on the palm of my hand massage with a bit if water and viola there is tons of foam created.

The scent resembles that of a lemon drink. It citrusy but not bad smelling or too strong. I prefer using it in the morning as this smells very refeshing. The cleanser is a not on drying side so if you have dry skin you can totally use this and  load up on moisturizer afterward  for oily to combination skin this is really good specially in humid and summer weather when skin becomes all clogged up and greasy.

I didnt notice any skin irritation or break outs after using this cleanser, there wasn't any significant reduction in blackheads but this does temporarily brighten the complexion after use.

For the price this is a good cleanser. It does the job and is very friendly on the pocket.This is available for 8.94$ on Jolse Website

Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel 🍋


This has been one of the HG exfoliators in asian beauty community and I am so glad I tried this out.

Features
Lemon water, lemon extract, and carbonated water eliminates skin wastes.
The mild peeling gel tends the skin with a moist and fresh finish.
Natural ingredients provide moisture and soothes the stimulated skin.

Though the scent is a little on the artificial side ( lemon soda ) the results which this delivers is amazing. There is a lot of citrus and other fruit extracts in the ingredient list. I have noticed that this visibly brightens complexions, removes the dry patches and flaky skin leaving behind soft skin
Ingredients:
Purified Water,  Cetrimonium Chloride, Cellulose, Propylene Glycol, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract,  Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Carbomer, Polysorbate 80, Lemon Fruit Water (90ppm), Lemon Fruit Extract (10ppm), Carbonated Water (47ppm), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water (47 ppm), Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carica Papaya (Papaya) Fruit Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, Brown Algae Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica (Broccoli) Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract,  1, 2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance
I like to use this before shower as it can be a little messy

The liquidy /gel balls up on massaging and gently removes the dead cells from the skin without any irritation.
For me this balled up more on my cheek and nose area.  I find this gentle enough for everyday use. I prefer using this before washing my face with a cleanser as this is meant to be used on dry skin so I like to remove the dead cells on my skin follow up with a cleanser to get rid of any left over gel and then continue with the rest of my skincare routine. Since this is messy ( bits of balled up debris falling every where I use this 2-3 times before taking a shower.


The gel has more of a watery consistency ( maybe because the weather is too hot )  and is very easy to spread around the face. I refrain from massaging my skin as it stimulates the oil glands on my face. But this smells so refreshing that I enjoy the overall experience. Plus it so satisfying to see balls of skin roll up. My skin feels super soft and smooth.  This immediately tones up complexion after use. My skin looks visibly brighter clear. Some times when I have some special event coming up I exfoliate my skin prior to makeup application for a smooth canvas.

This Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel retails for 9.80$ on Jolse Website
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Monday 20 August 2018

[Review ] BLITHE Patting Splash Mask Soothing & Healing Green Tea

Now I will be honest I love my masking routine. I like how grand I feel with a cotton sheet soaked in essence on my face. Its just luxurious but lately on youtube and instagram I saw multiple rave-views on the splash mask and how efficient and quick they were to provide the same sheet mask effect but in less than 20 secs (made the lazy part of me curious)  Because even though I enjoy slathering on layers of toner and essence on my face a shortcut to all this routine with just one single product sounds good right?!?

 Blithe Patting Splash Mask is not a new product it has been around for couple of years. Gothamista has mentioned it in couple of her videos but for some reason it was only available at some America based stores with a exorbitant price tag, crazy shipping charges that I decided it really was not worth it but luckily Jolse recently launched the brand on their store with a discount and the price was really pocket friendly so I made the best of the opportunity and grabbed one for myself in  Soothing Green Tea variant.

There are actually 3 variants, soothing and healing green tea, energizing yellow citrus and rejuvenating purple berry.

A concentrated blend of lactic acid and botanical extracts in each splash mask work to re-texturize and smooth skin instantly and increase radiance over time. This Blithe Patting Splash Mask is formulated with green tea extract and tea tree leaf oil to quickly soothe and calm irritated skin. The splashing, then patting action helps the mask to absorb quickly and efficiently for a quick and easy treatment that puts the face mask practically on the go.


Features
Contains green tea extracts to calm the stressed and irritated skin, and balance the skin with oil controlling and pore clarifying.
It provides pH balance skin care and exfoliating care.
It nourishes to the deep inside the pore after removing dead skin cells and keratins.
It is effective for reducing skin blemishes and improving skin tone




INGREDIENTS:

Water, Lactic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Acer Saccharum (Sugar Maple) Extract, Panthenol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated castor oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Dextrin, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Salicylic Acid

Overall the ingredient list is pretty good the second ingredient listed is lactic acid (AHA) for exfoliation
There are a lot of anti oxidants like , sugar cane, sugar maple, lemon and of course Green tea. I also spotted Tea tree oil and salicylic acid somewhere down list.

PACKAGING
A bright green 200ml plastic bottle with a cap on top. Inside is clear plastic stopper to prevent spillage.
Directions:
Suggests pouring a capful of masking solution in a bowl of water (ration mask to water is 1:100)  Mix to create a homogenous solution and splash your face with it, pat dry.
Personally I found the directions a little unsettling because using a cap full to splash your face for just 20 secs sounded a little wasteful (this stuff is expensive)  but then its a splash mask so thats how its supposed to be used. Another method I learned from looking around is to pat it directly on the face in the shower.

I tried the first method because its a little fancy ( I imagined I was Cleopatra and this was my everyday beauty ritual ). I found myself small plastic tub. Filled in some water and poured in a cap full then splashed my face for a few seconds (30 maybe ) and patted my face dry. This has a green color. On first use I found the scent refreshing and very pleasant. This gives a nice cooling sensation. My skin felt soft and hydrated. There was noticeable brightening of my face. Pleased with the results I proceeded to use this for next few days.
Here are my final thoughts

1. During my duration of daily use  I looked forward to the whole splashing ritual everyday because I found it fun and time saving

2. The results I obtained were immediate my skin looked fresh despite lack of sleep and poorly applied concealer. ( I got compliments from my friends )

3. Within few days I noticed that my skin felt supple, soft and clearer

4. Though its very convenient I wouldnt use it everyday because its expensive and so using this twice a week sounds reasonable and pocket friendly


For now I have decided to use as toner by diluting it with bit of rose water and applying it to my face with a cotton pad I like to alternate between splashing as using it as toner. So far no irritation or break outs

I would recommend this product because the concept is indeed very innovative. It is expensive no doubt but Jolse often has this on sale. ( they had this for 10$ a few weeks back unbelievable right and the citrus one for 11.99$ couple of days ago !!!) I am definitely going to stock up on this as soon as I see this at a good price again. And will try the other two variants as well

You can purchase this on jolse here for 39.73$

Product sent for review all opinions stated are honest and my own
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Sunday 12 August 2018

[REVIEW] Leegeeham Hope Blue one solution

I was having a good skin month until I came home for holidays in July and Bam!! Humidity along with sweat totally destroyed my skin . I wokeup with a constellation of tiny bumps aka clogged pores all over my forhead. There were some pustules on my chin area and   blackheads on my nose. Now my fool proof way to deal with this kind of situation is to slather on a thick layer mud mask. Wait for it to dry completely



@theskinmaskuerade honestly played the role of fairy godmother by sending me this Leegeeham Hope Blue one solution.  In the beginning I was unsure about the purpose of this product because the directions were to apply to problematic area after cleansing but after examining the ingredient list I found out that this is like a spot treatment for breakouts and sebum .
Product Details
A water-like spot treatment formulated with salicylic acid for acne/trouble areas, helps reduce blemishes and skin redness. At the same time, it gently exfoliates and clears the pores, leaving skin smooth and clean.
Size
50ml

How to Use
Soak cosmetic cotton butt or cotton pad with Blue One.
Gently apply on to the trouble spot/areas after cleansing morning and night.



Full Ingredients
Alcohol, Water, Lactic Acid, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Salicylic Acid, Phytosphingosine, o-Cymen-5-ol, Silkworm Extract, Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Extract, Poria Cocos Sclerotium Extract, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract

I improvised on the directions and instead of applying on selected areas I applied this to my whole face with a cotton ball at night after washing with a cleanser. This has a very noticeable alcohol scent and is a bit volatile in nature. (the solution drys/ evaporated within a minute or so). My face looked shine free. I skipped on toner, serum and cream because let's be real. Applying layers of skincare products in this weather is like a death sentence. The next day I was surprised how the tiny bumps were all dried out . Plus my face didnt like it usually oil mess in the morning. It was soft and looked grease free for once in my life

The ingredient list is very interesting, the very first ingredient listed is alcohol which has stirred a lot of controversy in skincare  sphere. I personally feel that alcohol here serves the purpose of presevative and as anti bacterial/disinfectant . The third ingredient is lactic acid which is an AHA so it a chemical exfoliant which removes dead skin cells,and  clears blemishes the fourth ingredient is salicylic acid which is BHA . This helps to clean out clogged pores, remove black head and regulate sebum production. Phytosphingosine is an anti inflammatory and anti bacterial agent. All in one this is a very potent concotion to combat acne, inflammation and sebum. The eye drop bottle like packaging gives a lot of control on dispensing product. Plus its kind of spill proof.


I have been using this every single day ever since then ( both morning and night)
The breakouts have cleared up  and my skin is behaving with  oil production. The only thing left is a few scars on my chin .
You can purchase this at skinmaskuerade facebook page. They are the official leegeeham retailer in pakistan 
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Thursday 9 August 2018

[REVIEW] Artdeco Rich Treatment Foundation 12 Vanilla Rose

I have been using this foundation for over a month now and ready to share my final thoughts on this product

Artdeco Rich Treatment Foundation:
  light-reflecting cream foundation, evens out skin imperfections.

With medium-high coverage Rich Treatment Foundation is formulated with Squalane to smooth the skin whilst UV Filters protect against environmental damage.


 Packaging:
This 20ml foundation is housed in a frosted glass bottle, and comes in 5 shades:
10 Sunny Shell
12 Vanilla Rose
15 Cashmere Rose
17 Creamy Honey
28 Light Porcelain



Unlike many foundations that I own in my collection this has a very interesting way to dispense product. There isn't any pump but a spatula attached to the cap which scoops out product
The shade I received is 12 Vanilla rose. The texture of this is like an emulsion not too runny or mousse like. I found the spatula very convenient when apply foundation directly to my face as I can easily control the amount of product. But to some this might be a little unhygienic.

The shade is slightly darker than my skin which is ok because in summer my face tends to become tan. I plan to purchase this in  shade 10 sunny shell so that I can wear it all year long instead of just summers

The emulsion like formula is a delight to apply on the face. It blends very easily and is packed with pigments to a point that I dont need concealer for my dark circles. Unlike many long lasting foundations this does not dry down to a matte finish. It has a satin finish which becomes slightly dewy after 4 hrs. I have oily/dehydrated skin and my T- zone becomes shiny after 3-4 hrs if I wear the foundation on its own. A little dusting of translucent powder helps with oil control so its not much of problem.


Despite its satin finish this totally survives through humidity and sweat. The formula is lightweight so it feels like second skin. It didn't crease around my nose or under my eyes and transfered slightly on the blotting paper. The only problem i have noticed is that this oxidizes a shade or two darker after an hour. I tend to wear a physical sunscreen and a time up cream under my foundation so for me its not much a problem but if you are planning on purchasing this foundation I advice you to pick a shade lighter than your natural skin tone
You can purchase this for 2650 at any cosmetic shop or online here

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