Beauty Product Reviews

Firms and gently lifts hooded eyes

I am so excited to receive my second tube of this today. I've only got a bit left on my first tube and since it worked so well, I couldn't wait to repurchase as I never want to go without this. For context, I am in my late 30's and have hooded eyes that are getting more hooded by the minute. I'm always searching for the best firming/lifting eye cream that will help, even if just a slight bit I am happy. This has exceeded my expectations on an eye cream. I've been using skincare long enough to know most eye creams don't do much of anything. I was pleasantly surprised to find my eye lids ever so slightly lifted and less hooded after a few weeks of consistent, twice daily use. The hooding also makes my eyes asymmetrical, as the right eye lid is heavier so the eye looks smaller in person and in photos. While they're still not twins, they look more like sisters than before, which I am so thrilled about. The slight lifting effect helped pull back some of the hooding that was starting to swallow up my eyes as I age. I'm definitely going to continue using and see if I get even better results with continued use down the line. So far, I am beyond impressed and can't recommend enough!

Great size for long hair and super secure

I wasn't sure I would at first but I've been really enjoying this hair towel. It's hard to tell when you can't see/feel the product in person. It is a super soft yet absorbent microfiber towel that helps my hair dry more quickly and with less frizz. I would say this is a smoother, finer microfiber, much higher quality than the ones you think of for cleaning. It even feels silky to the touch. I've been using an Aquis hair towel for a few years but needed something bigger now that my hair has gotten much longer. This size is perfect for long or thick hair, with plenty of room to tuck in all the hairs with ease. It is thicker than the Aquis hair towel, which is rather thin but holds quite a bit of water. This hair towel definitely dried my hair more thoroughly, as it is thicker and holds even more water. The elastic loop in the back is a good size, making it very easy to tuck in the remainder of the towel and makes the whole thing super secure. Not to mention the print is just so cute.

Effective and versatile

Not only is this product effective, I find that I can incorporate it into my routine in different ways. I did start out by mixing a few drops of this into my hydrating serum. I find this helps exfoliate my skin effectively when used this way a few times per week, without causing too much sensitivity in the process. I've also used this product as a mask all over the skin and leaving on for the advised 10 minutes before rinsing off with water. Using it this way only once per week has not only help the dead skin cells on the surface shed, but I find that I have less breakouts when I keep up with this. I appreciate the added 5% tranexamic acid to help with dark spots left behind after breakouts. I have used a chemical exfoliant mask from another brand before but it was so painful to leave on that I had to rinse off in a minute or two. There is mild stinging with this when I use all over as a mask, but nothing that is uncomfortable. This is a fantastic chemical exfoliant that works really well and I love that I can use it in my routine in different ways depending on what my skin needs at the moment.

Refreshing and helps with pore congestion

Unlike the cleanser I was using before, I actually look forward to cleansing my face with this refreshing gel cleanser. I was first drawn to is while looking for a cleanser with salicylic acid, which helps to lessen pore congestion that I find to be the most problematic in the T-zone area. While this contains a natural form of BHA, I find it to be effective with keeping the pores clear without stripping the skin of its moisture. The blue tansy imparts a delicate yet soothing herbaceous scent that enhances the cleansing experience. I appreciate the addition of zinc pca, which helps balance oil production. I'm a rather clumsy person and at first was hesitant about the glass packaging. Due to the weight of the bottle, which is rather bottom heavy, I'm pleased to find that I really haven't been knocking it over by accident. Really beautiful product overall in terms of the formulation and packaging.

Smooths and covers well

For the days when I need a concealer that performs beautifully and can be counted on to wear well all day, this is my go to, an absolute ace in the hole. It has a beautiful satin finish with medium but buildable coverage. The best part about the formulation is that is is ultra smoothing. I do still have to powder lightly and as with all concealers, this does crease minimally since I do have fine lines under the eyes. I appreciate that this doesn't accentuate dry patches. The shade is perfect for a brightening effect in my under eye area. For reference, I have light medium skin with neutral leaning warm undertones. I hope the swatches are helpful if you have a similar skin tone.

Go to brush for nose contour

I have been looking for a brush with a slanted and slender shape that I could use for nose contour and this beauty is just perfect for the job. The shape allows me to glide the contour down the sides on my nose and feather it downwards to create the most natural shadow. I use this same brush to contour my eye area as well, deepening the crease and blending out for a natural shadow and definition. I have been able to use this brush with powders and creams, and it works equally well with both. It is made with goat bristles that give the brush structure and firmness while the squirrel bristles ensure it is ultra soft to the touch. I will probably end up buying another just so I can have one designated for cream and one for powder.

Deeply clarifying

I find this mask super useful for the times my pores get congested, especially around the nose and cheek area. The kaolin clay in the formulation is deeply clarifying, and I can really see and feel a difference after use as my pores are visibly more clear. For the few days afterwards, I find that I need to blot my usually oily T-zone way less. There is a cooling effect to this as it dries down but it isn't uncomfortable. I appreciate all the hydrating ingredients added to the formulation like glycerin, shea butter, honey and squalane so the skin doesn't dry out in the process, which I find to be the case with many other clay masks. The clarify and decongesting effect definitely helps when I have active breakouts as well, as this makes them less inflamed. You only need a thin layer and it washes off quite well.

Glowy blush with beautiful dimension

I love the healthy sheen this blush imparts without accentuating the texture on my cheeks. Unbothered is a lighter pink shade that reflects a subtle cooler pink reflect. While the color can be built up, the pigment isn't super strong with this blush. The color you see in the photo is after applying two layers. I actually love that for days that I want a very light wash to my cheeks that doesn't compete with the rest of the look while adding an certain ethereal effect. I've been tempted to try some of the glowy blushes that have come out recently, but with textured acne scarring on my cheeks, I have always been hesitant as the glow usually accentuates the texture. I appreciate that this gives the most flattering glow without drawing any more attention to the texture.

Pore filling and smoothing but not drying

This product works super well for me as a primer before foundation to smooth out the pores/texture in my nose and cheek area. Since my skin is super dry, I first prime with the Yummy Skin Glow Serum in Fresh Pressed all over. I then go over the T-zone with this product and the combo has been working fabulously. The glow serum adds hydration/moisture and keeps the skin from drying out or looking flakey. This product sits very well on top of the glow serum and does not take away the hydrating/moisturizing effect of the glow serum. I find it does fill out the enlarged pores in my T-zone area nicely, and makeup sits very well over this product. It has a silky, smoothing quality that glides on the skin with ease when I press it into the skin and swipe gently to blend. The effect also lasts all day and the product does not break up with wear. I'm excited to try this over my foundation in lieu of a powder per the review I saw from Liselott. I appreciate the tip on using a small amount with a sponge and slowly pressing the product over foundation. I too have trouble with most powders looking too drying on the skin and this sounds like a promising alternative.

A must for dry skin

I have no doubt this primer would be stunning on other skin types but if you have dry skin, this is a must! Since my skin is so very dry and worse on certain days, I’m not able to apply foundation on a daily basis. This is the case even with thorough skincare prep. Having this in my routine has made it possible for me to wear foundation on the daily while on vacation and my makeup does not get patchy or flakey at the end of the day. It has a silky, cushiony finish that not only adds much needed hydration but also smooths over any dry patches and make them not obvious when you apply foundation on top. It will give more glow to your base product but not in a way that is greasy or too dewy, just a natural, hydrated glow. It helps the makeup applied over the top adheres well to the skin and adds to the longevity of my foundation by making it look fresher for longer. I have the shade Fresh Pressed, which has a very subtle brightening effect on my light/medium skin tone but no coverage. Before this, I used to not be able to do my makeup without the Smashbox Primerizer, but this has totally topped it! This is an incredible find.