Beauty Product Reviews | Page 6
Weightless Protection for Hair
This heat protectant is an absolute essential in my styling routine. It allows me to style my hair on a daily basis while protecting the integrity of my processed, damaged hair. Having started out with coarse, jet-black hair, I’m sure you can imagine the level of damage sustained by bleaching my hair to a cool toned blonde. I would not be able to flat-iron my hair on a daily basis and not see a lot of breakage without this product. I am able to use this product religiously due to the lightweight and non-greasy texture. I have used other heat protectants in the past but never able to keep up with the habit due to the oily and heavy textures. I’m able to use a good amount of this product to evenly coat all my hair without weighing it down or creating an unpleasant texture. After styling, my hair feels smooth and soft. As long as I keep using this, no further damage is sustained and I can go on flat ironing to my heart’s content! I also use this prior to using a curling iron, blow drying or any types of heat styling. I’m fairly certain my styling tools do not even reach these temperatures with this product, you will be protected from heat for up to 220°C or 428°F. I already purchased a back-up since I really cannot go without this!
Ultra Smooth Sheen
I purchased this per Emily P’s recommendation and I really have to thank her for guiding me to this absolute gem! I was not convinced that I needed it since have quite a few highlighter singles and palettes in my collection. After trying this palette out, I see that this type of finish with a highlighter is actually quite unique to my collection. Most of the highlighters I own aim to give you that glow that can be seen from a distance. While these types of highlighters are very glowy in finish, they actually contain quite a few micro shimmers that can be seen up close upon inspection. This is not the look I can go for on a daily basis since I don’t wear much makeup everyday. For days that i just want a healthy sheen, these three shades offer the most stunning and undetectable glow.
I’m able to utilize all three shades with my light-medium, NC 20 skin tone. Initially, I thought the gold shade would be too dark. However, the finely milled and reflective pigments actually make the shade look lighter than what I would imagine upon application. Highlighter palettes have the advantage of allowing you to mix and match all three shades and create the perfect shade of highlight you desire on that day. On days I go without makeup but didn’t want to sacrifice that glow, I will any shade lightly using my Wayne Goss 02 Brush. I would highly recommend the Sonia G Sculpt Four if you would like to get the most glow from these powders, or any highlighting powders for that matter. With the quality of these powders, I’m sure the finish will not disappoint with any highlighting brush you have on hand!
Wonderfully Dense Powder/Bronzer Brush
Having also been interested in the natural hair version of the Tom Ford Bronzer Brush 05, I purchased the BP013 at Alexis S’s recommendation. I was surprised upon receiving this brush due to the density. I can easily say that this is the most dense brush in my collection. Upon the first use, I was hesitant to apply too much pressure, thinking that it will lay down the bronzer heavily. I quickly realized that I’m able to use the normal amount of pressure with my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer. The finish I got from this brush is a very diffused but even lay down of color. While the size of the brush was intimidating at first, I didn’t find the color to go everywhere while implementing a slight degree of control with application. I have to stress that this brush would only be suitable for bronzing since the size does not allow it to be precise enough for contouring or even brontouring if you will. Ever since I received this brush a few months back, I have not wanted to use anything else to bronze the skin. If you missed the boat on the natural hair version of the Tom Ford bronzing brush, this is a great alternative!
While I have not used this brush for cream and liquid foundations, I did find the brush to work really well with powder foundation. The density allowed me to work the powder into the skin and get a natural, skin like finish from different powder foundations in my collection. I have used this with mineral and regular powder foundation and the brush performs equally well. Since this one brush works well for both bronzing and powder foundation, it is a great investment if you happen to use both products. I generally wipe the bronzer off on a microfiber cloth prior to using the brush for powder foundation the next day. Given the Tom Ford Brush in the synthetic version is $115, this brush is really a worthy investment!
Finest Powder I’ve Ever Used
The title is not an exaggeration as this is truly the most finely milled powder I’ve ever come across. The texture is so fine that upon baking with it, there is a slight cloud of powder just hanging in the air. For that reason, I would recommend that you do not agitate the product too much and try not to inhale too deeply if you do. Even when baking with the powder and using a good amount, the result is a super thin layer on the skin. It’s the strangest thing but I can’t seem to make this powder cake up no matter how much I layer on. I find this powder to really smooth out the skin and even minimize the pores a bit. However, the dry patches on my face that would show with any powder are still visible upon application. My skin did not feel tight or dry even when I baked with the product but it did leave a slight white case due to the amount I used. I have light-medium skin and the white case did go away once the product warmed up to my skin and the oils broke through a bit. If you have medium to deep skin tone, I would recommend checking out the tinted version instead if you’re worried about the slight white cast upon application or if you plan on baking with it. Overall, this is a stellar power and I’ll be sure to try the tinted version as well.
Hands Down Best Micellar Water
I can’t speak for everyone but personally, there are definitely nights I can’t make it to the sink. I have acne prone skin and most micellar waters will cause further congestion and even break outs. Most wipes and micellar waters will not cleanse thoroughly and I can confirm this with the residue on my Clarisonic the next morning. The morning after I used this, I was surprised to find that my Clarisonic was residue free. On top of that, my skin also looked suspiciously clear and radiant. The night before, I used this product to remove a face full of foundation, concealer, powder, eyeshadow and the works. I did have to use a few cotton pads and go over the same areas several times to ensure that my face was free of any trace of makeup. I applied my usual skincare on top and just like that, the results were as if I had actually washed my face the next day!
The finish after application is a true micellar effect where the skin is cleansed but the product leaves absolutely no residue or uncomfortable feeling. It’s as if the cleansing water did its job, conditioned the skin even and then just evaporated! It’s the strangest, most pleasant experience I’ve had with a micellar water. I have started using this in the morning in lieu of a cleanse with water just to not strip the skin. This is actually recommended by my dermatologist when my skin is very dry. I enjoyed this product so much that I went ahead and purchased the 480ml size! I cannot be more pleased that I went with the larger size since the performance is truly impressive.
Bold and Unique
I find this palette to be especially useful when you’re wanting to get creative with your eye looks. If I’m going to a show or an event where I can be a bit more expressive with my makeup, this is definitely the palette of choice. The mattes are very pigmented and look saturated on my light-medium skin tone. I appreciate this level of intensity when I’m looking for a bolder end result. The shimmer shades go on very well and do not require much work. However, I would have to let you know that there are three shades I would consider to be more of a glitter toppers-Zamn, Dwollas, and Trust Issues. I find these shades to stick well on top of a glitter topper but you may not get the intensity you’re looking for without.
If you have fair to light-medium skin tone, this palette may not give you the most natural look. With a light hand, you can get a softer but still beautiful result. I find this palette truly shines for me when creating the looks like the one in the photo. I received so many compliments for on the day I wore this look! More than anything, I had fun creating this since I did not struggle with application for any of the shades. Even though it was quite a bit of work to create a look like this, all the shades worked as expected to make the process frustration-free. Definitely keep this palette in mind for your next masterpiece!
Super Versatile Neutral Palette
The combination of shades in this palette makes it very versatile. I’ve been very pleased with the variety of looks I can create using this palette. While the shades in this palette are not necessarily unique, the range of light to deep shades makes it a very comprehensive neutral palette. The most natural daytime eye look can just as easily be accomplished as the most sultry evening look and everything in between. The matte shades are pigmented yet easy to blend. The shimmer shades are buttery smooth and impactful. I appreciate the inclusion of a matte brow bone shade since this is missing from many other palettes in my collection.
This is by and large a cool toned palette, with the shimmer shades being a bit warmer to create a great balance. I honestly didn’t see how this palette differs from any other neutral palettes but the more I used it, I started to notice that I was able to create so many different looks with just this one palette! This is my palette of choice for the next trip since I wouldn’t have to carry many products or a very large palette that is inconvenient to travel with. I could easily get through a week long trip with just this palette and would not find it lacking in any way!
Natural Finish and Precise Application
I’ve already been using the Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil for some time before this more precise version launched. The formula of the pencil is in keeping with that of the Sculpting Pencil in terms of color payoff and texture. While this pencil is more precise, it didn’t take much longer to fill in my brows than the Sculpting Pencil. I do prefer the Micro Sculpting Pencil since I can get a sharper tail. Even with the rather small and thin tip to the pencil, the finish is still diffused and never looks harsh. I can get feathery thin stokes with this pencil and create a very natural look to the brows. The pencil is great for beginners since it is firm enough that you won’t have to be too careful with it. The magic in this formula lies in the perfect ratio of waxiness to pigment, resulting the diffused look I mentioned. I use the shade Soft Brunette for the front of my brows to create a softer look and Ash on the latter half for definition. There has been no shortage of brow pencils that hit the market but this is definitely my favorite!
Clears Up Congested Skin
I’ve been using acids for many years and most acid products with lower percentages will not tingle at all upon application. I would probably not recommend this toner for those starting out with acids or with sensitive skin. I’ve been using this for over a week now and it has really been helping with pore congestion. I have a bit of texture on perimeters of my face, which has come to the surface and began to clear with the addition of this toner.
Glycolic acid is the predominant acid within this formulation, which is the strongest of all the alpha hydroxy acids. This is due to glycolic acid having the smallest molecule size, which penetrates deeper into the skin. Acids will work to chemically the top layer of the skin by loosening the bonds between dead skin cells and allowing them to be sloughed off. I appreciate the addition of salicylic acid, which is oil soluble and has the ability to clear out pores. Acetic acid is the ingredient that put this over the top for me. It has been known to help with acne by unclogging pores and has anti-inflammatory properties to boot! If you have used the cult favorite Biologique Recherche Lotion P50, you will be pleasantly surprised that this toner has the acetic acid in it also but without the pungent scent.
I have been seeing a decrease in clogged pores and general congestion in the skin. I use this product daily, which I would not recommend until you build up a tolerance to acids. I appreciate the efficacy of the formulation and look forward to the results with continued use!
Absolutely Gorgeous!
As you can tell by the title, I am completely enamored with this palette! The colors are pigmented while being extremely easy to work with. I have a few Natasha Denona Palettes and this is the best quality shadows I have come across from her. I wish all her palettes are in this format since the price is less than that of her larger palette and I really don’t mind getting less product per pan. I have quite a few palettes and to be honest, it is difficult to hit pan when you have so many in the rotation hence the way this palette is set up is preferable. The difference in price has not resulted in lesser quality in any way. The packaging is that of a sturdy metal on the top shell and a velvetized plastic on the bottom There is a full size mirror in the palette framed by a metal trim. The lid of the palette does adjust to any position you put it in and can even lay completely flat while being able to hold the placement.
The mattes in the palette are pigmented and when blended together, each shade retains its true color and does not get muddy. The shimmer shades are slightly creamy, adheres to the lid well and are very impactful. The two columns on the right hand portion of the palette are actually very neutral and would allow for a soft, everyday look in the event that you do not feel as adventurous on that day. In the photo, I did a smokey, sunrise look with the palette and was thrilled with how it turned out! This is a great starting point if you have never tried a Natasha Denona Palette in the past. I promise you will not be disappointed!