Beauty Product Reviews | Page 9

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!

Appropriate for All Occasions

I wear this eyeshadow palette to death despite having so many that I do not need to purchase more for years to come! I thought that this would be a very natural palette for daytime looks or when minimal makeup is called for. I was pleasantly surprised by the range that this palette has despite only having four shades. The matte shade in the lower right hand corner makes this possible since it is deeper than it looks in the pan. I am able to get a rather smokey but sophisticated look from this palette due to the matte shade I mentioned.

Alternatively, I am able to apply the matte shade lightly in the crease and get a more natural look from the palette. The upper left hand corner shade is light enough that I can highlight the inner corners and underneath my brow bone while the upper right hand corner shade is a beautiful lid shade. The glitter topper is subtle but adds that slight touch of glimmer to the lid. I highly recommend this palette something that is appropriate for all occasions!

Nourishes the Skin While Removing Makeup and Impurities

After using various cleansing balms over the years, I did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did! This is a solid balm that will melt into a creamy, balmy and ever so slightly oily texture that will remove all traces of makeup. I even use this to remove my eye makeup and it does a fabulous job without irritating my eyes or greasing up my contacts. My preferred method of cleansing is to apply a small scoop of this, gently massage it onto the face and then wipe off the product with a damp microfiber cloth. I will follow up with a second cleanser if I wore makeup that day as part of a double cleanse routine to ensure all traces of makeup is removed and my pores are cleansed of the excess sebum produced throughout the day. On days when my face is free of makeup, I’m able to use this as my only cleanser. It is not necessary to remove with a cleansing cloth as this formula rinses clean with water. I personally enjoy the mild exfoliation from using a microfiber cloth but it isn’t a necessary step if you do not need the exfoliation.

This has taken the place of my former favorite cleansing balm, which is the Hemish All Clean Balm. I find the texture of the Good Molecules Cleansing Balm to be more substantial, whereas the Hemish is thinner and more oily. I enjoy the slightly thicker texture as it allows me to work the product into the skin a bit more to draw out the impurities. I appreciate the addition of shea butter, flower oils and sea buckthorn oil within the formulation as they keep the skin nourished during the cleansing process. I do not find this product to be stripping at all and it really helps to maintain the integrity of my moisture barrier. This product is excellent for dry skin since it cleanses but puts moisture back in at the same time. I have oily skin and this product works equally well since cleansers that leave the skin feeling squeaky clean will disrupt the skin barrier and cause even more oil to be produced. This is an all around great product suitable for all skin types!

Multi-Purpose Gem

While this brush makes quick work of laying down a wash of shadow all over the lid, it is capable of so much more! I also use this brush to contour my nose and other areas of the face as well as highlight. The shape of the brush is slightly pinched at the ferrule so it is somewhat flat. The bristles do taper to a rounded tip that allow you to have a bit of precision despite the size of the brush. The goat bristles are ultra soft while remaining powerful in terms of laying down color. The more tapered bristles on the outer perimeter help to blend out the product. If you’re a bit extra, you can use a bigger brush to lay down a base layer of highlight and then the T-6 to concentrate the highlight in the center so as to “highlight your highlight”. The undyed goat hairs allow you to also use this brush for cream or liquid products like highlighter and concealer. Being able to use this brush for many purposes definitely makes this a worthy investment!

Powerful and Multi-Purpose

This is my favorite highlighting brush and definitely my go to out of four that I will use for this purpose. The density and shape of this brush makes it very powerful when it comes to laying down the color and buffing it out. The saikoho goat hair also contribute to the power while being the highest quality goat bristles available. The slightly slanted shape of the brush allows me to use the longer end to pick up the product and diffused it along my cheek bones effortlessly. Out of the highlighting brushes in my collection, this one gives me the most pigmentation from the highlight. If you’re using a very metallic and soft highlight, I would use a very light hand since you will get a lot of pigmentation with this brush. I find this brush very ideal for more subtle or stiffer highlights as the density will really help you pick up the product.

I have also used this for contouring, since the slanted shape allows for chiseling out the hollow of the cheeks. I have a relatively round face so this brush works better for me to define with contour after going in with a bit of bronzer. If you have very defined features, this will work well to enhance the natural shadows and structure of the face. I would imagine that you could also use this brush for blushes as well so it is very multi-purpose. If I had to keep one brush out of my four highlighting brushes, I would choose this one without hesitation.

Best Buffing Brush for Powders

I waited for this brush to come back in stock for months and was not disappointed upon receiving the brush! I was so excited to receive it as I have been looking for the perfect brush for buffing in powder foundation. This brush does the job perfectly as it buffs in the product with little to no effort. Did I mention that this brush is ultra soft? Even if you jab the brush into you face with force, you will not feel a poke with any of the bristles. The softness makes it such a pleasure to use while the density allows the brush to buff in the product.

I have used this brush for mineral as well as regular powder foundation and it works well for just about any powder I have come across. The flat top shape allows you to work the product into you skin. I also use this brush with a finishing powder like the Guerlain Meteorites so I can buff everything underneath together and create a more natural finish. This brush has held up well through many washes and I have not experienced copious amounts of shedding other than floating hairs that are released from the brush with the initial wash or two. This brush has definitely become an essential within my collection and I would not wish to go without it!

Excellent for Purple or Neutral Eye Look

This is one of my favorite Viseart Palettes since I really love a purple eye look. Purple eyeshadows are supposed to enhance brown eyes so I’m all for it! I believe you will enjoy this palette even if you’re not a purple lover since the two purple shades are grounded by neutrals. There is a good range of lighter to deeper shades that allows for an eye look that has a lot of depth. I really appreciate how the neutrals are cool toned in order to compliment the purple shades in the palette. The ultra metallic lid shades are so smooth, slightly creamy and applies on the lid effortlessly. The shades within this palette are well thought out and allows you to do either a neutral or purple look.

All the shades are pigmented, easy to blend and has great lasting power. I wore this purple look for an entire day and did not see the shadows fade whatsoever. The first shade does blend in with my skin but it makes for a great shadow to blend out the edges with. Great palette overall and would definitely recommend!

Great Crease Brush

One of my favorite types of brushes to collect is rounded blending brushes and I was not disappointed with the quality of this one! As you can see in the photo, it is similar in size to the Hakuhodo J5522 and smaller than the Sonia G Detail Pro. I would say it is more rounded than the Hakuhodo pictured and shorter in bristle length. I find this to be a very appropriate, medium sized, domed-shaped blending brush. You can also use it in the crease if you have more lid space like myself. I initially purchased this brush as a replacement for my Mac 224 but find that it is slightly shorter in bristle length. However, I do prefer the performance of this brush to the Mac 224 as it is softer but also retains the ability to pick up a good amount of product and diffuse it.

I was initially perplexed by the cost of this brush given that it is made from Sokoho goat bristles, which is not known to be as soft or fine as Saikoho goat. With continued use, I find this to be a boon since the slightly firmer bristles actually allowed me to get more intensity out of shadows than I could with Saikoho goat eye brushes. This brush has retained its shape well after many washings. If anything, the shape of the brush has gotten more fluffed out but I do not find that any of the bristles have splayed out. The handle length is quite short but I actually prefer that for especially for travel.

Efficient Cleanse Without Overstripping

The light gel texture and mild scent of this product is really pleasant to use on a daily basis. It cleanses the excess sebum and oil production that gathers on my skin over the course of the day rather efficiently as it does foam up ever so slightly. I use this with my Clarisonic Mia in the evening and find that my skin is left without the impurities that collect within the pores over the day without stripping my skin of its natural moisture. I use this in the morning with just my hands and it works equally well but does not foam up as much as with my Clarisonic. I appreciate the sulfate-free formula since I do not see why that is still an ingredient in cleansers as it will really disrupt the skin’s moisture barrier. You will get that squeaky clean feeling with sulfates but it really takes away all the oil that is naturally there to keep the skin healthy.

I also prefer cleansers with antioxidants such like this one from boscia since they will help combat free radicals the skin is exposed to during the day. I understand that the cleanser is only in contact with my face for a short time but any nourishment I can get from each steps within my routine is appreciated. More than anything else, I love the subtlety of this product as it does its job well and doesn’t cause any issues. I have very sensitive and acne-prone skin that does not react well to many products. I have used and repurchased this one many times over the years as it is just a great stand-by. It reminds me of that saying that if you do something right, they won’t notice you’ve done anything at all.