Beauty Product Reviews | Page 9

No Residue or Build-Up

If you’re looking for a dry shampoo that will leave no residue at all, look no further! I have balayaged hair with a few inches of black roots and there is absolutely nothing left behind after massaging this product into the roots and anywhere my hair is oily. It dries down in a few minutes and leaves the hair still soft and pliable but with a bit of hold and volume. Some dry shampoos will coat my hair with powders and leave it feeling heavy with product.

This guy gives the hair a finish that is the closest to having actually washed your hair out of any dry shampoos I have tried! I mean that in the sense that the hair is not weighed down by product but feels refreshed. It will also give the hair a bit of grip to create volume at the roots. I would imagine that if you put the product through the length of the hair, you will get a really light but natural texturized effect.

My only criticism would be that the hair does not stay refreshed for more than a day and you would have to reapply the next day to maintain the effect. I have found this to be the case with other dry shampoos as well but the difference is I can reapply this one and not get build-up. This is every bit as good as my other favorite dry shampoo, which is the Oribe Dry Gold Lust Dry Shampoo.

Beautiful Sheen to the Skin

The ultra smooth formulation of this highlighter imparts beautiful sheen to the skin. I generally do not prefer highlights with visible glitter particles and safe to say there are none found with this one. In fact, the pigment is so fine that it melds seamlessly into my foundation underneath. I have the shade 01 Fair, which has a cool champagne color that borders on being a bit icy. Even with a warm complexion and yellow undertones, this shade does not appear to be so cool-toned as to look unflattering.

Since the formula is buildable, I am able to use a few different brushes for application in order to create different finishes. When the occasion calls for a blinding highlight, I opt for the Sonia G Sculpt Four brush as it applies this product with much impact. For a more subtle touch, I will reach for the Wayne Goss 02 brush as it is made with squirrel bristles that layers the product on lightly. The powder is not pressed so hard that you will need a firm brush to pick up nor is it so soft that you have to be careful how much product ends up on the brush. I’m able to pick up the product rather easily with either brush I mentioned and get the perfect amount.

I have even tested this on the chest and shoulders and find that the glow to be just as fine as on the face! I will be purchasing shade 02 Light-Medium as I really enjoyed the formulation and would like a warmer shade. Also, due to this being marketed as face and body highlight, Natasha has given us 10 grams of product, which is a more than the usual 7-8 grams for an average full size highlighter. If you use this product exclusively on the face, this highlight should last a really long time!

Effective Scrub that Purifies the Skin

I was told by a facialist at a med spa that my skin clogs easily due to not being able to shed dead skin cells properly on its own. While she would generally recommend a more gentle form of exfoliation such as enzyme powders or a mild chemical exfoliant for her other clients, she actually suggested that I use a more effective physical exfoliant for my particular skin type. I find this scrub to be perfect for that purpose as it is more powerful than the gentle exfoliants I mentioned earlier. The exfoliating particles are round in shape and there are no sharp or jagged bits that could cause tears to the skin. Not only does it contain lava powders to physically exfoliate, there is also lactobionic acid to exfoliate chemically. Lactobionic acid is part of the AHA family but the much milder cousin of glycolic acid.

This scrub goes one step further by adding Hungarian Moor Mud, which helps to purify by drawing out excess sebum in the skin. I really enjoy how well rounded this product is ingredient wise and would definitely recommend it if you have the type of skin that can benefit from an effective physical exfoliation. I find that my skin has remained clear and less congested over the course of using this product, which is definitely the result I was hoping for!

Effective and Nourishing

I find the texture of this cleanser to be very enjoyable to use as it is a cream/gel formulation that foams up slightly when applied with my hands. I do find that it foams up quite a bit more when used with my Clarisonic, not that it dries out my skin at all. I have stayed away from foaming cleansers that strip the skin of its moisture and that is something I never have to worry about with this one! In fact, this product is quite the opposite as it leaves the skin cleansed but balanced. I do not sense that any moisture is lost due to the nourishing effect this has on the skin. I see that this cleanser contains vegetable glycerin in order to put the hydration back and oils to replenish.

While I would not expect too drastic of a result from any brightening cleanser that is only in contact with the skin for a short period of time, I would still say that this is a great cleanser if you’re looking for something that will cleanse the skin properly and nourish the skin barrier. The thick, luxurious texture of this product makes it a pleasure to use!

Great Bronzer and Subtle Highlight

I have had this product in my collection for well over a year and finally hitting pan. Admittedly, I do not use cream bronzers and highlights very frequently but this is always the product I reach for when I do. My skin tone is about NC25 and the cream bronzer shade works very well. The bronzer does have a slightly golden undertone which looks great with my yellow undertone skin. I would imagine that this shade would look great with warm or golden undertone skin in general. The formulation of the bronzer is that of a cream that is not too heavy and diffuses very well when blended.

With application, I am able to place the bronzer on the skin using my finger. I basically draw a diagonal wedge under my cheek bones and blend it out with either a Beautyblender or a synthetic brush. Not to worry as the bronzer does blend out very well and creates a natural finish. You will not see stripes along the sides of your cheeks with proper blending. I also will put some along the perimeter of my forehead and under the jaw as well. I find that since the undertone is very natural on my skin, I am able to use it to bronze and contour a bit.

There is no base pigment to highlight and it leaves a beautiful sheen to the top of the cheek bones. If you’re looking for a highlight that can be seen from space, this is not it as the finish is very natural. Both the highlight and bronzer do not set so it remains in this creamy state unless you set it with powder. I have oily skin do not find either product to feel heavy on the skin even when not set. I would recommend this product if you’re able to find a shade that suits your undertone as the cream formula is very easy to work with.

Best Workhorse Crease Brush

I first purchased this brush at the Makeup Show in San Francisco at the Smith Cosmetics booth and found it so indispensable that I purchased another at Beautylish. I had been patiently waiting for this guy to come back in stock as my eyeshadow application would be much improved with another one. I had been using the first one I purchased to lay down the transition shade and deepen up the crease in a more diffused application. I knew I could use another one to blend out the edges but was a bit surprised when I received my second Smith 232 Brush.

By visual comparison, I can clearly see a size and density difference with the brushes. To be honest, I felt like the brush was inconsistent and I potentially received a dud. Fast forward a month and I have washed the brush several times, I'm seeing that the brush has become almost identical as my first brush. With each wash, the brush has become fuller and more rounded in shape. The brush seems to have bloomed after a few washes and become the brush I have come to know and love. If you receive this brush and have the same initial feelings, do stick with it for awhile and give it a chance. The brush does get better with each wash.

I have found this brush to be the most impactful crease brush in my collection. This is not going to be the softest brush you've ever used like a squirrel hair crease brush would feel like on the skin. It is by no means scratchy to me either. The firm bristles contribute to the brush being able to pick up, lay down and diffuse the most amount of pigment with any crease brush I've used. For those times that I'm in a hurry with no time to play around, this is my go to brush for a transition shade or crease color.

Brightening and Pore Refining

When I first discovered niacinamide's effects on the skin, I was very excited about the promise of brightening the complexion overall and potentially lightening hyper-pigmentation. I thought to myself that this is too good to be true but would like to find out for myself. While I did see some mild lightening of spots left over by breakouts, the texture and finish of The Ordinary's 10% Niacinamide Serum makes it hard for me to use it frequently. I find the texture to be slightly thick and hard to spread while leaving a tacky finish to the skin.

Fast forward to now and the Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum has become a crucial step in my skincare routine. The texture and finish of the serum is so cosmetically elegant that I look forward to the application process. It applies like a more substantial gel that just glides into the skin and absorbs right away. The texture of this serum is so pleasant that I will use this to mix into my Murad serum in order to improve the texture and make it easier to apply. I have seen a reduction of hyper-pigmentation on the skin overall now that I'm 3/4 of the way into the bottle. My skin tends to be very stubborn with holding onto hyper-pigmentation and keep in mind that I have been using this ingredient at this percentage for quite some time. It speaks to the efficacy of the formulation that I'm still seeing improvements with this ingredient.

Not only does this product help to brighten the skin, I have seen a reduction in pores size with this serum along with 2% BHA to clear out the pores. Niacinamide is also a humectant that helps draw moisture from the air into the skin. If you happen to use prescription retinol like myself, you will find that this serum really helps to soothe and hydrate the skin in order to negate the harsh side effects of tretinoin. I really can't see why I would ever discontinue use of this serum in my routine.

Best Oil for Problem Skin

As Alexis S. mentioned, squalane oil is an acne-prone, sensitive skin girl's best friend. This oil is known to be non-comedogenic, meaning it does not have the potential to clog pores. When my skin gets congested or breaks out, this is the only oil I feel safe using as I have never found it to cause further congestion. Due to its small molecular weight, this oil has a lightweight texture that absorbs very quickly into the skin. It leaves a supple finish to the skin and is never greasy, making it a great facial oil even for daytime use under makeup. I will usually mix about two drops into my Farmacy Honey Drop Moisturizer in order to beef up the level of moisture I can achieve than with just the moisturizer alone. Alternatively, you're able to press a few drops into the skin and then follow up with your moisturizer.

While the Good Molecules Squalane Oil is my go to for this olive derived oil, it is actually not the first squalane oil I have used. For a long time. I've only come to know Indie Lee's Squalane Facial Oil, which is also very lightweight and moisturizing. While I enjoy them both, I do find the size, price and formulation of the Good Molecules Squalane to come out ahead for me personally. You really can't go wrong with either option to be honest.

Lightweight Yet Super Hydrating

Although the texture of this moisturizer is lightweight, it delivers on a boost of hydration that is ideal for dehydrated skin. It contains three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid which penetrate the skin at different levels while plumping out the skin by drawing moisture to it. I would highly recommend this product for oily skin gals out there that are not fans of the suffocating feeling of a heavy moisturizer. The texture is completely non-greasy and has a nice slip that leaves the skin balanced. This would also be a great option for normal to dry skin types in the summertime.

While this moisturizer is not the most occlusive, it does contain camellia seed oil to add much needed lipids to dry skin. While camellia seed oil has a higher oleic acid content, it is a drier oil that absorbs easily into the skin. Although oils with a higher linoleic acid content is more ideal for oily and acne prone skin, I have never found this moisturizer to have broken me out. I look forward to the warm but slightly sweet scent from the combination of honey, propolis and royal jelly within this formulation. Honey is a great humectant, propolis is quite soothing and royal jelly is very antioxidant rich. As I am hitting the bottom on this well loved moisturizer, it is needless to say that I will be repurchasing a replacement.

Another Hit Product from Oribe

I have not been disappointed by an Oribe product thus far and this is no exception! This is so much more than just a leave-in conditioner as it contains multiple types of hydrolyzed protein and keratin in order to replenish my damaged, bleached hair. Keratin serves to protect the hair in the external layers and internally in the cortex of the hair. This product gives the hair a protein treatment with each use, which helps to strengthen the hair over time.

The texture of the product is slightly thicker and creamy in consistency. I use about a quarter size amount of product each time as I have long hair that is thicker. It spreads throughout my hair quite well and I make sure to comb it through at the end for the most even distribution. The product does have that signature Oribe scent that I can’t get enough of!

I find that this product not only helps rebuild the hair from within, it smoothes out the strands immediately and my hair becomes soft and manageable after each use. While I do follow up with styling products, this is always the base treatment of choice!