Powder
A colleague at work got me interested in monthly beauty boxes again and the one she recommended was Birchbox.
I previously subscribed to other beauty boxes, such as Glossybox, but discontinued since I realised 1) I have more than enough skincare and makeup to last me a lifetime, 2) I already get sample sized products from beauty companies from blogging and dermatology reps that my excuse for 'travel-sized' products became redundant and 3) The samples I was usually provided ended up unused and less loved compared to the HG products I already purchased.
But there are also good things about the monthly boxes such as 1) As technology evolves, so does skincare and makeup and it is always useful to discover new products, 2) Beauty boxes tend to give a mix of makeup and skincare and boxes such as Birchbox takes into account your personal preferences, and 3) Receiving a new mystery beauty box every month makes it feel like its Christmas all year round!
There were three things that lured me into trying out Birchbox for May 2017. Undoubtedly these included the beautiful marble printed box that also doubles up as a drawer, the full sized Spectrum Collections C06 Tulip Eye Contour Brush with a white handle and gorgeous rose gold ferrule, and also that they had an offer for another box free. Bargain!
Here's a run through of the individual products and my initial thoughts on them.
Doucce Punk Volumizer Mascara RRP £18
This mascara has a jumbo fibre wand to add volume and thickness to lashes. I must say I am very impressed with this mascara. At first I was scared that the giant jumbo wand would smear my eyelids, but with a light hand, it avoids that, applies so easily and holds a curl on my stubborn straight lashes. This one's a winner for me!
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray RRP £19
I love this season-appropriate and trendy addition to the May Birchbox. Part dry shampoo and part texturiser, this sample travel-friendly size will save many holidays for lifted beachy hair.
Caudalie Vine Activ Glow Activating Anti-Wrinkle Serum RRP £36
This serum targets tiredness, stress and pollution. It contains an anti-cell burn-out complex to brighten dull skin and smooth fine lines.
Spectrum Collections Marbleous C06 Tulip Eye Contour Brush RRP £4.99
I love fluffy yet firm synthetic brushes for my eye contour and concealer. I think this brush will work for both. And I must say I am inlove with the rose gold ferrule!
Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow in Fifty Shades RRP £14.49
This shimmery gunmetal grey smokey loose mineral eyeshadow is paraben-free. Disaster always strikes when I use loose pigmented powders so this will find another home.
Manna Kadar Cosmetics High Definition Powder RRP £27
This pale vanilla powder has a velvety finish. Its an excellent travel size for the mobile makeup bag for touch ups through the day. I am likely to apply this on my oily T-zone which are also my 'highlight' areas so the paler shade wouldn't be much of a problem.
Baija Paris Creme Moana in Fleur de Tiare RRP £15.90
I had a silent squeal when I read the label. This is what I would expect a Disney's 'Moana' inspired moisturiser to smell like - shea butter and coconut oil - to smoothen parched skin. Of course this is in no way related to the Disney film, maybe just a coincidence.
Elemis Hydra-Boost Day Cream RRP £39
Everyone loves Elemis. This day cream has hyaluronic acid to improve the skin's hydration and texture. I would actually apply this for the day and night after cleansing. It makes your skin feel so smooth, I love it.
Polaar IcePure Gentle Scrub with Arctic Cotton RRP £23.50
Here's a skin smoothing body scrub that contains Arctic cotton for its moisturising properties. I would recommend limiting body scrubs to twice a week and following with moisturisers to avoid harsh effects on the skin.
ModelCo Eye Define Crayon Liner RRP £11
I am always on the look out for a HG eyeliner as despite these many years of beauty blogging, I still have not found it. ModelCo's offering is a twist-up pencil, so sharpening is not required. The formula is water-resistant but not as smudge or budge-proof as it claims. The formula isn't as creamy as one would hope, so there is a bit of tugging on application. It deposits a rich black matte colour that lasts long, with a thin tip that works well for my Asian eyelids.
Overall, while there are still some products I feel may go unloved from this set, I've enjoyed trying out my new products and my subscription will continue (for now). I look forward to the Birchbox in June!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
08/06/2017
Trying Out Birchbox
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| MAC Next To Nothing Foundation & Powder Review Swatches |
The selfie generation has inspired MAC's latest line of face bases, notably MAC Next To Nothing Powder and Foundation. Aimed at giving you an Instagram-worthy complexion, I eagerly tubed my way to my nearest MAC store at St Pancras Station to find my perfect shade.
As a MAC veteran, I know my usual foundation colours: NC25-30, C3 or Medium Plus. I'm glad I personally went to swatch these as the shades seem to vary quite a bit.
MAC Next to Nothing Face Colour Foundation. This is a sheer runny tint-like formula that gives a dewy shiny look, but with a comfortable non-sticky natural finish. It feels weightless on the skin. You will still need to prep with moisturiser beforehand as unexpectedly, it is not particularly moisturising. I expected to walk away with Medium Plus, but the shades leaned a bit orange so I came away with Medium instead. It doesn't cover much in the way of blemishes and so its probably one to use on good-skin-days. I've swatched it below compared to MAC Pro Longwear NC25, and you can tell its a lot darker, shinier and sheerer.
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| MAC Pro Longwear Foundation NC25 & MAC Next to Nothing Foundation Medium |
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| MAC Next To Nothing Powder Medium Plus Review, Swatches |
MAC Next To Nothing Powder Pressed. This is a sheer to medium coverage powder with a soft light-reflective sheen. If you look closely, you can see fine sparkles reminiscent of the Revlon Photoready Foundation. I would liken this to a skin-toned MAC Beauty Powder. I've picked out the shade in Medium Plus as Medium looked too ashy. It looks great with foundation, but alone you can tell on swatches below compared to MAC NC41 Studio Fix Powder Plus that it can still lean a bit cool-toned. It lasts quite well for a sheer powder, about three hours before I need a top up. It adds a beautiful glow to the skin and I do love it.
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| MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation NC41 & MAC Next To Nothing Powder Medium Plus Review, Swatches |
Overall, I recommend MAC Next To Nothing Powder as it adds something new to my collection. Most of my face powders are quite matte so a face base with a subtle glowy sheen is welcomed. MAC Next To Nothing Foundation on the otherhand is sheer much like a tinted non-moisturiser and its glowy effects are similar to one of my favourite primers, Laura Mercier Tinted moisturiser SPF 20, but without the SPF; so its something that's nice to have but not essential to my personal collection.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
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| July Favourites |
This month has been filled with hot humid environments and a lot of holiday photography. These beauty products have met my expectations and got the job done!
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation. This photo-perfecting foundation is the bomb. It provides medium coverage despite its thin consistency, similar to but better than MAC Face and Body foundation. Worn alone, it would only last you a couple hours in this environment, so I recommend setting this with powder.
bareMinerals Original SPF15 Foundation. I've enjoyed using this powder foundation. It somehow gives you a glowy finish but because its a powder, it isn't dewy. It lasts all day and easily worn by itself. I'm running out of my sample size; its time to purchase the full sized one.
MAC Rosy Outlook and Royal Sunset Blush. These blushes look almost identical in the pan and I use them interchangeably. If you had a keen eye, Royal Sunset is half a shade pinker than Rosy Outlook. Both are beautiful natural satin warm pink blushes. Royal Sunset somehow lasts longer on the skin than prolong wear Rosy Outlook.
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| MAC Rosy Outlook Blush, MAC Royal Sunset Blush |
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| MAC Rosy Outlook Blush, MAC Royal Sunset Blush (blended) |
MAC Texture Eyeshadow. I've rekindled my love for this tan brown shade. It looks beautiful on the crease to add a sun-kissed glow. Its perfect especially with brown and blue eyes.
L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Mascara. Since having my LVL lash lift, I've been struggling to find a mascara that won't brush on my lids as well as the lashes. The thin applicator with tiny bristles is works well although I still have to clear up the lid with a cotton bud. The shade is a nice true black.
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
01/08/2016
July Favourites
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| L'oreal Telescopic Mascara, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, BareMinerals Original Foundation, BareMinerals Matte Foundation, Benefit That Gal Primer, BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Review |
Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer. This pink-tinted face primer partially corrects the sallowness of my yellow skin while also providing a smooth base for foundation. I would wait a few minutes for this to set in prior to the next step. I found this to be non comedogenic for my combination skin. Unlike most primers this does not feel too siliconey which is great.
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream. This gel formula gives light to medium coverage on the skin with SPF30. It works very well with the benefit primer above.
BareMinerals SPF15 Matte Foundation. This loose powder product is fab to set the oily tzone with. It keeps shine at bay for about 4-6 hours prior to having to reapply again, and that's on my oily nose.
BareMinerals SPF15 Original Foundation. Loving this to set foundation on the rest of my face. It provides a natural finish, similar to MAC mineralised skinfinish natural powders.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer Powder. I've gone back to this matte taupe for contouring the face. Such a good quality product, I believe this is my second box.
L'Oréal Paris Telescopic Mascara. Lately my lids have been eyeliner free I suppose in the interests of time I have often gone straight for mascara. This lovely brush has small bristles yet pack a punch to create thick long lashes. Definitely one to try!
Livia | The Skin and Beauty Blog
We glow-loving ladies have always been fans of Pixi by Petra's Tinkerbell-fairy-themed products. As I make my rounds in the beauty section of Target, Pixi's luminous aisle always catches my attention. In the past two months, Pixi was so generous to send us some summer must-haves. The products are as follows:
1 - Nail Colour in Coral Cantaloupe - 7/10
This is a Bright Coral color with a hint of Gold Shimmer - perfect summer combination! It can look orange in sunlight. It's consistency is just right - not too watery, not too thick. Easy to apply.
Personally, it is not a color that I would buy. I am more of a toned-down, plain lacquer type of girl and this polish is a just a step down from being fluorescent. Nonetheless, it is still a fun wear.
2 - Quick Fix Powder - Translucid - 8/10
This white loose powder comes in a compact attached to a little sponge (which reminds me of a powder puff) and a mirror on top, which makes for easy application. The product is light-weight and becomes invisible when applied. This is probably one of the best translucid powders I have tried as it prevented my make up from being sticky and heavy after hours in the sun (I was out and about for around 5 hours in sunny San Diego).
3 - Eye Bright Liner - 10/10
My favorite among the bunch! This pencil moved it's way up to my make up bag, dethroning my all time favorite MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow. The product is pearly white and smooth, making it easy to apply. Perfect to line the waterlines and inner corners of the eyes. It also makes a good highlighter, as I also use it to brighten up other areas of my face. Bravo, Pixi!
4 - Makeup Fixing Mist - 7/10
This is probably the most beautiful among these products. It reminded me of those glowing lights in the trees you see in fairy movies. I does feel very refreshing when sprayed, but I found that it made my make up a little sticky.
5 - Endless Silky Eye Pen in Bronze Beam - 9/10
I love Pixi's Silky Eye Pens. They're smooth and glide on your eyes like butter. Bronze Beam is metallic brown and you can see a hint gold shimmer under light. It is very pigmented. A little goes a long way with this pencil!
6 - Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black Noir - 9/10
Also smooth and pigmented. It can well may be a cheaper alternative to MAC Feline Eye Pencil. Black Noir is the classic jet black eyeliner that make-up enthusiasts of all generations have deemed essential.
7 - Quick Fix Bronzer in Velvet Bronze - 10/10
My second favorite among the bunch, which also moved it's way up to my
make up bag. It's a loose powder that comes in the same compact as the
translucid powder. This was the perfect shade for my NC35-NC40 face. Light as a feather; it does not make harsh contour lines like other
bronzers do.
8 - Tinted Brilliance Balm in Unique Pink - 7/10
This reminded me of these "magic lipsticks" I had in my childhood, where the product is a completely different color when applied (e.g. my yellow lipstick turned red on my lips). Not a bad thing though; I found myself in the same state of awe when I applied this lip balm. This peppermint-flavored lip balm is comparable to the old Wet n' Wild Jumbo Juicy Lip Balms in texture. Although the color tint is not bad, there's just something about peppermint lip products that I dislike.
Here's my summer-glow face using all the Pixi Products mentioned above, Loreal BB Cream, Etude Easy Brow Pencil, and Maybelline The Rocket Mascara.
Shannon| The Skin and Beauty Blog
21/08/2015
Pixi Product Review (June-July Boxes)
I had my tiring week of night shifts this week which meant poor sleep, dehydrated skin, eye bags and acne. To keep my skin looking its best, I opted for a more natural no-makeup makeup look focusing on a good foundation, with contour and highlight. Skipping blush altogether. Lips were lathered in lip balm as often as I could remember. Here are the products I used:
Night shifts call for 12 hours of wear and I used Laura Mercier Foundation Primer to make my foundation last as long as it could. This primer perfects the skin, helps reduce shine and unwanted sheen. It's a great match for the foundation below:
Now I have recently raved about this foundation in THIS POST and I could not adore it enough! It is moderately long-lasting while avoiding drying out the skin. Upon taking my makeup off before bed, I find that my skin improved compared to the beginning of the day. Bizarre and amazing how this foundation perfects the skin.
Another LM favourite this week, this loose powder sets foundation well and looks natural.
I have been using MAC Give Me Sun! Mineralize Skin Finish as a 2 in 1 bronzer and contour. It can appear too warm-toned for some but with my golden undertones, it works well to chisel on some cheekbones and give me that summer sun glow.
Speaking of glow, this palette, well mainly Incandescent Light, has adorned my cheekbones this week as the other half of my contour/highlight duo. Full review HERE.
Lips were kept nice and neutral with this cult-favourite lip balm. It hydrates and heals chapped lips and I just love the minty fresh taste.
So those were my favourites this week. Care to share yours?
So those were my favourites this week. Care to share yours?
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