Revlon Revlon Revlon!

Revlon keeps coming out with new stuff! They all look so good!!

I got my hands on the Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Coral Reef and their new Just Bitten Kissable Balmstain in Sweetheart Valentine.

Ouu that's a new word...Balmstain! Fancy.

REVLON PHOTOREADY CREAM BLUSH:

Packaging:
Simple, elegant, to the point. It comes in a simple clear, shallow jar. The diameter of it is slightly less than the MAC Cream Blushes.

Consistency:
It's extremely smooth and very very easy to blend. The colour is very even as well. It doesn't leave a chalky feel or finish upon application.

Colour:
There are 3 colours in their cream blush line. 2 of them, including Coral Reef, may scare you straight out of the container but they blend out easily and won't make you look like a clown. Easily sheered out but not so much that you can't see a thing (ehem! unlike the bouncy blush from maybelline). Pretty foolproof. Coral Reef gives you a beautiful glow!

Staying Power:
It stays a good 6 hours but then it starts to fade a little. A little trick to help your cream blush stay looking fresh? Apply a bit of powder blush over the top!

REVLON JUST BITTEN KISSABLE BALMSTAIN:

Packaging:
Very similar to Clinique Chubby Sticks. A chubby pencil style packaging with a twist up bottom. No sharpening needed! Tres cute.

Consistency:
A super smooth balm! Just in the shape of a pencil! It glides onto your lips like...well...butter!
Don't be fooled by the "kissable" in the name. If you kiss someone right after you put it on or you havent eaten and food or you didn't drink anything, and you decide to kiss someone...their lips are going to be just as pink as yours. It transfers.

Colour/pigmentation:
This balmstain is definitely more pigmented than the Clinique Chubby Sticks. The colour I got is a bright, blue-toned pink on the lips. They aren't sheer.

Staying Power:
Besides the fact that it transfers initially, it does leave a stain behind on your lips. It's not as bright as the initial colour but don't take that as me saying it isn't noticeable. You WILL notice the stain. The first time I swatched it on my hand the colour stayed for 2 days!

I prefer this balmstain to Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Lipstain, you know, the one with the marker on one end and the balm on the other. That one is pretty bad.

xoxo

Maybelline Color Tattoo! (Long overdue)

Hey everyone!
I could have sworn that I did a post on this already but I don't see it in the listing.
A few months ago Maybelline came out with their 24hr cream shadow AKA Color Tattoo.

Most of you have probably already bought it or seen it on the shelves of stores, but here's a quick review.

 

They mimic MAC Paint Pots, however they definitely do not have the same consistency/feel.
MAC paint pots feel like silk when you pass your fingers over them. It's extremely smooth and dreamy. The Maybelline Color Tattoo consistency is not very smooth at all. It is smooth but has a sort of uneven, rough feel to them. It doesnt just slide under your fingers. I have to rub my finger in the pot to get the same amount I would get out of a MAC Paint Pot.

 

The colours they offer are quite nice though! They even came out with some Neutral and Fall colours recently. The pgimentation is really good despite the different consistency.

The staying power is great! It literally will NOT move until you take it off with makeup remover. No fading, no sliding...NADA. Wipes will not take it off.

 

You can use them as shadows, eyeshadow bases, eyeliner...you name it! Sort of a multi-tasker just like Paint Pots.

 

Here are the shades Bold Gold and Tenacious Teal:

Out of 5 I would give a 4.
Mostly because the consistency is not my favourite and the colour doesn't come out even so you would have to either rub your finger in the pot over and over or blend with your finger upon application.

 

xoxo

CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ Review

Remember that Vox Box post I did a few weeks back with all those wonderful goodies I received to test/review from Influenster?

Well, now that I've covered Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration which I ended up absolutely LOVING...i'll be giving you my take on Neutrogena's Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner (total care)!

Please keep in mind that even though I did receive these products complimentary from the company my review will be completely open, honest and unbiased.

The only hair care I've ever seen from Neutrogena was their T-Gel/Dandruff line.

I've used the products myself and they work wonders (even though some of them smell really bad because of the tar). I was so excited to find out they came out with their Clear line and even more excited when I opened the box because the smell that hit me was absolutely WONDERFUL.

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PRODUCT INFO/DESCRIPTION:

The search for strong, beautiful hair is finally over. Introducing CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™, a new line of shampoos and conditioners that will change the way women care for their hair. 99% percent of hair’s natural strength and beauty comes from the scalp.

For years women have been treating the ends of their hair, rather than the source — the scalp. One small change like feeding scalp* can make a big difference.

FEED SCALP* with new CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™.

NEW CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ is available in a range of six shampoos and five conditioners to meet different scalp and hair needs.

The line is infused with Nutrum 10TM technology, a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients.

CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ nourishes the scalp, and creates the right foundation for strong, beautiful hair from root to tip.

CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ gives women stronger**, more beautiful hair in just 7 days.

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MY TAKE:

VARIETY:
I love that they have different shampoos and conditioners to suit your hair type/needs!


PACKAGING:
I really love the slim bottle and it's in my favourite colour (purple). Easy to hold because of the gentle curve it has which also gives it a modern look. It's not clunky or chunky at all so taking it on vacation won't be a problem.


PRICE:
At $4.99-$5.99 USD per bottle it's not pricey/expensive at all. Pretty much everyone will be able to afford the line.


SMELL:
Wow! When I opened my Vox Box something smelled wonderful! On closer inspection it was the shampoo and conditioner. They didn't leak in the box but they were just giving off a really wonderful smell. It's not fruity but not chemical-y. I can't describe it but it's similar too but BETTER than the smell of Pantene (and I love how that smells). You know how sometimes you really love the smell of your shampoo and conditioner but a few hours after you wash it, only you can smell your hair and you literally have to grab a chunk and sniff really hard? Well, with the Clear Scalp and Hair Beauty Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner you can smell it...for DAYS. But it's not a suffocating smell, and it's not too strong. If you flicked your hair in the direction of a cute boy he WILL smell it. I've had friends and family smell my hair after washing it with this shampoo and conditioner and they all love it.

EFFECTIVENESS:
You only need a 25cent/quarter sized amount of shampoo to effectively cover your entire head. This is the same in relation to the conditioner. I have hair that falls about 4 inches past my shoulders. The shampoo lathers nicely (not too much lather that you can build a soap version of a snow man on your head) and the conditioner slides through and spreads easily through my hair. I massage it into my scalp and bring it down to the ends of my hair. My hair feels smooth, looks shiny, I have a lot less poof/frizz (even though my hair is straight), and after using it for about 8 days I've noticed less hair dropping as well! Neutrogena definitely did not disappoint with this one. My scalp isn't itchy any more, less dry scalp and I wonderful looking hair.

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VERDICT:

I have yet to be disappointed my any of the products sent to me through Vox Box.
Neutrogena's Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy surprised me and did not disappoint AT ALL, and I'm not just saying that.

I love using it now, so much so that I've abandoned my other shampoo and conditioner.
Less dry scalp, itchiness gone, less hair dropping, long lasting amazing smell, smooth and shiny hair, and less frizz.
I will definitely be using this for a long time and over time if I notice any other benefits I'll be sure to let you all know!

A++ Neutrogena!

xoxo

Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Facial Towelettes!

While on vacation I had forgotten to bring along my usual wipes and makeup remover so I ended up picking up a pack of Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes since i've heard so much about this product for such a long time.

I finally decided, why not?!

I actually quite like a lot about this product but there is a bit I don't really like as well.

Here's my review:

Packaging:
I absolutely love buying wipes because I love how the packaging feels in my hands. Sort of crinkly, but like a parcel. I really love the packaging for this product because it's not the typical wipe packaging. It does have the little plastic sticker covering the opening to ensure that the wipes stay moist, but it also has a sort of plastic lid over the top of that. It's a nice change from what i'm used to. I know other brands have this plastic lid feature as well.

Price:
At $6USD per pack of 30, it's not a horrible price. Definitely more expensive than the wipes I usually use but it's not crazy expensive at all.

Quality:
The wipes are quite thick, very durable. You don't need to rub it to pieces on your face either.

Smell:
They pretty much....smell like...cucumbers. Not everyone will appreciate this scent though, since I didn't at first.

Effectiveness:
These wipes are AMAZING at removing makeup. I can see why so many girls have raved about them! You don't need to press into your skin much and takes half the effort of most wipes. I think their power can be compared to a MAC wipe. Wipes however, never remove ALL of your makeup but some, like this one, do a great job of cleaning up (followed by a cleansing brush or face wash etc). They take off most of my makeup in one go.
Now, onto the "soothing" part. Initially it was cooling and soothing on my skin. It really made my skin feel fresh. I guess it's hypoallergenic because I didn't get hives, break out or turn red. HOWEVER, after about 1 minute my entire face was ON FIRE. My whole face felt as though it was burning. Like how it feels when you get sever sunburn and can't move a muscle in your face. This went away after about 15 minutes, but the fact that it even happened (not once, but every single time I use the wipes) just troubled me.

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VERDICT:

I wanted to like them soooo bad! They're effective, they don't smell bad, the quality is wonderful, packaging is great, price is affordable BUT the burning...I mean, that's not supposed to happen!

Nevermind I'm forcing myself to use out the entire pack (granted my reaction is only temporary and not severe in terms of break outs etc) but I don't think I'll be repurchasing.

I would say to try it for its effectiveness, and the fact that a lot of people don't have this reaction but I won't be spending my cash to burn my face (now that I know it affects me this way).

Has this happened to any of you?

Inglot Freedom System

Inglot, a makeup company established in Europe, has become ever popular among beauty gurus. Their Freedom System allows you to pick and choose your colours (eyeshadow, blush, powder, concealer etc) and organise/rearrange them in different sized pallettes, something like the MAC Pro palettes.
They use the same sort of magnetic attachment method, though I do find Inglot has stronger magnet thereby a more guaranteed/stronger hold when it comes to the palettes.

The great thing about Inglot is that their products are extremely affordable and the design/packaging, amount of product and product quality is amazing!

Here i'll be showing you and reviewing one of their palettes with 3 eyeshadows I chose.

PRICE:

The palette, including the 3 eyeshadows @ 3.5g each, came up to $27USD (incl taxes).
Compare this to the price of an empty MAC Pro palettes that hold 2 eyeshadows & 4 eyeshadows at $9USD plus the $12USD pricetag on each of the eyeshadow refill pans to go into the palette.


QUALITY:

I honestly canot speak for the quality of their lip products or eye pencils etc but their blushes, powders and eyeshadows are quite lovely.
Every single shade I swatched in the store was buttery smooth, extremely pigmented (EXTREMELY), didn't come off very easily and the "pans" were quite large.
So, if you must go in and purchase, I definitely recommend their eyeshadows (most of all), blushes (second of all) and powders...BUT THE EYESHADOWS ARE AMAZINGGGGGGG.
They also DO NOT TEST ON ANIMALS <3


PACKAGING:

The freedom system palettes are equally as amazing as the products you put in them. It's a magnetic base with a frosted, see-through cover which has "inglot" all over it.
I find it very convenient since you can still see the colours that are in the palette and the frosted effect is pretty. The magnets are incredibly strong!
The cover WILL NOT pop off just like that. If you hold the cover about an inch away from the base you will feel the resistance and if you're not holding it firmly the cover will fly and snap right back on.
The magnet that holds the pans in their respective slots is also quite strong.
The only problem I have with the design is that, unlike MAC, there is no groove/slot that allows you to wedge your finger nail in and pop out the shadow.
Should you feel the need to move/rearrange the pans you'll need to use a pin or something to slip around the side of the pan to pop it out (it's not as hard as it sounds though).
You can have a palette with up to 10 eyeshadow rounds or squares/ up to 4 blushes/ 2 powders/ 5 concealers/ 10 lipstick rounds etc.


COLOUR SELECTION:
Inglot has a huge, and beautiful, selection of shades.
The little problem I have though is that their colours have no actual name, just numbers.
In any case it doesn't take away from the fact that the product itself is highly pigmented, long wearing and a dream to apply.

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The shades I chose:
White/Chapagne: AMC Shine 30

Green: Pearl 433

Purple: Pearl 423

Makeup junkies looking to expand their collection, find new colours, try new products AND makeup newbies looking to build a collection and not break the bank...
You must try Inglot, especially the eyeshadows...zero disappointment.

xoxo

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

So many of you, i'm sure, have been wondering whether these cleansing systems (re Clarisonic, Olay, Sigma etc) are really worth trying.

The main reason I even considered any one of these systems was for cleansing my skin after makeup. Many others look at the systems to minimize pore size, diminish redness, clear their acne etc.

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System is one of the cheapest of the choices unless you want to shell out $120-$200USD on the Clarisonic.

I was not one of those people who felt it necessary or even easy to spend that much on something that may in fact screw up my skin and purge it to oblivion, so much so that I never come back from the trauma, or just not work as I want it to, SO I purchased the Olay system at CVS for $30USD!

I'll do a quick pro/con listing at the end, but first let me tell you about price, design, feel, effectiveness and whatnot ;)

There will be a lot of comparisons of course against the Clarisonic.

Battery Compartment

Please excuse the not so white coloured bristles: Evidently I use it.

PRICE:
At $30USD per unit this brush is one of the cheapest you can find.
Super affordable on any budget so if you try it and don't like it then you don't feel like you put out so much for so little.
Also at $11 for a pack of 2 replacement brush heads compared to the $40+ for the Clarisonic 2 pack brush heads/ $25 for 1 you even end up saving there!

DESIGN:
It has a slim handle so it's very easy to hold. It's smaller than the Clarisonic in width and it's also lighter.
The brush head snaps in easily and doesnt fall out. I had a bit of trouble with putting in the batteries (it comes with batteries) as there's no sort of latch or release button at the bottom of the device.
You have to pull it (or wiggle it out...both of which frustrated me to no end), and when I realised I was getting nowhere I got my boyfriend to do it and he got it open in seconds! It's a "technique". Unlike the clarisonic it is not "waterproof", it is "water resistant" meaning that you cannot submerge the Olay brush in a tub but you can easily use it in the shower so absolutely no worries there (unless you wash your face submerged in a pool of water...highly unlikely).
The brush also comes with TWO speed settings, something the Clarisonic Mia 2 has only now included as there was only one speed on the Clarisonic Mia.
The Olay brush also only has ONE type of brush head but it's quite soft. Maybe later on they will develop others if need be.
Also the cleansing brush from Olay uses oscilation unlike the Clarisonic which uses "sonic"/vibrations.


FEEL:
The brush rotates (as mentioned before) at two speeds. Depending on how "deep" you want to cleanse, you can adjust it to suit. I use the higher speed just because I like the feeling.
You don't need to press the brush into your face (light pressure will do), and because it rotates you can actually feel it on your skin unlike the Clarisonic which, even though it deep cleans, you can't realy FEEL it working.
I prefer feeling of the rotating brush than just passing a sonic brush over my face and hoping it works. Of course, because it rotates it is slightly more abbrassive than an sonic pulse but the Olay cleansing system isn't "rough" on the skin.
It's not too harsh at all and I have sensitive skin.
The brush head itself is relatively soft as well.


EFFECTIVENESS:

The very first time I used this cleansing brush was the night I got it of course...because I couldn't wait, plus it was the PERFECT time since I had a face full of makeup on for the entire day. I used it together with Philosphy Purity Made Simple face wash AFTER I removed my makeup with "actual" makeup remover (to normal people: oil, milk, wipes etc) and good Lord if you had seen that brush head afterwards! You would think makeup remover would actually remove your makeup.
HAHA NO.
I've tried it after using many different makeup removing methods etc and the result is the same: a dirty brush, tinted brown-ish with all the guck that was left on my skin. It honestly makes me feel more confident that I've removed all my makeup/cleansed my skin properly and even after a few months of use breakouts have almost completely ceased.
My skin feels smoother (and felt instantly smoother after the first time I used it) and cleaner.
My serum and moisturizer sinks in so much better and glides so much better onto my skin.
Some people may go through a skin purging process (as with the Clarisonic) where you make breakout after the first few uses. This is almost always the result of your skin pushing out all the nastiness from underneath. However if it persists you may be using the brush too often.
Some people may not be able to take daily use of the cleansing system because it may in fact be too harsh for your skin using it in that way.
It definitely deep cleans and removes excess dirt/makeup, it has made my skin smoother and allowed  to absorb/sink in quickly, and it hasn't made me break out.
If you are looking for something to "shrink" your pores, I can't really say in relation to the Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System as I haven't noticed any reduction in pore size, which could be due to the fact that I don't really have a problem with large pores.

**********************************

Pros & Cons:

PROS:

1. Affordable (system and replacement heads).
2. Easy to use.
3. Small & light design.
4. Uses batteries
   (easily replaceable compared to the Clarisonic where you have to replace the entire system once the battery malfunctions or stops charging).
5. Water Resistant.
6. Two speeds.
7. Deep cleans effectively.

CONS:

1. Only have one type of brush head.
2. Water resistant (not really a con unless you're a mermaid).
3. Uses batteries (some people may not like the idea).
4. No brush cap/storage container to protect the brush/brush head (the Clarisonic comes with a brush cap & pouch).
5. Comes in one colour.

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If you're looking for a cleansing system/facial brush or just a good deep clean I would recommend trying the Olay cleansing system.
I would also say it's another must-have for those who wear makeup on a regular basis :)

xoxo

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Lotion Sunscreen!

Recently I was sent the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration lotion sunscreen to test and review in my Vox Box (see a previous post done on my Summer Beauty Vox Box contents).

So here is the first of my reviews!

Summer is here in full force and one of the hottest months of the year is upon us! If you're like me and enjoy the pool, beach or just taking in some sun in general you're going to need to protect your skin.

A good sunscreen is a must year round!

I'm not big on laying out in the sun to tan because i'm very careful with what I expose my skin to but if you're one to do that then you definitely need a good suntan lotion with high spf.

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration really surprised me since I don't like most sunscreens that are out on the market.

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Company Description:

Introducing our new sunscreen lotion, the only sunscreen with hydrating ribbons for continuous in-sun moisture.

With its ultra-luxurious hydrating silk ribbons, Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration™ lotion sunscreen nourishes and pampers skin while providing broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection and 12-hour moisturization when out in the sun.

           

Features & Benefits:

• Lightweight, luxurious hydrating ribbons infused with silk protein pamper and protect skin when in the sun, providing 12-hour moisturization
• Safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection
• Nourishing antioxidants
• Exotic botanicals
• Warm tropical fragrance
• Lightweight feel

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My Take:

Packaging:

It comes in a bottle, no pump. The shape however is quite attractive and you can see the product through the plastic. It's really quite pretty. Easy to hold and very easy to squeeze so you don't have to be shaking it upside down to get the product out.

Smell:

This is the second thing I really noticed. Well of course I went ahead and popped the bottle open and sniffed it. It has a HINT of typical sunscreen smell but 90% of what my little nose took in was tropical, coconutty goodness! Most sunscreens, when you take a sniff and they smell good, don't smell very lovely after slathering it on as the scent disappears being replaced by the typical sunscreen fumes. This one, even after an hour or more smelled just as good as when I smelled it from the bottle. I was still smelling yummy even after being in the pool for quite some time!

It's quite lovely!

Feel:

It's very easy to rub in and quite lightweight and absorbs quickly. With a lot of sunscreens, the "moisturizing" ones usually leave a sort of greasy feeling on my skin that I DON'T like and going into the water is like having some sort of soapy, slippery substance on your skin. However, the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration really felt lovely on my skin. Just like a moisturizer, not something that merely claims to be a moisturizer. It didn't have me looking like a super shiny grease ball dressed in a bikini, and after wading in the pool it didn't turn white and drip off like some sort of left over soap on my skin (as most sunscreens do). I used it all over my face as that's probably the part of my body I protect the most from the sun and had no adverse reactions nor did it sting or burn on application (another problem i've encountered with some sunscreens), and because it is very lightweight it didn't weigh down the skin on my face and the smell didn't suffocate me at all.

Selection:

I really like that it comes in spf 12, 30 and 50. It would be great to have a higher spf than 50 as well just for those with really sensitive skin, red heads etc. All in all it's great that they have varying degrees of protection to pick from. I received spf30 (the minimum for me when it comes to sunscreen) and it worked very well! Spending over an hour in the scorching hot sun in my country, no clouds overhead and no shade in the pool resulted in absoutely no sunburn, no red marks or blotchiness on my skin (something I get when the sun is too hott).

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Verdict:

I would say Hawaiian Tropic did a very good job on this product!

I love the smell, the feel, the weight and the protection. It is one of the few sunscreens I have enjoyed in my life, and I'm not saying it to deliberately promote the product.

It really and truly is quite lovely and definitely something I will be purchasing soon when I run out of this little one!

Suggested retail: $9USD for a 6oz bottle.

You should try it! Give it a sniff in the pharmacy or wherever you go to purchase it and you'll more than likely love it. In light of the season I would say it's definitely a must have :)

xoxo

Please note that even though I was sent products to test and review by Influenster and their affiliated brands all opinions expressed are my own and there is absolutely no bias. Rest assured all that I speak of is from my personal experience and not information to promote the product.