Ruqaiya Khan

KORRES Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 18:08:00 +0000

I am still one of those who like a good old face scrub because I love how clean and soft it makes my skin feel instantly. I like to use chemical exfoliants but I feel they can be too much for my dry skin and I almost always come back to physical exfoliants like this one because it does the job!

Today I will be sharing my favourite scrub for the past two years - its funny how I rarely share the products that I use on the regular and repurchase all the time. But today is different - today I will share my favourite scrub and I don't even care if anyone judges me for picking this up instead of a chemical peel, or an AHA/BHA toner/serum! The Korres Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator promises to buff away dead, dry skin to reveal a visibly bright, glowing, and smooth complexion every morning. I usually use it at night because mornings are too busy and I follow with a Korres night cream which I will share in another post.

More on this amazing wild rose scrub in today's blog...

The Korres Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator retails for $32 for 150ml tube which lasts me at least six months. I have repurchased this several times because its a creamy scrub that doesn't dry out my already dry skin and also because the grainy bits are rice and cherry powder which doesn't feel very abrasive on skin. I would love to use this daily but since my skin is dry, I exfoliate once a week and I think that works best for me. However, it is gentle enough to be used daily or multiple times a week.

This scrub is formulated with wild rose that hydrates and nourishes the skin for a visible glow and AHAs and BHAs to improve skin's texture and appearance. The rice grains and cherry powder polish the skin without damaging it and I can see the glow on my skin.

Overall, I love this vegan and cruelty free face scrub by Korres and I will continue using it because it works for me and has some really amazing ingredients in there. Also, the price point is not too high considering its a big tub that lasts me over 6 months.

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog and let me know if you have tried the Korres Wild Rose Petal Soft Cream Exfoliator.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Color Correcting Step 1 Primers - Dullness eraser Review and Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 20:12:00 +0000

If there is any primer that has not stopped impressing me its this one. The Make Up For Ever Color Correcting Step 1 Primers have gone through quite a few makeovers and I have been using it for so long to have tried almost all the versions/reformulations/packaging changes! I first tried it in 2014 when it was called the HD Primer in Shade Yellow (review), then in 2016, I bought it in the new tube packaging and was called the Step 1 Equalizer Primer in Yellow (review) and then I repurchased it in 2022 as the Color Correcting Step 1 Primer in Dullness Eraser. So now you know, it truly is my favorite face primer and I have seen how this primer kept its relevance and high standard of quality throughout the decade.

Described as a color-correcting primer that delivers an even complexion and radiant-looking skin that lasts all day, I cannot emphasize how much of a difference it can make in my overall look. It not only makes my foundation look fresh but it also adds a touch of yellow tint to my skin which is so much needed during the time when I am sun burnt to an orange shade or during winters when I look extremely pale. This foundation truly makes my skin look alive and hence it stays true to its name the "Dullness Eraser"!

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum Gift Set Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 20:10:00 +0000

First post of 2023!

And I can't be happier to share my favorite scent for the season, the new Miss Dior Eau de Parfum! This fragrance is a beautiful floral bouquet with Centifolia Rose at its heart and its probably the only rose scent that I really love and own. The Miss Dior Eau de Parfum Gift Set retails for $169 at Nordstrom and Sephora and includes 50ml of the Eau de Perfume and 10ml of travel spray, packaged beautifully in this enchanting celestial gift box and finished with a Dior ribbon. More on this in today's blog...

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum is an olfactory treat that brings the velvety and sensual roses to the front and centre of this fragrance. This floral bouquet is balanced with the freshness of of lily-of-the-valley and the mystique of spicy peony which is enveloped by a powdery iris. This comforting yet intriguingly sensual scent feels unique to me and I am so thankful that this is not just another bergamot+patchouli blend. The new Miss Dior Eau de Parfum settles to a soft tender musky, woody scent with a hint of Tonka bean, Papua New Guinean Vanilla and Sandalwood. It last days on my clothes and I never feel the need to reapply during the day. Its a pretty strong fragrance with good sillage but it never feels overpowering.

The packaging of the perfume bottle and the refillable travel spray is so beautiful and I won't be wrong to state that the packaging really got me, especially the travel/purse spray which is encased in an embossed pale pink leather. Like how can i resist not putting it in my purse!

The Miss Dior Eau de Perfume bottle feels lighter, the glass bottle has thinner walls than all of my other perfumes and initially I felt that it feels too small in my hand but then I read on Sephora that this bottle has an eco-conscious design and uses 30% less glass!

I love the houndstooth detail at the bottle of the bottle. It also make it less slippering on the vanity.

And this beautiful handcrafted Miss Dior couture bow is so adorable! I am gonna die!

This refillable travel spray comes with 10ml of the eau de perfume and can be refilled again. It reminded me of Travelo and it works exactly the same way. I didn't realize that the case is leather or at least it looks like leather, but then I checked my husbands Dior Suavage travel spray and that too has a smooth leather case. I love that!

Overall I love this fragrance and the Miss Dior Eau de Parfum Gift Set. Its truly a treat to use this perfume and I would highly recommend you to give this one a shot. Its truly a scent for the modern woman!

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MAC Holiday Collection - Indulgent Glow Face Kit Rosé Review and Swatch

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 18:32:00 +0000

MAC has some really adorable holiday sets this year and today I will be sharing the Indulgent Face Glow Kit in the shade Rosé. I also picked up my favorite Studio Fix powder foundation and three MAC nude lipsticks to stock up for future. The new Indulgent Glow Face Kit comes in two shades, namely, Rosé and Sparkling Wine. Since I already own many gold toned highlighters, I thought a pink hue must be refreshing and boy is it?! This beautiful shade of Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Bottomless Brunch, included in the Rosé kit, is designed to sculpt and illuminate the face for up to 10 hours!

Best MAC Nude Lipsticks ft. Mehr, Mocha, Twig, Velvet Teddy and Taupe - Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 01:38:00 +0000

Happy holiday season my loves!

I cannot believe that it's December 1st and once again, it's that time of the year when all I want to do is celebrate!🎉 This year had been a heck of a ride around the sun! It was full of surprises, lots of new experiences (both good and bad), lots of travelling and lots and lots of home shopping. I think this year was all about regaining control on my life and finding my happiness after the chaos of the pandemic. Beauty never took a back seat and with all the trends going around, the one trend that never goes out of style is the nude lip (thank you Kardashians)! I am more appreciative of minimalistic makeup post-pandemic, and a nude lip always makes me look pulled together with or without eye makeup.

There are so many nude lip colors to chose from and today I am sharing some of my favorite from MAC Cosmetics. I picked MAC Lipsticks in shades Twig, Taupe and Velvet Teddy during Black Friday and also added Mocha and Mehr to compare all five of these in the swatches today.

EyeSense® by SeneGence Long-Lasting Eye Liner Pencil in Cobalt, Charcoal and White Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 20:12:00 +0000

Happy Monday beauties!

Ever since I watched The Crown on Netflix, I wanted to wear a blue eyeliner in my waterline but couldn't find a smudge proof and waterproof formula that would really stay put in the waterline without bleeding. My search ended when I found these beautiful shades by EyeSense especially the Cobalt shade which I absolutely adore and no matter how hard I rub it, they do not budge! Watch my reel on Instagram and see for yourself and the best part is that I can easily remove it with my micellar water!

EyeSense eyeliners by SeneGence are highly pigmented, waterproof and smudge proof! What else does a girl want?! More on these beautiful shades and swatches in today's blog...

EyeSense Eyeliners have a velvety smooth texture that glides evenly on eyelids. They stay put for the whole day without fading or smudging. Though, its packaged in a retractable pencil which makes application easy, I wish it also included a smudge tip at the end, which I could quickly use to blend the eyeliner out for a quick smokey eye look. I am amazed at how the formula has some give when I apply it, to allow time for blending but once set, it does not budge. Watch how smudge proof these eyeliner's are!

All three shades appear to have a natural-matte finish which looks great on eyes and there is no visible glitter. Though the swatches might have captured a little glimmer but it's invisible on my eyelids.

SWATCHES

I did swatches in differently lighting so you can better see how evenly pigmented and smooth these eyeliners are. All three shades are vibrant and look beautiful in both swatches.

In indoor lighting

Left to Right: Charcoal, Cobalt and White. Swatched using flash

Overall, I am very pleased with eyeSense eyeliners and I wish to add more to my collection. They retail for CAD 27 and can be purchased from SeneGence.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post. Let me know which shade you like the most!

Aria Beauty Black and Gold Collection - Hair Styling Tools, ft Blow Dryer, Flat Iron, Curling Iron and Mini Blow Dryer

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 19:06:00 +0000

I recently returned from my European cruise vacation and as much as I love being close to the sea, I detest the look of frizz, therefore, I decided to take the Aria Beauty Flat Iron with me and what a life saver it was! It is dual voltage compatible which means I can use it in Europe and in North America.

The Black and Gold Collection by Aria Beauty featured in today's post is not only beautiful to look at, it also outperforms all of my other styling tools. More on this is today's blog..

INFRARED BLOW DRYER

I always thought my thick and long hair needs at least one hour to dry. Even my hairstylist fears washing my hair because she know how long the drying time can be! No kidding! But this Infrared Blow Dryer by Aria Beauty took way less time; literally 15 minutes to dry my hair so it was ready for styling.

I love curling the ends of my hair, to better frame the layers around my face, and this hair dryer made all of that possible within 30 minutes! It is not as noisy as my other hair dryers and takes less than half the time to fully dry my hair. I also noticed that it made my hair feel soft and shiny after blowdrying, so I sort of believe that it doesn't harm the hair as much as other blowdryers do.

Its also a very powerful blowdryer that is designed to perform like a 2200W dryer using the infrared technology when it only uses 1300W! That is impeccable! My only complain is that the buttons do not have any labels on them, so I have to guess the temperature setting and it takes me a few tries to know what I am doing.

Overall, this is a powerful hair dryer that quickly dries my long and thick hair, it's relatively less noisy and leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny with significantly less frizz! I would totally recommend this!!

IONIC MINI BLOWDRYER

This tiny but mighty blow dryer is so powerful, I have kept this in my gym bag for daily use. It's a perfect size to travel with as its dual voltage with foldable handle and comes with a gold diffuser and a concentrator. It looks super sleek and uses ionic technology to eliminate frizz. It is so lightweight and less noisy, making it so easy to work with. I love keeping a mini blowdryer in my gym bag as it often comes handy after a shower and though my gym has hair dryers, they are no match to this mini Ionic BlowDryer by Aria Beauty. I absolutely love this and can't wait to pack this for my next vacation.

INFRARED FLAT IRON

My most used hair styling tool is this lovely Infrared Flat Iron by Aria Beauty. I used it every day since I got it and I absolutely love it. It features 1" tourmaline ceramic floating plates. This infrared hair straightener is a breeze to work with. I love how there is a little chime when it turns on and when it has reached the set temperature. It heats up fast and works wonders on my hair as it straightens with just one pass. I also love curling my hair with this and I used this to curl my hair on my vacation and the curls last without a hair spray! I absolutely love how useful this flatiron had been to be and I can't ever imagine not using this.

Since it is dual voltage it can be used while travelling and the super long cord, 2.6m to be exact, allows me to style my hair no matter how far the socket might be. It seems like a professional quality flatiron but at an affordable personal use price. I would highly recommend you to give this a try and you won't be disappointed at all!

INFRARED CURLING IRON

This 1.25 inch curling wand is the key to those soft romantic curls. This Infrared Curling Iron by Aria Beauty has adjustable temperature setting and can heat up to 450F. It also features a long 2.2m swivel cord which makes styling my hair super easy. I love the little stand or the support bridge to protect surfaces from unnecessary burn. It's safe to work with and is lightweight compared to my other curling wands making it much desirable to use. It adds shine and softness to curls and the curls last days! I love using this curling wand, though I usually curl with the Aria Beauty Infrared Flatiron more often, but for bouncier, bigger curls this curling iron is a must have.

Overall I love the Black and Gold Collection by Aria Beauty as all the hair styling tools in this collection perform significantly better than anything else I have tried. My favorite is the hair blowdryer and the flatiron which I use the most! I love that these are lightweight and they look absolutely stunning in the black and gold packaging. They use ionic and infrared technology for superior performance which uses less power and they result in soft, shiny and frizz free styles! I would highly recommend you to try these out as my hair loves them!

You can purchase Aria Beauty's Black and Gold Collection online via their website.

DIOR Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation in 3N Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 18:28:00 +0000

This powder foundation promises to be a ‘transfer-proof compact foundation that visibly reduces shine and provides up to 24 hours of natural-looking, matte coverage with a smooth, refined finish’. I loved the finish of this compact as it definitely lives upto that promise. It results in a velvelty smooth feel on skin and the shade 3N is a great match to my skin tone. The only problem is that it too oxidizes as the day goes on and turns quite pink/orange on my skin. I actually loved this compact but decided to return it since, I couldn't bear the orange look on my face.

In this post you will find swatches of the DIOR Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation in 3N alongside my go to compact powder the Studio Fix by Mac Cosmetics in shade NC30 and a brief review of the DIOR Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation since I no longer use it and do not recommend it as well.

SWATCHES

From the swatches below its evident that this powder is a close match for my skin tone and its almost undetectable, however you may be able to spot the change in the color of the DIOR Forever Natural Velvet Matte Compact Foundation in the two swatches below. It looks more pink in the first photo below than the second.

Overall, this compact comes in a nice signature Dior compact packaging and has a refillable powder compartment which is great for reuse. It also comes with a sponge which is always very useful and perfect for touchups. If this shade did not oxidize on me it would have been perfect as this powder foundation is nicely pigmented and can be used on its own on skin. Unfortunately it doesn't come in the Warm shade range as all the shades available were Neutrals, so my best option was to return it and stick to my MAC Studio Fix powder foundation. I am still looking for something more luxurious than MAC but haven't been able to find a compact powder foundation as perfect as Studio Fix.

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SEPHORA Birthday Gift VIB & Rouge Edition 2022 ft. NEST New York Fragrances

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 20:02:00 +0000

Presenting the Sephora Birthday Gift VIB & Rouge Edition for 2022

This year Sephora had two extra gift options to pick for if you are a VIB or a Rouge member. I picked up the Nest Fragrance set because I have always loved Nest perfumes and I love how generous the trial sizes from Sephora are - they are perfect for travelling. This set includes a mini candle, a perfume oil and a Nest perfume roller ball and all three of them smell like the holidays to me!!

This year Sephora offered two additional choices just for VIB and Rouge members apart from the gift sets offered to all Beauty Insiders. The two choices for VIB and Rouge are online only and feature a set from Nest New York and another one from Olaplex. Since I am a VIB at Sephora, I was able to choose from a total of five sets plus a choice to get 250 bonus points that can be used towards a reward from Rewards Bazaar. Since I am a sucker for fragrance, I had been waiting for something like this and though I was anticipating Jo Malone set (which I always miss out on), this Nest fragrance set had me excited. I love travel size fragrance because its easy to toss them around the handbag and in my car and I just love a cloud of fragrance while driving but I refrain from those cheap car air freshners so a quick rub of high quality rollerball perfume on the wrist and I am all set.

Images from Sephora.ca

NEST NEW YORK Fragrance Set features 3 fragrances:

Indigo Eau de Parfum (6ml)
This perfume reminded me of the White Tea collection at the Westin. It's a fresh calming scent that settles down to a bergamot blend. I love how this perfume smells on me and right now it reminds me of holidays! I just checked that 8ml travel spray of this perfume retails for $37 at Sephora Canada so a 6ml rollerball could be approx. $28 which is incredible value and its free!! Check it out here

Seville Orange Perfume Oil (3ml)

I love perfume oils but since they don't last long on skin I tend to stay away from them and they never get used by me. I thought this one will meet a similar fate, however, I love the citrusy zesty scent of this oil. It reminds me of Chanel Chance and once on skin, it transforms into a nice floral scent. The base notes of Neroli really seals the deal for me and I think I love this scent too.

30ml of this perfume oil is for $98 so this 3ml rollerball is around $10 worth of perfume. Check it out here.

Grapefruit Candle (27gm)

I initially thought this would be my least favorite scent because I do not like the scent of grapefruit. It reminds me of spoilt fruit and fruit flies ..ewww..I noticed this scent the first, as the little box of this gift set was full of it! Upon lighting this candle, my first impressions and biases changed completely as I could smell the floral notes and I kinda liked it. Its a mini candle but still has a lot of fragrance in it. It burned very cleanly and I am kinda intrigued to check out other Nest Candles because I like this one. A 2oz. Nest Candle retails for $25 so this is half of that in size and should be around $12.50 for an ounce of candle. Check it out here

So if we do the math, this Nest New York Birthday Set from Sephora Canada would cost roughly $50!! I absolutely love that Sephora offered this one during October because it feels more like a festive holiday gift to myself.

These three beautiful fragrances in the Nest New York birthday gift by Sephora Canada sure tickle my fancy and are also very energizing. The zesty citrusy Seville Orange Perfume Oil adds liveliness to my mood and the Grapefruit Candle which is all I smelt when I opened the box but when i burn it that scent blooms its middle and base notes and creates a beautiful energizing cloud of fragrance in my room. I never thought I would love Grapefruit and Orange notes so much and this set has definitely made me wanting more.

The star for me was the Nest Indigo Eau de Parfum which smells calming, strong yet relaxing. The Moroccan tea and Cardamom at its opening show its unisex flair but it soon mellows down to Bergamot which I absolutely love and as it wears off, a lingering hint of fruitiness keeps reminding me of the presence of this beautiful fragrance. Its a noticeable scent and for me it/s a scent that makes an impression, a statement that is memorable and I truly appreciate all the beautiful unique notes in Indigo by Nest New York.

I think this is a fantastic birthday treat from Sephora and definitely worth being in the Beauty Insider program and being a VIB. Hope you enjoyed this post and if you are a perfume lover then you must get this on your birthday!

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NARS Explicit Content Climax Mascara Duo - Holiday Gift 2022

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 19:59:00 +0000

This deal is too good to pass! Two full size NARS Climax Mascaras for only CA$ 40 from Sephora Canada!! I am always so excited about gift sets because I get some really amazing products at great prices but this just went up a notch. Usually there is a mini and a full size mascara in a holiday gift set but this is so much better! I usually use my mascaras for 3-4 months so these two tubes must last me 6-7 months and all that for just 40 bucks! Maybe I need to stock up on this one! For a full review click here

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DIOR Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation in shade 3N Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:04:00 +0000

I cheated on my long term favorite, Double Wear Foundation by Estee Lauder for this Dior Forever Skin Glow foundation and things did not workout exactly as I had hoped for. This Dior Foundation looked amazing on Sephora shelves so I got myself color matched to the shade 3N and bought it in an instance. Little did I know that betrayals came at a price and for me that price was the oxidation! Yes this perfect shade for my skin tone turns into an awful orange shade within 10 minutes of application. More on this with comparison swatches in today's blog.

DIOR Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation in shade 3N

The Dior Forever Skin Glow Hydrating Foundation promises up to 24 hours of wear and provides visibly radiant medium-to-full coverage but of course, I still need concealer for some acne marks on my cheeks. It contains Iris Extract to guards against oxidation which clearly did not work for me. What did work was how it made my skin look hydrated and glowy thanks to the Hibiscus Extract which helps renew the look of skin and Wild Pansy Extract that maintains hydration for healthy looking skin.

I also felt that it added a bit of shine to my skin so I used a finishing powder to set everything, however, the main issue for me was how orange it made me look. I did a comparison swatch and I felt that even though the shade 3N which is for light to medium skin tones with neutral undertones was a bit too pink in the first place and then just started to look weird after application. I would suggest going a shade lighter than your usual shade, if you like this formula, which truly is silky and a treat to apply to skin.

SWATCHES

From the swatches below you can see that this foundation is a perfect match for my skin tone!! So upset that it turns orange on my face!

On the blended side of my wrist, its completely undetectable and since it adds shine to skin, under different lighting it tends to accentuate lines.

In direct sunlight

In indoor lighting

Comparison Swatches with my favorite Estee Lauder Double Wear in Tawny and Wheat and Guerlain L'Essentiel Foundation

This new Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation comes in 42 shades is designed to be heat and humidity resistant. Since I live in a dry and cold climate, I can’t comment on that but I felt that it did transfer to clothing and it needed a touch up after a few hours. The oxidation of shade made me want to try a lighter shade but I do not think its a perfectly transfer proof foundation like some of the other ones I had tried in the past. I do not feel this foundation lived up to my expectations so I exchanged it with another one which I will share soon! So stay tuned for that!

Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation retails for $65 at Sephora Canada. Have you tried this foundation? Let me know in the comments below!

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PanOxyl Acne Treatment Wash, Oil Control Moisturizer and Overnight Spot Patches Review and Results

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 18:53:00 +0000

I had been quietly battling acne for the past few months and I could never figure out what exactly is causing me to breakout sporadically. Sometimes I felt its my hair products, so I changed those and nothing happened. Then I thought it could be my hormones, can't do much about that. Then I figured its my dirty makeup brushes and washing them regularly did not impact my random acne all over my face. It's frustrating to tackle acne when you are a grown up, as its often associated with teen years. I was at my lowest when I found out about PanOxyl's acne solutions. These products are designed to fight acne causing bacteria deep within the pores. I am so happy that within a month of using it my acne has subsided significantly. I still breakout but it doesn't get as nasty as it used to.

More on PanOxyl and my skin progress in today's blog!

PanOxyl Acne Wash - Benzoyl Peroxide Cream 4%

This is the most gentle acne face wash I have ever used. Its formulated with 4% benzoyl peroxide which is proven to combat acne causing bacteria. This acne wash targets bacteria deep within pores, and as I experienced it first hand, it stops acne from growing and spreading further.

PanOxyl Acne Wash can be used on face and body and the pH balanced formula helps in preventing flakiness and dryness, which is common occurrence when using any skin products with active ingredients. Since I live in Calgary, where the weather is generally dry, my skin almost always feels a bit dry and there is a need to moisturize a little more but while using this acne wash, I did not feel excessive dryness or a need to layer up on moisturizer.

I use this on my face once a day and preferably at night time. I tried using it more than once a day on areas that seemed to have more clusters of acne but my skin couldn't handle it well. So for me washing my face once, at night, works best with this acne wash and I have had much clearer and better looking skin since using it nightly.

Overall, this is a great product which works wonders for my skin. My acne has stopped in its tracks, however, I do have some scarring and acne marks but nothing 3D is popping on my skin that can't be covered with a bit of concealer.

PanOxyl Oil Control Moisturizer with SPF 30

This lightweight, oil control moisturizer by PanOxyl is formulated with hyaluronic acid and offers SPF 30 mineral sunscreen. Wearing a sunscreen is absolutely necessary whenever we use actives such as benzoyl peroxide or retinols and I am happy that this light weight and non greasy sunscreen provides a good SPF coverage during the day time. My only concern is the white cast that comes with the sunscreen which can be covered with makeup but on its own, its really not the look for me.

Overall, this is a good moisturizer to protect the skin from UV rays after using the PanOxyl Acne Wash with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide. Its non irritating and works well with acne ridden skin which can feel itchy at times. This sunscreen provides the moisturization needed after using the PanOxyl Acne Wash.

PanOxyl Overnight Spot Patches

I had high expectations from this product because it reminded me of acne patches I have used in the past and the PanOxyl Overnight Spot Patches are available at less than half the price of those. So, the idea is the same as other acne patches that we have to apply it to the pimple and let it stay on skin overnight and it is suppose to dry out the pimple or if the pimple is already oozing (yuck) it would absorb and stop it from spreading.

I used it a couple of times so far as the PanOxyl Acne Wash is truly doing wonders for me. The first time I used it was on a really painful pimple that had just started to grow. I applied this patch on the pimple in hopes that it would dry out the next morning. As you can see in the pictures below it did seem to slightly shrink the pimple but it took few days of using the PanOxyl Acne Wash to completely get rid of that pimple. I feel that this is a great way to protect yourself from the spread of acne and it works best in combination with the PanOxyl Acne Wash and the PanOxyl Oil Control Moisturizer.

Overall, I am quite pleased PanOxyl Acne solutions and as you can see in the pictures above, it has greatly reduced the size of my acne and eliminated it completely. I am using vitamin C products to overcome scarring, however, I am so happy that I have no more of those painful pimples popping up all over my face. The price point on these products makes them so affordable and accessible to everyone battling acne and if you are like me, and you can't seem to figure out what to do, I would recommend giving PanOxyl a try and see it for yourself. They are available at Walmart, London Drugs, Recall, Sobeys and Amazon.ca

Hope you enjoyed learning about my acne journey. Have you tried PanOxyl for your acne? Let me know in the comments below :)

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DIORSHOW Iconic Overcurl Mascara and Maximizer 3D - Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 17:41:00 +0000

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara (CAD 38 for 9.5gm) has been part of my makeup routine for the past six months and today I wanted to share this cult favorite mascara on my blog because its pretty darn good! I purchased two of these gift sets during the holiday sale at Sephora and I am so happy I did because its a fantastic fail-proof mascara to use on an everyday basis. I layer the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara with the Maximizer 3D (which is a voluminizing primer included in this set), to get sky high lashes when I feel like getting some extra volume. This is hands down a must have mascara for anyone seeking full volume clump free lashes with a nice curl. The wand does a great job in achieving those results so I have included photos of that along with my swatches with the Overcurl Mascara and the Maximizer 3D primer so you can see the difference for yourself.

For swatches and full review keep reading...

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara

This mascara promises 'spectacular volume and curling power' while providing 'intense definition and hold without clumping or smudging' and I strongly feels that it delivers on all of those! The wand plays a huge role in curling up the lashes and its the right size for my lashes too as it picks up evenly on the shorter, inner corner lashes. It adds a lot of volume in just one coat and by one coat I mean not dipping the wand again in the tube for application. The wand picks up enough product to go over each of my lash without adding too much or too little product.

Diorshow Maximizer 3D Triple Volume Plumping Lash Primer (CAD 38 for 10ml)

This primer promises to boost lash volume and length with regular use and since I do not use the Maximizer 3D regularly I can not comment on the that, however, every time I use this with the Overcurl mascara the results are phenomenal. I love the wand on this one as well. It's literally like a thick stiff comb that brushes out all my lashes and prepares it for the mascara application. I absolutely love it.

SWATCHES

From the swatches below you can see how much length and volume is added to my lashes using the Dior Overcurl Mascara and the Maximizer 3D primer. I felt that the primer worked amazingly well in combination with this mascara to lift and curl by lashes while also lengthening and voluminizing my lashes. Though this mascara works amazing well on its own too I prefer the results with the Maximizer 3D primer.

DIORSHOW Iconic Overcurl Mascara with Maximizer 3D at base

For the following 2 swatches, I only wore the mascara without any primer or curling tool and I love the results on my eyes. I am wearing an eyeliner so that deepens the eye look a bit, but you can still see the difference in length and curl in the swatches above and below.

DIORSHOW Iconic Overcurl Mascara only 1 coat

Overall, this is a great mascara to add to your routine and I am glad I got this set. I would recommend to get your hands on both the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara and the Maximizer 3D because it really eliminates the need to wear fake lashes and gives an amazing overall result. I hope I can find this gift set again because I got a mini Maximizer 3D for free for the price of the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl mascara. This set retails for CAD 38 which includes a full size Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara and Maximizer 3D in travel size.

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Velour Lashes Effortless No Trim Natural Lash Collection in Would I Lie? Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:15:00 +0000

I hate false lashes! I can't stand the extra and completely unnecessary drama on the eyes! And every time I look at someone with extra dramatic lashes, I cringe!! I don't think anyone looks good with false lashes on a daily basis but I know there is a time and place for it which I will talk about later in this post. I much prefer the lash extensions look because there is no visible band on the eyelids and it definitely looks much better in person too. And the redness on eyes of fake lash wearers! Like why would anyone do that do themselves? Glueing something to your precious eyes, getting them red, adding so much volume to eyes that screams "I need attention" or "I am ready for Halloween"! Like why?!

Please let me know if you think its too harsh for me to write it down this way, but this needs to be said and if you are just starting out in makeup then please know that you don't always need fake lashes. If you have sparse lashes and mascaras aren't doing the trick then the world has progressed to lash fillers, lash extensions, lash serums and a wide range of natural looking options that not only enhance your beauty but also prevent you from using glues and tweezers close to your eyes on a daily basis.

Now that I have cleared the air around my dislike/hatred for false lashes, let me tell you that the world is crazy about these because they can make anyone look extraordinary in photos and in the era of social media, photos are everything! So why not pop on those fake lashes and look our best.

Every time, I get my makeup done professionally for a special occasion, I always get false lashes because I know I will be photographed and in portraits and group photos, I want my eyes to look big and more open (hope that makes sense). Sometimes I am asked if I want them on at an extra cost, and sometimes the makeup artist just glues them on as part of her artistry. Nevertheless my makeup looks great and photographs look perfect, even when I dislike those lashes. That's the only time I would stick false lashes to my eyes and I think it is worth it once in a while. Removing them and getting rid of lash glue from my eyelids is another story. But the fact is that fake lashes can make me look great in photographs and have a place in my makeup bag for special occasions only.

During the pandemic, I had to do my makeup myself and I learnt a few tricks to save time and keep my cool while getting ready for something special and I knew I needed a pair of falsies to get those 'professional' results. I have tried a few different types of false lashes on my own, including the infamous magnetic lashes but I finally settled for cruelty free, vegan lashes from Velour Lashes. More on these in today's blog.

Probably the first thing you notice just looking at these lashes is that they are shorter in length, the band is quite thick and it has a natural looking volume to it. That is pretty much everything I like about this style called Would I Lie? from Velour Lashes. The seemingly thicker band eliminates the need for eyeliner on the lash line, so I only need to line the inner corners and the outer corner of my eyes, which is a favorite on TikTok and Instagram by bedroom-confined beauty gurus. It adds a nice volume to my existing lashes and makes my eyes look more open. I never use mascara on false lashes because it is very hard to clean it off without destroying the lashes, so I blend and press them together using a lash curling tool. It gives me the fluffiest looking full volume lashes.

I have used this lash a couple of times and there is not much shedding, so it seems like it will last me many more uses. It is hard to tell how many uses I can get from a false lash before breaking it in half, but the most I have gotten was 12 uses from a lash a makeup artist used on me. I was told it was a faux mink lash and it was a heavy, full volume and dramatic lash. Not my favorite but it lasted me 2 weeks of wedding celebrations.

These Effortless, No trim Natural Lash Collection by Velour Lashes is quite light weight on eyes and very easy to apply. The no trim makes it much easier to apply and since the volume in this style is more towards the outer corners of the lids, it makes any eye look appear elongated and bit more round - perfect for smokey and romantic looks. I love how these look on me and I think these lashes are one of the nicer, better quality and more wearable lashes available on Sephora. I got these on sale and I think they are worth it even at CAD 34.

Velour Lashes Effortless No Trim Natural Lash Collection in Would I Lie? on my eyes

Just looking at these photos now, I feel this lash is a little short for my big eyes 😜 That is also the reason it looks a lot better on me because there is much less 'drama' and it doesn't look all that fake as well. So if someone is guessing whether my lashes are real or fake, I can just answer why would I lie? lol

Overall, I love these lashes on myself, even though they seem a little short but they make my eyes look open and rounder so it suits my face shape. It's not overly dramatic and it works with most of my makeup looks. Have you tried these? Let me know in the comments below :)

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Dior J’adore Infinissime Eau de Parfum Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 18:56:00 +0000

Intense and sultry! This olfactory treat from Christian Dior is a slight variation from the original J'adore Dior and I loved it so much I got it without second thoughts! If you feel all your perfumes are a bit mundane and have the same bergamot+patchouli blend, then this ylang ylang+tuberoses blend will tickle your fantasy. I love white flowers and anything with tuberoses is my weakness, so it now seems understandable why I was so attracted to this scent and at CAD 149 it didn't put that much of a dent in my pocket (comparatively :P )

More on Dior J’adore Infinissime Eau de Parfum in today's blog!

When I first applied the Dior J’adore Infinissime Eau de Parfum, the first thing I appreciated was the freshness of the roses which actually reminded me of my wedding and though I am not a lover of rose scented perfume, I really enjoyed how this one has layers of flowers that slowly make their entrance one after other. The opening notes of Bergamot and Blood Orange, hooked me in, making this a fragrance familiar to me. The middle notes of Roses, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang and Tuberoses send me to a floral heaven that's unlike anything I have experienced before. I actually do not like overly sweet and floral scents, like the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet, in fact I haven't loved any Miss Dior perfumes because it felt too youthful, almost adolescent on me. But J'adore Dior, I mean the original one, seemed too mature! So I really couldn't decide if I needed either in my life!

Fast forward, I meet the Dior J’adore Infinissime and just like the name suggests, it is infinite in terms of lately power and sillage. I love how I can smell it off my worn clothes after days. It transfers nicely to my jackets and I love getting a whiff of it every time I put them on again. It's truly become one of my go to perfumes in a short two month period since I have been using it. With sandalwood as its base note, I am not sure if I smell that more or the tuberoses because my nose gets the ylang ylang+tuberoses layers the most with this perfume and very less of sandalwood. Though I would love the sandalwood to be slightly more prominent, I wouldn't change anything about this perfume at all.

I think I have transferred my excitement and love for Dior J’adore Infinissime Eau de Parfum appropriately in this post (lol). Hope you enjoyed reading and let me know if you love it too <3

Sephora Birthday Gift 2022 - Tatcha Dewy Skin Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 20:16:00 +0000

Sephora's Birthday Gifts always excite me because they are one of those little perks that make me feel valued as a Sephora customer and I think many of us feel that way. No purchase required, if you sign up to be a Beauty Insider, you get a birthday gift each year! Though I am slowly turning against the little samples, because of the plastic packaging and more tiny products mean more packaging in the landfill. But since I will be travelling soon (*fingers crossed*), I thought its best I pick up the skincare gift from Tatcha which must come in handy during my vacation. Though in the past I had a bad experience with the Tatcha The Deep Cleanse (review here), but I always loved the purple range and the dewy skin cream, so there I have it!

DIOR The Atelier of Dreams Eye Shadow Palette in 469 Atelier Doré Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 17:59:00 +0000

Happy Holidays my loves!

Dior always has something special for the holidays and I couldn't resist this beautiful eyeshadow palette from this year's launch. Though it seems like 'another neutral eyeshadows palette' but this one is different! Dior's The Atelier of Dreams Eyeshadow Palette in 469 Atelier Doré is limited edition and only available during the holiday season. It features a beautiful combination of colors that I always wanted to get for myself but couldn't find all the right shades in one palette. This 5 color eye shadow palette showcases a dull but sparkly gold in the centre, surrounded by a pinky taupe, a medium neutral gold beige, a beautiful creamy dark brown and a sparkly grey taupe. This palette has mix of satin and shimmers which is much more desirable (and practical) than just shimmers from last year's launch (reviewed here), though I love that one to bits too!

SWATCHES

I did the swatches in indoor lighting as well in sunlight to demonstrate the texture of these eyeshadows in a bit more detail. The swatches below are from the top left corner of the palette in clockwise direction and the last swatch is the dull gold shade in the center with the CD embossing. I have given names to each of these shades since this palette doesn't identify them as separates but for ease of reviewing, I described them with the colors I believe they are on my medium skin tone.

1. Pinky Taupe

My favorite shade and something I always look forward to in a neutral palette! Its a beautiful satin finish pinky taupe that looks expensive and adds a bit of sophistication on my lids. I love pairing this is a brown eyeliner and a little bit of that center gold shade in the corners of my eye. Love this color and pigmentation.

2. Golden Beige

This is literally like the my skin but better shade for my eyelids! Its a satin finish medium neutral gold beige color that adds just enough sheen to my lids to make me look awake. I would not have preferred this to be in an expensive palette like this one, but it does make a good transitioning shade. Its one of those colors which I wish were a bit more - maybe more pigmented, or more sparkles or more shine - or something that would get me excited. Ironically I reach of this shade the most when I am running late in the morning and want ot put up a face before the day starts! So may be this is something I like; I am still unsure though...

3. Dark Brown

This is the shade I have stated to use in place of my eyeliner and it gives the right amount of definition to my eyes without any harsh lines. I like a smudged eyeliner look with a bolder like because it helps balance out my eyes and lips. This beautiful creamy dark brown is a stunning shade that I never had before in any of my palettes and since its highly pigmented, it makes a great 'eyeliner' for my eyes. I apply a little using my pencil brush on my lower lashes to get that romantic soft look. Absolutely love it.

4. Grey Taupe

This is the shade I searched for so long and then gave up. I was always looking for a sparkly grey taupe that worked for my skin tone and did't look dirty on my skin and this is just perfect. Its satiny sparkly sheen is a gorgeous shade for work and look very sophisticated.

5. 14K Sparkly Gold

The shine and yellowness of this gold shade is similar to 14K gold and I felt this shade of gold is much more wearable on a regular basis than the full on 24K gold color. I really love this sparkly gold on the center on my lids the most. For me, personally, this is not a shade I would put on my brow bone because I like sparkly whites more on my browbone. It's the right amount of pop on my lids and can easily transform my eye look from daytime to nightime. Absolutely love this.

There isn't much fall out with these eyeshadows and like my other Dior eyeshadows they are all creamy and pigmented and work well without a primer too. The swatches below are without a primer so you can see how pigmented they are.

From the swatches above, you can se that the shades are warm neutrals and perfect for everyday wear. That is what attracted me to this palette because it's a luxury eyeshadow palette that can be used daily and I totally see myself travelling with this (hopefully next year will be good *fingers crossed*). Overall, I love DIOR The Atelier of Dreams Eye Shadow Palette in 469 Atelier Doré and I would recommend adding this to your repertoire if you are looking for 'another neutral palette'! This high quality eyeshadow palette has almost no fallout and works well without a primer AND all shades are wearable that can be worn on most days of the week! Its the kind of luxury I enjoy because I can use it daily 💝

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PEACEOUT SKINCARE Retinol Eye Stick Review + Results

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 18:37:00 +0000

I am quite sure you have heard about PEACEOUT skincare products and how they are designed to target skincare problems. I shared the Wrinkles patches by PEACEOUT last year and one of my major concerns was the additional indentations the patches would leave on my forehead and also the excessive packaging. I loved the formulation but wished there was more product in the package! So, I decided to try the PEACEOUT Retinol Eye Stick which is packaged like a lip balm and its designed to just swipe in the eye area every night. I am so happy with this product that I wanted to share the results with you today!

RESULTS

When I applied the Peaceout Retinol Eye Stick the first night, I followed all instructions and felt quite comfortable with a retinol eye treatment, since I already used retinol products on my face. But as my undereye area was still unexposed to retinol especially the corners of my eyes, hence it flared up the next morning. I literally freaked out when I saw my skin, because my entire family was home the following day, and I wasn't prepared to share why my eyes were swollen and red. Concealer did the trick and by the end of the day the swelling and the redness subsided. I took a break the following night and applied it again though I was still worried about a reaction, I thought, it can't be so bad. As you can see below, I still ended up with slightly less swelling and redness on my second application as well.

Since my skin was reacting to this retinol treatment, I knew it will work, so I continued using it every other day for the next month.

After a month of applying this on alternate days, I did not notice anything substantial so I did not photograph it.

Then I began using it daily as instructed on the packaging and after two months, there was a huge difference in the corners of my eyes! That creasing in the corner of my eye that you can see in the photo above, has softened quite a bit in the photos below. It is quite unnoticeable now and though, I know, I laugh and talk a lot and its natural for me to have all those lines as I grow older, I am so happy that this Peaceout Retinol Eye Stick worked well to soften the crows feet significantly.

I still wake up to some redness in the corner of my eyes, but it fades as the day progresses and it isn't much noticeable either.

Overall I am quite pleased with the results and will continue to use this treatment and repurchase when I run out. I always feel that winters is the best time to start a retinol treatment, because there is much less sun to protect my skin from. If you are on the edge, thinking about incorporating a retinol eye cream then this affordable eye treatment from Peaceout Skincare will not disappoint. It's available at Sephora for $37 in Canada.

Please keep in mind that it does take patience for retinol treatments to work, especially those purchased without prescription such as products from Sephora. Before using the Peaceout Retinol Eye Stick, I was always thinking about getting undereye fillers, but now I can put that on hold and see if my undereyes can bounce back on their own. I highly recommend adding a retinol eye cream to your routine, because it made such a difference to the overall health of my skin. So far, I am loving it!

Have you tried this? Let me know!

ESTEE LAUDER Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 18:06:00 +0000

Hello my lovelies,

As we are quickly approaching the holidays, I wanted to share this superstar combo for flawless skin all day long. I started using the Estee Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer a few months ago and I was amazed at how it keeps my skin looking fresh no matter what the weather might be. I have used this in humidity, as well as in Calgary's super dry weather and I loved the results so much that I must share my experience for you. I love using this primer with my all time favorite foundation - Estee Lauder Double Wear and currently I am using the shade Tawny (review here)

For full review and swatch keep reading...

ESTEE LAUDER Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer is a lightweight primer that promises to immediately triple skin’s moisture and can be worn alone or under a foundation. This dewy finish primer has a non oily, watery feel on skin and quite aptly named the Watery Glow Primer. It also promises to strengthen skin’s barrier and provide moisturization that lasts all day. I can certainly vouch for that because my skin stays nicely hydrated and never feels tight or itchy while I have this on. Often I would feel that the Double Wear foundation dries out my skin in cold winter weather and needs something underneath. While you all you know I detest silicone primers, I love this new era of moisturizing primers that works so much better for my skin. I have reviewed the Guerlain L'essential primer here, which feels similar on skin but the Estee Lauder Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer has a dewy finish which I absolutely love and NEED for a more radiant look.

I love the tube packaging as it makes it easy to dispense a small amount for application while also preventing unnecessary contact with air. I wish every skincare product would come in either a pump bottle or a tube packaging.

ESTEE LAUDER Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer Swatches

From the swatch above you can see the slight sheen this primer adds to my skin which looks beautiful on its own and adds a touch of radiance to the foundation I apply over it. I have worn this with the Double Wear Foundation to many events where I was photographed with flash at night and also during the day; I can confirm that it looks absolutely perfect in photos as it does to the eye.

If you are on the hunt for a primer that nourishes your skin, adds longevity to your foundation while also making your skin look radiant, then this is the right one for you. I can't stop using this and I highly recommend the ESTEE LAUDER Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer. It retails for $49 in Canada and its available at all major beauty counters and online at Estee Lauder's website.

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REN Clean Skincare - Glow One Step Further Set - Daily AHA Tonic, Glycolic Renewal Mask & Vitamin C Gel Cream Review

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 18:33:00 +0000

I have been a huge fan of REN Clean Skincare for quite a long time, but since I always began using these as soon as I brought these home, it was impossible to take good pictures for the blog. The Daily AHA Toner is my favorite for the past two years and I have purchased this several times, but couldn't really share it on the blog. Even in today's post all of these products are half empty - or shall I say half used, but I still managed to gather myself to post these because you NEED to know about these extraordinary products.

My journey with Vitamin C products isn't a nice one. I developed an allergic reaction to some Vitamin C serums in the past, after which I was scared to even try Vitamin C products ever again. When you get acne at 30 and it scars your skin, you feel like all the time you spent as a teenager taking care of your skin is wasted. Its devastating and I was sure I am never going back down that route.

So, if I used retinol treatment at night, do I do the quintessential Vitamin C routine in the morning? We know the drill - retinol at night, vitamin C in the morning and SPF, but how do I do that? I began using water creams, gel formulas and generally anything calming for my skin for years before I was confident I am ready for Vitamin C products again. At age 36 I need that glow! Hyperpigmentation is real and I needed some kind of acids in my routine! So I trusted this clean skincare line, which is vegan, created without the regular toxins, marked 'Clean at Sephora' and BINGO! Sold! My love for Ren Skincare began with its Vitamin C products because it worked for my skin and I am so happy to finally share and recommend a vitamin C skincare range with you :)

REN Clean Skincare Glow One Step Further Set ($35 on sale for $21) contains:

Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic - 50ml
Glycolic Lack Radiance Renewal Mask - 15ml
Vitamin C Gel Cream - 15ml

Though this set seems to be too small but I have been using this since October 5th, and after over a month, I have used half of it as you can see from the pictures below. Also, I bought it at a discounted price of $21 at Sephora store, so it is definitely a good deal at $21. Even at $35 its a good discovery set, if you are planning to try out Ren's vitamin C products and you can get 2 months worth of product in this set.

REN READY STEADY GLOW DAILY AHA TONIC

This exfoliating toner promises to hydrate, tighten and brighten the skin with regular use. I always use this as part of my morning routine after cleansing my face. I feel that it balances my skin's pH and gently exfoliates enough that I only physically exfoliate my face once in a month. I have felt the most difference on my chin and nose area, where I would develop blackheads and whiteheads if I am not exfoliating enough. It's gentle enough to use daily but it does sting slightly and prepares the skin for the moisturizer and SPF.

I always purchase this toner in the 100ml size which retails for $28 and lasts me 6 months. I do not like to keep my skincare on the vanity for that long because I do believe that it gets less effective over time, especially with vitamin C. Though, I am quite positive that this formula stays fresh but it is something I do for all my skincare products. I live in a cool climate where my room temperature is never over 21 degrees, but as an abundance of caution, I purchase smaller sized skincare products so I can use it up in the given time.

REN GLOW DAILY VITAMIN C GEL

This is the moisturizer I apply after the Daily AHA toner and it immediately hydrates and smooths out my skin. In this past month my skin has only improved and the dark spots seem lighter. They haven't disappeared but it seems less noticeable and a light coverage foundation is enough to cover them. The texture of this moisturizer is somewhere between a gel and a cream and has a nice slip to it so it can be massaged in to skin. It also has a slight citrus fragrance which is not noticeable after application. I only need a pea size amount for my face and a bit more for my neck. It get fully absorbed leaving my skin non oily and non shiny and I follow with SPF and/or foundation.

The REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel retails for $63 for 50ml pump bottle, so in this set I got $18.9 worth of product. Not a bad deal!

REN GLYCOLIC LACTIC RADIANCE RENEWAL MASK

This mask gently exfoliates and brighten skin. I have only used this twice in a month because it feels a bit too exfoliating on my skin. It has an orange scent and a gel like texture and spreads evenly on skin. It's almost like putting orange marmalade on skin. It's supposed to be left on skin for 10 minutes and then washed off. While on skin, this mask feels slightly tingling and after washing it dried my skin significantly on first use but felt much better after the second use. I follow with the Daily Vitamin C Gel and my skin feels and looks great!

I think its a good mask but I need to build tolerance to it. That's why I use it once in a while or as needed. I am not sure if I love it yet, so can't recommend but this has some pretty good reviews so I will continue using it until I see some benefits.

REN Glycolic Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask retails for $76 for 50ml, so I received $22.8 worth of mask in this set!

Overall, I love this set from REN because each product does what it promises. It hydrates, brightens and exfoliates skin and none of the products caused any allergic reactions or breakouts. I would highly recommend you to get this set if you are still wondering whether Vitamin C products will work for you or not. It's a clean vegan formula that works well for my skin and I am so happy I can incorporate vitamin C products to help me improve my skin's elasticity and reduce dark spots.

Hope you enjoyed this review and let me know if you like Vitamin C products too!

Keratinworks Haircare Review ft. PURE Shampoo, PURE Conditioner, Pure Hair Mask, Pure Liss BB Cream and Pure Crystal Serum

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 18:04:00 +0000

Cooler temperatures usually dry out my hair and skin and there is an instant need to hydrating and moisturizing formulas for my hair products and skincare. Most of the times I end up with breakouts on my face and neck because these formulations clog my pores and irritate my skin and that is the worst thing to experience when I am so close to the holiday season! So when I came across these non-toxic, formaldehyde-free, vegan, SLS free haircare products from Keratinworks, I was ecstatic!

Today I am sharing haircare products from Keratinworks PURE line which includes a shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, Liss BB cream (styling cream) and a crystal serum (shine serum).

KERATINWORKS PURE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Over the years I have developed a likeness for keratin infused hair products because they work for my hair type but I was unaware that most of them contain toxins and carcinogens! The idea that my shampoo and conditioner don't just stay in my hair, they actually wash down my entire body, is enough for me to be more selective in what hair products I use in the shower.

All Keratinworks hair products are free from all those irritants, are safe for colored hair and are vegan! Before using Keratinworks my scalp would be itchy with mild dandruff and I would often breakout on the sides of my neck. I knew I needed something better and I found relief ever since I started using Keratinworks PURE shampoo & conditioner as the first step to cleanse and nourish my hair.

Keratinworks PURE shampoo is infused with coconut water, coconut oil and vitamins that are essential for healthy and shiny hair while also maintaining an optimal hair pH. I apply a small amount to my hair and gently massage. It does lather up but not as much since its a SLS free shampoo. It is recommended to place hair underwater for a few seconds after application and then start lathering. I always do that since I use it in the shower and the nice clean fragrance of this vegan, paraben free, SLS makes washing hair more luxurious. After thoroughly rinsing I noticed that my hair felt very clean and ready for deep conditioning so I follow with the Keratinworks PURE Conditioner or once a month, I can follow with the Keratinworks Hydrating hair mask.

Keratinworks PURE Conditioner is formulated with keratin proteins and amino acids that result in soft, shiny and smooth hair. I apply this to the lengths of my hair after rinsing out shampoo and leave it in for 3 minutes for maximum effect. I like to massage the tips of my hair with conditioner because that is where I need maximum hydration. Waiting 3 minutes after application felt longer compared to regular conditioners, but considering that this is non toxic and non irritating, I felt that it was worth the wait. After rinsing off the conditioner, I towel dry my hair and follow with Liss BB cream. I noticed that my hair instantly felt softer even in the shower soon after I rinsed my hair. Its a great quality conditioner especially if dry hair is a concern for you like I do.

Keratinworks PURE Liss-BB Cream

After washing and towel drying my hair, I apply a couple of pumps of the Keratinworks PURE Liss BB Cream to my damp hair. This lightweight hair styling cream has a mild fragrance and feels almost like a moisturizer. It works wonders on my hair by reducing frizz, adding shine and softness and since its free from toxins I know that I will not break out on my neck from this. I also felt it added volume to my hair after blow drying and there are no more tangles. Its much easier to style my hair using this cream as there is no oily feel or residue in my hair. The Liss-BB Cream does not weigh down my hair like other styling products and I can go without washing my hair for days. The slight fragrance also lingers for days in my hair, which lets me feel they are still clean. Overall I love Liss-BB Cream and I feel it works great compared to other natural hair products.

Keratinworks PURE Crystal Serum

I always use a finishing serum on my hair to prevent knots and add shine to my hair so I had high expectations from this one and it does deliver what it promises. A few drops of the Crystal Serum is enough to apply all over the lengths of my hair. It adds shine and smoothness to hair and results in silky soft hair that lasts days or until I wash it off. I can even combine the Crystal Serum with the Liss-BB Cream and apply to damp hair before styling but since I am used to a finishing shine serum, I always apply this at the end of my hair routine.

Keratinworks Hydrating Mask

Designed to be used instead of the conditioner once or twice a month, this mask provides extreme softness and hydration to hair. I had to set aside 30 minutes to test out this hair mask and I am so pleased with the results. It felt like a salon keratin treatment that not only made my hair smoother and shinier but also added the volume for healthy looking hair. My hair has a fuller, more voluminous look and the shine makes it look healthier. I think this mask is a must have if you want great looking hair.

Overall I love Keratinworks because it works as promised and my hair looks much better than before. I love how much shine and smoothness it has added to my thick, frizzy and often hard to style hair. I love the results so much that I would highly recommend you to try this out. You can find out more about these amazing products at www.keratinworks.com

NARS High Profile Cheek Palette Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:46:00 +0000

NARS blush palette for the Holidays 2021 got me so excited, I couldn't resist getting one for myself and I am so pleased to share it with you today with the swatches. This is probably the best blush palette I have tried from NARS in a while mainly because all shades have a smooth and buttery, non glittery finish which looks absolutely stunning on my skin. All the shades are super pigmented and long wearing on me. There is a gold bronze-y highlight, a couple contouring shades and three pinkish hues for an instant pop on my medium skin tone. If you are looking for the ultimate blush palette, then this might be it! Keep reading for swatches and review.

SWATCHES

For the first time I have a blush palette where all the shades work wonderfully well. All the powders are finely milled, baked and embossed and they work beautifully on skin with a regular blush brush. I didn't even label each shade individually in the swatches, but just kept them in the same order to ensure that you get a full feel of the shades in the palette. However, since every shade is almost the same satin finish, it only made sense to look at this palette as a whole and not individual colors.

To apply, I usually swirl my brush over a couple of shades, just to see how many different looks I can get from them. They are great on their own and so much fun to mix and apply. The highlighting shade in the top corner has a slightly more shimmery finish but on the skin it looks smooth and adds just enough glow to look natural. I would like to layer this shade on a bit more for night time. The rest of the shades can be worn as blushes or bronzers but I was able to use the more brown shades as contours. I also love how there is a variation in the shades of the blushes, so there is a light rose pink, coral pink, a medium pink, a darker pink and warm beige pink - its so thoughtfully crafted. It's literally like someone sat with me and said ' girl, you want it, you got it!' and here comes this palette. It feels great to have something like this blush palette come out for the holidays that I can actually fully utilize rather than stick to a couple of shades while the rest of the palette goes to waste. NARS High Profile Cheek Palette is definitely a game changer in holiday beauty launches.

This palette is designed for all skintones and I can totally see how some shades might not work for very light skin tones, especially the highlight shade being too bronzey for fair complexions. But overall, I think the blushes in NARS High Profile Cheek Palette are gorgeous and can be customized according to your skin tone. If your skin is lighter, a single swipe of these blushes may be enough and if your skin is darker then maybe you can go crazy with these. I absolutely love it and I think this is the first time I have loved a NARS Blush palette this much. Check out my review of the other NARS blush palette here. For me it is one of the best purchases for the Holidays 2021.

From its glossy pink packaging accented with ribbons wrapped all over, to the quality and longevity of the blushes, I am totally impressed. I would highly recommend you try out the new NARS High Profile Cheek Palette and I am quite sure you will love it too <3

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GIVENCHY Limited Edition Prisme Libre Highlighter for Holidays 2021 Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 01:35:00 +0000

I am so excited to see all the new holiday makeup in stores and online but this new Holiday Edition Prisme Libre Highlighter by Givenchy caught my eye. I already use the Givenchy Teint Couture Highlighter from earlier this year and I love it so much that I wanted to try the Prisme Libre one as well especially because it has two shades instead of one. From my previous posts you know how much I love Prisme Libre loose powders and I haven't found any finishing powders to match the effect Prisme Libre powders have on my skin. So, without further ado, let me show you the Holiday Prisme Libre Highlighter by Givenchy.

Described as a 'limited edition loose-powder highlighter to instantly bring freshness and light to the complexion for a festive look', for me its a highlighter that makes my skin glow. Prisme Libre Highlighter has two shades, pink and gold, and together they result in a beautiful champagne gold glowy effect that reminds me of brides and festivities. It also has a beautiful perfume-y scent which I looovvvee!

The packaging is also absolutely gorgeous with a mirrored golden lid with Givenchy embossed on the sides. If you already own the Prisme Libre loose powders which are almost 15gm, you might be surprised to see the smaller size of this highlighter holding only 6 gm of highlighting powders in total. I just checked that my Givenchy Teint Couture highlighter has 10gm of product in there, so I am kind of concerned about the $ per gram for this one, but since its a Holiday edition, may be I can ignore that bit.

Ingredients

Now let's talk about some of the things I do not like about this highlighter. The puff included is too small for application and honestly, I feel that a highlight needs to be precise to look good as I do not apply it all over my face. If I shake the box with the puff on and then stamp it on my cheeks and nose, I feel that it gets difficult to blend. The puff makes the finely milled highlight powder just sit on my skin and its a tad hard to blend it in the right directions with a tiny puff that doesnt even fit my two fingers. For my highlight to look seamless, I need to use a brush! Even then, I feel this highlighter needs a bit of blending to seamlessly settle over foundation and blush and that is one aspect, I wish I could find a way around.

Once blended, it's the most gorgeous highlight I have ever had. It's nice and shimmery, not glittery, not chunky, not 1000 watt but just enough to make me look fresh and radiant. Its buildable, so if I would like to go crazy, I really can!! lol Check out the swatches below

SWATCHES

Swatch in Indoor Lighting

Swatch in Sunlight

Here's a comparison between my favorite Givenchy Teint Couture Shimmer Powder (review here) and the Prisme Libre Highlighter. It's quite obvious in a side by side swatch that the Teint Couture Shimmer Powder is more saturated and has a much higher payoff on a single swatch comparatively. This translates on skin as well, where I have to apply the Prisme Libre a couple of times to get the glow and only one stroke of the Teint Couture Shimmer Powder is enough for highlighting.

This in no way means that the Givenchy Prisme Libre is less desired, I feel like more like whether I want to customize the amount of highlight on my face or go full on. Another great thing about the Prisme Libre is that its dual shaded - its actually pink and gold which gives a more natural looking, more attractive glow to my skin.

Overall, I love this highlighter because it looks amazing on skin. The mix of pink and gold shimmer results in a beautiful natural looking highlight that is buildable according to time of the day or the event. I see this as more of an everyday highlight than something reserved for special events only. I wish it came in the bigger packaging, so the puff can actually be used for application, or maybe there could have been a kabuki brush in there to help apply and blend. The Champagne gold shade is beautiful and is universally flattering so I feel a lot of us will love this highlighter too.

GIVENCHY Limited Edition Prisme Libre Highlighter for Holidays 2021 retails for $55 at Sephora Canada.

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OPI Infinite Shine DOWNTOWN LA Collection 2021 Review and Swatches

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:48:00 +0000

When is Sephora Sale?

noreply@blogger.com (Ruqaiya Khan) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 18:32:00 +0000

Sephora Sale happens three times a year in April, August and November for Sephora's Beauty Insider, VIBs and Rouge members. It's easy to create an account on Sephora.ca and you can be assured to get the discount coupon in your inbox and also in Sephora App. As a VIB, you can get 15% off during Sephora's Holiday Savings Event (11/9-11/15)

SEPHORA SALE DISCOUNTS BASED ON TIERS

Beauty Insiders get 10% off

To be Beauty Insider (BI) you do not need any minimum spend. Anyone with a Sephora account is a BI and you can get 10% off your purchases during the sale period.

VIB Members get 15% off

You can become a VIB if you spend at least $350 a year on Sephora. I think most people are VIBs including myself and 15% off is a decent discount considering Sephora doesn't have all the brands that I use such as Chanel beauty.

Rouge Members get 20% off

The top tier of Sephora customers is for those who have spend at least $1000 on their purchases at Sephora. I don't know anyone who is a Rouge member may be because Sephora has limited brands at least for Canadian customers. If I think about myself, my beauty spend may be more than a $1000 but since it's divided at Shoppers Drugmart, Hudson's Bay, Nordstrom and Sephora, it's not hard to understand why I couldn't be at that level. And I think a lot of people are like me, who purchase beauty at different stores. However, a 20% off is a really sweet discount considering its the dollars off my total, unlike other stores, where I get points or other perks to be redeemed later.

This year's Sephora Sale dates and discounts:

For Rouge: November 5th to November 15th, 2021 with 20% off USE CODE YAYHOLIDAY

For VIBs: November 9th, 2021 to Nov 15th, 2021 with 15% off USE CODE YAYHOLIDAY

For BIs: November 11, 2021 to November 15th, 2021 with 10% off USE CODE YAYHOLIDAY

VIB Invite to Sephora Holiday Event

Beauty Insider Invite to Sephora Holiday Event

Here's what's in my cart so far:

I am not sure if I can wait for another month before I buy all of these items. I might get the mascara first, as I am a bit bored of repurchasing NARS Climax mascara which is absolutely amazing (click for review), but I am now thinking of trying something else, maybe the Charlotte Tilbury mascara will work for me after all. I have had tough luck with Charlotte Tilbury's products, as I only like her lipsticks but maybe I need to explore this brand a bit more. You can find out my thoughts on some of the products by Charlotte Tilbury on the blog here.
The NARS High Profile Cheek Palette has been on my wishlist for a few weeks now but since it wasn't available in store, I think my only option is to get it online. I also would like to try the DIOR Cushion Powder because I haven't had any cushion foundations in a long time. My only concern would be if the shade matches my complexion.

So that's what's on my mind today. Are you planning on getting something from Sephora during the Sale next month or are you more of a "buy what I need now" person?