Beauty Scribbler

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio - Nude Eyes: Review

2013-03-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

A new CVS just opened near me, so of course I went on a little spree. One of the things I picked up was this trio of "eye enhancing" eyeliner trio from the Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Nude Eyes range.

I paid just $12.79 for three useful-looking shades. The set is described as:

The perfect set of three eyeliners to create a nude look for any eye color.
Long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-resistant formula for 24-hour wear.

The pencils come in handy twist-up, retractable pens.

The three shades included are Champagne (a mushroomy beige), Pewter (a grey brown) and Black. All three shades have shimmer in them.

The pencils feel like gel pencils and melt and glide on with ease, no dragging of skin required. The colours have a slight jelly-like transparency to them, which you can see in a close-up of the swatches. I like that they are not completely opaque because I usually make a mess of myself with gel eyeliners... they always look too harsh on me. These pencils are very forgiving, with both the transparency and the shimmer.

In the photos below, I used the Champagne shade along both my top and bottom lashline, layering on Pewter and then finally Black dotted close to my top lashes. I initially thought Champagne would be too light to use on its own but it gives a bit of definition and brightness to the eyes for a more subtle look.

The pencils are very layerable, and the Champagne pencil can be applied on top of the darker shades to tone them down if needed... although it will start to look more silvery grey than mushroomy beige when mixed.

If sharp points are needed, each pencil comes with a built-in sharpener that can be pulled out of its top.

I really like these pencils... they're a quick way to define and brighten eyes at the same time, and it's virtually impossible to mess up with them. They also do last all day until removed.

As these are gel pencils and because they are the retractable sort, they will probably run down really quick, but they're a bargain that I'm definitely going to be wearing on a daily basis and repurchasing.

The full ingredients of Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio are:

Cyclopentasiloxane. Trimethylsiloxysilicate. Polyethylene. Ozokerite. Lauroyl Lysine. Synthetic Beeswax. Octyldodecanol. Disteardimonium Hectorite. Propylene Carbonate. Lecithin. Ascorbyl Palmitate. Citric Acid. Tocopherol. May Contain: Iron Oxides. Titanium Dioxide. Mica. Aluminum Powder. Bismuth Oxychloride. Black 2. Blue 1 Lake. Carmine. Chromium Hydroxide Green. Chromium Oxide Greens. Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide. Ferric Ferrocyanide. Manganese Violet. Silica. Tin Oxide. Ultramarines. Yellow 5 Lake.

Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Washable Mascara review

2013-03-09T23:43:00.002-05:00

I can never resist picking up new mascaras in drugstores... there's just something about the colourful packaging and the less-than-$10 prices. As long as the ingredients list doesn't contain alcohol (too drying), I'll give it a go. Most of my unresearched mascara purchases end up straight in the bin (I don't know why I still even look at Rimmel mascaras let alone buy them). However, Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket has turned out to be a bit of a keeper.

I bought the non-waterproof version in Blackest Black for $7.99 from CVS. Here's the description:

Explosive Volume In Rocket Time! 8X Bigger, Smoother. Now, the most explosive, beautiful lashes ever! Maybelline's Volum' Express The Rocket Mascara's patented Supersonic Brush with micro bristles loads on big, sleek volume instantly. The fast-glide formula keeps lashes smooth. Zero clumps guaranteed!

The wand has a plastic brush with lots of flexible and tapered bristles/prongs. The bristles are quite long compared to my usual Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash mascara. Towards the tip of the wand, the bristles are much shorter.

The wand comes out of the tube saturated in a thick, inky layer of the mascara, which I like because I hate mascaras which are dry on the brush and don't seem to deposit anything on the lashes.

At first I found the long bristles quite tricky to work with and kept poking my lash line with them. It's quite difficult to get thick, dark roots with the brush because of this. However, the long bristles make the brush perfect for combing the mascara evenly through to the tips of the lashes, without any clumps.

Extra layers need to be applied while the mascara is still wet and workable. As soon as the mascara starts to dry, applying more just makes lashes stick together. However, when the mascara is still wet, the brush does a good job of keeping lashes separate and defined. The formula also helps pull and shape lashes upwards.

Before I show you how The Rocket mascara looks on my generally unimpressive lashes, here is a photo of my bare lashes. They're a little messy at the moment because I permed my lashes about three weeks ago and some newer, straight lashes are growing through.

Below is what one coat of mascara looks like on my upper and lower lashes...

I like the results of The Rocket mascara... it volumises and thickens my lashes in very little time, as advertised. It gives me quicker and more noticeable results than my usual Buxom Lash. It doesn't really lengthen my lashes much but it doesn't claim to.

I have tried this mascara on my lower lashes, but I prefer using a mascara with a proper brush (not a plastic one), otherwise they can look very sparse and messy. I usually use Clinique High Impact Mascara on my lower lashes.

This mascara stays on all day with no flaking or smudging, even when used on my lower lashes. However, the major downside is that it's unbelievably difficult to remove. It's called a "washable" mascara but it doesn't seem to dissolve with eye make-up remover, hot water or cleansing oil. I really need to press and wipe at my lashes a lot before the mascara comes off. Even then, little flakes remain and stick to my skin like glue. I don't really know what Maybelline are talking about when they say this mascara is "washable". It's like trying to remove tar!!

Aside from the effort required to remove this mascara, I really like it. I just need to work out the trick to removing it...

The full ingredients of Maybelline Volum' Express The Rocket Washable Mascara are:

Aqua / Water / Eau, PEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate, Styrene/Acrylates/Ammonium Methacrylate Copolymer, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire Dabeille, Paraffin, Copernicia Cerifera Cera/Carnauba Wax/Cire De Carnauba, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Ethylenediamine/Stearyl Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Lithium Magnesium Sodium Silicate, Dimethicone, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Dimethiconol, Disodium Edta, Polyurethane-35, Tetrasodium EDTA. May Contain: CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/Iron Oxides, CI 77007/Ultramarines, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Mica, CI 75470/Carmine, CI 77288/Chromium Oxide Greens, CI 77289/Chromium Hydroxide Green, CI 77742/Manganese Violet, CI 77510/Ferric Ferrocyanide.

Barbara Daly Super Sheer Loose Powder review: A nice little find

2013-02-24T01:41:00.001-05:00

I picked up this Barbara Daly loose powder as an emergency face powder when I was in the UK for Christmas and had run out of my usual Urban Decay Razor Sharp Finishing Powder. The only shop within reasonable driving distance was a huge Tesco.

I love shopping for cosmetics in supermarkets... It's the thrill of browsing lesser-known brands, mixed with the convenience of being able to pick a little something up with my groceries. Barbara Daly Make-up is exclusive to Tesco, but it's rare to find a Tesco that stocks it, so I was excited to finally see it out in the wild.

The description of this powder is:

Our ultra-light, non-caking, non-drying finishing powder gives a natural, translucent finish.

Barbara Daly Super sheer loose powder is ultra-fine and silky smooth, containing light-diffusing particles to give skin a flawless finish. A must-have for your make-up bag, its soft formula is great for setting your make-up, reducing the appearance of pores and giving a flawless, professional finish.

The packaging is very... compact. At only 3.5g, it's pretty small for a powder. It comes with a mirror in the lid, and a small, square-shaped puff which is too small to be effective. I did try, but it was literally impossible to get any powder on my face with it. I might as well have been dabbing powder on using two fingers... that's how tiny it is.

The powder is dispensed through holes which can easily be covered and uncovered by twisting the stopper.

The powder feels ultra-light, as described. It's not quite as fine as Urban Decay Razor Sharp Finishing Powder but it is still notably fine and silky. The powder is pale to the eye, but is designed to be translucent (although I think it may be more visible on dark skin).

This powder goes on invisible on my skin with no chalkiness. I just lightly brush it on for an immediate mattified and airbrushed finish. The description mentions "light-diffusing particles" but I was happy to find that there are no shimmer particles in this powder.

It works really well over my Amarté Natural Finish BB Cream, and doesn't leave an obvious "powdered" look.

While this powder stops my face looking full-on shiny for most of the day (it diffuses the shine so it doesn't look as "oily"), I find that I need to blot with a tissue around my nose within a few hours if I want to maintain a truly matte appearance. It doesn't hold up to oil as much as a silica and silicone-heavy powder (e.g. Urban Decay Razor Sharp, or ELF HD Powder), but I still think it performs well.

I find I can re-apply this powder later in the day without it caking or changing colour.

This powder was only £7, but I'd put the quality up with any premium branded loose powders. I would say it's perfect for anyone who wants a finishing powder that doesn't leave a powdery or cakey finish, and who doesn't need aggressive oil-control.

I only wish the packaging was better. Although at a glance it's perfect - neat and tidy, contains an applicator and has a mirror - it's difficult to get enough powder out of the little holes, and the puff is just too small to be useful. I find it easier to just move the powder to another loose powder compact. I have a really old refillable loose powder compact from Bare Escentuals which I use all the time for loose powder.

Other than the packaging, this loose powder is fantastic and I'd recommend checking it out next time you're in a big Tesco or on Tesco.com.

The full ingredients of Barbara Daly Super Sheer Loose Powder are:

Talc, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene/MA Copolymer, Mica, Zeolite, Methylparaben, Iron Oxide Yellow, Iron Oxide, Sorbic Acid, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Propylparaben, Tetrasodium EDTA, Butylparaben, CI 77499, Orchis Mascula, Cyclopentasiloxane, BHT

The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Cleansing Oil review

2013-02-17T03:20:00.000-05:00

While in The Body Shop last weekend stocking up on the Ginger Scalp Care shampoo (which is amazing for itchy scalps by the way), I picked up this Moisture White Shiso Cleansing Oil. I'm not usually a fan of The Body Shop skin care, but this cleansing oil sounded interesting.

Here's the description:

This rinse-off cleansing oil removes make-up and impurities. It contains our unique shiso formula. Gently dissolves make-up and lifts away impurities. Does not dry out skin. Specially developed for Asian skin.

Although I've been using hot cloth cream cleansers and milk cleansers for a few years now, I've never tried an cleansing oil. Unless I count using mineral oil to remove waterproof mascara when I was a teenager, which worked really well but used to blur my eyes.

This cleansing oil comes in a standard pour bottle. Personally I'd prefer a pump for convenience but it's fine... it just needs a wipe around the bottle opening every so often.

The main reason I wanted to try oil cleansing was because I wanted to be able to remove make-up and cleanse my skin in one step, instead of using face wipes, eye make-up remover, then cream cleanser etc. I've also come to dislike using face wipes because there's always loads of dry ones in the pack, and sometimes I feel like they're too abrasive on my skin, particularly when I'm removing eye make-up.

I'm pleased to say that since I started using this cleansing oil, I've managed to simplify my evening cleansing routine.

To show you how, here's my hand with a variety of water resistant and waterproof make-up on it..

This is a splash of cleansing oil going on...

This is the cleansing oil gently rubbed into the area for a few seconds. The make-up has dissolved with hardly any friction required.

This is my hand after being rinsed with water. Clean as a whistle!

I'm happy with my first cleansing oil so far. I much prefer using just one product and then rinsing it off clean.

I've tried a few different methods of using this cleansing oil, and my preferred method is as follows:

Start with dry skin. Pour about a teaspoon of the cleansing oil onto palm
Use fingers to dab oil generously on areas prone to build-up of sebum or make-up (e.g. sides of nose, chin, and eyelids)
Dab remaining oil to rest of face
Use fingertips to spread and massage oil in circular motions, concentrating on aforementioned areas of concern
Leave eye area to last so that the oil has had more time to start dissolving stubborn make-up and thus needs less rubbing
Rinse thoroughly

I don't find that the cleansing oil works as well mixed with water, so I always use it on dry skin.

After rinsing, my skin really does look and feel clean. When I rinse, the oil comes off completely, taking all traces of make-up and dirt with it. If I use a white towel on my face afterwards, it doesn't get left with remnant make-up.

The first couple of days I used this, I thought my skin seemed a little more dry after rinsing than when I've used a cream/milk cleanser. I really wanted the oil to be moisturising as well as cleansing, but it doesn't seem to be. I guess I wouldn't want any "dirtied" oil staying on my skin anyway...

I'm definitely going to keep using this cleansing oil. I like that it leaves my skin perfectly clean and also saves me time and effort in the evenings.

This cleansing oil was $15 for 125ml (4.2 fl oz).

The full ingredients (I'm not a fan of fragrance being listed) of The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Cleansing Oil are:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Isohexadecane (Emollient/Solvent), Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil (Emollient/Skin Conditioner), Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate (Surfactant - Emulsifying Agent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Fragrance (Fragrance), Perilla Ocymoides Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Antioxidant), Butylphenyl Methylpropional (Fragrance Ingredient), Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract (Conditioning Agent, Humectant), Citric Acid (pH Adjuster)

Amarté Natural Finish BB Cream review: I love this!

2013-02-10T03:13:00.000-05:00

I've been looking for a BB cream for ever. The idea of consolidating moisturiser, anti-ageing treatment, sunscreen, foundation and concealer into one easy step is just too appealing to me as someone who isn't a morning person.

I've been scouring BB cream reviews and photos for months, but all the Asian BB creams seem to result in a chalky, unnatural-looking mask for anyone who isn't naturally pale. And most of the "western" BB creams have been deemed too sheer and a waste of time. I started thinking that the treatment+foundation concept was too good to be true.

But, I think I might have just found my perfect BB cream in the form of Amarté Natural Finish BB Cream. I received some mini samples to try and have so far squeezed two days out of them - enough time for me to conclude that I love this product.

This BB cream is SPF 36 and comes in two shades - Light Tint and Natural Tint. Light Tint has a pink tinge and is suitable for anyone who usually buys the palest foundation shades. Natural tint is darker and more beige, and is suitable for anyone with a medium, olive or tanned skin tone.

Below are the two shades on my cheek (Natural Tint on the left, Light Tint to the right). I can get away with either of these shades because they blend out really well, but you can see that the darker shade, Natural Tint, is an almost perfect match for my beige skin.

This BB cream is quite thick and pigmented, like how you might imagine a heavy duty concealer would be. But the consistency is really smooth and refined, which makes it easy to spread and pat onto the skin. I use it straight after my serum and eye cream, without a moisturiser underneath and I've found it hydrating enough even for my dry skin.

After applying the BB cream all over my face, I pat extra under my eyes as it works amazingly well as a concealer. I can also apply it to my eyelids without it irritating my eyes.

Here are the before and after photos, with just the BB cream, no concealer or powder. In the before photo, my skin looks fairly smooth but I have hyperpigmentation, redness around my nose and chin, and a purple tinge under my eyes. In the after photo, you can see that the BB cream has diffused my freckles and also completely covered up redness and undereye circles. My eyelids are also more even toned and less tired-looking.

The finish is neither dewy nor matte, and if I didn't have the type of skin that gets shiny during the day, I wouldn't even bother to apply powder because the finish is so nice on its own.

As one of the main ingredients in this BB cream is titanium dioxide (used as a physical sunscreen), the finish reminds of mineral foundation. Light is diffused which gives a really even and luminous appearance, all without any shimmer.

I stopped wearing mineral foundation many years ago due to it flashing back in photos and generally making my skin look shiny wherever light hit it, so I was worried that a BB cream containing mineral sunscreen would do the same. However, I took the below photo with flash, and there doesn't seem to be any major flashback or whiteness.

As the coverage of this BB cream is medium (it will cover redness and minor spots), it means I definitely need to add contours and blush back on my face to avoid looking too "flat". Here's how the BB cream looks with a light dusting of powder and my face drawn back on.

I've found this BB cream to last all day without melting off or disappearing (the only thing is if I've applied too thickly in areas with creases like my nose to mouth lines, it starts to show a bit). Most impressive is the fact that it covers my dark circles all day, which I find difficult to achieve even with heavy duty concealer. It must also have some oil control properties because I tried going without eyelid primer today, and my eyeshadow has hardly creased at all. So that's one more product I can skip in the mornings!

Ok, what's the catch, I hear you ask. It's $80 for 40 ml (1.4 fl oz). That's a lot for a BB cream. But I am definitely going to buy the full size pump bottle because 1) it makes my skin look flawless all day, 2) I have no upper limit on skincare as long as it does good, and 3) this one product is replacing several products which in total cost more than $80 and take me much longer to apply.

At the moment you can buy Amarté products directly from their website at amartecosmetics.com or at dermstore.com (which usually has 10% off if you add a product to your favourites list). The Amarté website mentions that the brand is coming to "luxury retailers" soon too.

The full ingredients of Amarté Natural Finish BB Cream are:

Water, Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Human Oligopetide-1 (EGF 2-nano), Caviar Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Elemental Sulfur, Allantoin, Collagen, Dimethicone, Iron Oxide, Ferric Oxide, Tri-iron Tetra-oxide, Stearyl Dimethicone, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Talc, Phenoxyethanol

Disclosure: PR samples

[Update: I bought the full size bottle of this BB cream and I have been using it every day. My skin has been looking good with and without the BB cream on, and I've had no blocked pores from it. I love it! One pump of the bottle covers my whole face so I think the bottle will last a long time.]

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation review: Approved!

2013-02-03T22:25:00.000-05:00

I picked up this Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation when I was back in the UK for Christmas and I've worn it every day since.

I bought the shade, Beige 54, which matches my skin tone perfectly.

The formula is very fluid and is dispensed evenly from a pump bottle. This foundation contains a lot of silicone ingredients but doesn't have that sitting-on-top-of-the-skin or slippery feeling that you get with some other silicone-based foundations (e.g. Face Atelier). It feels much more watery. There is quite a strong flowery-fruity fragrance but it goes away soon after application.

Once on the skin, this foundation spreads easily with fingers and airbrushes away any unevenness and redness. It really takes just seconds for me to blend this foundation using my fingers because the formula is so light and easy to work with.

Given how watery and weightless the formula is (I can't feel it on my skin at all), the coverage is surprisingly good. I would say it's medium coverage.

The finish is extremely natural - it just looks like a better version of my skin. But what I love is that it looks as fresh at the end of the day as it does when first applied. It's not mattifying by itself (I still need a dusting of powder), but it also doesn't turn greasy through the day.

Here are before and after pictures of me wearing the foundation with no concealer or powder. The photos were taken in exactly the same position and light (a particularly unflattering light that shows up every freckle). You can see it has evened out areas of freckling and redness, but hasn't made my skin look completely opaque. It has also taken the edge off the purple under my eyes, but I would still need to wear undereye concealer.

This foundation was only £9.99 from Boots, which is a bargain for a great quality foundation.

Bourjois isn't sold in the US, but sometimes you can find it in stock on ASOS.com who will ship it to the US.

Bourjois also have a foundation called "Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation" which I want to try as well.

The full ingredients of Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation are:

Aqua (Water), Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium chloride, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Parfum (Fragrance), Panthenol, Alcohol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, [+/- (may contain): Mica, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)]

Skincare I am using right now

2013-01-28T00:08:00.000-05:00

As it's been so long since I blogged about skincare, I'm going to write about a few products all in one go.

Ole Henriksen Express the Truth Creme

At night, I'd been using Forest Secrets serum and oil but I found myself having to reorder the bottles too often (the product size literally halved from 30ml to 15ml some time after I wrote my review), and delivery times from the UK to the US were a little unpredictable. I also missed the simple pleasure of applying a "cream" before going to bed.

I whittled my brand options down to Ole Henriksen because I'd already liked their Truth Serum and also because their ingredient lists looked better than other brands. The accompanying moisturiser to the Truth Serum had too many reviews of dodgy smells - my favourite description was "it smells like an orange with B.O.", so I ended up going for the Express the Truth Creme from the African red tea range.

Express the Truth Creme is marketed primarily as a wrinkle-prevention cream, but is a good all rounder in terms of ingredients and contains antioxidants, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and peptides. I was also drawn in by the ingredient, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, which is something that the Elemis eye cream I'd been using also contained (see further down). It's a derivative of seaweed which apparently has moisturising and firming properties.

The cream actually feels wet in the jar - it's hard to explain but it's literally like a jar of moisture (it's not really like a cream or even a gel). It feels nourishing and hydrating on the skin without feeling heavy. It smells quite strongly of fruity sherbet which I'd prefer it not to, but it's not unbearable.

I've been using this for several weeks and I really like it. It leaves my skin soft and hydrated and it doesn't feel like it's clogging my pores.

I paid $65 for a pot which looks like it will last me at least four months.

The full ingredients of Ole Henriksen Express the Truth Creme are:

Water (Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethyl Macadamiate, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Triisostearyl Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Ascorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polylysine, Dimethicone, Sodium PCA, Glyceryl Laurate , Sorbitol, Allantoin, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Linalool, Caramel.

Ole Henriksen Total Truth Eye Creme SPF 15

I've always used non-SPF eye creams and instead applied normal sunscreen all around my eyes including my eyelids. But for as long as I can remember, I've had issues with irritated eyes and scratchiness under my eyelids and I started thinking it might be because I use products around my eyes which aren't designed to be used near the eyes.

So I ended up buying this SPF eye cream from Ole Henriksen.

The eye cream is really thick, like a paste. But it spreads and absorbs fine. I use it under my eyes and on my eyelids. I do find that eyeshadow is more likely to crease when I've worn this eye cream, so people with oily eyelids might not like it. I personally like that it is so emollient because the skin under my eyes gets that crepey look when it's dry so I need as much hydration as I can get.

I paid $45 for a 15ml pot.

The full ingredients of Ole Henriksen Total Truth Eye Creme SPF 15 are:

Active ingredients: Avobenzone 2.0%, Octinoxate 4.0%, Octisalate 4.0%
Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Glycery Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Ceteareth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Algae Extract, Pullulan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Allantoin, Volubilis (Mountain Peanut) 2, Seed Oil, Schinus Terebinthifolius Seed Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Alcohol, Lecithin.

Note: It doesn't contain Oxybenzone, yay!

Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal

I've had this tube for a few months and have been using it at night. I bought it after trying some sample sachets and seeing how much difference it made to my eye area after just one night. It miraculously seemed to have a visible effect on dark circles and fine lines and made me look fresher. I looked up some reviews afterwards and several mentioned similar experiences.

This eye cream is a velvety gel formulation and doesn't leave any greasy residue.

A 15ml pump bottle usually costs around £60, but I bought this 30ml tube for £36 from a British eBay seller (who seemed trustworthy enough). I hope it's not fake!

The full ingredients of Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Renewal are:

Water (Aqua), Dicaprylyl Carbonate, PEG-8, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Padina Pavonica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitol, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Fragrance (Parfum), Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Algae Extract, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Tocopherol, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Leaf Extract, Polygonum Fagopyrum Seed Extract, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Acacia Decurrens Absolute, Rosa Damascena Flower Absolute, Butylphenyl Methylpropional.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster

I had a bit of a break from this while using Forest Secrets which was a serum and oil in one, but I came back to it after remembering how much I raved when I first tried it. It contains Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate which is a stable derivative of Vitamin C that only gets converted to Vitamin C once it's on the skin, which means it doesn't oxidise in the bottle. My full review can be found here.

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30+ PA+++

I'm on my second bottle of this. I wasn't sure if it would be moisturising enough for the cold winter months but it has been fine (especially layered over Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic and then a serum. I love that it has high and broad sun protection without being greasy and that it doesn't contain Oxybenzone (which is apparently carcinogenic but is in most products that contain SPF). I don't seem to have gained any new freckles this year so it must be doing something good. My full review is here.

A British beauty blogger in California...? On the move again

2013-01-06T19:41:00.000-05:00

Happy new year nice people who still read or stumble on my blog. God knows why, but there is still traffic to here for which I am very thankful for given my shameful blogging frequency of one post per two months in 2012. It's always hard to pick blogging back up after so long off, but I'm just going to write and see where this goes...

It's been just over two years since I moved to New York and I've found myself needing to move again, this time to San Francisco. In a couple of weeks I'll be packing up an apartment again and setting foot in another city I look forward to getting to know.

It's been a truly amazing experience living in New York. The first year was hard - working an average of 13 hours a day in the office, seeing the coldest winter New York's had for 30 years (-14°C at one point, just when my heating decided not to switch on), no friends, only seeing my husband every few weeks, eating absolute rubbish (which culminated that winter in the biggest spot ever on the side of my nose by which I am still physically and mentally scarred). But somehow I still loved being in New York. Every TV series or film I'd watched or was watching seemed to be set in the same city I was living in... I felt like I was in the centre of the world. London seemed so small, slow and grey each time I went back.

Hmm I'm still thinking about that huge spot that first winter. I can't believe when I think of my first year in New York, the first thing I think of is that spot. Now that's vanity for you. It was massive though.

My second year was a whole different story. If my first year was just a bud, my second year was a giant, fully bloomed, rainbow-coloured bouquet. I worked more reasonable hours; I turned around one day and realised I had made an amazing circle of friends who I could discover more of New York with; I started running the Central Park loop and doing spin classes and did more exercise in one year than my entire life put together; I started green juicing; Sandy happened and I realised the strength and community of the people of New York; I made a home (albeit one I would only live in for a year) with my husband in a really nice apartment right by the park; and all in all, I lived a whole lot more.

I have mixed feelings about uprooting again. I feel really quite sad that I will leave behind the friends and colleagues who have made my time in New York so enjoyable and so well, easy. But I know it's time to move on because there are little things that are starting to bug me about New York which never used to. Actually it's just one thing that bugs me, and that's the amount of dog poo on the sidewalks, especially in the neighbourhoods I've lived in in the Upper East and Upper West Side. I used to say with such Ned Flanders bounce, "that's just part of living in New York - dog poo and trash!" but my God, I don't think I could do another summer being hit in the face by a gust of poop and urine aromas every time I turned a corner. You have to see (and smell) it to know what I'm talking about.

Speaking of summer, have I ever said how New York summers are the best (despite the poop)? The summers literally feel endless with sunshine and hot, balmy days for three to four months straight. You can leave the apartment in flip flops and stay out all day doing as much or as little as you want, whether it's rowboating on the lake, cycling along the river, having a picnic, going to a free concert or festival, or just reading and eating frozen yoghurt in the park. I love, love, love New York summers. I'm excited for people I know who have just moved here during the winter because they still have all that joy to come.

But I'm looking forward to seeing more of the West Coast, road trips, agreeable weather all year round and even more tasty Asian food than in New York (mm mmm mmmmm).

So San Francisco here I come. Here's hoping for more good times and hopefully a bit more blogging than I've managed during my time in New York (I still buy way too many beauty products but can't seem to get myself to take photos and sit and write about them)!

Happy 2013 everyone!

Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner review: Love!

2012-07-31T00:02:00.000-04:00

I have been using Giovanni Smooth As Silk conditioner for 6 months and I love, love, love it.

This is what the conditioner claims to do:

For damaged hair:
Infuses deep moisture for manageable smoothness
Detangles while protecting against split ends
Calms unruly hair to alleviate frizz
Increases shine while smoothing dry or damaged hair

The conditioner does all of the above for me. I have long, highlighted hair that I always blowdry on the highest heat and rarely cut (twice a year) so my hair needs all the help it can get.

The product has an almost "gelee" texture... not creamy nor siliconey. It smells lightly fruity and fresh. It doesn't detangle on its own but as soon as a bit more water is added, the tangles slip out effortlessly. So rather than combing it through immediately, I roughly spread it along my hair, then only attempt to comb my fingers through my hair once my head is back under the shower. It's almost as if the water activates the detangling properties.

The conditioner rinses out easily and after blowdrying, my hair feels soft, silky and light. It doesn't contain silicones so it doesn't leave any dullness. It is easy on my scalp too and doesn't make me itch or feel greasy.

I haven't tried the shampoo in the Giovanni Smooth As Silk range as I am still using my two favourite shampoos - The Body Shop Ginger Anti-Dandruff (or "Scalp Care" in the US) Shampoo and Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo. I haven't found any shampoos that beat those!

This conditioner costs between $7 - $8.95 for 250ml (8.5oz) depending on where you buy it. I usually stock up from Ricky's or Amazon. I just wish it came in bigger bottles because I get through one bottle quite quickly when my hair is long. Other than that, this really is the perfect conditioner for me!

The full ingredients of Giovanni Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture conditioner are:

Aqua (water), cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, butylene glycol, cetrimonium bromide, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, natural fragrance, hydrolyzed soy protein, *chamomilla recutita (matricaria) leaf extract, *citrus aurantium dulcis (valencia orange) extract, *citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract, *cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) extract, *echinacea purpurea extract, *ginkgo biloba extract, *glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *macrocystis pyrifera (sea kelp) extract, *mangifera indica (mango) extract, *salix alba (willow bark).
*USDA Certified Organic
100% vegetarian ingredients.
No phthalates / artificial fragrance / dyes / sulfates / parabens.

SweatBlock antiperspirant wipes: Tried and tested on a sweaty face

2012-07-22T23:59:00.001-04:00

That was the best I could come up with for this blog post title. There's just nothing glamorous about having to seek out clinical strength antiperspirant for the face.

I have always despaired that my body seems to try to cool down through channelling sweat through the bridge of my nose and upper lip instead of through armpits like normal people (seriously, it actually comes out as beads). Sunscreen and make-up usually stand zero chance of holding up on my face on hot days. With New York being 35°C (95°F) for the last few weeks, desperate times have called for desperate measures...

SweatBlock comes in a box of 8 pre-soaked towelettes. It claims to reduce sweat for up to 7 days per use. I paid $19.99 for a box from Amazon. It seemed expensive for just 8 wipes, but one of the reviewers on Amazon suggested that you could get several uses out of one towelette as long as you seal it back up in its packet each time.

The active ingredient is 14% aluminum chloride which can be found in other antiperspirants. The reason why I chose SweatBlock was because it doesn't need to be applied every day and it is a liquid (on wipes) and not a roll-on. That would just be too weird using on my face. There have been rumours about antiperspirants being carcinogenic but I figured I hardly ever use antiperspirant on my underarms so I'm probably ok on balance.

SweatBlock was designed to be used for underarms but on doing a few Google searches, it seems that a large proportion of their customers use it to prevent excessive facial sweating too.

I was a bit hesitant to use antiperspirant on my face because blocking sweat ducts sounds like a one-way ticket to blocked pores and spots. But like I said, desperate times!! (Fortunately, my skin has been completely fine.)

The towelettes come in sealed packets, and I use a bulldog clip to seal the packets back up to preserve wipes for future uses.

The towelettes should be dabbed onto dry skin, not rubbed. They are designed to be used before going to bed so that the active ingredient can work overnight. The wipe comes out of the packet very wet so it really needs just the lightest touch onto the face otherwise it'll drip and taste gross. The smell is designed to be a "pleasant clove smell" and actually isn't too bad but it does leave a slight chemical smell until it's washed off the next morning.

After applying the SweatBlock around my nose and upper lip and leaving it to dry, my skin stings and tingles for several minutes. It feels like having dry, tight skin after using a strong astringent product. It was a bit worrying at first but the feeling passes, and there's no redness or rashes at least. After it dries, I apply my night moisturiser on top.

The day after applying, my skin always seems a bit drier and tighter than normal. But it really does stop my face from sweating. I have found myself waiting for trains at subway stations (which I can only liken to being in an oven) checking out people with sweat literally dripping down their faces, thinking "that's usually me..." I haven't noticed any side effects (apart from the tingling after the initial application, and the slight tightness the next day) and my pores seem clearer if anything.

Not having to constantly pat tissues on my face when I'm outside in the sun or underground in subway stations has made my second summer in New York even more enjoyable. I would say this has been a successful venture into facial antiperspirant!

I didn't want to write too much in this post, so I'd recommend checking out the FAQs on the SweatBlock website if you have any specific ponderings as the answers may well be there.

The full ingredients of SweatBlock towelettes are:

Active ingredient: 14% aluminum chloride hexahydrate
Other ingredients: Water, polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate, polyethylene glycol 8000, eugenol, vitamin E oil, assorted tannins and phytosterols derived from natural plant extracts, 0.15% benzoic acid for preservative

Physicians Formula Nude Eyes shadow and liner palette review

2012-07-19T23:49:00.000-04:00

I picked up this Physicians Formula Nude Eyes palette for the cute packaging and because you can never have enough shimmery champagne and taupe eyeshadows. Plus it was only $10.95 for nine different strips of color to play around with.

The "lace"-effect palette is very compact. Without a ruler on hand, I'd guess it to be around 5" wide. The lid is held in place with a magnet, and the whole thing is just so pleasing to hold and to have out on my dressing table.

The lid flips open to these ever-handy shades and a strange, slanted tip sponge applicator (which I haven't actually attempted to use):

The shadows are not as pigmented as say Urban Decay shadows, but are nonetheless fine to apply (especially for the price!) and not crumbly at all. Here are the swatches:

The palette is split into three trios of shades. The first three shades on the left are for a "Dramatic" look, the middle three for a "Playful" look and the last three for a "Natural" look.

The four shades on the right are very pale shimmers, with white, champagne and pink tones. All great for brightening up the eye area. The shades towards the "Dramatic" end are varying shades of taupe plus a dark brown and black. I usually avoid eyeshadow palettes because I know I'll end up using just one or two shades, but this one has all my safe colours in one little box. It's going to be great for travelling and for reducing clutter on my dressing table!

Here is a photo of me wearing the "Playful" trio with a bit of the black to line. I'm also wearing shades from this palette in this post here.

I'm glad I bought this palette and recommend it for anyone who finds even the Urban Decay Naked palette too "daring" and just need some really easy-to-wear, neutral colours to have around. Or if you just like cute packaging!

The full ingredients of Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Nude Eyes (yes, that's the full name!) are:

Mica, Polybutene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Synthetic Wax, Silica, Dimethicone, Lauroyl Lysine, Beeswax, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Kaolin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol May Contain: Carmine, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Iron Oxides, Manganese Violet, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 5 Lake

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain review: Rendezous

2012-07-08T23:47:00.000-04:00

When I see enough advertising for a product, I always give in. I only vaguely remember seeing Emma Stone's face promoting the new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain but found myself subliminally scanning one through a CVS self checkout this weekend.

This is how the "balm stain" is described:

It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood.

I chose the shade, Rendezvous, which is a coral, orangey colour. I wanted a colour that would take out a bit of the mauve and blue undertones in my lips (they seem to be getting more blue as I get older???). The balm looks bright orange in the pencil but goes on with just enough coverage to even out the tone and shape of the lips without actually being an opaque orange.

The balm comes in a fun twist-up chubby pencil. I was expecting the balm to be soft and melty but it's quite solid (like a fat lip pencil but with more glide) and doesn't squidge when applied. It's feel neither like a lipstick nor a traditional lip balm, but feels great to use.

There is a very faint minty smell to the balm but it's not noticeable once applied.

The balm feels really comfortable and weightless on the lips. I easily forget I'm wearing it. Unlike many other lip stain products, the colour lasts most of the day without drying the lips out. It is quite moisturising but I would still wear my usual lip balm under or over the balm stain though just for extra smoothing and plumping.

Once the shine of the balm wears off (after eating, drinking, licking etc), the colour still remains faint on my lips, but surprisingly still looks fairly even and not patchy.

I am wearing Rendezvous in the photo below:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain costs around $8 in the US and is out in the UK too. The other shades available are mostly pinks with one light, beigey-looking one.

The full ingredients are:

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate 2, Squalane, Bis Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dilinoleate, Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Triisostearin, Diisostearyl Malate, Cera Microcrystallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Trimethylolpropane Triethylhexanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polyalmide 3, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propylene Carbonate, Pentaerylthrityl Tetra Di Butyl Hydroxyhdrocinnamate, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil (Mentha Peperita Oil), Limonene, Sorbic Acid, May Contain (+/-): Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Red 6 (CI 15850), Orange 5 (CI 45370), Red 21 (CI 45380), Red 33 (CI 17200), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Manganese Violet (CI 77742)

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash mascara review: My everyday mascara

2012-07-05T23:02:00.003-04:00

I've been using Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash in Blackest Black for a couple of months now. I really like it as a foolproof everyday mascara.

The product description:

An intensely volumizing mascara for bigger, fuller lashes. This vitamin-enriched formula deepens, darkens, and thickens from root to tip. The curvy hourglass-shaped brush holds the ideal amount of mascara to ensure every lash is coated evenly with our silky, clump-free formula.

Like the name, the wand is very voluptuous... a wide barrel which is wider and curvier at the bottom and top. The bristles are short, stiff and plentiful which makes it easy to quickly coat each lash with just a quick swipe. The "hourglass" shape may sound like a gimmick but it does actually help to get every lash and volumise. I can also use the wand at an angle to help shape the direction of my lashes because the curvy end acts a bit like the ball-shaped mascara wands that came out a couple of years ago.

Buxom Lash holds a curl well for a non-waterproof mascara (I don't use waterproof mascaras because they smudge instantly around my oily eyes and they are too troublesome to remove). I also like that the ingredients don't include alcohol which means healthier lashes and also the mascara dries out less quickly in the tube.

The finish that the mascara gives is a very clean, glossy look even with multiple coats. It is definitely a volumising mascara rather than lengthening or thickening and doesn't contain any fibres or heavy thickening ingredients. Here is a photo of me wearing one coat:

I love that Buxom Lash is non-smudgy (although it sometimes transfer a tiny bit under my eyes by the end of the day especially if I'm smiling and laughing a lot) but yet so easy to remove. It comes off cleanly with a face wipe - no pressure or rubbing required.

Buxom Lash is a little pricier ($19) than I normally pay for mascaras but the tube does last a long time before getting crusty and flaky so it's probably all the same in the end. If you already have naturally great lashes and any old Maybelline or Covergirl mascara usually does the trick, you probably don't need to spend double for Buxom Lash. But if you have straight, mediocre lashes like me and need a bit of darkening, volumising and curl hold, you might want to give it a try. Sephora always has really amazingly good value sets that include Buxom Lash as well.

The full ingredients of Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash are:

Water (Aqua), Beeswax (Cera Alba), Butylene Glycol, PVP, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Sucrose Polystearate, Acrylates Coploymer, Stearic Acid, Tribehenin, Behenyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, Triethanolamine, PEG-800, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Rhodochrosite Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Squalane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Disodium EDTA, Bisabolol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hematite, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate. May Contain +/-: Mica , Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891) , Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499).

Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser review: Another hot cloth cleanser alternative

2012-07-01T17:56:00.000-04:00

I started using this Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser after running out of my stock of Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. Being too cheap to pay the shipping costs to get Liz Earle over to the States, I picked this up instead and have since got through two tubes. Anything I've finished more than one pack of must be good!

The blurb:

This soap-free cleanser is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and makeup without over drying or causing redness or irritation. Distinctly formulated with cotton extract to soften, rice extract to moisturize, and aloe to soothe. Naturally gentle and skin friendly for daily use.

Soap- and fragrance-free

Hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic

Allergy- and dermatologist-tested

No parabens, phthalates, petrochemicals or animal testing

99.0% natural

This cleanser comes in a large 170g squeezy tube, which is 70% more than comes in the standard Liz Earle pump bottle. I'd prefer it to come in a pump bottle to control the amount that comes out but otherwise I'm happy with the packaging.

The product is slightly more waxy and thick than Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. But it's still smooth and easily spreadable. The instructions say to massage it onto a wet face and then rinse it off, but I prefer to use it as a hot cloth cleanser so I apply it to dry skin and wipe it off with a warm, damp muslin cloth before rinsing. It feels a bit too waxy to rinse straight off the face - it does rinse off eventually but needs friction as well as water to rinse off nooks and crannies so takes longer to rinse off than it does to wipe off with a muslin.

I always wipe my make-up off before cleansing so I'm not sure how this cleanser would fare taking off a full face of make-up, but with the help of a muslin cloth, it does remove every last trace of eye make-up that I didn't even realise was still around my lashline. It's very satisfying to see those traces come off on the muslin cloth!

I don't find that this irritates my eyes at all. In fact, I can open my eyes with it on my face while I'm reaching for a muslin (and I have very sensitive eyes). It's also unfragranced.

(BTW I have also tried the Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Creme, which looks almost like the same product, but that does sting my eyes because unlike the Sensitive cleanser it contains menthol. I wouldn't recommend it.)

My skin has felt great while I've been using this cream cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, and I don't seem to be complaining so much about blocked pores these days. It's definitely a keeper for me - and much cheaper than Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish to boot. It's my favourite alternative I've found to date.

The full ingredients of Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser are:

Aqua (Water), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil (Sunflower), Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Sucrose Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Gossypium Herbaceum Flower Extract (Cotton), Oryza Sativa Extract (Rice), Beta Vulgaris Root Extract (Beet), Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter (Cocoa), Yucca Schidigera Leaf, Root, Stem Extract, Artemisia Umbelliformia Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Saccharum Officinarum Extract (Sugar Cane), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Silica, Sucrose, Fructose, Glucose, Coco-Glucoside, Inositol, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid, Trehalose, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, CI 77947 (Zinc Oxide), Alcohol Denat., Phenoxyethanol

Burt's Bees is pretty widely available in drugstores here in the US. This cleanser costs $11.99 for 170g (6oz) which seems to last me a good length of time. You can find it cheaper if you are organised enough to shop around for it online too.

Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30+ PA+++ review: All I ever wanted from a face sunscreen

2012-06-24T20:26:00.000-04:00

A big HELLO from a sweltering New York!

I know I've been away for ages and it's a bit weird that I'm jumping straight into a product review before explaining what I've been up to. But I need to review a product before this glimmer of blogging mojo ebbs away back to where it's been hiding for the last 6+ months. I've also lined up lots of product photos so you may see a barrage (by my standards) of blog posts of my recently found favourites after this one.

I've written a few posts in the past about great facial sunscreens in the past, but Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum has trumped them all. The blurb:

A multitasking broad spectrum SPF 30+ daily repair serum for skin exposed to the sun, both in the past and the present. This ultra-light, Broad Spectrum SPF 30+ simultaneously protects skin, moisturizes on contact and combats premature aging.

Skin Types: Ideal for normal to dry skin types, especially skin that has started to show signs of aging and needs more intensive treatment and protection.

I'm always on the lookout for sunscreens that are instantly absorbed, non-greasy, non-sticky, non-shiny and that have high UVB and UVA protection. In the US, it's easy to get all of those, except the UVA protection.

The US is weirdly (for a country that actually gets a summer) behind Europe in terms of sunscreen regulations. There is currently no way to differentiate between products on the basis of UVA protection because UVA scoring doesn't exist here. Most US consumers are walking around feeling safe in the belief that their SPF 50+ sunscreen is preventing skin damage, when in fact their skin is worse off because high UVB protection allows them to stay in the sun longer without burning but it does nothing to protect against UVA rays. It's not clear whether the upcoming FDA regulations will introduce UVA scoring. I'm generally very suspicious about US sunscreens.

So a big pat on the back for Supergoop! for formulating and labeling their sunscreens with UVA protection in mind. Not only is their City Sunscreen Serum truly lightweight and non-sticky but it has also been formulated to achieve a PA+++ rating (the highest rating for UVA protection). It also doesn't contain oxybenzone which some tests say is carcinogenic (*sigh* isn't everything these days?).

The "serum" is dispensed through a convenient pump nozzle which never gets clogged or messy (so no wastage). It's also easy to control the amount that comes out with each pump.

The sunscreen is literally like a serum. It's more fluid than a cream but not so watery that it runs everywhere. It contains silicone but doesn't feel siliconey (oh man, I've been out of beauty blogging too long. Where is my mental bank of "product texture" keywords when I need it?).

Unlike most other "instantly absorbed" sunscreens, this doesn't contain alcohol so doesn't dry the skin out. I thought it wouldn't be moisturising enough to use alone, but it contains something called "Hydrovotin-24" which apparently simulates the skin's "natural moisturising factor" to keep skin hydrated. True to its word, my skin feels perfectly moisturised all day. I'm not sure this would be the case in the dry, dry winters here but I won't need as much sun protection then anyway.

Supergoop! recommend that if you do feel like you need additional moisturiser, then the serum should go on the skin first, and the moisturiser on top.

There is some water resistance in the sunscreen (light sweating is ok) but not enough to withstand 40 minutes in the water, which is the minimum required for a "water resistance" claim. It's designed to be an everyday sunscreen to be worn around the city (hence the name) not for beach or pool times. When I am running the Central Park loop in the blazing sun (yes, I have succumbed to cliché) and sweat is literally dripping off of my face, I am not wearing this sunscreen, I am using a Boots Soltan ONCE sunscreen.

If you had almost given up finding the perfect daily facial sunscreen, look no further... Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum could just be "The One".

You can buy 50ml (1.7oz) for $42 direct from the Supergoop! website or from Sephora as well as various other online stores. Just be careful to check that what you've received is the "City Sunscreen Serum" and not the "Save Face Serum" which is the old, discontinued version and which will inevitably have a very imminent expiry date. Sephora initially sent me "Save Face Serum" despite their website displaying the "City Sunscreen Serum" (they refunded me when I complained).

The full ingredients in Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum are:

Active Ingredients:
Homosalate (Sunscreen) 8%, Octisalate (Sunscreen) 4%, Avobenzone 3%, Octocrylene 2%

Inactive Ingredients:
Purified Water (Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Polypropylene, Cetostearyl Alcohol, Xantham Gum, d-panthenol, Octanohydroxamic acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Silica, Triacontanyl PVP, Cetyl Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, PEG-40 Stearate, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA , Pentylene Glycol, Panthenyl Triacetate, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Urea, Sorbitol, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin, Oleyl Alcohol, Ethyl Linoleate

Dior Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Pencil review

2011-11-29T23:26:00.001-05:00

This is my new favourite brow pencil. After breaking and losing too many inches of pencils from poor pencil sharpening skills, I went out looking for the ultimate brow pencil. What I needed was a perfectly neutral brown shade with no red tones, a lead which doesn't crumble on the skin and a fine tip which will never require sharpening. I'm pleased to report that I found all this in the Diorshow Brow Styler Ultra-Fine Precision Brow Styler.

The Brow Styler comes as a retractable pencil. Although the tip is ultra fine, it doesn't feel brittle or prone to breakage. The lead is slightly dry and matte (it's somewhere between waxy and powdery), which makes it perfect for sketching into sparse areas without looking drawn on. Unlike the Dior Powder Brow Pencil which was an old favourite of mine, there's minimal fallout from the lead.

The colour is designed to be a universally flattering shade to suit all skin tones. It's an ashy, mid-dark brown which blends in easily with my naturally black brow hairs. I'm not sure it would look particularly natural on very blonde eyebrows, but I can see it suiting all brows mousy and upwards.

The Brow Styler also comes with a convenient spoolie brush on one end which is great for running through the brows to soften up any hard lines.

Now for the before photo. The shape of my brows is not too bad but the hairs aren't very dense, so without brow pencil, my face just looks like an egg... no structure or framing. The sparseness also makes my brows look grey.

Below is a photo after I have shaded them in with the Brow Styler. Even without any other make-up on, I feel so much more polished and presentable with my brows shaded in. It also helps my brows look more matched with my dark brown hair colour.

The Diorshow Brow Styler was quite expensive for a brow pencil at $28. But I do really love it, and I'm sure it'll last a long time considering I'm not sharpening it all away!

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base review: A must have for crease-free eyeshadow

2011-11-27T21:23:00.001-05:00

This is my second tube of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base so it's probably about time I gave it its own post.

I'm sure most of you will already know what an eyeshadow/eyelid primer does but if you're not sure (hey, I only started using an eyelid primer two years ago), here's the blurb for this one by NARS:

What it is:
A lightweight primer that creates a seamless canvas that keeps cream and powder eye color looking brilliant, fresh, and just-applied all day.

What it does:
This smudge-proof eyeshadow base uses a unique polymer and mineral powder blend to get a firm grip on color for long-lasting, gorgeous wear. Fortified with a special deep-sea extract and an antioxidant rice extract, it dries on contact and keeps the delicate eye lid smooth and ready for eyeshadow application.

In short, if I don't use an eyelid primer underneath my eyeshadow, it completely fades off and creases within hours. I must have ultra greasy eyelids. In fact, I know I do, because if I don't wear an eyelid primer, even if I'm not wearing make-up and I'm sitting around at home, my eyelids start feeling really sticky and baggy from the oil... eww I know.

I used to use Urban Decay Primer Potion but I bought the NARS version because I'd heard that it was slightly easier to blend eyeshadows on than Urban Decay. I find that Urban Decay is just too grippy and once eyeshadow is on top of it, it's difficult to blend out the hard edges.

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base comes in a no-fuss tube (no genie bottles here!) with a doe foot applicator. I used to like the old slanted applicator wand on Urban Decay Primer Potion because the slant made it easy to pick up all the product on the inner sides of the tubes, but this is fine too. I actually noticed that Urban Decay Primer Potion doesn't even have an applicator at all now and that it just comes in a squeezy tube. Personally, I like having a wand applicator... it makes it easier to get the right amount out.

For such a powerful product, the formula is surprisingly thin and smooth. It's not tacky or heavy at all. It spreads easily with fingertips with no dragging and is completely weightless and invisible once it's on. It just feels like applying a light eye cream.

The difference is only when eyeshadow is applied over the primer - it makes eyeshadow more opaque and vibrant and locks it in place until I remove my make-up at the end of the day. There's zero fading or creasing for at least 16 hours. I don't know how it works, but it literally stops any hint of oil breaking through. I even wear it when I'm not wearing eyeshadow, just to stop that icky heavy eyelid feeling I get when they're oily. I literally cannot go without wearing it!

I find the results pretty much the same as from Urban Decay Primer Potion. I think it is slightly easier to blend eyeshadows on than Urban Urban, but only marginally. The main deal breaker for me between the two is really now just the fact that unlike Primer Potion, the NARS product comes with an applicator wand so I don't have to worry about squeezing out exactly the right amount from a tube.

The full ingredients of NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base are:

Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propylene Carbonate, Peg-40 Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Phenoxyethanol, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Oryza Sativa [Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil Extract], Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Castor Oil Phosphate, Sea Whip Extract, Mica, Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base costs $24/£18. It's a little more expensive than Urban Decay Primer Potion, but the difference is really quite insignificant considering my last tube lasted me every day for a year!

MAC purchases: Some hits and some misses

2011-11-25T21:40:00.001-05:00

For a beauty blogger, I don't really own many MAC items. I used to hate the experience of browsing crowded MAC counters/stores in the UK, with the swarms of shrill teenage girls and overly made-up shop assistants. However, it turns out the beauty department in Bloomingdales is practically deserted on weekday evenings, which means a much nicer shopping experience. It was so peaceful that I even let a make-up artist/sales assistant apply make-up on me.

I picked up what I thought were great staples but had a massive case of buyer's remorse when I got home. Fortunately, the make-up artist told me I could always bring items back for a refund if I changed my mind... and after much deliberation, I took advantage of the relaxed returns policy and returned used make-up for the first time.

Before I returned the products (btw they took them back, no questions asked), I took photos of everything, so I might as well still write about them.

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

I bought this because every beauty blogger seems to love using it as an eyeshadow base. I thought it would act as an eyelid primer and brightener all-in-one, but while it has a really nice, matte texture at first, it melts into an oil slick by midday on me, leaving me with creased eyeshadow and eyeliner transferred under my brows. The colour is nice though... it brightens up and evens out my eye area without adding any colour, and eyeshadows apply well over it. It cost $17.50.

Verdict: Kept because it stays put as long as it's applied over a proper eyelid primer (my current favourite is NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base)

MAC Eye Shadow in Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

From left to right: Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

From left to right: Wedge, Saddle and Brown Down

These were my most regretted purchases. I protested against the warm tones of Saddle and Brown Down to the make-up artist but I let him talk me into trying them. "Wedge" is ok... it's a matte, taupey beigey brown shade which is good for contouring. However, I just couldn't get "Saddle" and "Brown Down" to work on me when I got home... they're just too warm/red-toned and make me look ill. I tried many times but maybe my make-up skills are just too poor. Each eyeshadow cost $15.

Verdict: Kept "Wedge" because of the contouring possibilities, and returned "Saddle" and "Brown Down" because they were literally getting me down thinking about them sitting there probably to be unused for the rest of my life.

MAC Opulash Mascara in Optimum Black

This wasn't tried on me in the store.. I just bought it based on the make-up artist's recommendation that it was MAC's latest mascara and that it would thicken and create plush lashes in one coat. The brush is huge and the formula is very dry (contains kaolin and alcohol) and a little clumpy. I couldn't get any length from this mascara but it does thicken lashes as advertised. I find it better on lower lashes where I'm not so bothered about length but I do want thickening. The big brush makes it hard not to get mascara under the eye though. The staying power is great - it doesn't smudge at all. It cost $15.

Verdict: Kept for use on lower lashes (but it was a close call).

Here was one of my attempts of using the eyeshadows and mascara...

MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

Finally, a purchase I'm pleased with! "Warm Soul" is a bronzey peachy blush which gives my cheeks an instant healthy glow. I would never have picked it out by myself because it looks really sparkly/glittery when swatched and I usually go for pinker blushes. However, I have to admit it does look better on. Under some lights, you can notice sparkles on the skin, but it's not as bad I thought it would be. As it's bronzey and sparkly, it also means I don't need to bother with contouring or highlighting with separate products when I'm feeling lazy. It cost $22.

Verdict: Kept and using every day. I want to check out the other blush colours in the Mineralize collection now!

Here is a picture of me wearing MAC Mineralize Blush Warm Soul.

MAC Lipstick in Twig

This lipstick was depressing me. Every time I tried to wear it, it got me down. In the store, I liked the smooth pigmentation and it looked pretty... kind of pink and elegant. Apparently it "suits everyone". But when I got home and tried it again, it looked too warm, too dark and too ageing. It cost $14.50.

Verdict: Returned! I felt like I had a massive weight lifted off my shoulders afterwards.

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush and 252 Large Shader Brush

I love the Eye Shader Brush ($24.50) - the natural hairs are firm but so soft and smooth that it makes putting on eyeshadow feel like a treat. The hairs are dense yet non-scratchy and can really pack on the colour. I was told to only use this brush for powder eyeshadows because creamy formulas will clog up the hairs.

The Large Shader Brush ($30) is good for covering larger areas when I don't need any precision e.g. for covering the entire eye area up to the brow with the Painterly Paint Pot. The bristles are artificial and a bit stiffer, but not scratchy at all.

Verdict: Kept!

MAC Brush Cleaner

Yep, I've never had an official brush cleaner before. I've only ever washed my brushes in handwash. It seemed to do the job, so why pay $13 for a big bottle of what is basically mostly alcohol? Turns out this brush cleaner does actually get out a lot of grossness embedded deep inside brush hairs. The instructions are to use it on damp brushes and then wipe onto a cloth/tissue, rinse thoroughly then leave to dry. I couldn't believe how much came out of one of my blusher brushes - by the end, I had five large, thick tissues which were covered in what looked like creamy foundation where all the old blusher and bronzer was melting off! Gross! No wonder the brush had started to smell like socks!

Verdict: Kept and feeling sheepish for not investing in a brush cleaner before now.

Bit of a long post... but hopefully there is something of interest somewhere here! God bless America and its lax returns policies.

Black Friday 2011 beauty and fashion coupon codes: Online shopping fest!! (US-only)

2011-11-24T14:21:00.001-05:00

A friend posted this video on Facebook and I swore to myself I would never, ever shop in a store on Black Friday. No siree! It's online shopping all the way for me. Scroll down to see my top picks for online shopping this weekend, and let me know if you find anything else!

"GOD DAMN!" (0:49)

Beauty Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

BeautyTicket.com - 25% off everything (end date unknown)
Code: cyber25
www.beautyticket.com

BH Cosmetics - 45% off eyeshadow palettes and 35% off all make-up brushes from now to Friday 11/25 midnight PST
No code required
www.bhcosmetics.com

Coastal Scents - 50% off until Tues 11/29 9am EST
No code necessary - discount will become visible during checkout
www.coastalscents.com

Anastasia - 35% off any order from now till 11/28 for registered customers (you need to be logged in)
Code: THANKS
anastasia.net

Eve Pearl - 40% to 55% off Eve Pearl products now to 11/28 11pm EST.
Code: BPTG2011
www.evepearl.com

Cherry Culture - 20% off everything now until Sun 11/27
Code: TGS20
cherryculture.com
Top pick: NYX HD Eye Shadow Base

Bliss - 20% off on Bliss, Remede and Elemis purchases from now til 12/05
Code: THANKS20
www.blissworld.com

Korres - 20% off entire purchases from now to Sunday 11/27 plus free shipping on any $50 purchase
Code: FF2011
www.korresusa.com

Smashbox - 20% off from now to Mon 11/28
Code: SBXFF11
www.smashbox.com

Inglot - 15% off entire order + free shipping from now till Mon 11/28 3am EST
No code required
www.inglotusa.com

Shu Uemura - 20% off plus free shipping with any purchase over $50 from now to Tues 11/29
Code: WISH2011
www.shuuemura-usa.com

YSL - 20% off + free shipping on every order from now to Sat 11/26
Code: CYBER
www.yslbeautyus.com

LA Splash - 40% off from now to Weds 11/30
No code required
lasplashcosmetics.com

The Balm - 40% off on Fri 11/25 from 9am to midnight PST
Code: BLACKFRIDAY
www.thebalm.com

FACE Atelier - 30% off on Fri 11/25
Code: THANKS
www.faceatelier.com
Top pick: Ultra Foundation (see my review here)
Thanks Arianne (aka Glitter Geek) for the tweet!

Rain Cosmetics - 40% off everything on Fri 11/25
No code required
www.raincosmetics.com

Josie Maran - 25% off from Frid 11/25 to Mon 11/28
Code: GIVEBACK (excludes Good Buys)
www.josiemarancosmetics.com

Milani Cosmetics - 50% off everything + free shipping from Mon 11/28 8am to 11/29 PST 8am
Code: CYBER
www.milanicosmetics.com

Kate Somerville - 30% off Fri 11/25 to Mon 11/28
Code: HOLIDAY2011
www.katesomerville.com

Laura Gellar - 20% off everything until Mon 11/28 11:59pm PST + free shipping on orders over $50
No code required
www.laurageller.com

Origins - $10 off + free shipping on orders over $25 until Mon 11/28
Code: TENOFF
www.origins.com

Ricky's NYC - 20% off professional haircare, Mattese Elite cosmetics and hair appliances and 50% off holiday gift items until Fri 11/25 11:59pm EST
Code: BEAUTIFUL20
www.rickysnyc.com

Pür Minerals - 25% off everything + free shipping + free quilted wristlet with any orders over $25
No code required
www.purminerals.com

Sue Devitt - 20% off all orders until 12/05 11:59pm EST
No code required
www.suedevittbeauty.com

SkinStore.com - 20% off everything (end date unknown) + free shipping on orders over $49
Code: GIFT20
www.skinstore.com

Tarte Cosmetics - 15% off
Code: GGD
tartecosmetics.com

ULTA.com - Big savings on select products from Fr 11/25 to Sat 11/26 plus additional codes below
Codes:
Free shipping on orders over $25 with code HOLIDAYSHP25 or 51532
Save $15 on orders over $75 with code SAVE15ON75
Save $10 on orders over $50 with code SAVE10ON50 or 10199
Save $3.50 on orders over $10 with code 61733
www.ulta.com/blackfriday

Urban Decay - $20 off Book Of Shadows IV to the first 1000 customers on Fri 11/25 only
Code BLACKFRIDAY11
www.urbandecay.com

Clothing and shoes Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

American Eagle Outfitters - 40% off entire order from now to Sat 11/26 11:59pm EST + free shipping
Code: 72429831
www.ae.com
Top pick: Jeggings which come in short, regular and long lengths!

French Connection - 30% off any purchase (end date unknown)
Code: FCBLKFRI
usa.frenchconnection.com

Tobi - 30% off sitewide till Mon 11/28
Code: SHOPPER30
www.tobi.com

Loft - 40% off everything (+free shipping on orders over $125) (end date unknown)
Code: SHOP40
www.loft.com

Ann Taylor - 40% off everything (+free shipping on orders over $150) (end date unknown)
Code: THANKS
www.anntaylor.com
Top pick: Perfect Patent Pump

Banana Republic - 35% off from now until Fri 11/25 + free shipping on orders over $50
Code: BRFRIDAY
bananarepublic.gap.com

Piperlime - 20% off from now until Mon 11/28 + free shipping on all orders
Code: TWENTY
www.piperlime.com

GAP - 20% off (plus already reduced prices) + free shipping on orders over $50
Code: GAPTHANKS on Thurs 11/24 and GAPSHOP until 11/25
www.gap.com

Steve Madden - 30% off all purchases + free shipping (end date unknown)
Code: TURKEY
www.stevemadden.com
Thanks Angie!

Aldo - Extra 30% off all reduced footwear (end date unknown)
No code required
www.aldoshoes.com
Top pick: Kalfa which I bought at full price in August!

Levi's - 30% off entire order + free shipping on orders $50 until Fri 11/25 11:59 pm PST.
Code: BLACKFRI
us.levi.com

Lands' End - 30% off entire order + free shipping on orders over $50 until Mon 11/28 11:59pm CT
Code: STUFFING & Pin 5847
www.landsend.com

BCBGMAXAZRIA — 50% off ALL sweaters, outerwear, leather & boots (end date unknown)
No code required
www.bcbgmaxazriagroup.com/fall2011

ASOS - 20% off everything including on-sale items + free shipping (dates unknown)
Code: BLACKFRIDAY2011
us.asos.com

ESPRIT - 40% off entire site until Tues 11/29
Code: BLKFRIDAY11
www.espritshop.com

Express - 40% off everything from now until noon Fri 11/25
No code required
www.express.com

Happy shopping (err.. I mean Thanksgiving)!

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum review

2011-11-04T00:21:00.000-04:00

Another pleasing US drugstore find to report on! You may have seen the lash boosting liquid liner from Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For... well, this is the cheapo drugstore version from Physicians Formula (around $11 compared to $28 for Peter Thomas Roth) and I love it.

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum is a liquid liner that boasts 24-hour wear as well as a lash enhancing formula. It contains the ingredient, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, which is a peptide that encourages eyelash growth by stimulating keratin genes. Not to be mistaken for prostagladin products, this peptide doesn't come with the freaky list of side effects associated with the likes of Latisse, LiLash, RapidLash (skin darkening, eye colour changes, irritation etc).

The blurb:

High-tech formula enhances the appearance of lashes while providing the instant definition of a liquid eyeliner, in one easy step!

Lash Boosting complex targets the base of lashes where it is most effective.

Innovative and easy to use eyelining tool delivers effortless definition.

High-tech Japanese formula is long-wearing, water-resistant and smudge-resistant.

The pen itself is a nicely weighted metal-cased pen which looks and feels much more expensive than it actually is. The pen contains a ball bearing inside which helps to keep the formula mixed and smooth. The instructions say to shake before use.

The brush tip is an actual brush, not a felt tip pen type of nib. It's very finely pointed and stays in shape without any sign of fraying or blunting. There's always a perfect amount of product on the brush - it never globs up with excess product or dries out.

The liner is the perfect consistency - it comes out smooth and inky with no gaps and no feathering. It feels more like applying a gel liner with a brush than using a liquid liner pen. The lines on my hand below are rushed and messy but if you have a steady hand you'll love how neat a line you can get with this liner in one stroke. The brush is ultra precise, so you can go as thick or thin as you like. The swatches below are the Ultra Black colour.

Here is the liner as I wear it (medium thickness and slightly flicked):

The lasting power of this eyeliner is phenomenal - it doesn't smudge, flake or fade. I for once have to use a proper eye make-up remover because it literally stays immaculate even after attacking it with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and a large dose of hot water and scrubbing. I swear it stays on like tar.

I'm not actually sure of the lash boosting effects because I'd already been using Wet 'n' Wild MegaLash Clinical Serum for several weeks which contains the same lash growth peptide ingredient and so my lashes are already "boosted" (they are longer and more plentiful). But it can't hurt using two products for both night and day!

This eyeliner comes in Ultra Black, Black and Brown, and can be found at most drugstores in the US. Mine was from guess where... Duane Reade, my second home. I paid around $11.

The full ingredients of Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum are:

Water, Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, Sd Alcohol 40, Beheneth-30, Ammonium Acrylates/Methyl Styrene/Styrene Copolymer, Glycerin, Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17, 1,2-Hexanediol, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Black 2.

Happy eyelining!

HappyMe Overnight Pimple Eliminator review: A spot treatment that works..?

2011-10-18T00:41:00.003-04:00

On another one of my Duane Reade drifts, I came across this interesting little bottle called HappyMe Overnight Pimple Eliminator. Being a romantic, I picked it up for $8.99 as a "gift" for my husband who regularly gets a good batch of a under-the-skin spots from aeroplanes and general stress.

As well as the cute 15ml bottle, this is the product description that initially sold me:

Works Wonders Overnight!

Safer & More Effective than Benzoyl Peroxide
Works Immediately
Sulfate & Paraben Free
Dye Free
No Animal By-Products or Testing - Cruelty Free

With all natural essential oils of lavender, rosemary and tangerine. Natural sulfur and zinc oxide starts to eliminate pimples on contact!

The formula is a soothing, milky substance which is applied using the wand in the cap. The fragrance is faint and smells of the essential oils if anything. Thankfully, it doesn't smell of rotten eggs, which is the more well-known smell of sulfur/sulphur.

The substance dries to a white, chalky layer within minutes. This is strictly an overnight treatment - there's no way anyone can leave the house with this stuff dotted all over their face! Once dry, it flakes off quite easily on contact (so no touching).

This stuff really, really works! After just a few hours after application, even angry, raised spots flatten and diminish to barely noticeable light pink dots. It also doesn't seem to dry out the surrounding skin as much as products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (not that I would ever recommend using benzoyl peroxide anyway - it's evil and harsh on the skin).

This is one spot treatment I am happy to give my double thumbs up to. I think it's going to be particularly good for under-the-skin and "greasy" spots rather than simply blocked pores and such, but it's definitely a handy bottle to have lying around.

Hare are the box instructions and full list of ingredients of Happy Me Overnight Pimple Eliminator:

In the US, HappyMe Skincare products can be bought from the Happy Me online store or from drugstores like Duane Reade and CVS (see their website for a list of stockists). Unfortunately it doesn't look like HappyMe is available internationally yet... sorry!

Creating tousled waves with Goody Spin Pin

2011-10-16T23:28:00.000-04:00

Greetings! When I was on holiday in Mexico last week, I found a whole new use for Goody Spin Pins (see my original review here) - creating tousled waves. I was using the pins during the day to keep my hair up but found that after a day of salt and sunshine, my normally stick straight hair was retaining the curl in the evening after taking the pins out.

The above picture was after I had my hair up in two buns (like in the video in my review). I'm now on the lookout for a good surf spray to recreate the curls without having to be on a beach!

As a side note, I also spotted Goody Spin Pin Mini in the shops (in New York anyway) which is a pack of three shorter pins if you find that the original Goody Spin Pins are too big for your hair type, or if you just want to create styles with smaller buns.

Is anyone else using the Goody Spin Pin to create curls? Any recommendations for a good surf spray?

Hope everyone is enjoying the start of autumn. As one of my friends put it, "love autumn in London, it's like summer but wearing the right clothes..."

A little Boots Smooth Skin PLUS giveaway!

2011-10-04T23:52:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post to say I am doing a Boots Smooth Skin PLUS giveaway on my Facebook page. Come and join the discussion on beauty chores and the beauty gadgets you wish someone would invent. Two winners will each get a Boots Smooth Skin PLUS unit all for themselves. Come by before 14th October 2011 if you want to enter! www.facebook.com/beautyscribbler

An eyeliner that stays on my waterline: Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner review

2011-10-02T00:47:00.000-04:00

The title says it all really - I have finally found an eyeliner that actually stays on my waterline all day. Well done Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner!

I've always had a problem wearing eyeliner on my waterline (but not on my eyelids) - even Urban Decay 24/7 and Avon SuperShock gel eyeliners vanish or gloop up in the corners of my eyes within ten minutes. My eyes are not at all watery, so I can only imagine I have oily tears which melt even the most industrial eyeliner formulas. Without any exaggeration, Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner stays put all day, with no glooping or smudging.

The formula glides on smoothly without dragging. The colour is very, very black with a non-shiny finish.

This eyeliner also doesn't irritate or leave my eyes red like the aforementioned Urban Decay and Avon products (which did whenever I tried to use them on the inner rims of my eyes).

Despite the hardwearing formula, it comes off easily when I want it to. I use a face wipe to remove make-up before cleansing with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and that's all that's required to remove every trace.

The eyeliner comes in a twist-up, retractable pencil, so no wasteful sharpening is required. It's not in the picture, but there is a lid as well.

The formula contains "skin-balancing" Amazonian clay - perhaps the reason it lasts so long even on my oily waterline...? Other ingredients noted on the packaging are vitamin E, mineral pigments and a "botanical waterproofing agent". Also nice to know is that Tarte cosmetics are formulated without parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrance.

The full ingredients of Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Eyeliner are:

C11-12, isoparaffin, trimethlysiloxysilicate, polyglyceryl-3 stearate, ozokerite, polyethelene, beheneth-5, phenyl trimethicone, tocopherol, synthetic wax, sorbic acid, BHT, silica, kaolin, carmine (CI 75470), mica. (+/-): Black 2 (CI 77266), ferric ferrocyanide (CI 77510), iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), manganese violet (CI 77742), titanium dioxide (CI 77891).

The only bummer is that this particular eyeliner is currently exclusive to QVC in the US (find it here) so you can't just pick it up from Sephora. I paid $18 + shipping. As far as I can see, they don't even sell it on the Tarte website. Tarte has a few other eyeliners that I haven't tried so I'm not sure if they're as good as this one.

[Update July 2012: I just noticed that this eyeliner is now on the Tarte website here!]

I bought the Black version, but this eyeliner also comes in Brown and Plum.

Hope this review helps anyone who has the same problems as me keeping eyeliner on the waterline!

Natural Angel Lash Extender review: Bargainous brush-on fibres

2011-07-31T19:39:00.003-04:00

One thing I love about Manhattan is the number of huge drugstores everywhere. I can't walk a block without popping in to a 24-hour Duane Reade for a "quick browse". I could spend three hours in some of the fancier ones and still not feel like I've had a good enough look at every piece of make-up.

This weekend I found myself in ol' Duane again and randomly came across something called Natural Angel Lash Extender, hanging up with the make-up accessories. It was only $10 and I figured I'd never know if it works if I didn't try it. Check out the "after" pic on the packaging below - it's not digitally enhanced at all(!) Anyway, it turned out to be quite a nice little find...

If you've seen the ModelCo Fibre Lash mascara which had a big PR push lately, you'll be familiar with the brush-on lash extensions concept -

"Instantly brush on hundreds of tiny lash hairs in seconds! Natural Angel Lash Extender instantly and dramatically lengthens, adds volume and strengthens your lashes. Delivers longer, fuller, thicker, healthier lashes in seconds."

The instructions are to apply mascara as normal, then layer on the fibres to just the tips of lashes while the mascara is still wet, then finally seal the fibres in with another layer of mascara.

The applicator of Natural Angel Lash Extender is basically just a little stick covered in millions of little black cellulose fibres, each measuring about 1.5mm long.

Because the fibres are so minuscule and lightweight, they get everywhere. Using a tissue to catch the strays fibres is essential in order to avoid a hairy face.

Applying the fibres is a cinch and takes just seconds. I can literally see my lashes getting thicker, plusher and longer with one sweep of the wand.

Once the fibres are on, I find it best to use a "wet" mascara to seal them on e.g. Max Factor 2000 Calorie. If the mascara is too dry, it can end up pulling the fibres around too much (which happened to me when I was taking photos for this post) instead of just sticking them in place. The fibres are black so are easily covered up.

Weirdly, it doesn't matter how much mascara is loaded on top of my newly extended lashes, it doesn't drop the curl from using eyelash curlers. As anyone with straight lashes knows, this is truly a miracle.

While the final coat of mascara is almost dry but not yet fully dry, the "extensions" are very pliable and can be pushed with a finger to get a extra bit of curl at the ends of the lashes.

Here is a photo of my everyday lashes with one coat of mascara. I can't usually go much thicker with (non-waterproof) mascara because my lashes would end up straightening out from the weight:

And here is the result of Natural Angel Lash Extender. The result is a little clumpier than it should be because I was faffing around too much with the camera between coats and the mascara I used was too dry. The fibres would otherwise normally lie flat and be smoothly blended into my lashes.

I'm really pleased with Natural Angel Lash Extender - it thickens and lengthens my lashes in a way that no other mascara can do on its own. I also love the way that I can load up my lashes without the curl dropping out. I now have a use for all the mascaras I almost threw out for not holding a curl.

If it works on my pitiful lashes, it wouldn't surprise me if you could achieve a similar effect to the absurd "after" pic on the packaging if you have naturally long and curled lashes.

I have been known to wear false lashes on the rare occasion but I always feel self conscious wearing them (I'm permanently convinced they're peeling off but no-one's telling me), so I think I'll be swapping them for brush-on fibres from now on.

The application of the fibres is so quick that I would even use the product for days I'm not doing anything special. It makes my normal lashes look so wimpy in comparison. The only thing that would put me off using it every day is having to brush off all those little fibres which fall on my face.. it takes ages to get them all. I need a little lint roller for my face!

I don't notice any flaking when I'm wearing the fibres - as long as they're sealed in with enough mascara, they stay put until I remove my mascara at the end of the day.

Overall, a big thumbs up from me!

Ingredients of Natural Angel Lash Extender

Cellulose, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Cynara Scolymus, Oscimum Basilicum

If you can't get hold of the Natural Angel brand of brush-on lashes, there are some similar products available in the UK and US from around £13 and $15:

Talika Lash Extender
Divaderme Lash Extender - pretty much identical ingredients to Natural Angel Lash Extender
Japonesque Fast Lash Thickening Fibers - but fibres are white
ModelCo Fibre Lash - includes mascara too, but fibres are white, and expensive at £35 / $43

Update: I'm thinking white fibres might actually be better because they won't look so much like facial hair when they fall on my face!