REVIEW: Rituals Good Luck Scrub

Since I'm not really a body care person, I haven't really review many body products on the blog yet. However, a product that is a must for me is a body scrub. I recently tried out the Rituals Good Luck scrub, which (as usually with Rituals products) smells amazingly of orange and cedar wood. 

First of all, don't mind the messed up packaging. This tub of product has been living in my shower for a while, and the packaging hasn't completely survived, as you can see.

Packaging: I really dislike the packaging. Because it's a tub of product, it's impossible to use under the shower. The shower water will run into the packaging. It doesn't seem to mess up the packaging too much, but it's very annoying. Also, even though the lid is on tightly, shower water will still find its way into the tub, since I don't have a shower caddy.

Use: The use of this product is pretty similar to that of any body scrub. I actually find this scrub too harsh for my skin, which is an issue I've never encountered before. My body skin isn't sensitive at all, but it reacts quite heavily after using this. It becomes a bit red and feels kinda sore. But yes, I guess it exfoliates very well. Beauty is pain? 

Price: €18.50 for 375g of product. This certainly isn't the cheapest body scrub out there and so I'm actually quite disappointed, especially since I usually adore Rituals products. 

Conclusion: I didn't like this product very much. The packaging is very annoying under the shower, and the scrub is too harsh for my liking.

What body scrub have you been using or would you recommend?

Xx Anine

SKINCARE: Honey miracle mask

Did someone say honey? Yes, biological honey has been my savior lately. As you might remember, my skin has been acting up for months. If once again tens (!) of breakouts would get settled on my face, I'd apply a layer of honey as a mask and wait around 30 minutes (the longer the better, really). 

The benefits for my skin would already show the morning after. Dark scarring would be lighter, small zits would be healed and painful impurities would disappear. Go get yourself some biological honey because it's a hell of a lifesaver!

Warning: it can get very messy, and you really don't want honey e-very-where. I'd recommend wearing a towel around your shoulders to protect your clothes.

xX
Anine

REVIEW: Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 100 Bare Light

Did anyone ask for beautifully bright, glowing skin? Yes please! Glowing skin basically means your skin is feeling healthy, but unfortunately mine doesn't seem to possess any natural glowing powers. Thank God for make-up, right?

'Cause that's exactly what this product is supposed to do. The Revlon Photoready Skinlights in 100 Bare light should illuminate the face and add some glowiness when applied on the cheekbones. 

The product contains the following ingredients:

The product is very liquid and pearl like in finish. The undertones in this shade are very bronze colored, which I notice is too dark for my fair skin, and so it doesn't really seem to work its wonders on my face. However, when I mix it in with foundation or bb-creams, it adds a wonderful glow, without making me look like a discoball or without affecting the lasting power and finish of the foundation.

Especially with my Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (which I find just a tiny bit too matte for everyday use) this works beautifully.

Here you can see the product first applied:

And here it is blended into the skin. As you can see it adds a bronze glow to the complexion.

Price: Around the €12 mark for 1oz/30ml. Not too expensive.

Conclusion: The undertones in this product are too bronze for my pale skin, and so in the future I will be looking for a different liquid highlighter. However, for not so fair girls, this could be stunning!


What's your favorite face illuminator product?

Xx Anine

REVIEW: MAC MSF in Stereo Rose

When the MAC Fantasy of Flowers collection launched in February, I only had my eyes on one thing: the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish (MSF) in Stereo Rose. This beautiful product has quite the story behind it. 

In 2010, MAC launched Stereo Rose in a Limited Edition collection and everyone went nuts for it. I didn't pick it up back then and kind of regretted that. Imagine my excitement when they were going to bring it back for the 2014 Fantasy of Flowers collection!

Look at the gorgeousness of this baked product! The left swatch is blended into the skin (and so it would look like this on your cheeks), on the right you can see the swatch after one single swipe over the baked product.

But beware, this Stereo Rose MSF is not entirely what it seems. When compared to the Stereo Rose launched in 2010, the newer version of the product is lighter, and more peach instead of coral colored. Although I do not appreciate MAC launching two 'similar but not really similar' products under the same product name, just because it was such a hype, I do really like this color. It's much more wearable for lighter skin tones than the 2010 Stereo Rose.

I added these comparison swatches from Temptalia.com, just so you can see what the old and the new MAC Stereo Rose look like.

Source: Temptalia.com

From left to right: Stereo Rose (2010), Stereo Rose (2014)

Source: Temptalia.com

Use: I use a light duo-fibre brush to lightly apply it on the cheeks. If not applied carefully, it could look a bit lobsterlike, especially for us fair skinned girls. But the bronze, peachy sheen it gives to your skin is so amazingly beautiful. Perfect for spring and summer!

Price: I purchased this Mineralize Skinfinish for around €28. Not the cheapest product out there, so it was definitely a splurge to purchase this limited edition product. If MAC ever repromotes Stereo Rose, I do suggest to go and swatch it in store. You'll surely fall under its spell.

Conclusion: Although I don't think MAC should've launched this product under the same name, I do really like this product. Apply lightly and you'll look glowy, fresh and summerproof!

What's your favorite spring time cheek product?

xX Anine

LIP COMBO: Coral color

Since some serious spring weather is finally upon us in Belgium, I have been sporting a very glossy, coral lip lately. My go-to products for this look are the Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in 674 Coralberry and the Bourjois Color Boost lip crayon in 04 Peach on the beach.

Layering is the message here. Firstly, I apply the Revlon lipstick on moisturized lips in a patting motion. Then I take the Bourjois lip crayon and run this over the lips. The result is a glossy, almost juicy, but not at all sticky lip look. Very wearable and very spring appropriate. It's that easy!

Here you can see a *slightly failed* lip swatch! I love this easy lip combo!

What lip products would you recommend for summer?
xX Anine

WISHLIST: US beauty!

Since one of my beauty obsessed friends recently offered me to bring me loads of US makeup from her trip to New York city, I have been making a long US beauty wishlist. I've been saving up like crazy, and can't wait to finally splurge on some amazing goodies.

I've got to stock up on some usual basics such as the Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray but here are some of my more interesting picks:

1. Lorac PRO eyeshadow palette

2. Origins GinZing refreshing eye cream

3. NARS Narsissist cheek kit

4. Hourglass arch brow sculpting pencil in Blonde

5. Laura Mercier oil-free foundation primer

6. Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused light

7. MAC lipstick in Coral Bliss

8. Urban Decay Naked 3 palette

9. MAC eyeshadow in Soft Brown

10. NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

11. Illamasqua blush duo in Lover-Hussy

What items would you put on your wishlists? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Xx Anine

REVIEW: Catrice Liquid Metal eyeshadow in Mauves like Jagger

Hi everyone, 

As my sister-in-law very subtly said to me, the blog has been dead for a month, since life pretty much has been crazy, and it's time for some reanimation. I forced myself to write a review about a great drugstore product, the Catrice Liquid Metal eyeshadow in 080 Mauves like Jagger.

First of all, can we please appreciate the amazing name, the cute packaging and the stunning relief effect of the eyeshadow?

 Claims:
It should be an 'ultra smooth powder eyeshadow for a spectacular liquid metal effect.'

I would love to say that this sounds too good to be true, but their description actually isn't that far off at all. The product feels soft, buttery and is very pigmented. 

Here you can see the swatch. The color has a slight purplish sheen to it, but it's very subtle. On the eyes it looks beautiful, but be careful to not blend it up too high on the eyelid, you want to avoid the black-eye look. Perfect to create a very simple smokey eye.

Price: I paid €3.99 for 3g/0.10oz of product. Did anyone say 'affordable with a big A'?

Conclusion: The drugstore has once again proven that it is upping its game. It used to be impossible to find pigmented shadows in the drugstore, but this beauty definitely hits my mark. One big remark: this product line contains only very shimmery shadows. If I have to choose, I'd still prefer a high end single eyeshadow line, since they at least contain some matte eyeshadows and some more interesting shades.

Xoxo,

Anine