SKINCARE: Battle of the Micellar Waters

Micellar waters, the true wonder child of skincare. For those who don't get skincare obsessed; micellar waters have been the big thing in the beauty world. The idea? A light liquid makeup remover that is powerful, but feels just like water and is perfect for sensitive skin.

I compared the three most popular, and easiest to get your hands on, miccelar waters. Read my review below!

5 Beauty resolutions for 2015!

2015 is already here, can you believe it? Let's not ponder on how fast the year went by, but look back at what we learned beauty wise and what I'll try to be doing more/less in the new year. Let's kick some 2015 ass!

Empties #6

Yes, exams are killing me right now. No, let's not talk about it. This quick blogpost is the sixth in its series, it's EMPTIES TIME! So to any new readers, I basically explain to you what products I've been using up and what my thoughts were on them. Let's get started. 

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

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

HAIR: Tangle Teezer

Yes, here it is. The one, the only, Tangle Teezer! Every beauty lover and their mother and their dog owns a Tangle Teezer. I have to say, I was quite late in jumping on the tangle-free train. But now I'm here, I never want to go back. 

Let me start by explaining to you what kind of hair I have. My hair is véry thin and véry fine. Someone up there just decided to have a little laugh and create this pathetic excuse for hair on top my head. I'd always been so damn careful with my hair. But lately, I'd been noticing a lot of hair loss whenever I brushed through it in the shower, even though my conditioner had soaked in properly.

I hated all that hair loss and decided finally try out the classic Tangle Teezer. As you can see below, the brush has short and long plastic bristles, and there is a lot of space between them. It has a nice shape, so it fits very ergonomically in your hand. I barely use any other hair brushes, this to me is perfect. Only for blowing out my hair, I tend to use round brushes.

Price: €12.40 on Beautybay. You can also buy a Tangle Teezer at hairdressers around Belgium, I've noticed, but they're usually double the price. I find this price very affordable for a product that makes such a big difference for me.

Conclusion: If you also suffer from hair loss or very tangly hair, this could be your lifesaver. It makes such a huge difference in my hair care routine. I visibly noticed such a big difference in hair loss!


Have you ever tried the Tangle Teezer?

xX Anine

SKINCARE: My 'interesting' experience with Eucerin

Today we're talking skincare. Back in October I started a whole new skincare routine for my combination skin, and it worked nicely. Only the scrub didn't quite meet my expectations and when it was empty in January, as many recommended, I tried out the Eucerin Dermo Purifyer scrub.

Now this is where it gets interesting. I used it about three times (over two weeks) and it stinged my skin quite heavily. A few days after I used it for the third time, I broke out horrendously, like I hadn't even experienced in puberty. 

WARNING: Some gross descriptions will be following now: My face was covered in thick bumps that hurt and were extremely visible *yay*. I couldn't cover them up with make-up anymore, and it got so far that even my mother-in-law was giving me skincare advice... 

Now, about two months later, I've seen a dermatologist and she says it was not only the scrub that did it, she said hormones (No, I'm not preggers) and stress had a lot to do with it. But this product did start it all, and only looking at this product already gives me chills!

Claims: Cleans clogged pores, improves the skin texture and reduces black spots and pimples. This formula will work where impurities erupt without drying out the skin. Pore-cleaning micro beads will gently remove dead skin without damaging. The skin is smoother, softer and visibly cleaner. 

Clinical studies prove: Excellent skin tolerance (I respectfully disagree!) and effectiveness on greasy problem skin.

Use: Softly massage into the skin and gently rinse. Avoid eye-contact. That's exactly what I did.

The scrub has a gel-like texture, with some small blue beads in it. It felt nice at first, but after a few second, it started stinging like nobodies business. I tried to use it on my hand, to see if it was an allergic reaction, but I only experienced the stinging on my face.

Price: Quite affordable for skincare: €10,35

Conclusion: I am never ever again trying out a scrub for combination skin. Sensitive skin is what I'll go for from now on! I'm hoping a new skincare routine more focused on sensitive skin will clear up the acne! Definitely to be continued...

xX Anine

MASCARA REVIEW: Maybelline Smokey eyes

So here's another mascara review! I tried out another one from Maybelline, this time the Colossal Volume Express Smoky eyes. 

Let's take a look at the wand first. It looks quite normal, and as if it would be perfect to build up lots of volume with. This could be ideal to finish up a smoky eye look.

Use: This mascara certainly gives volume and holds a curl, but it clumps together like nobodies business. I wouldn't recommend using more than two layers of this mascara because it just ends up being one big clumped together mess. It doesn't separate or lengthen at all. This also means it does pretty much nothing for my lashes. 

As for the smokey eye effect, it does create thick lashes, but if it just clumps it won't really compliment your look. I recommend using an other product if you'd like a mascara to compliment your smoky eye look.

Price: Around €15.

Conclusion: I'm not repurchasing. Let me know if this mascara does work for you?

What's your favorite mascara of the moment?

Xx Anine 

REVIEW: Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge

I've never been a sponge lover to apply my makeup, so I was kind of skeptical when I picked up the Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge on my trip to London. A product that claims to be a 'miracle sponge' already makes me roll my eyes and shrug, 'cause seriously, what so called 'miracle' product ever is a miracle product? 

I'd never tried the Beautyblender either, so I won't be able to compare.

The Real Techniques sponge isn't just the typical egg-shaped sponge all companies have been trying to copy from BeautyBlender, it has a flat edge to contour around the eyes and nose, the sides should be perfect so blend large areas on the face and the pointy tip should be used (with concealer) to cover imperfections.

Use: First of all, when using the sponge, I wet it thoroughly under running water, squeeze it tight and the sponge will double up in size and become less dense. I usually dry it with a towel, so it's not soaking wet. After the sponge is damp, I dab it in the foundation on the back of my hand and apply it all over my face with the flat side. After all my foundation is applied, I go over every corner on my face to blend it out nicely. Then I use the pointy tip of the miracle complexion sponge to blend out my already applied concealer and the foundation around my nose. 

I know it is recommended to use the sponge differently (as seen on the packaging), but this way simply works best for me personally.

Quality: The miracle complexion sponge applies your foundation evenly over the face. I've heard other bloggers talk about a 'flawless finish', but I wouldn't call it that. It is applied more even, more beautiful, more natural than with a brush. However I don't feel like there's a difference in coverage when applying it with a sponge instead of a normal flat top foundation brush.

Above: the sponge is dry

Underneath: the sponge is damp

Price: $6 on the Real Techniques website, I believe I paid around £6 for it in Boots. I find it such a bargain, especially in comparison with the BeautyBlender which is around €20. 

Conclusion: It really took me some time to get used to it. In the beginning, I didn't really like it. It seemed my brushes simply gave better coverage and control. Then I used it more, and liked it, but thought it took me longer to blend everything in comparison to brush application. 

After using it for several weeks, I now use it every. single. day to apply my foundation. I love the seamless application it provides, I love the easiness and naturalness (is that word?) of it too. 

Can't live without this sponge anymore! I'm happy to finally have jumped on the sponge bandwagon!

Have you ever tried any foundation sponges?

Xx Anine

NEWS: Superdry make up line

We all know Superdry from the comfortable sweat shirts and sporty clothing, but Superdry also has a beauty line, which they just expanded with some beautiful make up! 

As I saw the neon and metallic detailing, I couldn't help but think how simply FUN it looked. It reminds me of summer, beach waves and surf boards!

The thing that probably got me most excited, are these adorable nail polishes. They are perfect for spring and summer.

The beauty line also contains lip glazes that come in neutral and pink shades. 

For a statement lip look, these lipsticks would be perfect. They're supposed to be very smooth and light weight too!

This mascara wand has left me very interested. The shape is so weird, that I'm really curious how it would make my lashes look. The brush should extend and lengthen lashes to the maximum.

To complete the beauty line, Superdry also created eye shadows, blushes and bronzers, kohl eyeliners and a smoky eyes kit! Body care was not forgotten, as they even thought about hand creams, mirrors, tweezers and a nail care kit to finish up this cool collection.

Packaging: 

I like it, it's very unique, vibrant and cute.

Price:

The prices range from £2 to £20, so very affordable. The entire Superdry beauty line is available in stores ànd online (http://www.superdry.be/be-nl/dames/beauty for the Belgian ladies)! 

Have you ever tried anything from Superdry beauty?

xx Anine

REVIEW: MAC eyeshadow in Quarry

I'm an eyeshadow kinda gal'. Even so, a perfect nude eyeshadow look can take my breath away (okay that might be an overstatement, but you get the gist). At the MAC Technique workshop I purchased the  perfect nude eyeshadow pan in Quarry and fell in love.

Quality: No complaints whatsoever here, I find MAC eyeshadows to be perfection. The eyeshadow is véry pigmented, easily blendable, a bit more warm-toned than I expected, but still with cold undertones and so perfect to apply in the crease with a very coppery shade all over the lid. 

Price: 13 euros for 1.5grams/0.05oz of product in the pan.

Conclusion: I love this eyeshadow! It's the perfect cool-toned crease color.


What's your favorite eyeshadow color from MAC?

Xx Anine

REVIEW: MAC Paint pot in Bare Study

Here's another review of a worldwide loved MAC product, the paint pot in Bare Study. Believe it or not, I'd never tried a MAC paint pot before (I know, I feel like such a makeup noob right now), so I was véry excited to try this out!

Bare study is a soft beige with soft gold sheen. The beige tone isn't so pigmented that it'll completely cancel out any imperfections or veins on your eyelids, but it's the perfect product if you like that pop of something on your eyes if you're doing a no-makeup makeup look.

Use: I use my ring finger to dab ever so slightly into the jar and then apply it on my eyelids. I've heard other bloggers' warnings about applying too much, since it would crease ridiculously. However, I've not had any problems with this.

Quality: The paint pot doesn't crease on me. It is a nice base to make eyeshadows pop, or to use on its own. I do notice that I could use an eye primer to apply underneath, since it does not replace an eyeshadow primer in my opinion. 

Price: €19 for 5 grams/0.17oz. 

Conclusion: I like this product and am tempted to try out more colors! However, it's not perfect on its own to keep eyeshadows in place all day long.

Which MAC paint pots are your favorites?

xX Anine