Tag: Review

This $12 Cooling Mask Is The Best Thing To Use Before Makeup

Published on by Lee1 Comment

If you’re anything like me, you find Amazon a little addictive – there are so many cool gadgets and unique beauty products that you won’t find anywhere else. My latest discovery that I’m totally obsessed with is this Hot and Cold Therapy Gel Bead Full Facial Mask, $12, which is perfect for wearing before makeup, and I love that you can use this over and over again!

I like to keep the mask in my fridge and use it cold for 10 minutes before I start my makeup routine. The cold from the mask helps depuff, tighten pores, and smooth the skin by constricting blood vessels and reducing the natural heat in the skin. I feel like it also really helps smooth out the appearance of fine lines and just generally has a tightening effect on my skin. In fact, applying something cold to your face is so good that the Victoria’s Secret models famously do ice facials before a show. And, although ice facials work so well, I feel like this cooling mask is just as effective and way less hassle than splashing your face in freezing water. You can also use this mask if you have sunburn, puffy eyes or a headache, to help calm and soothe.

I love that this can be used hot as well – if you’ve ever tried steam eye masks, you’ll know how therapeutic it feels. So, before you go to sleep, you can pop this in the microwave briefly, and then wear it while it’s warm. By using the mask hot, it helps improve blood circulation, relieve eye strain, and just generally helps majorly zen you out. If you get dry eyes in winter, the heat from the mask can help to moisten your eyes as well.

The best thing is the mask has a really soft lining to it, so it’s really comfortable to wear (although sometimes I wear it with the beads next to my skin, so it feels extra cold)! It also has two Velcro straps to secure it, which means you can basically do anything while you’re wearing it!

Would you guys try this? Let me know in the comments below.

These $10 Face Scrubs Will Leave Your Skin SO Soft!

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Exfoliation is easily one of the most important parts of your weekly skincare routine – it helps buff away dead skin to keep blackheads under control and keep your skin feeling smooth and soft. That being said, you need to be careful, because if done too often or too hard, you’ll risk over-exfoliating, which can lead to breakouts and general redness and sensitivity.

Our latest drugstore discovery is the L’oreal Smooth Sugars Scrubs, and we unexpectedly fell in love with them. The thing is, sugar scrubs can be notoriously harsh, which is why we often recommend them for body-only exfoliation. However, the new offering from L’oreal is exfoliating without being too harsh, and we were seriously impressed with the results. The three formulas that we tried combine three types of pure sugar – brown, blonde, and white – and each is concocted with cleverly-chosen ingredients to target different skin concerns.

For Oily Skin Prone to Blackheads: Purify & Unclog Kiwi Scrub, $10

With real kiwi seeds to smooth skin and reduce blackheads, the gel-like texture of this scrub doesn’t feel harsh as the sugars gently melt into the skin. The addition of peppermint essential oil, a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal, soothes the skin and helps control bacteria that can lead to breakouts, while lemongrass essential oil helps purify the skin.

The formula smells amazing and feels gentle on the skin – be sure to be light-handed with any exfoliators as the harder you scrub, the more you’re likely to damage your skin and the fragile skin barrier. We recommend using this a maximum of three times a week.

For Dry to Normal Skin: Nourish & Soften Cocoa Scrub, $10

This divine, chocolaty-scented scrub is ideal for those with dry patches or normal skin. Mixed with the trio of sugars is finely-crushed, antioxidant-rich cocoa, antibacterial and hydrating coconut oil, and nourishing cocoa butter. Post-scrub, your skin will feel moisturized and smooth as a baby’s bottom, without that tight or itchy feeling that some exfoliators can leave.

Add warm water to soften the sugar particles for a buttery texture that melts into the skin (don’t forget to do your lips as well), then admire how bright your skin looks after. Follow with a hydrating toner to remove any residue.

For Normal or Dull Skin: Smooth & Glow Grapeseed Scrub, $6.50

Packed with vitamin E to protect and promote even tone, grapeseed oil nourishes and soothes your skin while moisturizing monoi oil protects the skin. The addition of acai powder, and the fact it smells so good may make you want to eat it, but the vitamins and minerals are just as good topically for your skin as they are for your tummy.

Again, be gentle when you’re massaging this into your skin. As you add warm water, you’ll feel the sugars dissolve while the natural oils soften the skin and give a major post-exfoliating glow. We love that you can use this on your lips as well.

Primp Tip: We recommend using a gentle cleanser before using your preferred scrub and then following with a hydrating toner on a cotton pad. Continue with your essences, serums and moisturizers to ensure your skin stays hydrated, but avoid using any other exfoliating products, like toners that contain AHAs or retinol. Use these scrubs a maximum of three times a week and be prepared to see your skin glow.

Have you guys tried these scrubs? Let us know in the comments below!

Fenty’s New Bronzer Just Stepped Up The Game (And Our Makeup)

Published on by Lee5 Comments

Ever since Pon De Replay blasted through our old school boombox nearly 15 years ago, we’ve been die-hard Rihanna fans. We didn’t think we could love her any more, and then she proved us wrong when she stepped on the beauty scene and MAJORLY shook sh*t up! Championing inclusivity, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line has products for every beauty lover, and she’s not just got every skin tone covered; whether you prefer bold af makeup vibes or natural and fresh, girl got your back.

Her latest beauty revelation is Sun Stalk’r, a bronzer that comes in eight shades, which is pretty great, considering up until recently, most bronzers came in a one-size-fits-all shade (Benefit’s Hoola now has four shades). Not only did this mean that people with deeper skin tones were almost completely excluded from the bronzer convo, but that even those with super fair skin tones would struggle to find a flattering shade. We tried the new Sun Stalk’r bronzers, $30, to see if they played on our face as well as they do in theory.

What it is: A long-wearing, transfer-resistant pressed bronzing powder designed to “Bring all skin tones to life with an instant sun-soaked glow.”

What it does: The formula was specifically designed to make bronzing foolproof – it’s buildable and transfer-proof.

What we liked: When we first applied this, our first thought was that this wasn’t a very pigmented bronzer, but by the end of application we realized why the ‘soft pigment’ is actually amazing. How many times have you slapped on your fave bronzer only to realize you’ve got waaay too much on? Then you have to spend a good few minutes painstakingly blending it out. And that’s why this buildable formula is actually great, because it makes going overboard almost impossible.

Application tip: For adding all over glow, use a fluffy brush and dust your Sun Stalk’r shade across the high points of your face and around your hairline. For a bronzing, contour effect, opt for a more densely packed brush, like the new Fenty Beauty Cheek-Hugging Bronzer Brush, $36, or the Real Techniques Instapop Cheek Brush, $10. But be wary; the more densely-packed the brush, the heavier the pigment.

The shade range is impressive, and there’s finally a complementary shade for fair and rich skin tones. Although we feel that the only real ‘bronzing’ shade for deep to rich complexions is most likely going to be the deepest shade, Mocha Mami, which has red undertones that look really gorgeous and add a stunning warmth to the skin. If you’ve not used bronzer before, check out Fenty’s tutorial on how to apply bronzer for deeper skin tones.

Shade-finding tip: We found that depending on how we built up these bronzers, they worked for multiple skin tones. While that means shopping online should be easier (you will probably suit a couple of shades) we recommend going into the store to find the perfect shade that can be worn lightly and built-up as there are both neutral and warm options to choose from.

The verdict: We’re impressed! We love the packaging and the fact is has a mirror inside, and we find the formula really easy to use and play with. We’re super impressed with the shade range and formula, and we’re dying over the shade names – I$land Ting, Coco Naughty, and Mocha Mami are our faves. Yet again, Rihanna nailed it.

Have you guys tried this yet? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

This $9 Cleanser Is The Answer To Clear, Smooth & Oil-Free Skin

Published on by Lee1 Comment

With summer so close by, we’re feeling the pressure to strip back our cake face and go as natural as possible during the warmer months. After all, sweat is the enemy of a cake face, so the less we have to pile on, the better we’re gonna look as the day goes on. So, with thoughts of less foundation, we’re taking our skincare routine into overdrive.

Fortunately, we came across a 2-in-1 cleanser that has become our new best friend – not just because it costs $9, because it works so well to fight oily skin, congestion, and skin texture. Trust us when we say the Neutrogena 2-in-1 Skin Detox Clarifying Clay Wash Mask* is packed with some of the best oil-controlling, pore-busting ingredients that will detox your skin and keep your oil in check for the hot summer months.

The oil-free, non-comedogenic (won’t cause clogged pores) formula is packed with salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) that cleans deep into pores to dissolve the glue that binds toxins and dirt in the pores, while their Barriercare cleansing technology helps preserve skin’s moisture levels. Glycolic acid also helps to clarify pores and remove surface dead skin cells that cause the complexion to look dull. Finally, Kaolin and Bentonite Clay draw out toxins, dirt, and oil that cause breakouts, while glycerin adds a hit of hydration.

We love that we can use this as an everyday cleanser but also use it as a mask two or three times a week. To use it as a mask, apply a thick layer to the skin and leave it on for three minutes, before thoroughly washing away. Prepare to feel super soft skin! After using this for just two weeks, we noticed our oily T-zone looked less and less shiny, our skin texture improved, and pimples also became less frequent. We also recommend using an exfoliator once or twice a week (like the Neutrogena Skin Detox Cooling Scrub).

*Note, if you’re based in the US, this cleanser is called the Deep Clean Purifying Clay Cleanser & Mask and for those in the UK and elsewhere, it’s called the 2-in-1 Skin Detox Clarifying Clay Wash and Mask, although both formulas are exactly the same!

Let us know if you’ve tried this in the comments below.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?