Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2

Melts makeup on contact

This cleansing balm has a silky smooth texture that melts into an oil upon being massaged onto the skin. It removes makeup effortlessly on contact and can even help take off some of the dried-out bits of dead skin sitting on the surface. The balm rinses clean with warm water, but I always follow up any cleansing balm with a second cleanse. I've tried many cleansing balms on the market, and to be honest, most of them have a similar texture and fulfill the same purpose. However, the texture and feel of this one is definitely a notch above the rest. My pet peeve with cleansing balms is when there are small clumps of product that will not dissolve very well. I'm happy to report this cleansing balm is perfectly emulsified to be clump-free, so you can utilize every bit of the product. The packaging is also well-weighted to give a more substantial feel to the product. This product has made my makeup removal process very effortless and pleasant.

Calms breakouts and irritated skin

I was intrigued by this toner initially due to the numerous beneficial ingredients in the formulation. Then I realized it has one of my favorite ingredients, sodium hypochlorite, which turns into hypochlorous acid. If you're familiar with the very popular Tower 28 SOS Spray, this has the same active ingredient (hypochlorous acid) along with humectants to hydrate the skin as well as probiotics to help our skin maintain a healthy microbiome. Hypochlorous acid has strong antimicrobial properties that can help calm breakouts and irritation. I definitely find this toner substantial enough to provide a layer of hydration to the skin and the calming effects are immediately felt on my easily irritated and breakout prone skin. One caveat on this product is while I do love what it does for my skin, the combination of apple cider vinegar, probiotics and hypochlorous acid creates an interesting smell. If you've ever tried any probiotic beverages, it has a similar but much more potent scent. However, I understand this is the natural scent of the ingredients and am happy enough with the benefits to keep using it.

My favorite mauve lip tint

Freesia is a beautifully understated mauve shade I can wear on all occasions. On my light-medium skin tone, I can definitely see the mauve undertones, and the color is just deep enough that it doesn't wash me out at all. The Lip Chic is one of my favorite lip tint formulas that give you a glossy, cushiony and somewhat sheer opacity that you can adjust depending on how many swipes you use. The weighted magnetic packaging and the silkiness of the formulation add to a luxe user experience. I included a photo below, which shows Freesia on the left and the shade Coral Bell in the same formula on the right. I will definitely be buying more; just waiting on a few of the more popular shades to restock!

Does not crease!

If you already love the Surratt Dew Drop Foundation like me, you will love this concealer! The concealer has medium but buildable coverage and applies on the skin in a thin layer that does not crease on me, even with no setting powder. Usually, I have to set my concealer shortly after applying it, or I have to pat out the creases again with my beautyblender before I set it with powder if I wait too long. With this concealer, I waited until I applied all my cream products, and when I set at the very end, I saw minimal creasing, if at all. The finish is very skin-like, learning matte but not flat. This type of concealer is ideal if you prefer to use lighter coverage foundations or skin tints. The longevity of this product is excellent, as it did not move, crease or budge when I took it all off at the end of the day. For shade reference, I have a light-medium skin tone (shade 4 in the Surratt Dew Drop Foundation) and shade 3 in the concealer works well for the eye area as it is a bit brightening. This product does have a sponge-tip applicator, which is not my favorite, but the product itself is fantastic, so I don't mind.

Pleasantly surprised!

When I first received this brush and held it to my face, I thought it would be way too big. Sure, I have other sizable bronzer brushes in my collection, like the Niji Pro and Koyudo BP013 (white brush in photo). However, those two have shorter, denser bristles that don't splay out as much as the Jumbo Bronzer. I just imagined my entire face would be covered in bronzer. Well, don't knock it until you try it because this brush gave me the most natural application of bronzer I've ever achieved. It does pick up product well but disperses it in the most diffused, natural way. Bronzer normally looks quite odd on me when I'm not wearing foundation, as it just looks too obvious. The natural look this brush gives me allows me to use bronzer on days when I use only a light-coverage concealer to even out the skin. Being able to bronze my face on foundation-free days is a complete game changer, as I don't wear foundation most days, but my face is noticeably lighter than the rest of my body. This has become my favorite bronzer brush.

Great for a diffused application

I had originally intended to use this brush strictly for deepening the outer corner. I was hoping for something smaller than the Chikuhodo J5522, which I typically use for the transition shade and some crease definition. As you can see in the photo, I included a brand new, unwashed version of the brush next to the one I've used quite a bit and has been washed a few times. The brush blooms into a fuller, more airy shape and differs quite a bit from the unwashed version. I have quite a bit of lid space, so I find this brush still useful for deepening the outer corner, but in a more diffused way. I placed the Sonia G Crease Pro to the right of this brush. By comparison, the Crease Pro is more tapered and precise in its application. The Crease Pro is my usual brush of choice for the outer corner, but I wanted something that blows out the color more than the Crease Pro does. The first brush to the left is the Sonia G Blender Pro, which I use for transition or to blend out the edges. I also included the Sonia G Crease One on the very right, which is pointed and quite dense at the base.

I really love how this brush is able to pick up color well (due to the undyed goat bristles) but also diffuses it so effortlessly. The bristles on the outside do fray a bit after a few washes, but nothing that would affect its performance. I usually finish drying it in a brush guard if I want to keep the shape closer to the unwashed version. I would also note that the white undyed goat bristles do stain a slight bit, especially if you use the brush for darker colors like myself. Overall excellent brush, so much so that I purchased a backup!

Stunning color story

I love the mix of colors in these palettes! Every color story they've put out so far appeals to me. I purchased the Cashmerie Palette first and was not disappointed. The soft, pinky/neutral colors are perfect for everyday use. The quality is consistent with the high standards of Viseart palettes in terms of having the right level of pigment and ease with blending out the shadows. There is even a perfect matte brow bone shade included (at least for my skin tone). As much as I love Cashmerie, I found Le Marais to be even more of a step up in terms of the more interesting color selection. This palette is definitely less subtle and more fun than Cashmerie. I find the matte shades to be a bit more pigmented and blend out even easier than Cashmerie. I left out swatches for Cashmerie, as I see reviewers have done a wonderful job already. I did want to show you how stunning Le Marais is! I hope to get my hands on more palettes, and I can't wait to see the color story that comes out next!

Clarifying but not drying

When my skin was more combo/oily, I could handle the traditional clay mask that soaked up the excess oils and stripped the skin. My skin was more oily and naturally hydrated, so I feared no clay mask. Now that I've gotten older and my skin is more combo/dry, I definitely still need something to clear out congestion in my pores but not make the skin even drier. I find this mask very effective at absorbing excess sebum in the pores, which are visibly less congested after use. Most importantly, this mask does not completely dry down like traditional clay masks and stays hydrating/tacky even for up to an hour of wear. Now I don't have to compromise by having my skin stripped of its moisture in exchange for less congestion; this mask gives me the best of both worlds. My only complaint is that this is a bit difficult to rinse off, especially since I like a more substantial layer of product. I imagine if you go in with a thinner layer, this will not be an issue.

Excellent for dry skin!

When my skin is very dry, I reach for this the night before to ensure I do not wake up with dry, flakey skin. It has a creamy texture that adds hydration from the glycerin content but also has oils and mango seed butter to deeply moisturize the skin. The best part is this cream provides great occlusion to prevent transepidermal water loss while feeling comfortable on the skin. I'm not going to tell you this is as lightweight as a gel cream, as it is rich and has body to the texture that allows it to nourish the skin and keep the moisture in. My skin is chronically dry to the point of flaking during the day, and this is the only product that can truly help. The other cream I found that is just as effective is the original La Mer, but it isn't the most cost-effective and, by comparison, feels a bit heavier than this formula. I can even use this during the day, and although not the lightest in texture, it still feels comfortable and not suffocating. This is so good that I've already stocked up after my first tube, and I got my boyfriend hooked on this as well!

Natural, fluttery and comfortable to wear

I am kicking myself for not buying a backup of the Second Nature lashes sooner, as they're now sold out. I have naturally short, stubby Asian lashes, so whenever I wear a dramatic lash, it is a dead giveaway, as my lower lashes don't even come close. I prefer a natural-looking lash that will compliment my eye look and not overwhelm my smaller features. I had very good luck finding the Velour Secret Weapon, which is about the same length as these but more densely packed with lashes. Whereas Secret Weapon is slightly more glam for me, these are perfect everyday lashes. They are more fluttery, perfected and prettier than natural lashes for sure, but it doesn't look so obvious that they're false lashes. They're also among the most comfortable false lashes I've ever worn. The band is thinner than the Secret Weapon style, and most of the time, I honestly can't tell they're on. I'm definitely waiting for a restock with bated breath and will be sure to stock up whenever they do.