Beauty Product Reviews | Page 3

Creamy but doesn't budge

This deep brown liner is very pigmented and goes on the lash line with ease. I have been using my Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Liner in Barbarella Brown for some time, which is slightly creamier than this liner, but it smudges just ever so slightly on the under eyes. Whereas I would have to be more careful with the Charlotte Tilbury liner due to the creaminess, this liner is the perfect balance between creaminess and firmness with better staying power. I can also smudge out the liner with my Sonia G Smudger Two very effortlessly, but it does set down after a minute so you have to work fast or apply one eye at a time. It stays on the waterline all day and does not budge or smudge. I tried this liner on the recommendation of the Youtuber Michelle Wang and have not been disappointed. I will definitely be purchasing other shades, like Obsidian and Chestnut, with my next order.

Best traditional lipstick formula

This is a full-opacity lipstick that is somehow creamy but clings onto the lips very well. As the other reviewers mentioned, the slimmer bullet allows you to sculpt the perfect lip line without a liner, and it never bleeds. From day to day, I usually go for a lip tint, but when looking for that full-on pigmented lipstick, this is the formula I go for. I also really love the look of blotting the lips after application, as it gives a softer version of the color and is still very even with this formula. The packaging is weighted and beautiful, evocative of a vintage cigarette holder. The only drawback I can think of is if you travel with it as I did, the customs agents may consider it a sharp object, and then you'd have to explain it's just lipstick.

Light as air and non-greasy

This oil adds that perfect finishing touch to any style. It sprays out a fine mist of dry oil that absorbs quickly into the hair without weighing it down. For straight hairstyles, I love my Sisley Precious Hair Oil to smooth out the hair and add shine. However, oils in that format have to be dispersed into the hair by hand, which can take down the volume a bit, in my experience. When I curl my hair, this oil spray is a must! It is so light that it really just kisses the strands, adding shine and smoothness without sacrificing volume.

Sophisticated, Sultry Take on Peach

I didn't think I would love this as much as I did. I love the scent of peaches but wasn't sure how the bitter part would work. As it turns out, the smell is evocative of the way the peach pit smells. It has a hint of peach but with way more depth. It develops on the skin interestingly as you get a peachy/herbaceous scent, but sometimes more floral and sometimes more sultry. It has so many dimensions to it and is far from being one note or flat. It makes perfect sense that this is Tom Ford's take on peach.

Effective Exfoliation

Since I have acne-prone skin, regular exfoliation with AHA/BHA is crucial in my routine to keep my skin clear. For years, I've used The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution, but the drawback is the product stings quite a bit and is very uncomfortable for 10 minutes until I wash it off (and burns a bit even after I wash it off). To be honest, the peel from The Ordinary is more effective if you are looking for the strongest chemical exfoliation you can get without going in for a professional peel. In comparison, the BeautyStat Universal Triple Action Daily Peel is a bit gentler on the skin and is a leave-on product as opposed to a rinse-off. I find it is still effective to help slough off the top layer of dead skin cells and prevent them from mixing with sebum, which can lead to clogged pores. It does sting a tiny bit for a few minutes when you first swipe the product-soaked sheet onto the skin, but it does dissipate and is MUCH more tolerable than The Ordinary peel. Since it isn't as strong, I do have to use the peel 2-3 times a week to get the same amount of exfoliation. I follow up this product with hydrating/nourishing serums and a moisturizer and wake up with smoother, clearer skin (without dreading the process)!

Cuts Blow Dry Time in Half!

For years, I've only let my hair air dry, thinking that was better for the condition of my hair. I've recently found that keeping the hair damp for a long time is actually worse as the hair is more prone to damage when wet. I have thick and long hair that takes forever to dry, even with a Dyson dryer. Since I really don't love holding up the dryer until my arm falls off, this product has been such a godsend as it cuts blow-dry time in half! The product also adds some nourishment to my hair and protects it from the heat at the same time. With this product, I can crank up the heat to high on my Dyson dryer and voila, my hair is dry in 5 minutes, no exaggeration. My hair is protected from damage and comes out silky soft and even a little shiny!

Visibly Firming and Slight Lifting

I finished a whole bottle of this over a month ago, and the results were so incredible that I really miss it. The formula was the perfect texture/consistency as it was creamy and moisturizing to the eye area but not so thick that it causes breakouts or milia around my eye area. Because milia and breakouts around the eye area are very difficult to get rid of, and I'm prone to both, I usually stick with lighter-weight eye gels or gel creams just to be safe. This is definitely denser and more moisturizing than a gel formula, but it still absorbed into my skin quickly and sat well under makeup. The highlight of this cream is that after a few weeks of use, I can see and feel an increase in firmness in the eye area, presumably due to the peptides in the formulation. You may ask, how can I tell? As it happens, one of my eyes has a more droopy/sagy lid than the other, but with the firming effect, I can tell the affected eyelid is slightly lifted, and my eyes are more symmetrical than they've ever been. This product is really a rarity; as you probably experienced, most eye creams don't do much other than hydrate the eye area. I'm still trying out more eye creams just to see if I'm maybe missing out on something even better, but I still haven't found anything remotely this good.

Glam but natural

I can definitely relate to the reviewer above on the struggle to find false lashes for anyone with incredibly short lashes naturally. The issue with wearing a longer upper lash when you have nonexistent lashes is that there is such a length discrepancy with your lower lashes that it never looks believable. This only matters if you're looking for something more natural but still miles better than the sparse, stubby lashes you've got. In my 20s, I had no problem wearing longer, more dramatic lashes, but maybe with age, I find myself enjoying more natural makeup that enhances my features. All of a sudden, I noticed how long my beloved Lily Lashes looked on me. I was even using the styles Luxe and Paris, which were already the less dramatic of the bunch. I still love those for a night out, but for family gatherings or more formal occasions, I felt self-conscious with the way my top lashes just stuck out so much more than the bottom ones, and this is even more obvious in my 3/4 or profile view. I have worn Ardells in the past and still have some on hand, but really looking for something that has tapered tips and a more fluffy, wispy look. The Ardells just weren't doing it for me when I wanted something more glam but still natural. This lash is fluffy and full, yet much shorter than most styles out there. The band is thicker than Ardells, which usually has a thin clear band. But I almost prefer the thicker black band as it helps to blend into my black liner and make it even bolder. With this type of lash, I would recommend pulling off the excess glue with your fingernail, taking care not to rip the band itself. Velour does make the Lash Clean, which is a makeup remover that is safe on false lashes and extensions. Even though these last quite a few wears, I'm gonna buy a few more as backups and will be trying the Plant Fibre Lash from this same brand in the style Second Nature next. Hopefully, they'll be as perfect as these!

High coverage perfection!

For the most perfected finish and great coverage, look no further! I can always count on this foundation to cover up acne scars and redness but make my skin look perfect at the same time. I have combination/dry skin at the moment, and this works best for me over a hydrating primer. With the Smashbox Primerizer under this, you've literally got porcelain doll skin that glows and doesn't look flat or cakey. On its own, I get a more satin, skin-link finish that is also very pretty. It wears very well with minimal powdering (or you can powder more heavily for a matte finish). I've paired this with their liquid concealer, which is slightly thicker and more pigmented. On its own, the foundation doesn't blank out every flaw, especially deeper acne scars. This allows the skin to show through just enough to make the finish look believable like maybe your skin is really that perfect. The formula goes on thin like the Color Process Foundation (also from RCMA) but sets/grips on the skin a bit better for me. It also doesn't grab onto or accentuate dry patches. I love using this with a beautyblender as I can sheer out the coverage a bit. Really awesome formula that is flexible with the finish depending on how you prime/powder. Like so many others, I was also inspired/influenced to try this from Tati's video and am pretty glad I did!

Healed my dry and flakey skin even better than slugging

The dry winter and constant indoor heating have not been kind to my skin. I have tried double moisturizing, barrier creams and slugging and somehow still wake up with dry patches. I've also been using tretinoin for years, and the drying side effect has never gone away. I was looking for the thickest, most occlusive cream I could get my hands on. Since I've even tried slugging, I don't mind that this contains petrolatum since it is the gold standard of occlusive ingredients to seal hydration/moisture into the skin and prevent transepidermal water loss. I was looking for something that was as occlusive as petrolatum but more healing and cosmetically elegant. This was really the perfect solution, except for the price, of course. The product initially has a waxy/creamy consistency, but when you warm it up between your fingers, it transforms into a creamy, slightly oily texture that just melts onto the skin and spreads easily. The magical part is I can feel it sink into the skin but not evaporate/disappear, leaving behind a thin veil of protection that doesn't feel suffocating. I have tried many barrier balms that are half as effective that feel way more uncomfortable on the skin. Most importantly, I wake up with skin that still feels hydrated and moisturized. Amazingly, La Mer has been able to create such an occlusive formula that can still penetrate the skin but remain protective. I don't love the price, but after trying it out for myself, I get it.