Category Archives: Beauty Reviews

Review: Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette

March 9, 2018 Talyssa 8 Comments

The Verdict

Pigmentation
Application
Long Lasting
Packaging and Design
Value for Money

3.7

OVERALL SUMMARY

Exotic colours, strong pigments

Huda Beauty’s second palette doesn’t disappoint, bringing high pigmented, long lasting, exotic colours reminiscent of the Arabian desert.

Colour

Just one look at Huda’s Desert Dusk Palette and you’re whisked away to the Arabian Desert. This gorgeous palette features colours reminiscent of a desert sunset, while capturing mystical twilight mirages and the shimmering sand under a warm summer sun. I absolutely love the range of colours in this palette and just looking at them makes me excited.

The 18 different shades come in 4 unique textures, versatile enough for a natural make up look, but equally great to go big and bold with glitter and shimmer. Inside the palette you’ll find:

Eight Matte Shades:

Six Pressed Pearls:

Three duo-chrome toppers and one pure glitter (Cosmo):

Application

A good 70% of the shadows in this palette are highly pigmented and super easy to apply and blend. Some of the matte colours (notably Amethyst, Eden and Musk) did apply a little patchy on my arm swatch and required multiple layers to build to the desired pigment. This is likely due to the drier texture of the mattes when compared to the pearl and duo chromes which were softer and “buttery” in texture.

In saying this, the more “buttery” the texture of the shadow, the more prone it was to fallout – nothing too severe, but handle with care.

The great thing about this palette is that the colours combine so well to create a new depth or shade of colour. Adding a layer of Twilight for example on top of Amethyst adds a nice shimmer with an iridescent blue/green glow in the light, taking it to the next level!

With the pure glitter Cosmo, I recommend adding some glitter glue or an eyeshadow base/sealer to make the glitter come out as bold as possible and stay intact.

Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Palette Review — This gorgeous rug is from Gold Scout.

Long Lasting

The shadows in this palette last a really long time. The only thing I noticed is while colours stay pigmented, the shimmer seems dull slightly. I’m not sure if this is just the colours settling into my skin or if the glitter disappears after some time?

Packaging and Design

The packaging of this palette is gorgeous! It’s hard to tell from the photos, but the headdress, tops of the eyelids and writing, shimmer in the light. The palette itself is sturdy, clean and sleek with a gigantic mirror on the inside! As with all Huda packaging, it definitely feels high quality.

Value for money

This palette sells for $95 AUD at Sephora…which is pretty pricey for a eyeshadow palette. So is it worth it?

Maybe. There are a lot of great palettes out there from exceptional makeup brands that retail for at least $10 cheaper than this palette. If this palette was on par in terms of price, I would 100% recommend everyone buy it. But if you’re in search for a regular staple eyeshadow palette, I’d probably give this one a miss due to the price.

On the other hand, if you’re an eyeshadow fiend, or if the colours are seriously calling you, or if you live outside of Australia (where the palette is waaaay more reasonably priced) I’d say go for it!

Get it here (For Aussies)

Get it here (International)

Beauty Reviews, Makeup

Review: Huda Beauty Lip Contour Set

January 22, 2018 Talyssa 6 Comments

The Verdict

Pigmentation
Application
Long Lasting
Packaging and Design

4.4

OVERALL SUMMARY

Great pigment, long lasting

There isn’t a beauty brand I’m more excited about at the moment (okay FENTY came pretty close) than Huda Beauty.

If you love exotic and vibrant colours that are daring, mysterious and dazzling with charm, then this brand is for you.

A Bit about Huda Beauty

One thing you can really tell with Huda Beauty is the personal touch to the brand. Huda Beauty products feel like they are made by someone who loves, lives and breathes all things beauty, but more importantly, someone who wants to share and create the best products for women all around the world.

The personal touch to the brand is so prevalent that I suspected it was made by someone who was previously a beauty influencer!

…and turns out I was right!

‘As a beauty influencer, I am very picky with the products that I use and I recommend. Honesty is something I never wanted to compromise with as I feel I have a responsibility towards women….I am putting the same honesty and selection into my own product development. I spend so much time picking up the right color, looking for the best quality and most surprising textures you will ever see’ – Huda Kattan

YASSSS QUEEN. YAASSSS. And most importantly, this dedication to detail and quality shows in Huda Beauty’s products.

Here’s my review for Huda Beauty’s Lip Contour Set featuring Trendsetter Lip Contour, Trendsetter Liquid Matte and Bombshell Liquid Matte.

Colour

These products were so so soo close to getting a perfect score. If fact, I do want to mention that the strength of the colour pigment of the Lip Contour Set is amazing. No need for layering, the colour is impactful upon first application.

The colour lost marks not because of pigment or strength, but because the colour of the lipstick on the packaging misrepresented the colour of the products when applied to my lips. The colour itself is great, it’s just not the colour I thought I bought. The overall tone of the products was a more earthy red/brown rather than the pinky, maroon featured on the packaging.

Application

Huda Beauty’s Lip contours and Liquid Matte lipsticks are incredibly easy to apply. The formula of the lip contour glides on, making it easy to line your lips with a smooth and even line.

The liquid matte formula is even smoother on the lips and has a luxurious ‘light as water’ texture. It’s non sticky and a little goes a long way, so you don’t need a lot of product to get an excellent pigment and even application. The liquid matte is glossy upon application, but intensifies in colour as it sets to a matte finish (it’s a little sticky as it sets). Although it’s matte, the formula is hydrating, so there’s no yucky dry lip feel.

I also couldn’t help feeling a Kylie Jenner-esque look to my lips after…which is big for me, because I’ve always had small lips.

Overall, Huda Beauty’s Lip Contour Set really is a beautiful lip product and my favourite to wear at the moment. It’s easy to use, comfortable to wear, looks great.

Long Lasting

Huda Beauty delivers on it’s transfer-free finish and amazing staying power. I have yet to find a product that stays on better. These lip products have lasted me after eating meals, drinking and even dabbing my mouth with a napkin!

How To: Lip Contour – The SECRET TO THE PERFECT POUT

Each Lip Contour Set also comes with a short (and very handy) tutorial detailing Huda’s secret to the perfect pout. As a person with naturally thing lips, this is exactly what I needed!

1. Line lips using the Trendsetter Lip Contour and fade towards the centre.

2. Apply a thin layer of Trendsetter Liquid Matte to fill in your lips.

3. Apply the Bombshell liquid matte at the center of your lips, and fade towards the edges

Note: Here you can clearly see the colour difference between how the product looked on my lips, compared to on the packaging.

Packaging and Design

I absolutely love the packaging of Huda Beauty’s products. The liquid Matte in particular is encased in sleek, frosted glass bottle, that is simple and chic. It feels expensive and high high quality. Love, love love!

Get it here

Trendsetter & Bombshell Lip Contour Set

As you can obviously tell, I’m super excited to see where Huda Beauty goes. What about you guys? Have you tried Huda Beauty? Let me know what you think below!

Beauty Reviews, Makeup

Kailijumei Flower Jelly Lipstick Review

December 22, 2017 Siree 10 Comments

The Verdict

Application
Long-Lasting and Pigmentation
Packaging and Design

3.8

OVERALL SUMMARY

Great for that “no makeup” natural look

“Kailijumei jelly lipsticks are the world’s first lipstick which is uniquely designed with gold flakes and real flowers inside. When applied to the lips, lipsticks give you a light pink tint that changes color depending on your temperature and body PH.”

The lipstick of our Disney dreams! These flower jeweled lip bullets look like they came straight out of “Beauty and the Beast.” Trending all over social media, these fairy tale jelly lipsticks from Kailijumei promise long-lasting natural coloured puckers that change magically according to your body temperature.

With a formula that looks clear but comes out pink, we find out what secret spell this flower is hiding.

APPLICATION

s instructed, the starting point for applying the lipstick should be at the centre of the lips and to work your way out towards the edges. Straight away I noticed that though the bullet formula was solid, once it was applied it became velvety smooth and spread very evenly on the lips. The moisture effect was very hydrating and definitely great for winter days when your lips become super chapped.

One of my main concerns was since I have naturally dark toned lips will the pink tint even show at all but I was pleasantly surprised that the tint did pop through leaving a nice natural pink tone. Another clever thing is that the colour also intensifies when you rub your lips together as the formula becomes warmer for a more obvious effect.

Long-Lasting and Pigmentation

s the Kailijumei Flower Jelly Lipsticks are more of a lip balm than a lipstick, you will need to retouch more frequently than a lip tint as it isn’t as pigmented to retain its colour and moisture over time.

When testing its staying power, I noticed the stained tint colour still remained after wiping with a tissue and I really enjoyed how hydrating the product was as well as my lips were very rough beforehand.

Also, though these Kailijumei Flower Jelly Lipsticks come in various names: Barbie Doll, Dream Purple, Flame Red and Minute Maid all the names only refer to the

flower’s colour inside. The lipsticks all swatch pink and will change colours according to your ph level and the floating gold flakes inside create a very simmer when used.

If you are someone who likes to use clear glosses or lip balms to make your lips smoother, I think Kailijumei Flower Jelly Lipsticks are a great alternative to normal lip balm sticks that don’t have colour changing properties to liven up your makeup-free days.

Packaging and Design

Obviously the selling point of this lipstick is the flower inside. The gold flakes add an extra magically touch and do not hinder the smoothness of the product when applying it. Once you hit the flower, it says to discontinue the product which would be a bit of waste of whatever product is left. However, at a price point of around 1500 yen it doesn’t make it too expensive to repurchase and feel like a total waste of money or you can

also scrape any excess with a clean beauty spatula to get every last product off!

That being said, the product packaging is very standard but far from being considered cheap. The lipstick case is sturdy and the metallic case is quite luxurious when held in your hands. The “push and pop” style dispenser is unique and makes it great as a gift.

WHERE TO BUY

HAVE YOU TRIED THE KAILIJUMEI JELLY LIPSTICK?

LET US KNOW BELOW!

Beauty Reviews, Makeup

FENTY Beauty Review

November 16, 2017 Talyssa 11 Comments

The Verdict

Coverage and Pigmentation
Application
Long Lasting
Packaging and Design

3.5

OVERALL SUMMARY

Flawlessly natural

“Makeup is there for you to have fun with, it should never feel like pressure…never feel like a uniform” – Rihanna

A bit about Fenty Beauty

There’s been a whole lot of talk about Rihanna’s new beauty range and it’s overall amazingness so I decided to try it for myself!

The inspiration behind Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range was to create a make up line where “women everywhere would be included.” It focuses on producing products that perform across all skin types and tones, and she didn’t disappoint. Rihanna’s Fenty range launched with over 80 products including an incredible 40 shades of foundation, 30 different highlighters and contour sticks and a universal lip gloss. Talk about inclusive. To top it all off, Fenty Beauty is also 100% cruelty free.

For this review, I will be focusing on the Custom Match Stix Trio and the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.

How it works – CUSTOM MATCH STIX TRIO

The best thing about the Fenty range is that it stays true to it’s vision. The Custom Match Stix Trio is the perfect example of this. This product is completely personalised in that you select your choice of two Matte skinsticks for concealer and contour and one shimmer skinstick for your highlight. This means you can pick the best colours for your skin type. I chose the colours Linen, Amber and Stardust. If you find you need some help choosing your skinsticks, Fenty Beauty recommends the handy tips below:

STEP 1 – CONCEAL: Choose your exact skin tone match to conceal blemishes. For under-eye darkness and hyper-pigmentation, go for 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone.

STEP 2 – CONTOUR: Choose a color that’s 2-3 shades deeper than your natural skin tone.

STEP 3 – HIGHLIGHT: Light up any way you please.

Coverage and Colour

Fenty Beauty boasts a makeup range that is designed to be effortlessly layered, delivering buildable coverage while still keeping skin looking natural.

I was so excited to try the products that when I applied them for the first time, I was a little disappointed. I found that the coverage of the concealer was good but not as good as I’d hoped and the contour blended so well that it seemed to blend to non-existence. I was slightly disappointed because I didn’t notice a dramatic difference in how my face looked normally.

THAT WAS UNTIL…

I saw my boyfriend later that afternoon and the first thing he said to me was “You look very pretty today!”

So I guess it does work. And looking back on my photos, I do look fresh faced and somehow naturally flawless. Reflecting back, I guess that’s the whole point of Fenty’s Beauty range. The formulas are designed to be seamless to the point where it’s difficult to tell where the skin ends and make up begins.

One regret I do have is not selecting a more pigmented highlighter. When applied, the Stardust highlighter is virtually clear in pigment, but produces an amazing shimmer. Although shiny, I felt a little naked without some colour on my cheeks.

Like the highlighter, the Gloss Bomb lipgloss delivers epic shine and shimmer – like diamonds have been crushed onto your face. The gloss comes in one colour called “Fenty Glow” which is a nude rose colour handpick by Rihanna. This colour is supposedly so magical that it looks good on everyone. This lip colour is perfect for a natural looking lip.

Best suited to

Most skin types. I have oily, acne prone skin and this makeup didn’t frustrate me much.

Application

Match Stix

The Match Stix Trio glides on fairly easily, but work better when warmed a little. The concealer and contour blend really well into each other creating a very seamless blend. The highlighter on the other have is a bit more difficult to blend and can look patchy.

The make up itself is really lightweight and doesn’t make your skin feel like it’s suffocating.

Lipgloss

I really didn’t like the feeling of this one at all, but I rarely like the feeling of glosses. Like most glosses it’s sticky. The formula is suppose to also make lips look fuller, however I didn’t notice a significant change.

Long Lasting

Overall I found the Fenty products last quite long. My skin did get a bit oily after a couple of hours which was easy to fix with a bit of powder.

Packaging/Design

Fenty Beauty’s packaging is unique. I particularly love the hexagon design and the fact that the ‘Match Stix Trio’ is magnetic, which makes them super easy to find in your handbag.

I was however expecting a little more glitz and glam from the packaging and overall look of the products, especially because Rihanna is so glamorous herself. The Match Stix themselves feel like chunky crayons to hold, which is kinda cool, but it does make it hard to apply the concealer in the hard to reach places like the nooks and crannies of your eyes.

Have your tried Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty range? Tell me what you thought in the comments below, or leave a “readers rating” above.

Beauty Reviews, Skincare

Review: Innisfree Eco Ice Cotton Toner

June 5, 2017 Siree 6 Comments

The Verdict

Application
Skin Benefits and Effects
Packaging and Design
Value for Money

3.4

OVERALL SUMMARY

Cool, but not *that* cool

“It delivers an instant cooling effect for tired skin in hot summer to lower the temperature of your skin as well as our earth.”

Summer is well in effect here in Tokyo and to escape the heat, I thought I would road test one of the most interesting beauty products I’ve seen so far: the Innisfree Eco Ice Cotton Toner.

With a tagline that promises not only to cool you down in summer but also being environmentally friendly, I ask, what magic does putting on this toner aid in lowering the temperature of our earth exactly?

Innisfree, priding itself as a natural environmentally-friendly brand hopes the introduction of these products will help reduce the use of air conditioners during the simmering summer months. While I am a bit pessimistic at the bold claim to stay cool on a searing 40 degree, high humidity day without a need for a fan or air-con for sweet relief, I can relate to the satisfying feeling of getting rid of the day’s grime with a cooling toner. Let’s find out how effective this product really is…

Application

hen dispensing the product, I was surprised at what came out!

The product inside was a spongy, silly string like foam that was soaked in a bubbly water-based toner for easy direct use.

After shaking the can well, you spray a small amount into your hand to create a cotton ball shape and massage it into your skin. True to word, it was very cool to the

touch and really moist, I was seriously impressed!

The design of this silly string formula is also very smart as it replaces the need for cotton pads when using. The sponge-like foam can be stretched and pulled without breakage and a good squirt of this foam goes a long way as it holds quite a lot of toner product. As an added plus, it’s a hell lot of fun to play with when molding it with your fingertips!

Skin Benefits and Effects

he Innisfree Eco Ice Cotton Toner is said to hydrate, smooth, and tighten pores while improving the appearance of tired-looking skin caused by excessive heat with its formula’s cooling effect.

Much like the sensation from touching an ice cube, the coolness is mild and does last for a brief minute or so. Unfortunately, don’t expect a long-lasting cooling effect with this stuff! It disappears quite fast after applying.

After some research, I believe the logic behind this “chilling” element is the same as opening your pores using warm water and using cold water to close the pores quickly during cleansing to seal the skin from bacteria. As this product also has pore tightening properties, the cooling effect would work to increase its effectiveness and would be a great product for people with large pores problems.

Packaging and Design

mall and portable the Innisfree Eco Ice Cotton Toner fits nice and snug in your hand and is also the perfect size to put in your bag.

The spray can design is very effective and the nozzle dispensed the

product with no problem at all.

Overall, it was very easy to use and dispensing the product was not messy at all.

VALUE FOR MONEY

t roughly $15 the Innisfree Eco Ice Cotton Toner is a fun and practical product that is well worth the price.

Unfortunately, these cooling effect products are only available during the summertime so don’t expect to see these little guys being available all year

round.

If you happen to be in South Korea during the season or see them online I would definitely recommend trying these out.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE “COOLING” SKINCARE PRODUCTS?

LET US KNOW BELOW!

Beauty Reviews, Skincare

Review: Jurlique Haul

June 14, 2016 Talyssa Leave a comment

Jurlique started with a dream; to connect people back to nature.

Unfortunately my first encounter wasn’t as profound as a sudden realisation to be connected back to nature. I received a sample of Jurlique’s Moisture Plus Moisturising Lotion with a makeup purchase I made. Because I have bad skin in general, usually moisturisers always feel thick and irritating on my skin, so I was surprised at how lightweight and hydrating the moisturiser felt! Impressed, it was only natural that I had to go back for more!

Jurlique is all about creating a pure and natural skin care range by combining the arts of alchemy, herbal medicine and homeopathy. Quite fittingly, in order to achieve such a dream, the creators sought the world for a place that was both pure and natural to grow their iconic ingredients and they found no better than Adelaide Hills in South Australia!

I set the store clerk a task to find me 3 products that would suit my horrible combination skin and here’s how it turned out!

Herbal Recovery Antioxidant Mask

I have combination skin in probably the worst way possible – it’s like from one extreme to another. My skin can range from super oily to extremely dry all at the same time. Jurlique’s herbal recovery antioxidant mask keeps my skin feeling hydrated and the antioxidant beads (which are quite fun to pop against your skin I might add) really helps to target the first signs of ageing.

Benefits:

+ Skin feels hydrated and looks radiant
+ Helps minimise effects of dehydration and dullness
+ Gently exfoliates for smoother and brighter skin

The Verdict:

★★★.5

My skin always feels and looks rejuvenated after using this mask. It also feels bouncy and my pores look smaller. Unfortunately, the effects don’t last for more than a day, so you need to use it approximately 3 times a week for upkeep.

Rose Moisture Plus Moisturising Lotion

Jurlique’s Rose Moisture Plus Moisturising Lotion is extremely lightweight, hydrating and protective. As a result skin is kept soft, soothed and balanced.

The Benefits:

+ Helps protect skin from environmental damage
+ Helps soften, soothe and rebalance dryness
+ Leaves skin hydrated and moisturised

The Verdict

★★★★

A sample of this product alone made me want to buy Jurlique products. This product provides hydration for my skin without irritation. Jurlique’s natural and lightweight feel on my inflamed skin is testament to the natural goodness of the products. It’s soothing, feels incredibly light on my skin and it smells really nice too! Waking up after using this product, my skin has a rejuvenated glow and doesn’t feel so inflamed. A word of caution though, if you have acne prone skin like me, use this product every second day or only at night.

Citrus Purifying Mist

The Citrus Purifying Mist is especially designed for those with oily skin (aka perfect for me!). To be used daily, this mist clarifies and purifies an oily complexion.

The Benefits

+ Energises and purifies skin
+ Leaves oily skin feeling refined and refreshed
+ Possesses antioxidant properties

The verdict

★★★

Out of the three products I bought from Jurlique, I liked this one the least. This product is designed for oily skin and while initially the product does provide relief, leaves your skin feeling fresh and has a great citrus scent, I felt that overall it made my skin more oily.

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