My Thoughts Corner

It’s been quite a while since my last “Disappointing Products’ blog post. And since lot of you (including myself) seem to enjoy this kind of posts, here I come with a new list of products that let ME down. This isn’t to slander the brand in any of the ways, I simply I didn’t get along with these products, which could be a star product for you.

Let me start with the Clinique EvenBetter Dark Spot Corrector for which I really had high hopes. To be frank, I have had experiences with Clinique products and I was nothing but impressed. This, clinically proven serum, is comparable to a leading prescription in fading the dark spot and acne scars. It is made of a more stable form of Vitamin C for brightening effects along with mulberry extract and other exfoliating agents for better product penetration. I have used up 2 or 3 bottles of it already and let me tell you this is so bloody expensive! Nevertheless, I haven’t seen any improvement in my pigmentation or in my acne scars. I’ve got to say that it’s just an average skin lightening product despite its great ingredients.

I don’t use a lot of Max Factor products, though one of my favorite primer is the Face Finity All Day Primer, reviewed here, and that was one good reason to make me curious and try the MaxFactor all-day flawless 3-in-1 foundation. It’s has a matte finish, which I’m all right with, but it tends every single time to make my skin look extremely parched and the foundation clogs each one of my pores and sits in my dry areas. Another con on this foundation is the formula that’s very difficult to spread which made this product a total no go for me.

I love Essence brand and I love how affordable their products are however I hate the feeling of sticky glossy lipstick on my lips and that’s exactly what you get with the Essence LiquidLipsticks. The formula is certainly not of a liquid lipstick but more of a tick gloss that’s quite difficult to apply which results to a patchy finish.

Another lip products that I will include in this post is the Sleek Power Plump Lip Pencils. In fairness to these products, the color and pigmentation are stunning, the application is also just like a dream. However, these pencils are designed with a light tingle to plump up the lips which was quite interesting when I first read it but once the tingling started, the intensity unbearable. It was supposed to end after a minute or so but it was present for almost an hour which was very uncomfortable for me to the level I felt my lips literally burning.

This is it for today. Stay tuned and until next time :)

Hi Everyone,

Today I will take you through my summer morning skin care routine and if you are new to my blog, I have normal to dry skin and I live in very hot and humid Dubai. In my choice of products here I mainly focused on hydrating and protecting my skin as it gets unbelievably dehydrated and tend to look dull due to high temperatures and continuous running AC everywhere. Saying that, lightweight products are definitely my picks.

It is a very simple and minimal regimen featuring some nice products I have been lovin’ lately. I first start by splashing cold water on my face and brushing my teeth of course and I will then grab my Garnier Smoothing Cream Cleanser. This is a gentle and creamy cleanser that helps restore the softness of the skin without drying it out. It contains Jojoba and Macadamia Oils and I really enjoy it however I won’t be repurchasing it as it has paraben.  Right after, and it’s probably my favorite part, which is toning. For that, I spritz my DIY toner or facial mist, whatever you wanna call it, which consists of ½ cup Organic Witch Hazel, ½ cup rose water and lavender essential oil (you can add any essential oil of your choice). I’ve got to say that I’m so in love with this toner, it’s so refreshing and the smell is just stunning; it’s exactly what you need to start your day.

Next, is a step I’ve been re-applying lately and I’m really lovin’ it. It is the serum and I’m using the organic Argan Oil for that. I don’t think I need to talk any further about how amazing this oil is; it helps keep my skin incredibly hydrated and supple throughout the whole day. The last step is moisturizing and I start by applying the Clinique Superdefense SPF 20 age defense eye cream, which is my favorite because it’s so lightweight and has SPF 20 which is really rare finding in eye creams and coming to my face and neck I applied for the past couple of months the Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Cream, which I reviewed here but for the past week or ten day I’ve been enjoying the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light. I’m really liking this one because it’s so lightweight with a typical scent of the french skin care products, as I believe is based on water and sinks immediately into the skin providing the necessary hydration you need for the day. Another reason why I love this moisturizer is because it reminds me a lot of my adorable auntie Latifa in Paris as she used to have exactly the same scent and I just wonder if she wasn’t using the same cream???  

Last but certainly not least, and this step comes just before applying my makeup, I apply a sunscreen, even if I’m not leaving the house and my go-to one is the La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Cream. I’ve got to say that it’s NOT a lightweight one. It gets a tiny bit sticky on the face and has a thin white layer, just like most of sunscreens but for a maximum protection of SPF50+ I don’t really mind that. Not to forget my lips, I’ve been using the Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm which kinda works for me only in hot months and I can’t stand it in winter. Weird No????

This is it for my morning summer skin care routine. Hope this post was helpful and stay tuned for the evening one. Have a great day!