My Thoughts Corner

Occasionally I come close some of the products that miss the mark. Although I tend to make considered purchased, there are some bits and bobs that don’t live up the hype or let me be more specific, they don’t live up to MY expectations. Once again, in these kind of posts, I emphasize that the products didn’t work for me only but they aren’t necessarily bad and might be HG for others. 

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer | This is a product that has been well hyped and everyone seem to go nuts for it except few and I’m one of those. I first had to purchase it online as it wasn’t available in UAE or if it was, the price was 3 or 4 times more. Not only it took forever to reach but also it was shredded. I let you guess my frustration… I took a deep breath though and was hoping that the bronzer will blow my mind and make me overcome my first letdown but since it’s mentioned in this post, it didn’t. It is a smooth powder that’s bordering a cream, gives a warm glow, the smell takes you to a tropical island and all that jazz. BUT it did translate into nothing on my light skin tone, seriously nothing! The packaging, despite the lovely print, is too bulky. The Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer is a good product but only for a niche skin tone, being the pale gals. 

Max Factor Creme Puff Pressed Powder | Max Factor, founded by the man who invented the word “make up”, is a brand I haven’t tried much from. Recently, I have read a touching history about their pressed powder; Creme Puff. It’s a product that has been passed down generations. It’s even mentioned somewhere that it was the only pressed powder back then, unfortunately I’ve got nothing on hand to affirm the said, yet I honestly can’t seem to get how such product survived all these years. The powder is an old-fashioned formula that has a quite rough texture at touch, which perfectly explains the heaviness on the skin once on. It literally felt like an air blocking layer on top and looked chalky and cakey on my skin. The strong baby powder scent it has, was another disappointment adding to it the very dark shade range for a pressed powder. Sadly, the Max Factor Crème Puff Pressed Powder doesn’t meet my makeup concerns at no level.  

Catrice AllRound Contouring Palette | As a contour lover, I have been on the lookout for the best cream contour product for quite some time. Still I have to admit that I enjoy the Maybelline Master Contour V Shape Duo Stick, talked about here, however the more I got to the bottom the harder it gets to apply. Having spotted the Catrice Contouring Palette and for just few bucks, I could only help myself get it and I regret it. The packaging is great; very sleek and travel friendly. Nevertheless, the creams are not soft as a cream product is supposed to be and are truly hard to work with. The pigmentation is again very opaque letting the shades blend into nothing. With this I guess my quest for the perfect cream contour is still on. 

I Heart Chocolate Bronze And Glow | Unusually, this is no dupe. As we all know, the I Heart Makeup rocked the packaging of the chocolate palette range. For a matter of fact, I picked this one for its packaging. The powders are soft creamy yet a lot of fallout is noteworthy. Not to mention that the bronzer is not even visible on my light complexion even when I tried to build it up. Regrettably, the Bonze And Glow palette comes in one shade and would only thrill the pale skin folks. 

Kiko Eyebrow Fibers Coloured Mascara | I picked this product in the hope to find and affordable dupe to my beloved Benefit Gimme Brow but I didn’t. It is quite pigmented I’ve got to admit and has a liquid-y formula which ain’t practical as well as the huge wand as I always end up having some product on my forehead that I have to clean while I prefer a small wand to target the small hair without making a mess. Another drawback is the longevity; the Kiko Eyebrow Fibers held my brows in place but as long as the benefit one does. 

Catrice Re-Touch Light-Reflecting Concealer | My experience with this one was terrible. Simply it’s none of what it claims. It’s way too thick for an under eye, too drying and heavy. In fact, it accentuated my fine lines like no other concealer. The twist was also a nightmare; I kept turning for too long and once the product popped it was way too much. 

This is it for this day.

The contouring is far from over. I have never though been into the super done contouring, well except in the first beginning. But, since I heard about this craze, I always made the link to cream products especially for a defined look. Today’s review is about a cream product; the Maybelline Master Contour V Shape Duo Stick, that’s made to make the contouring fool proof.

Maybelline is known to offer a quality to blow you mind away, and this new product is no different. The Master ContourV Shape Duo Stick is a 2-in-1 product; contour & highlighter, that’s available in only two shades, and I’ve got the medium one. It is presented in a retractable chubby stick which makes it super handy for travelling or just throw in your bag.

The formula is extremely creamy and applies effortlessly. For a fact, it’s as simple as “swipe, switch, swipe, blend and you’re ready to go!”. The shades are intensely pigmented with a matte finish. Once all blended seamlessly, you are left with a very natural but sculpted look and the best of all; it lasts all day. I would though recommend setting it with a powder because of consistency.

Overall I think that the MaybellineMaster Contour V Shape Duo Stick is such a handy stick that’s literally the easiest product for contouring. I was certainly able to get the naturally lifted and sculpted cheeks with this little one instead of the stripes that are better suited for Social Media photos. However, it can be difficult to use each side separately once the product starts to grind down.

Hope you enjoyed this review as much as I enjoy using my contour stick every single day!!

Thank you for reading.

Welcome back to my blog! Wishing all a lovely new year 2017 full of love, health and joy!!

I’m starting this year with a review of the Makeup Revolution Light & Shade Palette which is an obvious dupe of the Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette.

I never imagined myself getting my hands on a complete matte eyeshadow palette, for the reason that I love a versatile one. However, after reading and watching many bloggers raving about the Kat Von D palette, I didn’t mind spending a small amount on the dupe to get an initial thought.  

The Shade + Light is a fully matte palette where the shadows are divided into quads of neutral, cool and warm shades which makes combining them easy for a main purpose of contouring the eyes for more definition. A double ended brush is also included in this palette.

The new talc free formula seems to do its magic here. The shades are soft and apply smoothly and easily with a minimal fallout but nothing that can’t be handled. The blendability and pigmentation are also impressive. I have to admit that I was quite skeptical about this palette when I first got it. And it’s fully matte, I thought there won’t be a lot of choices in term of looks whereas I’m amazed at the variety of looks you can create using the Light & Shade palette.

| Neutral Shades Swatches |

| Cool Shades Swatches |

| Warm Shades Swatches |

The packaging though is a total fail. I wasn’t expecting a cheap quality especially for such a gorgeous palette. I think an Iconic Pro kinda packaging would have been a better suit.

Unlike what I expected I love this palette. Makeup Revolution once more is offering an amazing product. It’s perfect for everyday use offering a wide range of matte shadows to be used in every single look. It’s with no doubt a must have for every beauty guru.

Thank you for reading.

This is my second and final round of my Paris haul which include four more items. I have to say that I’m proud of myself for making smart buys during this trip. Let’s just hope that the performance of these products will be as high as my hopes…!!!

The first purchase is a CC cream that’s the first in my collection and I was for so long, keen to try one of these with no brand limitation. I got my hands on the L’Oréal Nude Magic CC Cream in Effet Bonne Mine for dull and tired skin. It has an SPF 20 and supposed to provide hydration for 24 hours.

I’ve got another cream contouring product that I’ve heard only good things about. It is the Maybelline Master Contour V-Shape Duo Stick Contour & Highlight in 02 Medium .. Damn it, that’s a long name. I first opened the tube, whilst typing this post and tried it on the back of my hand and so far, I’m liking it. I’m also in love with the packaging; it is very compact and easy to throw in your bag.

La Roche-Posay is by far my favorite French skin care brand. Everything I tried from them made a difference to my skin. That’s why I got the Effaclar Duo (+) Unifiant (€14.90) in Light to immediately lessen imperfections and marks for a more even skin tone and texture.

Lastly, I decided to gift myself the Limited Edition Nars Orgasm Blush (€39.90) which was in my wishlist for so long but I simply could never justify the price. I don’t think I need to add to all the hype this particular product is having, however I have to say that the color is so beautifully exquisite that I’m not surprised that everyone raves about it.

I hope you enjoyed, thank you for stopping by and keep your eyes up on some upcoming reviews!!

I’m finally back after not showing up for a whole month. September was a busy one but mainly exciting especially that I’ve been in Paris and enjoyed the wonderful city, weather, family and friends and that the comeback very hard but…. C’est la vie!

Whilst in Paris, I obviously did some shopping however I didn’t go crazy as I focused on things I can’t get (or get easily) here in Dubai despite the fact that I was quite restrained as the price of the French pharmacy are extremely cheap across abroad.

I’ve decided to divide this post into two parts to give me more time to chat about all products. I’ve got to say that I haven’t tried any of these except for 2 or 3 items, however I’ll take you through each product and specify what made it interesting to me.

The first beauty shop that was on my way was KIKO which is known for their good quality products at an affordable price. I start off with the In The Shade Eyeshadow And Kajal (€5) in 01 and 05 and are from the limited edition collection for 2016. These are double ended pencils with an intense color payoff and extreme hold. I always loved the idea of eye shadow pencils especially when travelling or when I am short on time in the mornings. The colors are beautiful and perfect for everyday wear with a soft and creamy texture.

Next up is another limited edition product; the Strobe & Sculpt Cream Contour Palette (€14.90) in 02 medium to dark. I’m not into cream contouring as much as powder which made my collection in that category narrow and that’s what made me go for this one. This is one of those I haven’t tried yet however when swatched; the colors are subtle and the texture is creamy.

My last purchase from Kiko is their pencil lip gloss (€3.90) in 10, which is a nude dark rose shade; nothing surprising here. It is very comfortable and easy to apply. In fact, I wish I picked other shades but unfortunately there weren’t many left in the store I was in.

The last product for this first round of the haul is the Maybelline Instant Anti-Age L’Effaceur Fond De Teint which I believe is the Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup. I couldn’t resist picking up this foundation, hoping that it will be as good as the age rewind concealer which happens to be one of my holy grail concealers. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

So that sums up my first round of Paris Beauty Haul. I’ll be posting my second part in tomorrow’s post so stay tuned for that.

Cheeks? That’s what floats my boat… I’m all about blushes and bronzers and I can never have enough. A while back I got my hands on the Catrice Blush Artist Palette in shade CorAll I Need and being me I couldn’t resist having the other two, namely BronzEclat & Rock’n’Rose … To know what I think? Keep on reading!!

The Blush Artist Palettes were launched for spring/summer 2016 having a versatile range of colours ranging in a harmonious way from warm, coral to natural shades to accentuate the natural traits. Each palette holds three shades; a matte blush, a shimmer one and a highlighter that could be utilized either solo or combined.

The palettes are housed in a typical Catrice packaging; basic clear plastic case. And to be honest, it is a very practical, as first it is travel friendly and second, it allows you to identify the product without having to open it to check the shades.

The blushes apply beautifully and blend easily while the pigmentation is not extreme but just the right amount to prevent falling into the clown cheeks! The highlighter in this is nothing but subtle.

“010 BronzEclat” symbolizes the warm tones in this collection which could be my least used palette mainly because of the red brown shade, as I’ve got nothing like it in my stash, but I don’t want to judge it too soon as I figured that the combination of the two blushes could result into something lovely. The second pan is a glow-y peach color with gold shimmers and the highlighter is a pink champagne shade that’s very flattering to the cheekbones.

If you know me well, you’ll guess that the “020 CorAll I Need” palette is my favorite. I mainly love the matte pink shade with coral undertones; it adds a lovely hint of colour that appeals to freshness. The other blush is a bright pink with golden glitter while the highlighter is a shy peach that’s ideal for a natural enlightening.    

My second favorite palette is the “030 Rock’n’Rose” though I think it is best suited for lighter skin tones as it’s the most rose cool toned palette. The first shade represents a pretty pink coral with fine shimmers that’s not even noticeable. The second one is a more vibrant pink with a matte finish and lastly the highlighter, is a pink shimmer that gives a great look once applied.

The Catrice Blush Artist Shading Palettes are perfect for a healthy natural look and the lasting power is quite reasonable. I had them during a short trip and it was a joy to play with. The Catrice Blush Artist Shading Palettes are truly another drugstore hidden gem. I’m a fan!

My first post about the products that didn’t live up to their expectations was quite a hit, which I didn’t expect to be honest with you, and today I’m coming with a new list of beauty items that in a way or another let me down. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with these products/brand but they simply failed to deliver the way I would like them to do.

To start I will be talking about the e.l.f foundation serum. When I first tried it I was almost sure that they got me the wrong product. The foundation itself is too liquid-y that made me read again the packaging just to make sure that this is a foundation because it’s first one that too runny that I personally try. I’m not blessed with a perfect clear skin and that makes me always ran after something to cover my imperfections while this one was not in that frame, it’s very light that it feels like nothing, which is not bad but not for me… And now that I’m typing this post, I’m thinking that maybe I should give it a last try as a foundation base or in better words as a tinted primer. .. I should try and let you know.

I am a fan of contouring, I love how it shapes and embellishes the face features but using the L’Oreal Infallible Sculpt Contouring Palette was a total fail. I’m not gonna go in much details for this one but if you want to know any further you can stop by my full review here.

There is nothing I hate in mascaras more than a heavy clumpy one and the Bourjois Push Up Volume Glamour in Fabulous Brown was just this. The wand is pretty big and picks up hell of product that I can’t even see the wand’s bristles and it sits on the lashes. I’ve tried many times and of course I did remove the excess of product but it’s simply not working for me. I’m afraid.

Another mascara that I don’t rate high, is the e.l.f Beautifully Bare Defining Mascara in Buff Black, which I think is discontinued as I can’t find it anymore in their website. The packaging is awesome and being a fan of e.l.f products I assumed I will enjoy this one but unfortunately I didn’t. I like products that are pretty much practical while the e.l.f mascara is a mono task item; it separates the lashes pretty well but don’t expect anything more than that. The formula is a wet one which is annoying as not only there is no volume or length but I could feel my lashes sticking together throughout the day and no no no … It’s a big Hit here.  

Next on my list is the Catrice Multi Matt Blush in 010 Love, Rosie. It is for a fact, the first Catrice product to disappoint me due to its too powdery texture which makes it very hard to blend and looks chalky despite its lovely color combo.

Finally the Corine de Farme Purity Micellar Water that I’m not a fan of. For having 97% natural ingredients I was expecting lots. To start, it didn’t remove my makeup in an efficient way and when reaching for the eyes area it stings badly and worst of all, after finishing my face was all sticky and didn’t feel at all like water. It was too heavy and the smell is overpowering for a sensitive skin dedicated product.

This was my experience and opinions of these products and once more what doesn’t impress me might be your holy grail. Thanks a lot for dropping by!

Hello Everyone,

Since contouring has become a part of our daily makeup routine, you find nowadays as many products to make your head spin, however we aren’t really spoiled in choice when shopping for cream contour palettes from the drugstore. Luckily for us, more and more affordable brands are into launching their own kits to get those Kim K cheekbones! For those who are following me on Instagram, must have already taken note that not long ago I picked the L’Oreal Infallible Sculpt Contouring Designer Kit which includes the Contouring Palette in Medium/Dark, The Trio Contouring Blush in Nude Beige and a double sided brush.

First off the packaging is typical to the drugstore; nothing fancy about it. The contour shade is more in the warmer side which works really well for enhancing the face’s features. However you have to aapply more than just one layer as it simply disappears with the blending. The formula, though it’s creamy and blends really well but it turns a bit dry and caky on the skin as it has a powder-y finish. I think the key with this contour is a “wet” hydrating base which will make things look just fine. One more downside is the “highlighting” shade which I think is simply useless; it is absolutely not a highlighter, nor a concealer it’s simply a matte silicone balm sitting there.

Next is the trio contouring blush and that’s once again is another failure as it’s very pigmented yet difficult to work with unless you own the tiniest blush brush. Instead a brush swirl around the 3 shades gives you a lovely orange-y blush.

My wining point of the whole kit is the double-ended brush though I used only the flat side and I’m really impressed with how it performs.

To be honest I prefer to continue using my darker shades of concealers than spending money on this kit. At the end, contouring is about shaping the face which the Infallible Sculpt Contouring Designer Kit failed to do. It’s really sad because I was having high hopes on L’Oreal but this is how it is.

Thank you for stopping by!!

NYX Highlighting & Contouring Pro Palette | Highlighters swatches