My Thoughts Corner

Recently I have cut down my blush collection to almost half to allow me keep only the real winners. Yet, for the past couple of months, I found myself reaching for the same three blushes. It seems I had a type as I was in love with the simple & natural flush of color…. Let’s take a look!

Chanel Joues Contrast 15 Orchid Rose:

It has been a 2016 favorite of mine, as mentioned here. It is baked blush that’s a perfect everyday option with the right amount of shimmer. The color is a beautiful mix of muted rose and mauve that looks incredibly natural on the skin and has a silky-smooth texture that feels hard at touch.  In terms of pigmentation, the Chanel joues contrast is pigmented yet sheer which makes it is easier to build up the color to obtain the desired shade. I’m in love with this blush!

Essence Satin Touch Blush in 20 Satin Love

Though I heard/read a lot raving about Essence Silky Touch blushes, I was quite hesitant to pick them up; trying to behave towards my nonstop growing blush collection but of course, once I glimpsed the new blushes for Fall 2016, I couldn’t stop myself. And I immediately fall in love with the Satin Touch Blush in Satin Love which is a warm nude rose with a golden sheen reflecting a healthy natural look which I exactly love. The pigmentation is way intense than I thought it would be and the texture is super soft & smooth and it stays in place for the whole day. It’s certainly a winner!!

Essence Matt Touch Blush in 30 Rose Me Up!

Another Essence blush that comes in a gorgeous light matte brown color with pink undertones and is a completely new color in my collection. Though it is supposed to be matte, this blush grants a fresh luminosity to the skin. The pigmentation is pretty amazing since it delivers just the right amount of product and the formula feels also soft & the lasting power is alright.   

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

Several times I mentioned in this blog that I’m not a lipstick person and I tend to stick to the exact same things over and over and the rest of my collection is simply never used. I then decided to start my own “Week in lipsticks” diary to document the shades I’ve been using in a week and it’s also a way of trying different products in my collection.

I’ll be frank, I wasn’t distant from my nudes and pinks but I managed to try and mix my lip products throughout this week. In fact, it’s such a great way to try more products and colors that I normally tend to neglect or forget. The past week was mainly spent at work and trying to get my blogging back into the routine.

Sunday
It is the first day of the week and at work and just like everybody I hate it. I normally go for something that’s very comfortable to wear, surprise surprise. For that reason, I picked the Essence long lasting lipstick in 05 Cool Nude which is a perfect brown pink shade for everyday, which I reviewed here. It is one the super creamy and lightweight lipsticks that I own and enjoy despite the “so not impressive” lasting power.

Monday
Another day at work; having a bit more energy than the day before, I went for the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 05. I was totally sold by this product from the first time I tried it. It’s a smart product that combines makeup and skincare. It’s one of the most comfortable formulas out there. It is intensely hydrating while being a gel formula without stickiness and has a lovely sweet vanilla scent. The finish is glossy with slight pigment making this whole combination complete the most natural look.

Tuesday
For Tuesday, I chose the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in 10 Don’t pink of it!, which I reviewed briefly here. It is a unique and interesting formula that doesn’t dry completely matte and is at the same time lightweight and creamy. The color is a perfect nude pink with an impressive pigmentation as well as the staying power. I probably should get more shades of this range. The color is the perfect nude pink.

Wednesday
I woke up feeling the need of being glowy that day, I wore the Mac Syrup Lustre Lipstick. It is a cloudy pink as MAC likes to describe it. It has certainly been well loved and I’m starting to run out of .. So sad. In fact, it’s a great everyday shade; being a duty pink with a hint of shine and glossiness. It’s another lipstick that’s hydrating and feels like nothing on the lips.

Thursday 
Thursday has been a tame day; getting in the weekend mode. I picked the Mac cremesheen Shangai Spice which is a new purchase that I had my eyes on for quite some time.  MAC describes it as frosted neutral pink shade. I would say, the shade is nude but bordering more peach color then pink. Frostiness, I’m not sure of this part. No doubt it’s a beautiful shade for daily basis that looks very natural with a gorgeous shine. The texture is also soft and very creamy.

Friday
Friday is usually a day at home after a long week at work. Who says home, says NO makeup however I can’t live without a lip balm and especially not in winter time. My one of choice for day wear is the Noviderm Soothing Repair Lipstick which I reviewed here. It’s such an effective lip balm; very hydrating with a light texture.

Saturday
Usually I’m running around on Saturdays in my 2^nd favorite outfit after my PJs; joggings and a hoody. I also like a very minimal makeup on this day, so I picked the Rimmel Nude By Kate in 43, reviewed here. It is such a beautiful shade; a pure nude with peach undertones that has a very soft and smooth texture. It is certainly the perfect lipstick for such relaxed days.

So there you have it, my lipsticks lowdown for the last week! That could be not the most exciting “Week in lipsticks” post as the shades are pretty similar but they’re my favorites.

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 :)

Lipsticks are definitely my least favorite makeup product. I always go for the most comfortable to wear and stick to the same shades, namely pinks and nudes. A while ago, I decided to expand my color range through Essence lipsticks. And at their very affordable price, I couldn’t expect better opportunity to treat myself a lil' something from everything.

The lipsticks are super creamy and hydrating with an impressive pigmentation. They literally feel like nothing and the best of all; they aren’t drying the lips. The longevity though is not as great as I would love; they only last 3-4 hours max before needing to reapply.  

To start off, I picked the sheer and shine lipsticks in shades 03BFF which is a berry rose and 11 All About Cupcake that is a pretty light natural pink, which are perfect for a ‘no makeup’ makeup look being sheer with a hint of shine and color.

For the nudes’ part, I chose the long lasting lipstick in 11Nude Love which I love. It is a pretty light nude with a slight pink undertone.  And my second is the long lastinglipstick nude in 05 Cool Nude which is a brown pink color that’s very appropriate for most days and on most skin tones.

In the bright aisle of this collection, three lovely shades came into my grasps. The first one being the 13 Love Me, a wonderful pink that’s certainly one of those shades that you would pick, swipe on your lips and you’re ready to go. Next is 07 Natural Beauty which is a gorgeous nude pink that falls somewhere in the middle of nude and bright pink and again it’s great for everyday wear. And then I got the 12 Blush My Lips. A vibrant fuchsia that adds a color pop to the face during summer and spring times.

Lastly we reach the red section and I got in here two items. My first is the 04 On The Catwalk! which is not my favorite. It is a berry toned shade that I believe is more suitable for medium-deep complexions. And finally, the 18 Matt Wanted! Though it’s a very new shade to my stash but I’m in love with. It’s a deep red wine color that’s a clear goal for fall season.

I can’t stress enough how lightweight and moisturizing the Essence lipsticks are. Another thing that’s worth mentioning is the color payoff that is insane therefore, FOR NOW, I don’t mind, the low quality in terms of staying power notably that I’m not a lipstick guru.

Thank you for reading …. Until next time!!

Just like every beauty guru, I tend to focused more on the latest releases while some beauty gems, though they are must-haves, seem to slip under the radar and don’t get the coverage and love they truly deserve. Hence, I thought of sharing my first batch of overlooked bits that make a difference in my beauty routine.

Throughout the years, I’ve tried several mascaras but I always kept a permanent spot for the Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara in my makeup stash. It’s been my trusty mascara for so long. Not only it delivers nice clump free length and definition to my lashes but it beautifully separates them from root to tip leaving the lashes looking 100% natural. This fantastic mascara also grants volume in a major way for some eye pop.

The second product that I’ve been enjoying lately and haven’t seen it in the spotlight is the Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base. It has a light creamy texture with a matte finish that doesn’t crease. It is very easy to work with and blends like a dream neutralizing the eyelid discoloration. The Essence eyeshadow primer, certainly enhances my eyeshadows color intensity and lasting power.

My lips are constantly dry and chapped and in my hunt for lipsticks I always stay away from matte formulas. I recently though gave the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks a try in the shades 09 Happy Nude Year and 10 Don`t Pink Of It and I’m glad I did. Despite the matte finish, the Bourjois lipsticks are comfortable matte and non-drying. The formula is lightweight and creamy with an impressive longevity. The color payoff is simply intense. I love them!

Few months back I picked the elf cream blush palette in soft since, you know, I don’t have the self-control to forgo any sort of blush. The palette offers a mixture of colors that alter from nude pinks to corals which makes them perfect for an everyday natural look. The shades are creamy in texture, nicely pigmented and ultra-buildable.

Thank you for stopping by … Until next time!!

I’ve never been lips over eyes/cheeks type of girl and I can easily get stuck in the same groove; reaching for my pink and nude colors, however I like to go a little bolder in summer days. Today I’m sharing the lipsticks I’ve been reaching for the most lately. I included here only the shades I won’t wear the rest of the year and will organize them by colors starting by orange, corals and then fuchsia.

Orange Shades:

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Flirt – One of, if not the best orange shade lipstick I’ve got. The color appears as a bright orange but translates to a pretty pale orange coral with a combined formula of a lipstick with a glossy finish. It’s certainly the perfect summer lipstick you can ever have.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Smoked Peach – This one is a matte orange that’s creamy in formula, lightweight and pigmented, not the best in the latter but it’s still pretty good.

Coral Shades:

Wet’N’Wild MegaLast Lipstick in Just Peachy – Here is another matte lipstick but in a beautiful bright coral shade. The pigmentation of this lipstick line is just incredible and though they might seem drying the lips at first, they actually don’t.

Maybelline Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in In With Coral – A bright neon coral that screams summer! The pencil is very creamy, pigmented with a semi matte finish and unlike the regular lip pencils, the Maybelline intense velvet lip pencils are very comfortable and don’t dry the lips.

Fuchsia Shades:

e.l.f Moisturizing Lipstick in Pink Minx – This is one of the lipsticks that has been laying on my vanity for so long but never tried for no reason until lately and I wish I did any sooner. The shade comes as a bright true pink. It is very moisturizing, highly pigmented and extremely lightweight.

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Fig – This is a bright pink with pastel undertones with a very creamy and great pigmentation.

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Love Me – I love how easy this lipstick applies. It is very creamy and pigmented. The color is a lovely light pink but more on the neutral side; which makes it perfect for everyday wear.   

Wet’N’Wild MegaLast Lipstick in Mauve Outta Here – Another Wet’N’Wild Lipstick that I’m obsessed with. The texture is exactly the same as the Just Peachy but the color is stunning, at least for me. It’s a medium toned mauve/pink that could look scary in the packaging but believe it is wonderful on the lips.

This is it for my summer lipstick picks, stay tuned as I’m planning to have a series of this type of posts featuring the picks of the season for different products.

Until next time.

Hello Beauties,

For the last couple of months I had the chance to try different products from different brands which some I never heard of and after testing them I wish I had known about sooner. Here is a list of 10 makeup brands, I tried and loved, that offer an amazing quality but won’t break the bank with no specific order and you can find them either in stores or online.

1. Makeup Revolution

I believe that Makeup Revolution is the fastest booming makeup company on earth. It doesn’t take too long for this brand to come up with new products. I just can’t seem to follow. Their main products are their eye shadow palettes which are the exact dupes of several high end ones. The color payoff is nevertheless incredible. Honestly I own many of their palettes and I can never seem to have enough. 

2. Wet’N’Wild

Known for their buttery and pigmented Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection, Wet’N’Wild is one of the great drugstore makeup brands in terms of price and quality. The MegaLast Lip Colors are one of my favorite lipsticks. The colors are simply incredible and the lasting power is just amazing. The Coverall foundation and primer are again one of “forever purchased”, and you can find my complete review about them here. And finally I cannot forget the Color Icon blushes, those are literally awesome and you guys definitely have to try them.

3. E.L.F

e.l.f is certainly one of the most known drugstore brands thanks to its inexpensive prices. The quality though of the products is outstanding.. Too good to be true?? Not with e.l.f as that’s exactly what you get. Their makeup brushes are very famous along with a huge list of items.

4. Essence

Known for its extremely cheap prices, Essence cosmetics is a European brand that provides high quality makeup products. My favorite products are: the eye shadow primer, the liquid and longlasting lipsticks and the lip liners.

5. Catrice

It is one of the newest brands I came to try. I own a lot of their concealers/highlighting pens and I’m so in love with their bronzers and blush artist shading palettes. The products are super soft and pigmented with a reasonable variety of colors. It’s definitely a brand to give a space in your collection.

6. Rimmel London

Let me say that I’m a huge lover of Rimmel London. It’s not only affordable but the qualtiy is outstanding just as good as most of high end brands. The Stay Matte pressed powder for instance is one of the most loved powders among the bloggers community. Their foundations, mascaras (reviewed here & here), lipsticks (reviewed here) and concealers (reviewed here) are no less quality.

7. NYX

This is a one goes hand in hand with many high end brands. NYX has a lot to offer not only reasonable pricing but also professional quality. I’ve been using a lot from their matte lip creams, HD concealers, brow powder, mascaras, blushes, contour palette … and I still have a lot more to try. It’s with no doubt one of my favorite drugstore brands. It is absolutely gorgeous!!

8.  Makeup Geek

Makeup Geek shadows are one of the best eye shadows out there. They are very pigmented, buttery with a very large variety of colors. The idea of choosing my own shades and putting them all together in one customized z palette is enjoyable.

9. L.A Girl

Their Pro concealers are one of the best concealers of all time which many celebrities swear by and they are super cheap.

10. Milani

Milani Cosmetics offers the most affordable brand with high quality products. The brand is unfortunately not available in UAE and doesn’t accept international payments.. I’ve read and heard tons of great stuff about their baked blushes and lipsticks. I managed though to get one baked blush in Fantastico Mauve and I’m dying to get my hands on the others. The only one I own is simply great in colour, quality and lasting power. I’m amazed.