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.

Laura Mercier is a brand that has been raved about over and over, specifically their cult classic powders that I had under my radar for quite some time.

I eventually picked the Secret Brightening Powder, and just like most of powders I tried, it turned my under-eye cakey when I first used it, which was quite frustrating in light of all the praise that shadowed this tiny pot.  I then presumed that it’s another over hyped product, still, I didn’t let go that quick. Three weeks back, I decided to give it another go, not sure why but I did and I’m glad I did, using a damp sponge this time instead of a powder brush and that was the winner card that got me completely hooked on this game.

I usually tend to stay away from loose powders because of their messiness. However, this cute little pot contains the finest & most efficient powder that could ever exist for a flawless, luminous & brightening effect. Truly as described, the Laura Mercia Secret Brightening Powder is lighter than air that doesn’t crease or settle into the fine lines. Instead, it boosts the concealer effect & reflects the micronized pigments for an instant eye lift.

Yes, a loose powder wasn’t a part of my routine, and despite the high price tag, I’m being totally smitten with the lightweight, formula and effect of the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder that now, has a permanent spot in my stash.

Till next time…!!!

…. Then it should be the Makeup Revolution Beyond Radiance Palette.

Technically it’s a highlighter palette but I use it to set my makeup for that gorgeous glow “from within”. And I admit it’s doing an excellent job. The packaging is a standard makeup revolution shiny black casing and contains three generously sized highlighters/setting powders with a large mirror.

To be frank I was never a setting powder lover. Yet with the Beyond Radiance Palette, the skeptical idea of the powder accentuating my fine lines and pores was no longer there. These powders rather blur the minor imperfection creating an illuminating complexion.

The formula is absolutely stunning; the powders are finely milled, buttery with an almost unnoticeable glitter particles that work beautifully on the skin. And that only made me reach for this gem every single day since I got it.

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know for sure by now my love for Makeup Revolution. And with the Beyond Radiance Palette, they simply took their game up!

Lightweight is a main norm for me to pick a foundation and that goes hand in hand along with the medium to full coverage that it offers. In 2016 I’ve been enjoying few of them so let’s get started.

My latest purchase is the Urban Decay Naked SkinWeightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup that I love since I got it. It’s such a nice foundation that feels like nothing, just like the name states, and gives a great coverage without being heavy or cakey. It also enables the skin to seem more radiant thanks to its light reflecting pigments and blurs all imperfections.

The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Eraser TreatmentMakeup is another foundation of choice of mine. It makes my skin look radiant and healthy and provides a medium coverage with a lovely satin finish.

The next foundation I will talk about is my first on its category and I’m so addicted to it; the Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in shades NC20 and NC35. This product is one of those smart ones as it reacts as a foundation and setting powder. The coverage offered is medium to full and feels like skin with a great staying power. For a fact, it’s my top foundation of the moment along with the Urban Decay.

Time for setting all that foundation and for that purpose I’ve been liking few. I will start with the banana powder in elfcontour palette which I use to set my concealer and brighten my under eye.  The powder itself is very soft, pigmented and blends easily.

Loose powders are not my thing just because it tends to be messy however I still own some and The NYX Mineral Matte Finishing Powder is my favorite. I was attracted by how soft and finely milled the powder is. It gives such a natural silky finish and I also appreciate how comfortable it feels once on.

My latest acquisition is the Urban Decay De-SlickMattifying Powder. Let’s first take a moment to appreciate the stunning packaging of this beauty. It’s a great pressed powder that adds radiance and glow to the skin without providing a natural and flawless finish.  

This is my current trust-y bunch of base products but I certainly have a longer wish list that I want to try.

Thank you for reading!!!