My Thoughts Corner

It’s been quite some time I’m planning to have my own domain. My initial plan with My Thoughts Corner was short yet it turned to be 3 years of bloody good blogging (minus the times I went off the “camera”). 

Through these years, I learned more than I could have ever imagined. I can’t stop looking at my very first year of blogging and my recent posts. The quality of pictures, the phrasing of the sentence, the length of the post, I mean I can keep going on and on and on, but what I’m trying to say is. I’m no claiming to be an expert on any of this. I could be a perfectionist but I’m nowhere near perfect. I figured that without loads of trial and error I would have never reach where I am now; Owner of Pretty Little Talks. 

My original plan was to export all my content to the new place but the way things are set up don’t allow me to do that. So, I have to start with a brand-new blog and will definitely keep this one running. 

At last, I hope you guys will follow me at  www.prettylittletalks.com and allow me to ask you to bear with me through this moving course as I’m still working on finalizing the design and related features. 

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.

Here is a post I have been meaning to do since I started this blog but somehow it kept slipping my to-do list. I know I might be the last person to review the Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows but I just had to shine a light on them in my blog. 

It is widely said that they are pretty similar to the big boy brands eyeshadow sticks such as By Terry, Lauria Mercia or Bobbi Brown, but I’m sure as we would all love to own some of those, we can’t afford five times the price when the Kiko ones are marginally cheaper and just as good!>

I have to say that I have overindulged myself with these, and haven’t finished as I’m still missing three or four more shades… Yes, they are that good!!! For a matter of fact, Kiko offers a huge array of colors on those including matte, metallic and metallic shimmery finishes. 

I love the idea of a retractable pen type-like. Just twist, apply, blend and off to the doors. Meaning no sharpening needed, very practical and hassle free. The bottom features the color of each eyeshadow stick hence; no problems as well identifying these in your makeup bag. 

It is crucial to mention that the pigmentation and the texture are up a notch. They’re creamy, glide on smoothly without feeling heavy or even sticky wet on the lid. The colors, for some, could be not very opaque but they are easily buildable. Be warned though that they do dry real quick and it’s best to apply on one eye at a time, as eventually they set to complete no “budgeness”; no flaking, no creasing nor smudging. At ALL for the whole day!! … For a suspiciously cheap price, the least to say is impressive!!!

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows are such an effortless product that’s perfect for every day when you’re on the run and you just want some color over the lid. They are great on their own or as a base, not to mention how much these will save you compared to more popular brands. It’s a no brainer, I’m 100% taken by these little gems. 

I leave you with the swatches.

I constantly try new products to manage my skin needs that are centered around dehydration and ageing. To tackle both I had been using quite of cocktail of several products for either concerns. Lately I came across two skin care gems that made a huge difference to my thirsty dull looking skin. Let’s take a deep look at each one of them.

La Roche Posay Redermic C Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizing Filler | No surprise that I’m obsessed with La Roche Posay.  I have been using many of their products and my skin has only been looking its best. Technically I use this product as a Vitamin C serum, despite its hydrating properties that makes it more of a moisturizer, as mentioned in their website, but not to a degree for someone with dry skin to forgo their regular one. It is a great combination of hydration and anti-aging in the form of a velvety plumping and nourishing serum. It is infused with a powerful mix of skin repairing ingredients; hyaluronic acid with a fairly concentration of 0.1%, pure Vitamin C (5%) and water binding agents to smoothens out superficial fine lines, not the deep ones, and pulls up skin for a firmer complexion which is completely essential for my dehydrated skin. Sooner than I expected, I have observed notorious improvements.  I haven’t noticed any sting with this serum, but my skin is brightened up beautifully and feels fresh and plumper and looks radiant. This stuff packs up some serious anti-aging ingredients for all of us 30+ ladies. The La Roche Posay Redermic C Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizing Filler could be a little expensive but totally worth the splurge. If you are parabens concerned like myself, rest assured there are none in any of La Roche Posay products. 

The Body Shop Drops Of Youth Youth Concentrate | It is one of The Body Shop bestsellers that imparts three plant stem cells;  Edelweiss from the Italian Alps, Criste marine and Sea Holly from the Brittany Coast, to help tackle the first signs of ageing. Let me get this straight from the beginning; it is NOT as some might believe the “fountain of youth” nor some drops. It is in fact just a moisturizing serum using the Fagus Sylvatica or Beech Bud Extract as the more predominant plant based element instead of the aforementioned ingredients as marketed.  Rich in peptides, amino acids, lipids and other great stuff, the Fagus Sylvatica is believed to be a great antioxidant and useful in smoothening fine lines. One more thing worth mentioning; though alcohol appears to have the 3^rdhighest concentration in the ingredient list, my guess is, since I didn’t find the serum particularly drying; it is there to act as a penetration enhancer, nevertheless this could warrant people with sensitive and dry skin. This serum has a lightweight fast absorbing gel texture that’s made from natural origin for 99% ingredients while it’s silicon and paraben free and has a lovely floral citrus scent that doesn’t linger too long. Despite the high price tag for an average drugstore brand, the real outcome for me with The Body Shop Youth Concentrate is how my skin feels not so much how it looks; it is “instantly smoother and replenished with moisture letting it unveil a healthy luminosity and youthful bounce”. 

As we grow signs of aging skin could be difficult to manage. There are endless anti-aging creams, serums and all sort of products available nowadays that promise a younger looking skin. In reality, what really matters is to know what our skin really needs and target the root causes of aging to help us look our best while embracing our imperfections and skin changes as we age.

Thank you for stopping by. 

I’m an organizing freak and I loooove a good declutter … Every now and then I go around the house downsizing all categories and my makeup drawers ain’t any exception.  Though, in this process, there are some bits I find myself torn if I should keep or not; afraid that one day I might need them but in reality, if there is no added value then there is no point keeping it… To give an end to my misery, I usually give my maybe pile a last try and settle on which ones are worth holding on to and those to be tossed/given away. 

E.L.F Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum | I have listed this one back in 2016 in my “Disappointing Products”, yet I kept it to give it a proper go as a “tinted primer” and I haven’t. I certainly couldn’t wear it on its own as I love a good coverage, but this time, I went on with my concealer on top of my flaws and to my surprise this little bottle wowed me; it’s insanely lightweight and it makes my skin look so radiant and even. With an SPF 25, this foundation would make a great choice for summer days and the no makeup looks. For the time being, this bottle is going nowhere and will definitely retain it. 

Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette | Regular readers would know by now that I’m a huge fan of Makeup Revolution as it stands and when I spotted this palette I had to have it. It is certainly a different palette than the MR’s typical ones in terms of design, shadow size pan and versatility. Though I do like the great finish/color diversity, the pigmentation of some shades didn’t do a whole lot for me making them quite hard to work with. I have been trying this one on and off but, despite all the hype it was around it, I couldn’t make myself love it as much as the Iconic Pro 1, Pro 2 or the recently reviewed Neutrals Vs New-trals palette. Therefore, I’m passing this along to someone who could make a better use out of it.

Catrice High Glow Mineral Highlighting Powder | It is the only baked highlighter I own. I was very excited to have it but not so much after I tried it. It is a silvery champagne shade that’s supposed to provide a glamorous glow, but that was too obvious on my skin tone. The texture as well is quiet dry for my liking and has a lot of kick off leaving a chaos of stubborn glitter on my face. Unfortunately, this is a pass. 

Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette | I first got this palette for the packaging. I loved the color theme of the eyeshadows but never thought that’s what I would go for one day. And I did. And I loved it! To make the whole story short it’s a “glam meets pretty”. However, two things not to forget with this palette; wet your brush for an intense metallic/foiled effect and DO YOUR EYES FIRST. The shadows easily last for a good 8-9 hours. This is another one that’s for now going nowhere. It is a KEEP. 

Maybelline Colossal Go Extreme! Leather Black Volume Mascara | It is usually difficult for me to fall in love with a mascara and once I do I stick to it. Maybelline makes some of my favorite ones and when I got my hand on the Colossal Go Extreme I assumed it’s at the same level of quality. But No. I normally look for volume and length, as I’m blessed with none, and this one claims to offer extra volume and that’s not at all what I got… I’m also not a big of the wand shape as I like it to get to the tiniest of my lashes which is not the case here. I couldn’t see any added value. Currently, I have few other mascaras that I love way more than this one. 

At last, I’m keeping 2 products out of 5. It surely makes me feel good despite that’s not a huge number looking at my entire makeup collection. This is it for today. Stay tuned as there is more to come!

I can’t deny my love for nature and facial masks. When both combined in one jar I’m totally SOLD. For ages, women were using kitchen ingredients to take care of their skin and no surprise that most current skin care products are or claim to be based on such elements too. When I spotted the Body Shop superfood masks, I was intrigued to have my hands on them but I decided to only pick the Chinese Ginseng & Rice Clarifying Polishing Mask for now.

First of all, can we appreciate the upscale packaging?? A glass jar, very minimalistic yet fancy… Very thoughtful!

This mask is allegedly made not only to remove dullness and unevenness but also to illuminate and revitalize the skin. It is inspired by the Chinese beauty rituals where rice and ginseng are very popular for their beauty properties, however their place in the ingredient list is lower than what you think. Instead, the clarifying abilities are largely thanks to the Kaolin, which helps soak up all impurities from the pores along with a gentle exfoliation in the form of Luffa Cylindrica Fruit. Conjointly, the sesame seed oil and rice extract help soften for a smooth complexion while the clay works its wonders.

Despite its price, this mask is a great choice when my pores and skin texture are in need of a little extra maintenance. It has a rich consistency that’s somewhat milky yet thick with fine exfoliating particles while being completely paraben, silicon and mineral oil free.

I can admit that it lives up to its claims, though the ingredients aren’t as I wished them to be; my combo skin feels silky soft, hydrated, even and bright while my oily T-zone is clear. In fact, the Body Shop Chinese Ginseng & Rice Mask always feels like a spa treatment afterwards with its typical fresh Asian scent that has a touch of orients.  It’s certainly a wonderful refreshing experience that helps slough away my dull skin. I can only be keen to try more from this range.

I never had the guts to try warm eyeshadows, simply because, and do not ask me where I got that idea from??, such hues aren’t for a brown eyed chick… I’m in fact a neutral shade sucker. Nevertheless, and only by an act of curiosity, I got my hands over the Makeup Revolution New-Trals Vs Neutrals palette. I own it for about a year but I started playing with the warms just two months back... And now, I’m wondering why the heck I waited this long.

The purpose of this palette’s naming is to enlighten folks, such as myself, about the “new” neutral shades (maroons, burnt oranges and peaches) vs the traditional ones. And as with most of MUR palettes, the formula of the New-Trals vs Neutrals is incredibly creamy and buttery and the pigment is absolutely there. However, wetting the brush before application of the metallic shades would be a huge game changer and help them pop even more on the lid.

Once more, Makeup Revolution got me impressed by how beautifully these shades apply and moreover they wonderfully last with or without a primer for a good 6-7 hours. The quality is no doubt up a notch.

And just like the Iconic Pro 1 and Pro 2 palettes, this one also comes in a black matte finish sturdy plastic case with a large mirror and a usable double ended brush, for me at least. I would hope though that Makeup Revolution would start printing the shade names on the actual palettes as keeping the transparent sheet could be a bit of a challenge.

I really appreciate how well balanced this palette is; the color selection is of warms, cool tones and classic neutrals with a variety of finishes; mattes, shimmers and few pops of glitters. It’s certainly a great complete palette that has a solid collection of on-trend shades.

I leave you with the swatch and will talk to you soon …Stay tuned!