URIAGE WATERPROOF EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER {REVIEW}

 Uriage 

is a French brand that I have only tried a couple of products from

and I see that its recently been added to Woolworths product line-up.

Here is a reminder as to what Uriage is all about.

"In the heart of the French Alps, Uriage Thermal water has flowed

 for 75 years. 
As the seasons pass by, it gets enriched with minerals and trace elements. 
In the center of the Uriage-les-Bains village, the water spouts to

 create a regenerating thermal spring. 

Unique properties are born from this journey. 
Uniquely rich, it reinforces your skin barrier. 

100% physiological, Uriage Thermal Water is active and natural. 
Uriage laboratory encapsulates its benefits in all products.
Uriage skincare products are pure, protective and powerful"

Some weeks ago I was needing an eye make-up remover and I 

opted for their Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover, not that I wear

very much waterproof eye make-up, but it's a bi-phase formula,

which I generally enjoy.

This product can also be used to remove lipstick and cleanse the lips.

The formula of Waterproof Eye Make-up Remover has been specially 

designed for women with sensitive eyes (not that I have)

It can remove even the most intense make-up (which I don't wear)

 very quickly and its the "very quickly" part that drew me in.

This product is also :

 Hypoallergenic,Fragrance-free and Ophthalmologically tested.

As with any bi-phase product it's vital to shake well before each use

 to mix the 2 phases together.

The make-up removing effectiveness is due to its dual-phase formula: 

the oil phase dissolves waterproof make-up while the aqueous phase

 keeps the product from feeling greasy, unfortunately this is where I had 

an issue with this product. 

Whilst it does remove eye make-up and mascara

quickly and super easily it does leave behind a film of grease, which I

personally didn't enjoy, however this

was quickly remedied with a wipe over of a micellar water pad,

a step by the way that's never needed with any of my other bi-phase

eye make-up removers. If you would like to read my previous

Eye Make-up Remover Reviews click here

It does seems counter productive considering that this remover contains

 Cornflower floral water and Uriage Thermal Water, the "water" part,

which both soothes and ensures a feeling of comfort actually

leaves a feeling of greasiness behind. 

(I did try adjusting the amount applied and shaking the bottle more vigorously,

 but that slippy film was always left behind on the skin)

That being said, if you don't mind the extra step, this is excellent

remover and I'm sure it would make easy work of all types of waterproof

eye make-up, especially mascaras and stubborn lipsticks...

URIAGE 

WATERPROOF 

EYE MAKE-UP REMOVER

100mls

R

220

£

10.99

$

14

Uriage is easily available in South Africa, both in-store and online

at Woolworths, Clicks and Dischem

Woolworths currently have an 

up to 30% off 

promotion

MONTBLANC LEGEND RED EDP {REVIEW}

I had to enrol the help of my "hubby" with this review and whilst

he doesn't mind, he does have his few "die hard" fragrances,

so it has to be something special to make it into his fragrance wardrobe.

This Just Launched offering forms part of the LEGEND Collection

MONTBLANC LEGEND RED EDP

WHAT THEY SAY:

Red symbolizes so many diverging emotions and traits.

 It’s this ambiguity that makes the colour so fascinating, and the inspiration 

for a fragrance expertly crafted by perfumers Anne Flipo and Nicolas Beaulieu

 that captures all its complexity and masculine intensity. 

The red sensation starts with the juicy freshness of Blood Orange and zesty Grapefruit blended with the spicy contrast of Cardamom.  

The encounter between Clary Sage, Cedarwood and Juniper Berry dresses the citrussy freshness with aromatic facets, while the magnetic combination of Mahogany, Atlas Cedarwood and a touch of Tonka Bean add a creamy sensuality 

to Legend Red. 

A charismatic woody fragrance, fresh yet intense, bold yet sensitive, 

the olfactory experience evokes the thrill of speed and makes the heart beat

 a little faster. 

For the creation of the fragrance the Cedarwood, Clary Sage and Tonka Beans

 are ingredients sourced from LMR, a company that works with local producers around the world to source pure, natural and sustainable ingredients with a 

strict ethos of complete transparency, and supporting 

environmental management, sustainable development and local communities. 

In addition, the fragrance itself does not contain ingredients of animal origin 

and is formulated with naturally derived alcohol.

WHAT WE SAY:

As with most red packaged products it certainly grabs your attention

 from the onset and whilst this mens fragrance is classified as 

"Spicy" 

that's way too general for this fragrance, 

its a Citrus/Woody/Aromatic/Spicy fragrance

and whilst it has many typical masculine ingredients, they have been

 combined in such a way that it would appeal to all.

I actually didn't mind this scent on my skin, as I enjoyed the Citrus top notes,

as did my Hubby, but he wasn't overly impressed with the dry down

of the scent and I had to agreed with him.

He felt it faded too quickly on his skin and it certainly did come near to

any of his favourites in terms of the WoW factor.

Fragrance is always a personal choice and in this case I enjoyed it more

than my hubby....

MONT BLANC

LEGEND RED

EDP

100ml

R

1,599

$

100

£

102

STRIVECTIN TRI PHASE DAILY GLOW TONER #TBT REVIEW

I wrote my original review back in April 2020 and after purchasing

another it was sadly stolen from my hotel room on a trip in November

2020. I enjoyed this product very much, but I do tend to gravitate

back to my PIXI Glow Tonic, when I can get my hands on it.

I have also since then reviewed their 

Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum, which I highly

recommend

Read review here

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

StriVectin could well be a brand that you've never heard of and despite me

being aware of the brand I hadn't actually tried any of their skincare products.

That was until I was sent a couple of items from Mertoplolitain Cosmetics who are the 

exclusive retailers of StriVectin here in South Africa and I'm always excited to venture 

out of my skincare comfort zone.

StriVectin  hails from the USA and is a collection targeted solutions for

 aging and changing skin and my skin seems like the 

perfect candidate.

Born in a lab - not a boardroom - science is in their DNA. 

They combine advanced, high-performance skincare ingredients with their patented 

NIA-114 technology to deliver real, visible, clinically-proven results – from wrinkles 

and sagging, to discoloration and dark circles, and everything in between and I'm

already asking myself 

"where have you been for the past 20 years of my skincare life?"

 Strivectin products are 100% cruelty free, hypoallergenic and free of harsh ingredients. 

So let's see how I got along with their

 Tri Phase Daily Glow Toner

As soon as I saw the words Daily Glow Toner I was excited, to say the least, 

as I'm not only a huge fan of using toners post cleanse, but I'm also a

 lover of all things that make my skin glow, at my age.

In my many years of experience Toners are often misunderstood, overlooked

 and horrifyingly ignored.
Toners should be gentle, fast penetrating, deliver hydration and so much more. Adding a toner to your skincare routine is a simple and fast addition that 

can make a huge difference and having used toners daily since the 

age of 15/16 years, so I can vouch for their invaluable benefits.
I have been using, in particular, the PIXI Glow Tonic for several years now and I recently reviewed the Ready Steady Glow from REN and the ALPHA AHA LIQUID GOLD ROSE and my PIXI is still the "Winner" in my opinion.
I will leave the Pink Links to all of those reviews below

 PIXI GLOW TONIC REVIEW

REN READY STEADY GLOW REVIEW

ALPHA AHA LIQUID GOLD ROSE REVIEW

The StriVectin Daily Glow Toner is nothing like either of these two products

mentioned and for me truly stands out as being a very different type of

"Glow Toner".

This 3-in-1 daily toner is the secret to a glowing complexion.

I found it to Instantly smooth, softens and replenish the skin, whilst

it brightens, hydrates, balances and restores radiance for a glowing complexion.

A blend of skin transforming acids and nourishing botanical extracts,

the main ingredients being:

Hyaluronic, Lactic and Mandelic Acids

Squalane Oil

Aloe Leaf

Calendula Flower

Extracts NIA-114™

This is a three-phase formula, so always remember to shake

the bottle before use.

Surprisingly I discovered that this toner was extremely gentle

and soft on the skin.

The StriVectin was very different to the others that I had tried as there

was no stimulating sensation within the skin or visible stimulation

and for anyone that has used either of the 2 above mentioned

Glow Tonics will know what I mean.

My skin was left feeling hydrated, soft and over time I began to notice that
 "lit-from-within glow" that is so often spoken about and without doubt
I was able to notice mine and I loved it. 

Despite the quantity(145mls) being quite small for a toner I was glad to see

 that there was no wastage, thanks to the dispensing hole being on

 the small side.

I also found that the product, due to its tri phase formula, sat on top of the 

cotton wool pad and didn't really absorb, which ultimately avoided even

more product wastage.

Initially I honestly thought that this product was way too gentle to uncover

any glowy skin, but with prolonged use, I was proven completely wrong.

StriVectin is a serious results driven skincare brand and one that will take your

anti-ageing beauty regime to the next level and with that it understandably

comes at a price...

STRIVECTIN

TRI PHASE DAILY GLOW TONER

145mls

R

820

840

£

29

$

38

39

For more product info and to order online

metro cosmetics

RAIN RELAXING NIGHT CREAM {REVIEW}

 Having been a lover of the RAIN bath and body products for many years,

I can now say I'm a huge fan of their face care range.

Launched several years ago, this will be my 4th product review

from their range of 10 products and I have

earmarked a couple more, that I would love to try and bring 

you reviews on in the future.

All the products in the range are formulated to synergistically work together

 to create an ideal skincare routine.  

The aim of the Rain Skincare range is to:

Maintain good skin condition

Maintain skin health through probiotics 

(delivers good bacteria and nutrients to help balance skin)

Provide natural skincare for normal to sensitive skin.

RELAXING NIGHT CREAM

Is a natural relaxing night-time moisturiser, formulated with probiotics and botanicals known for skin conditioning.

 It's naturally fragranced with lavender and grapefruit essential oils. 

 African oils such as Baobab, Marula, Kalahari Melon and Moringa will leave

 skin feeling moisturised and conditioned.

For daily evening skincare routine. 

Use after cleansing and toning. 

Apply onto face, neck, and décolletage. 

Recommended use in combination with RAIN Relaxing Night Serum.

This calming night cream has an ultra-rich and luxurious texture and it's

  the type of texture that's reminiscent of the night creams pre the

cream/gel era.

Despite having a rich texture, which is an absolute pleasure to apply

 to a dry/ very dry skin, it isn't heavy at all.

The skin feels comforted, nourished but more importantly non greasy,

which can be an issue with night creams.

It slotted into my existing skincare product line-up perfectly

and not only does it smell of calming Lavender, but a little goes

a long way and it proved to be very cost effective and it's easily

available either in rain boutiques or online.

This is another face product from rain that is well suited for a mans skin,

 as this collection of face products is one that my hubby really enjoys. 

My skin responded well to this night cream and it's one that I would

highly recommend for normal/dry or sensitive skins.

RAIN

RELAXING NIGHT CREAM

50ml

R

649

$

69

SUNDAY SAMPLE

I have a fragrance sample to review this coming week or should I say 

my "hubby" has, as it's the latest mens fragrance offering from 

MONTBLANC

MONTBLANC LEGEND RED EDP

has just been launched here in South Africa and I received this sample

in a magazine.

I don't think he has ever tried a fragrance from MONTBLANC previously

and it's always an interesting process having my hubby review a fragrance

for me, so check in next Sunday to see how we got on and whether

he has a new scent to add to his fragrance collection...

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEW {QPR} MAY 2022

I have a mixed bag of some "hits" and some "misses" in 

this QPR post.

All of these 4 make-up items were inclusions in my 

2 Beauty Advent calendars,

so hence the shades were not of my choosing.

1.

Brand : NARS

Product : VELVET MATTE LIP PENCIL

Shade : DOLCE VITA

Price : $27

This NARS Cult-favourite Velvet Matte Lip Pencil instantly delivers the impact

 of a matte lipstick, but in a soft chunky pencil form.

I found it to be long lasting with a non-drying formula, good colour

pay-off and super easy to apply.

Unfortunately the shade was not ideal for me and whilst I am using 

to outline my lips I'm finding I cannot use to fill in the lips due to the

shade not being correct.

Would I buy in another shade, probably not...

Verdict : 5/10

2.

Brand : SHISEIDO

Product : COLOUR GEL LIPBALM

Shade : 107 DAHLIA

Size : 2g

Price : $26

This lightweight-yet-hydrating balm melds provide the perfect amount 

of structure and slip. 

Infused with patented humectant technology, this balm-lipstick hybrid 

offers lasting moisture and comfort, leaving lips feeling softer.

It offers a semi-sheer coverage and a delicate, shiny finish.

Again the shade wasn't exactly what what I would have chosen, but it was

 wearable and I liked the formula and the packaging very much.

Verdict : 7/10

3.

Brand : LAURA MERCIER

Product : CAVIAR EYE STICK COLOR STICK

Shade : AU NATUREL

Price : $16

Over the past couple of years I've really enjoyed a cream eyeshadow,

especially in a stick/crayon format.

This long-wearing versatile eyeshadow stick delivers effortless application.

Pigment-rich shades glide seamlessly onto lids.

 Creamy formula gives you plenty of time to smudge, blend, line, fill or define, 

so it's easy to create any look.

It's crease and transfer resistant and layers easily.

Again the shade wouldn't have been of my choosing and as the name 

suggests its Au Naturel, which is rather a nondescript shade.

I, personally, highly rate the BYTERRY Ombre Blackstar Color Fix 

Cream Eyeshadows and have several and if you would like to read 

my original review click Here

 

Verdict : 5 /10

4.

Brand : BY TERRY

Product : BLENDER SPONGE

Price : R90

Having been a fan of the "Beauty Blender" for many years

I was quite happy to see this appear behind one of the

doors in my advent calendar and I'm glad to report back

that I love it and would say I prefer it to my BB.

Can be used wet or dry.

I'm enjoying the shape, the squishiness and the way it feels

in my hand and it seems to be lasting well with no breaking 

up of the sponge.

 I think in the future these will be my blending sponge of choice.

Verdict : 9/10

ELEMIS DYNAMIC RESURFACING FACIAL PADS {REVIEW}

I recently received a wonderful skincare gift set from ELEMIS that included

a tub of their Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, which is one product 

that I've haven't yet tried and considering that

I am not only ELEMIS'S No.1 fan, I'm also a huge advocate of

weekly body and face exfoliation, so it was perfect. 

These pads form part of a larger collection of products that focus on

 smoothing, resurfacing and exfoliating the skin.

Exfoliation or resurfacing really does make an enormous

 difference in both the smoothness, brightness and radiance of the skin

and an exfoliator/scrub/resurfacer is a must have for all skin types.

These dual-action exfoliating pads reveal baby-smooth skin in literally

 one swipe.

Powered by patented^ Tri-Enzyme Technology, these gentle yet effective resurfacing pads deliver a measured dose of Tri-Enzyme Technology for smoother-looking skin. 

Formulated with Lactic Acid and Probiotic Ferment Complex, they are clinically proven* to accelerate skin's natural cell turnover in 28 days. 

They physically lift away dead cells and gently exfoliate, leaving the skin 

looking significantly smoother and brighter. 

These textured pads help reduce the look of dark spots, pores and

 uneven skin texture. 

Use every morning and evening after cleansing.

Smooth pad, texture side down, over the face in a circular motion.

I found these pads to be super convenient and easy to use and fitted 

perfectly into my daily skincare regime.

I personally would use these pads in place of my daily PIXI Glow Tonic, 

which by the way , I adore, but I feel it would be over-kill.

I would continue to use my more intense peels etc. once a week.

I also didn't experience any tingling sensation and they certainly didn't

 upset my hydro-lipid layer, which some re-surfacing products can do.

I highly recommend for those people who are either not into exfoliation

or find the whole process too much of a faff, as the results from these

pads are well worth it and for such minimal fuss.

Something to consider, at R950 for 60 pads and you use 2 per day,

  does work out to be quite a monthly cost for the convenience

 and ease.

All in all I have enjoyed my resurfacing journey with ELEMIS...

ELEMIS

DYNAMIC RESURFACING

FACIAL PADS

60 PADS

R

950

£40

$

47