BEAUTY PRODUCTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW {JULY 2020}

I have four products that I'll be focusing my attention on this month, three have been around for

 some time whilst the one product is a very recent launch.

I have two hair products and two skincare products to try and test for you

and my reviews will be posted throughout the upcoming days and weeks.

1.

I was kindly sent the 

BioNike SHINE ON Restructuring Conditioner 

to review and I'm always up for trying out a variety of hair products.

I have previously reviewed several of the BioNike skin and body care products,

 but never their hair products, so I'm keen to put this one to the test.

Formulated for damaged and dry hair making it the perfect choice for my hair,

 as I've recently reverted back to having blonde streaks, after a couple of years

with having none, so this product send was ideal timing.

2.

The following product, from one of my favourite drugstore brands, is a new launch

and it appealed to me immediately.

Avène Hydrance Aqua-Gel

is an All-In-One skincare product that counteracts dehydration, soothes and 

detoxifies the skin.

Formulated for all skin types that experience dehydration and sensitivity.

What appealed to me greatly was the fact that this product can be applied all

over the face including the eye area, either during the day or it can be used 

in the evening all over the face and eye area in a thicker layer and left overnight

as a face/eye mask.

I have high hopes for this multi-tasking product and cannot wait to report back

 to you with my findings, as I will use it in a variety of

ways and let you know if it's a "must have" skincare product.

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

3.

During Lockdown I have, without doubt, neglected my hair as I haven't been

washing it as often as I normal do, due to nothing more than laziness and I have 

relied on Dry Shampoos more than ever. 

Not wanting to use up all of the stash of my favourite Dry Shampoo ever, 

the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo To read my full review

I am wanting to try a find a good local brand of Dry Shampoo and I settled for the

Sorbet Drybar Chic and Quick Dry Shampoo

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

4.

I am, and have been since I was in my early 20's, a huge fan of skin exfoliation 

and I have exfoliated my skin weekly for the past 40 years.

I bang on about this so often in my blogs, but I'll mention it again

Exfoliation is the key to good skin and is the most important product

 in your skincare regime, yet its one that's most often overlooked.

The Dermatologist developed 

Exuviance Triple Microdermabrasion Face Polish

has been highly praised and I was curious to try and whilst it's not the cheapest

of products I'm happy to spend where exfoliators, serums and eye products 

are concerned.

*NOW POSTED*

To read my full review

Drop in the comments box below if you have tried any of the above and

let me know your thoughts...

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEWS {QPR'S} FEBRUARY 2020

I cannot believe that it's already time for my February QPR post.

I have two products from the Italian skincare brand BioNike to tell you about, specifically for those mature skins experiencing hormonal changes.

Its also estimated that during the next decade 65% of cosmetic sales will

come from the more mature user.

 I have said on my blog many times that BioNike is a brand that you really

 cannot go wrong with when looking for effective, affordable and easily

accessible products for sensitive or allergy prone skins.

I also have a slightly disappointing product from my normally much loved

Dutch wellness brand

 RITUALS...

1.

Brand : BioNike

Product : Defence My Age Renewing Night Cream

Price : R345

Size : 50mls

Launched last year the BioNike Defence My Age range comprises of 3 products

that are all beautifully packaged in midnight blue glass, which looks extremely Luxe

and I have been lucky enough to put 2 to the test.

Formulated to strengthen skins resilience and enhance your beauty after the age of 50

 by improving skin’s natural ability to cope with ageing and effects caused by those

inevitable hormonal changes.

Based on the Skin Resiliency Complex, it is enriched with Japanese cedar extract 

and every dry skins's best friend, Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid.

 Formulated for mature skin to counter skin dryness, dull skin tone 

and loss of skin compactness caused by a drop in hormone levels.

The rich, soft and fast-absorbing texture comes with a delicate floral-marine scent

and is a range to certainly consider if your skin is looking for hydration,

suppleness and radiance.

Verdict :  8/10

~~~~~~

2.

Brand : BioNike

Product : Defence My Age Intensive Renewing Serum

Price : R415

Size : 30mls

Available : Exclusively at Dischem

If you haven't yet introduced a face serum into your beauty regime and you are over 

the age of 50 then I highly recommend you look into this one.

Serums always contain the most concentrated of active ingredients.

As with the other 2 products in the My Age collection the serum is based on the

 Skin Resiliency Complex, it is enriched with Argan extract to enhance the 

effects of both the night and day treatments. 

The serum can be used daily under both.

 It has a silky, fluid texture and as with the day & night cream it has 

the same divine floral-marine scent

This trio of products work together to counteract skin dryness, 

loss of radiance, compactness and suppleness caused by a 

drop in hormone levels. 

The skin is left smoother, radiant and more supple.

Verdict :  8/10

~~~~~~

3.

Brand : RITUALS

Product : RITUAL of HOLI

CREAM ON 

NOURISHING BODY CREAM

Price : £6.90

Size : 100ml

I have over the last couple of years purchased several products from

The RITUALS of AYURVEDA range and have raved about them, however

part of my 2019 LOOKFANTASTIC Beauty Advent Calendar contained

a 100ml size of The RITUAL of HOLI Body Cream, which sadly 

I'm not going to rave about.

Infused with the scent of Pink Grapefruit and Flamingo Flower I found the fragrance 

to be sweet, delicate and pleasant.

The formula of the body cream is where my disappointment lay and despite

the claim that it's a rich, nourishing cream I didn't find it to be so.

I  don't have particularly dry body skin and despite applying to slightly

damp skin as they recommend my skin just didn't feel well nourished.

Verdict :  4/10

MY TOP 10 MAKE-UP PRODUCTS 2019

For me 2019 was a busy year for make-up, so much so, that I've decided to 

increase my annual Top 5 to a Top 10 Make-Up Products post.

Despite having a mixed bag of brands, products and price points I highly recommend

all of these items below.

As always the Pink Links will take you to the full reviews

~~~~~

Let's start with foundations, as that seems like a good place to begin, I

 discovered one at the beginning of the year and one towards the end.

L'ORÉAL 
INFAILLIBLE 24H FRESH WEAR
 FOUNDATION


L'Oréal have been a favourite of mine for foundations for many years and several 

have been featured on my Top lists in previous years.

This was a foundation that I bought in error, but it turned out to be a very good error.

L'Oréal just don't create any bad foundations and if it's a new affordable foundation you're looking for then look no further than the L'Oréal isle in the drugstore.

It offers a long wearing, full coverage, dewy, hydrated and fresh finish and has been

my go to on most days.

L'Oréal Infaillable 24H Fresh Wear Foundation

GIORGIO ARMANI
 LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION

 What started out as using a free 7 Day free sample of the led to me saying that I personally wouldn't pay R800 for a foundation eventually 

resulted in a purchase with a less 25% from one of the overseas online beauty sites.

The formula offers an extremely comfortable long wearing, 
weightless and luminous natural finish to the skin.
It honestly feels like silk on the skin and I couldn't fault it other than on price.

I also found that once my 7 day sample had finished I missed not having this 

foundation in my make-up routine, hence the purchase.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

~~~~~

There were two drugstore lipsticks that impressed me during 2019 and they have both been a constant throughout the year.

SORBET 

GET LIPPY 

MOISTURISING LIP COLOUR

This was a rather a surprise, as I had previously tried a foundation

from Sorbet which I included on my Top 3 Disappointing Products 2018 list.

However this just goes to show how one disappointing product from a brand,

thankfully doesn't make the whole brand disappointing.

GET LIPPY is a beautiful, easy to wear, natural looking soft pink and it's one of those shades that will always find a place in my Lipstick wardrobe.

 It glides over the lips and considering it's moisturising and nourishing formula its surprisingly long wearing.

Sorbet GET LIPPY Moisturising Lip Colour

L'ORÉAL

LES CHOCOLATS

ULTRA MATTE LIQUID LIPSTICK

Les Chocolates Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick has a melt-proof formula so you can

 forget your lip colour smudging or budging, for up to 12 hours,

 as once its on its going no where

The lightweight lip colour formula is comfortable to wear and doesn’t crack, crumble or flake. It really does stay on all day, it doesn't smudge, transfer or bleed and most importantly doesn't dry out your lips and best of all it's Chocolate scented...

L'Oréal Les Chocolats Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick

~~~~~

It wouldn't be a very good Top 10 list if i didn't include a mascara or two and these

both impressed me in 2019 and have both been repurchased

BENEFIT

BADGAL BANG

MASCARA

This has been my fave mascara of 2019

What I can confidently say about the BAD gal BANG! mascara is the following:
It can be layered easily
It creates Volume, Lift and Length
 Its smudge-proof
Water-resistant and flake-free
and I just love it...

Benefit BADgal Bang Mascara

CLARINS

WONDER PERFECT

4D MASCARA

This really is a do-it-all, all-in-one mascara that curls, defines, lengthens and volumizes for that bold wide-eyed look, hence the 4D name.

After the first coat of mascara I was hooked, its buildable, doesn't flake or smudge

however being a moist/wet kinda mascara and considering the curl and length it gives I did need to do a little cleaning up afterwards but it's worth it for the overall look and finish.

Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara 4D

~~~~~

Urban Decay remained one of my favourite brands throughout 2019 and three

products have made it onto my list and surprisingly one is a brow

product.

URBAN DECAY

BROW ENDOWED

Not being a huge brow person this was a quite an brow raising purchase

for me in 2019.

Brow Endowed is a double-ended tool that volumizes and sets brows in two easy steps:

 A primer fluffs and holds, while a tinted cream fills and shapes. 

The excellent long-lasting formula resists sweat and smudging for up to 24 hours.

It's surprisingly easy to use an I was amazed at how fluffier, fuller, tinted brows miraculously appeared.

Urban Decay Brow Endowed

URBAN DECAY

NAKED RELOADED

EYESHADOW PALETTE

If you're looking for a collection of flattering shades that will cover all your essential  nude/neutral/brown requirements plus a little extra, then this is the ultimate palette to have in your eyeshadow collection.

The selection includes soft mattes, satins, metallics and a little sparkly glitter is thrown in for good measure...

Urban Decay Naked Reloaded Palette

URBAN DECAY

ALL NIGHTER

MAKE-UP SETTING SPRAY

I was slightly sceptical of this make-up setting spray, as everyone was raving about it

and that makes me slightly nervous and all I can say is that it DID live up to all the hype, praise and awards bestowed on it.

There was no transfer, no fading, no settling into the lines and more importantly for me no melting, your make-up stays in place literally all day and all night if needed.

I soon learnt that this is one of those products that you didn't know you needed until you've tried it and I'm hooked.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

~~~~~

Last but not least here is my final product for this 2019 list

and I've included an Illuminizing pen for a special reason.

BIONIKE

DEFENCE COLOR 

LUMINIZER

The product has a fluid texture and is easy to apply with the click of the pen.

Having tried many similar products over many years

I wasn't prepared for the great concealing effect that it had on

the blue area towards the inner corner of my under eye.

(The blueness is always there, as its the capillaries that can be seen under the 

skin due to that areas skin covering being very thin) 

and I'm sure many of you can relate to this blue tinge and whilst it didn't cover 100%

(that's a very difficult ask from any product)

 it did an excellent job on me and that's why its been included in my list of Top 10 Make-Up Products 2019

Bionike Defence Colour Luminizer

~~~~~

I hope you have enjoyed reading what make-up products impressed me during 2019 and have led to several re-purchases in many cases.

I have also posted my other Top Lists

My Top 6 Hair and Body Products 2019

My Top 3 Most Disappointing Products 2019

Let me know in the comments below if you agree or disagree with any of my choices

 for 2019.

QUICKIE PRODUCT REVIEWS {QPR'S} DECEMBER 2019

Just in the nick of time here is my last QPR post for 2019

ENJOY!

1.

Brand : FREEMAN BEAUTY 

Product : Beauty infusion Purifying In-Shower Mask

Sea Kelp + Probiotics

Price : R140/R39

Size : 118/15mls

Available : Dischem

The Los Angeles based Freeman Beauty seems to have been around forever,

over 43yrs to be precise and for me they stand out as being the Face Mask brand, 
but they do so many more products for bath, hair and body.

Strangely I have never used one of their masks previously and to be honest if I hadn't 

been kindly sent one by their PR recently I most probably would have kept 

overlooking them on the shelves.

This In-Shower mask had my attention though, as if I can make my shower time, 

also time a time to mask, then it's a win win situation.

This serum-infused gel mask works while you shower. The Sea Salts and Sea Kelp get to work 
to boost,renew and clarify the skin.

Apply it to dry face and neck before showering and then at the end, gently massage to

exfoliate and rinse. Use twice a week.
Easy Peasy...

Verdict :  7/10

~~~~~~

2.

Brand : NATUR VITAL 
Product : S.O.S. REVITALIZING SHAMPOO for NORMAL HAIR

Price : R94.95

Size : 300mls

Available : Dischem

I have never seen this Spanish hair care brand or even heard of it, until a bottle arrived 

for me to try.

This shampoo with Phytoactive Complex and extracts of Ginseng and Aloe Vera 

nourishes the scalp and protects the hair. 

The Phytoactive Complex, derived from germinating Wheat and Soybean seeds and arelineenergy and the necessary nutrients for strengthening capillary growth.  

Aloe Vera extract together with Pro-vitamin B5 hydrate and protect both hair and scalp from external damaging factors while vitamins A, B3, B7, E, F and H maintain the scalp’s natural balance. 

Suitable for frequent use, it helps to strengthen fragile hair and prevent splitting.  

Hair is hydrated and left smooth and shiny.

Whilst I haven't been using long enough to comment on the strengthening aspect I can 

tell you that I've been loving this shampoo, as it leaves my hair feeling clean, whilst not feeling stripped of oils.

It does feel soft and looks shinier than normal and I was pleasantly

surprised yet again with a product line that I would normally overlook on the shelves of 

Dischem.This brand has a large selection of haircare products and I'm particularly interested
in trying out their range for hair loss, the bane of many peoples lives.

Verdict :  7/10

~~~~~~

3.

Brand : BIONIKE
Product : Bionike Defence Body ReduXCELL Body Reshaping Boost

Price : R295

Size : 200mls

Available : Dischem

Its that time of the year, YES its Summer and time to squeeze into the cozzie.

Like many people I cast an eye over the body shaping lotions and potion isles
 and just move on, however this
Bionike Defence Body ReduXCELL Body Reshaping Boost caught my eye.

 This Anti Cellulite lotion has a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture designed to counter cellulite. Makes skin firmer and visibly improves the look of lumpy, dimpled skin. 
Based on the special “AlgaFor Shape Complex” set of ingredients, having a strong lipolytic effect, and comes with a massaging roller applicator, helps to reduce stored fat and counters new fat build up.
I must say that I have been enjoying using this product purely due to the roller massager being incorporated in the tube and not being a separate massager.
The lotion glides over the skin and doesn't leave any sticky residue, as for the reduction in
cellulite and dimpled skin I'm secretly hoping...


Verdict :  7/10