Posted on

April Favourites

Better late than never!!

Here are a couple of recent discoveries and launches that I adore :)

20140507_140315

Charlene sent me the Jean baré Moisture Balancing Cream for Normal/Dry skin and it has been a lifesaver! My skin tends to be very oily during the hotter months and when the seasons change, my skin doesn’t know whether it’s oily, dry or a combination of the two. My skin also gets very sensitive this time of year and this moisturiser was just what the doctor ordered. With the utmost respect to the brand, my best description for this cream, is plain and simple. It does the job of moisturising my skin without leaving it feeling ‘over nourished’. It also calms my skin when it’s having a bad day. It definitely does the job it has been created to do. Thanks again Charlene! This product reatils for ZAR108 for 30ml and it is available from salons that stock Jean baré.

Clicks had a 3 for 2 special on Pantene products a couple of weeks ago and I decided to give the Pantene 2 Minutes Intensive Moisturizing Mask a try. I love it! It smells beautiful and you need only a tiny bit of this mask to give you soft, smooth and shiny hair. It is very affordable at only ZAR66 a pot.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss is now my favourite of all the variants that I’ve tried. I mentioned in my original Baby Lips post that I am not a fan of tinted lip balms, but that is because most have a pink or red tint. Peach Kiss has a lovely nude tint and a light peach scent. ZAR30.

I am really struggling with my hair at the moment as the last highlighting session left my hair very dry. So when I spot a product that says ‘for overstressed, strawy hair’ it has to go into the shopping basket. The Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Oil Elixir Serum aims to nourish to reinforce the hair structure and reduce hair breakage. I can’t comment on that yet, but what I can say is that my hair feels a bit softer and it is easier to manage when I use this. I love the way my hair shines when I use it… look at the gold particles shine in direct sunlight:

Pretty, hey?
Pretty, hey?

The Dove Shea Butter beauty bar has knocked the original from top spot in my books. Best soap bar EVER! ZAR9.

Last but not least is the new Essence Big Bright Eyes jumbo pencil. The brand sent me the matte nude as I was curious to see if we finally have an affordable nude pencil to line the waterline with. The Beauty Assistant did a great post on this pencil. I’m on the fence about lining the waterline with this one though. But I think for me it’s more a case of ‘if it’s too bright, you’re too old’. That’s my issue. BUT I still use this pencil every day as it is PERFECT to highlight the inner corner of the eye. Because it is matte, the effect is a lot more subtle than is the case when you highlight the inner corner with a shimmer product. I love it! It has a very creamy texture and applies beautifully. I was also pleasantly surprised by the staying power.  At only ZAR30 it’s definitely is worth a try.

xoxo

Posted on

Maybelline Master Kajal Kohl Liner

Untitl

Aren’t these liners just beautiful?? Granted, I may have a little extra love for them because they remind me of my belly dancing days, but I have found myself reaching for Pitch Black every day since I received it about a month ago.

I think both Oriental Gold and Lapis Blue are absolutely beautiful, but these are not shades that I can pull off. Black liner will forever stay my favourite. And Pitch Black is exactly that. If dark and smouldering is the look you are after, this liner will be the one for you.

What makes this liner stand out from the crowd is the fact that it’s a cone-shaped liner. If you want that super precise, thin line, you may only get that from the first couple of applications. But that’s not actually the point of this liner. The sharpness quickly wears off and you are left with a rounder point. Maybe not as round as mine, but I have to admit that I have not been using it exactly how you’re supposed to.

A cone kajal has to be applied in a sideways sweep and not a direct angle. I have just been using it like I do any other pencil liner, and even though the point is not sharp anymore, I still get a beautiful line on my upper lashline.

I love using it to line both my upper and lower waterlines. The formula is super gentle and the liner is soft enough to glide on with ease. Because it does not irritate my eyes, it is perfect to darken the waterline and I can also get in between my lashes to get the upper lashline nice and dark. No eyeliner has lasted a whole day on my lower waterline, even the ones in my stash that claim to be waterproof, but this one seems to be outlasting them all.

I also find that the shape of the pencil makes it very easy to handle. And I like the look of it too.

This is a product that I will most definitely purchase for myself.

The Master Kajal liners are available from May ’14 and will retail at ZAR110.

xoxo

*Disclaimer: This product formed part of a goodie bag received at an event. I have not received compensation for this post and the opinions on the product are my own.