Sensai Sponge Chief by Kanebo

The SENSAI Sponge Chief by Kanebo International comes in a resealable plastic envelope.

 

Unfortunately this photo is not clear enough to read the instructions on the reverse side, so here they are:

SENSAI Sponge Chief

for Make-up Removal

The ecological and hygienic solution for quick, deep, yet gentle removal of cleansing products and facial masks.  To use, simply moisten with water and wipe the face.  After use, wash with soap and water.  Allow to dry in open air; towel will harden, but immersion in water will give it back its soft and silky touch.  Use the convenient case, when travelling.

 

 

 

It is remarkably soft to the touch and so gentle on your skin.  For maximum cleansing strength I recommend the Revival Hand & Nail Cleanser by ASK Cosmetics Inc. of Canada.

 

Gentle enough for a baby's bottom, yet strong enough to get rid the worst grease and grime on a mechanic's hands!

 

 

Have you ever heard or used products by Kanebo International before?

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Til tomorrow, Lisa M.

 

Review: Inglot Under Make-Up Base

I had been lemming this make-up primer for a whole year before I got round to purchasing it! The lovely ladies from Inglot offered me a complimentary make-up session and the make-up artist started with this primer and I instantly loved the texture of it on my face as well as the results it delivered.  Last December, I had been offered the same opportunity for a free make-up session and I went with the intention of buying the product so as soon as my session was finished, I asked the make-up artist for it.  It comes supplied in a transparent, plastic tube with a twist-off cap (bottom?), all neatly packed in this sleek, little black box:

You get 30ml of product but don't be deceived! A little goes a very long way with this one!  I like to use this primer when I am going to put on a heavier foundation so that the foundation itself does not clog my pores.  Benefits of using this particular primer include:

~ It mattifies and smoothes the skin

~ Improves make-up application and length of stay on the skin

~ Absorbs sebum and doesn't make me feel like I have an oil rig on my face!

This primer is a gel type and has a very nice, velvety-smooth texture that feels beautiful on the skin.  It is quickly absorbed and doesn't carry a scent.  Here's a little swatch for you guys:

That is enough to cover my whole face! Now the picture is actually a close up of... brace yourselves... 1cm of product!!! A little really does go a long way with this make-up base and I like how the make-up doesn't feel like it is weighing my face down when I use the primer.

I really recommend this primer to people who have oily or combination skin as it effectively absorbs oil and keeps you shine-free all day!

The Inglot Under Make-Up Base retails for €21 and is available to buy from Inglot stores.

Blogger Templates

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Blemish Mud

A few weeks ago, the lovely people from Montagne Jeunesse sent me a generous selection of their face masques to try out for review and the one that caught my eye first, was the Blemish Mud.  I had been lemming this masque for quite a long time now as we only get a small selection of the MJ masques here in Malta.  For those of you who do not know who and what Montagne Jeunesse is, it is basically a company who produce face masques, foot scrubs and even hair treatments out of all natural ingredients.  I have been a fan of theirs for quite some time now and I am always looking to try out more and more of their products as they never failed to impress me (hair masques next on the list hehe)!  Where was I? Ah yes, the Blemish Mud...

I really like the fun packaging this company presents their products in especially the ones where chocolate is involved! Lol it makes me want to gobble the whole thing up! Pity it's not edible lol.  Here's what the Blemish Mud looks like:

You already know that two ingredients are Aloe Vera and Willow.  They both possess blemish fighting properties so they really fit in this masque.  When you open the pack, a smell very similar to tea-tree oil is what greets you.  Personally I don't mind the scent and it fades away after some time so don't worry about it.

The masque itself is pale green in colour and has quite a thick texture.  It dries to a white tight-feeling masque in just about 10 minutes or so.  I managed to get 5 applications out of one pack and each time, I was left with super soft, clear skin. I admit I was experiencing some nasty breakouts lately but this masque has really contributed to clearing them up faster so I am really impressed with this one.

All MJ masques are priced very affordably and are worth a try, if not for their benefits, for their sumptuous smells lol!


Have you tried any masques from MJ? Which ones were they and how did you like them?

Natural beauty products from Montagne Jeunesse

Blogger Templates

Review: e.l.f. Tinted Moisturizer in Rosy Beige

Today's review will focus on elf's Tinted Moisturizer in Rosy Beige.  If you have been following my blog for a while, you will know I have pale skin with a rosy undertone so this shade of moisturizer is the perfect match for me (unlike the Nivea one which you can read a review on here); during winter at least!

Let's take a look at the packaging first:

The tube itself is supplied in this blister pack that is typical of elf's regular line products.

You get 12g of tinted moisturizer in a little plastic squeezy tube.  I find that a little goes a long way with this moisturizer so I think it will last quite a long time.  I have been using it everyday ever since I got it (I think I got this in January) and I still have a ton of product left.

What I like about the packaging is the smallish nozzle as you can really control how much product you  squeeze out.  I also like the fact it is transparent so you can actually see how much product you have got left.

This tinted moisturizer has the sweetest scent ever that elf describe as being that of sugar orange; I'd say it is more like sweet almonds and I really love it! It is not a strong scent though and fades away very quickly. The moisturizer itself delivers light coverage so I'd say to use it on days when your skin only needs to be perked up a little.  Since it contains SPF 15, I recommend using this only during the day.  In fact, I have substituted my mineral foundation with this one as it offers just the right amount of light coverage I need during the day +  added protection against the sun's rays.  Here are some swatches:

Left: What the colour looks like; Right: Blended to perfection!

I apply it by putting 4 dabs on my face as follows: 1 on each cheek, one my forehead and another on my chin and then blend them using my fingertips to make sure I get an even skin tone and reach all those areas you can easily miss with a brush.  Now I find that my face feels a bit shiny until all the moisturizer is absorbed so what I do is I dust my face with the elf Studio Complexion Perfection by means of a big fluffy brush.  This will mattify my skin and also neutralize my skin tone further.  The moisturizer itself lasts me for a long time so I'm really happy with it!

I have read that some people have been breaking out with this moisturizer especially when we changed seasons. I haven't noted any breakouts due to this product though but if I do, I will update this review :)

Overall, I really like this moisturizer and since it is the perfect match for my skin tone, I will definitely repurchase it! 

You can buy yours from the elf cosmetics website for only £1.50/€1.70 and from a range of 7 tones, you're bound to find your perfect shade!

Blogger Templates

Top-Ten Tuesdays ~ Face Products

Good morning my lovelies! Today, I am going to share my Top- Ten face products which include both make-up and skin-care products. So, here goes!

10. e.l.f. Mineral Blemish Kit
9. e.l.f. All Over Colour Stick in Persimmon
8. Inglot Under Make-up Base
7. Nivea Visage Young control shine! Mattifying Gel Cream
6. Nivea Visage Young smooth it! Mild Exfoliating Scrub
5. Revlon ColorStay Makeup in 180 Sand Beige for Combination/Oily Skin
4. La Roche Posay Effaclar AI Targeted Breakout Corrector
3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Minerals Loose Powder Foundation in 100 Ivory
2. Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose
1. e.l.f Studio Complexion Perfection

I'm gonna cheat a bit today and I am also going to include my new favourite product for pure bliss even for just 5 minutes...

Blogger Templates

Review: Nivea Visage Young be beautiful! Tinted Moisturizer

Here's the last review for my face care products series, in which I target Nivea Visage Young be beautiful! Tinted Moisturizer. I kept this product for last because it is the least one I use and here I will tell you why.

As usual, the packaging goes first. This is the only product in my face care range which I can't see through the packaging no matter against which light I put it as the tube is completely opaque. Then it's the usual motifs as the other Nivea Visage Young Products. The ingredients are only found on the box in which this tinted moisturizer comes along with a product description (the latter is also found on the back of the actual tube).

This tinted moisturizer comes in a 75ml format and is supposed to 'adapt to your natural skin tone for an even and radiant complexion'. It is only available in one shade, Natural.

I bought this tinted moisturizer due to the above claim as I thought 'hmm this would be perfect for when I don't feel like wearing foundation'. Well, I was wrong... very, very wrong.

To start off with, the shade is very dark for my skin and even though Nivea claim that this adapts to your natural skin tone, I am afraid that I noticed not even a hint of colour change. I gave it a go another time with a little less product but the same dark tone was what I was left with. Here are a couple of swatches:

In the second photo, you can still see where I blended the tinted moisturizer, and this picture was taken a couple of minutes after I blended it to make sure it is dry.

I even tried mixing the tinted moisturizer with my regular one, but sadly, no success there as well. So, I keep this for the summer months only.

Some good points about this tinted moisturizer would be the fact that it is non-comedogenic and it is clinically approved to be compatible with all skin types.

I think having a bigger array of shades would be great for this product as I as quite disappointed but I still believe Nivea can do better... just take a look at my previous posts!!

Blogger Templates

Summer 2010 Favourite Products

Sadly, today is the last day of Summer *sob sob* and to cheer up, I decided to go through my make up collection and see which products I have used most during this summer. I will divide the products in categories such as face, body, etc... and here they are!

Body

This summer, I had a very nasty eczema attack all over my body and so I had to drink loads more water and I was using Glysolid, Dermofardi and Lavender Essential oil to bathe with followed by Sudocrem and Vaseline to keep my skin from getting dry and itchy. Thankfully, my skin is a lot better now and I hope it fully recovers soon!

On to some more interesting stuff... As a body scrub, I was using one I got from Corfu last year. I really love this scrub and I am a bit sad I used it all up. You can read a full review about it here. As for a body lotion, I was using this cheapy one which I really love the scent of... Vanilla Yoghurt! I'm such a sucker for everything vanilla! It feels silky smooth, smells good enough to eat, and leaves my skin feeling soft and supple (even with the bad eczema rash I had!). I switched this body lotion for my Hawaiian Tropic after sun each time I returned home from a day at the beach.

I have been really good to my footsies this summer by treating them to a mini pedi daily with some School Footcare products: Rough Skin Remover, Callus & Hard Skin Reducing Cream and also a Cracked Heel Repair Cream . As for depilation, I used Veet cold wax strips for legs which leave me hair-free for 4 whole weeks!

To keep my perspiration in check, I use Nivea Double Effect deodorant and during summer, I like to use different perfumes. My favourites for this summer were Christina Aguilera, Hugo Boss Orange, Guerlain Insolence and Kate Moss Velvet Hour.

Hair

Summer + hair is not a really good equation especially here in Malta where we have a very humid climate. I do not blow dry my hair during summer but I tend to use more styling products than usual to keep fly aways and frizz at bay. I use Angel treatment to restore moisture as well as a heat protector and UV protector together with some gel and a good highly moisturizing pair of shampoo and conditioner.

*Make-up Time :D*

Face

In summer, I tend not to wear any foundation to let my sun tan show and also let my skin breathe. I use a very rich moisturizer like Nivea Visage Stay Matte or Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid. I also treat my face to a weekly face mask by Montagne Jeunesse to deep clean and restore moisture levels. Should I have any minor break-outs, I treat them with Effaclar A.I. by La Roche Posay.

I still use my Rimmel Hide the Blemish Concealer in 103 Soft Honey and set it with my elf Studio Complexion Perfection. I then apply a rosy blusher (my choice is Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose) and contour/highlight with some elf Studio Warm Bronzer. I keep my face looking matte all day by blotting any oil with elf Professional Shine Erasers.

Eyes

Summer calls for a good primer to prevent the eyeshadow from fading or creasing, so I bought my first ever Eyelid Primer from elf cosmetics and which I am very fond of (well actually, I am fond of all my elf possessions!) My favourite eye shadows for summer were the bright ones in the Deborah stories palette and my Cover Girl trio Cafe au lait for everyday natural looks. To really elevate my eyes to a whole new level, I use black waterproof mascara from elf (Earth & Water) or Rimmel 100% Waterproof (which I ran out of). A flick of Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black by elf cosmetisc seals the deal and their Wet Gloss Lash & Brow Clear mascara makes my brows look polished and pulled together.

Lips

Lips don't have sweat glands so I keep mine moisturized with The Body Shop Born Lippy passion Berry lipbalm. When heading out during the day, I like to use elf's Super Glossy Lip Shines with SPF15 for a just-seen sheen and protection against the sun's rays. I like neutral colours on my lips and my favourite lipsticks are Maybelline Water Shine in 02 Cocoa Shake and Deborah Rosetto 24 Ore in 13 Creamy. I like to layer some L'Oreal Glam Shine Crystals lipgloss in 301 Coral Strass over my Maybelline lipstick. I am actually on the look out for a due of the Maybelline lipstick as I think they have renamed the shade or maybe they don't do it anymore (if so it is such a pity!). Another favourite lipgloss is my Napoleon Perdis Protege Lipgloss. I love its coral colour and minty taste!

Nails

In summer, I like to wear bright colours on my both my toe-nails and finger-nails. Here's my choice of colours:

Medium Red, Lilac and Mint Cream by elf cosmetics

Shocker, Pompous and Silver Bullet by Rimmel 60 Seconds

Into the Sunset by Maybelline Wet Shine Diamonds

To prevent my nails from becoming stained with polish, I always use a clear base coat (elf clear nail polish), then I finish with some Elegant Touch glossy top coat and nourish my nails with some Revlon Cuticle Moisture Oil.

To instantly upgrade my polish with some nail art, I use Nailene's Bedazzle Earth Angel or Superstar nail stickers... great for when I don't have time to do a free-hand design.

To file my nails, I use these fierce-looking nail files from Peacocks. They are not fierce at all on my nails as they have a very gentle grit.

 

So, these were all my Summer 2010 Favourite Products! I hope you enjoyed this post and I look forward to seeing yours! Should you want me to review any of the items, don't hesitate to let me know! I linked the reviews of products which I have already reviewed. So, there's nothing left for me to say, except bye bye Summer, hello Autumn and we'll wait and see which new trends the new season will bring with it!

Blogger Templates

Review: Nivea Visage Refreshing Cleansing Lotion

Hello my lovelies I hope you're all well :) Today, I am going to review another product which I use for my facial cleansing routine: Refreshing Cleansing Lotion, also by Nivea Visage.

As usual, here's what the package looks like:

It is actually very similar to my eye make-up remover except that the bottle is opaque, so to check how much product is left, I usually put it up against the light. Then it's the usual thing... logo and description and more details and ingredients on the back.

Since I have combination skin, this product is excellent for me. It is a creamy formulation but not as creamy as a product intended for dry skin; it's somewhere in between. I actually prefer this product over my older Nivea cleanser which was in gel form and it dried out my skin more than necessary. This one, on the other hand, hydrates it to just the right level without making my skin feel greasy or oily. The smell is the usual cleanser smell for this one as well.

I like to use this cleanser to remove the rest of my facial make-up and also some left-over traces of eye make-up. I think this is the only cleanser that doesn't sting or burn when I cleanse my eyes with, so that's a great bonus.

Overall, I think I am going to stay faithful to this cleanser for as long as my skin permits to. As usual, like the other Nivea products, it is reasonably priced, and better still, you get 200ml. Since it is a creamy formula, you get through it less faster than other formulations!

Blogger Templates

Top-Ten Tuesdays ~ Rimmel London

Here's my first Top-Ten Tuesdays post :D The brand I chose for this week is Rimmel London as I am a huge fan of theirs. So let's get started!

10. Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil in 021 Denim Blue

I bought this pencil a while ago as I wanted something different than my usual black eye pencil. I like the softness of this pencil as well as the very good pigmentation.

9. Special Eyes Eye Liner Pencil in 131 Forest Green

I got this pencil with the Denim Blue one for the same reason and also because I like the way a green pencil makes my eyes stand out more. Unfortunately, this shade is no longer available.

8. 60 Seconds Nail Polishes

I adore Rimmel Nail Polishes especially the 60 Seconds range; in fact I chose 3 colours not 1 for this post but I grouped them in 1 category so as not to affect the number (cheeky :P). So, my faves have to be 270 Shocker - a bright shocking pink with a metallic finish; 610 Pompous - a rich, velvety royal purple with silvery shimmers; 730 Silver Bullet - to my eyes, this is more of a pearly white colour rather than silver and I really like to use it as an alternative to the creamy white for a french mani.

7. Shock Gloss 3D Magnifying Lipgloss in 200 Clearly Clear

This is my go-to lipgloss! I believe every girl should have a tube of clear lipgloss in her make up bag and in my opinion this is the one to have, the HG of lipglosses! It gives my lips a plumped effect and I like the spatula applicator as I get to control the amount of gloss I use.

6. SpecialEyes Mono Eye Shadow in 030 Smokey Quartz

I like to use this eyeshadow for day looks because of its neutral non-shimmery colour and for night because it is so pigmented I can easily add drama to my eyes! This range of eyeshadows is now called Colour Rush Mono Eyeshadows.

5. Sexy Curves Mascara in 002 Brown Black

I fell for this mascara after seeing an advert and I really loved the brush and the purple colour of the tube. I am really happy with the results this mascara gave me and in fact I have to buy another one soon!

4. 100% Waterproof Mascara in 001 Black Black

I have yet to meet another mascara which rivals the waterproof formulation of this one... and to be honest, I think I never will! This is the best waterproof mascara you can ever buy... it doesn't smudge, it doesn't budge and it lasts all day! What's not to love?

3. Hide The Blemish Concealer in 103 Soft Honey

I compared this concealer to another one and I found this is actually better (click on the name for the review). For me it does a very good job and when blended, it is a perfect match for my skin.

2. Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

I am absolutely head over heels on this blusher! It gives my face a healthy, true-to-nature glow without being too obvious.

1. Lasting Finish Minerals Loose Powder Foundation in 100 Ivory

I am a big fan of natural make up and thus, this is my choice of foundation! It is finely milled and gives me just the right amount of coverage without looking cakey!

Blogger Templates

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Face Masks & Tonics

As part of my skin cleansing routine, I like to use a face mask twice a week to draw out impurities and leave my skin soft and clean inside-out. For this job, I like to use Montagne Jeunesse face masks and tonics. I have quite a few favourites from their extensive range and I am going to share these with you along with my thoughts about them. You can browse their full range on their website.

Currently, I am using Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate masque. I really like the packaging of the whole Montagne Jeunesse range, it's colourful, fun and just by looking at it, you can already drift into relax mode. All of their masks and tonics (and I suppose their other products as well), smell good enough to eat!

They can be a bit thick especially the Chocolate mask and the Red Hot Earth Sauna Mask so you have to take a bit longer to remove all traces but the results are well worth as you are left with soft, smooth and clean skin. The Red Hot Earth Sauna heats up gently on contact with your skin to open up pores for a deeper clean. The same goes for Sauna Fudge. The latter is my absolute favourite (yeah I'm a sucker for everything with vanilla in) along with Strawberry Souffle. What I like about the Strawberry Souffle mask is (apart from the smell) the fact that the mask leaves my face with a subtle hint of shimmer particles.

Apart from the masks, I sometimes use tonics, usually when I don't have that much time on my hands. The tonics come in the form of fabric sheet masks with precut spaces for the eyes, nose and mouth (detach the bits) and you just pop them on your face for 5 minutes and you're done!

And here are my favourites:

(All images used are from the Montagne Jeunesse site).

Have you ever tried Montagne Jeunesse masks?

Blogger Templates

Comparative Review: Rimmel Hide the Blemish Concealer ~ vs ~ Essence Stay Natural Concealer

Concealer is one of the most important elements of a good make-up base. It is of utmost importance to find our perfect colour match otherwise, whatever you are trying to conceal might become more obvious. In this post, I will be comparing the two concealers I use.

Rimmel Hide the Blemish Concealer in Soft Honey 103

I have been using this concealer for years on end and it did it's job pretty well so far. I like the lipstick-like style of this concealer and as you can see from the picture, it's pretty small so that you can carry it around with you. The downside (for me at least) is that I apply with a concealer brush and therefore I have to carry the brush with me for touch-ups.

The formulation is quite creamy and blends with my skin really well. I like the fact that there are four shades to choose from however, I find that the lightest shade, Ivory (the same name as my Rimmel Foundation) is very light on my skin; so I opted for the third shade, Soft Honey 103. The colour is a bit dark but on blending, it hides blemishes perfectly well.

In terms of product amount, you get 4.5g or 0.15 oz net weight. I can't remember the price but it wasn't really an expensive concealer. It has a 24 months expiry period.

Essence Stay Natural Concealer Soft Beige 01

A couple of months ago, I bought this concealer to try a different formulation.

Although there are only two shades in the Essence concealer range, I find that this one blends better with my skin tone than the Rimmel one.

This concealer comes in a twisting base tube. All you need are a couple of twists to get the product out, that way you won't get any product wasted. Then you just put the concealer on the area you want to cover and blend it in with your fingers. As you might have correctly guessed, this concealer is a liquid one.

With respect to carrying the concealer with me, this one is more practical because it has its own brush applicator.

Again, I cannot remember how much I bought this concealer for but I don't remember paying much for 1.5ml or 0.05fl.oz of product. It has a 6 month expiry period.

I still use both of these concealers and due to the differences in shades, I use the Essence one in winter and the Rimmel one in summer when my skin is slightly darker.

Review: e.l.f. professional Blending Wedges

Recently, I came to know about a nail art technique called sponging and to create designs with it, you need some blending make-up wedges so I decided to purchase some from e.l.f. cosmetics.

However, when I received the package, I changed my mind on using them for sponging. Not because they are not good or anything but they are so cute I was a bit hesitant to transform their pinkish colour into a rainbow of nail polishes. Thus, I decided to keep these for blending my tinted moisturizer (I don't use liquid foundation and the moisturizer can be easily washed off) and bought some wedges for nail art from a market. This is elf's package:

You get 8 small, pink wedges in a discrete and convenient pack. The wedges have a slight plastic odour to them.

When comparing these wedges to regular ones, they are smaller but wider. I find they give me total control over blending the tinted moisturizer and being so small, they can be used for those hard to reach areas. They are also easy to clean afterwards and do not take much time to dry.

Lara xoxo

5 Bronzer Blunders to Avoid

Bronzers are very sought after these days, but do you know the critical steps to making this complexion-enhancing trick work for you? You should, because everything from skin type to brush type can affect your bronzed look. Read on to find out the five most common bronzer mistakes so you can avoid looking fake and start looking fab!

~ 5: You Forget that Real Tans Don’t Sparkle

Spending time in the sun can give your skin a glow—but it will never, ever make it sparkle! Avoiding bronzers with large flecks of shimmer or glitter will not only make your bronzed effect appear more natural and sophisticated, but you won’t have to worry about the shine flaking.

~ 4: You Choose the Wrong Texture for Your Skin Type

Just like with your foundation or blush, how a product works on your skin depends on the interaction between the texture of the product and your skin type. Luckily, there are plenty of bronzer options to suit every skin type. Dry skin may prefer lotion-like liquid bronzers or prefer to moisturize a few minutes before applying powders, while oily skin will appreciate gels and most bronzing powders.

~ 3: You Overlook the Rest of Your Body

We’ve all seen that woman who has that beautifully bronzed complexion—that ends at her jaw line. When we’re looking intently at ourselves in the mirror it’s easy to forget that our made-up faces are part of a bigger picture. Keep in mind that your bronzer should add warmth and a subtle glow to your face, but it should not separate your head from the rest of your body. If you don’t self-tan, consider adding a bit of liquid bronzer to your sunscreen or body moisturizer to add some color from the neck down.

~ 2: You Apply Way Too Much Product

Bronzer should be used to warm up and accentuate your natural skin tone—not to create your skin tone alone! Begin by using it sparingly, like a highlighter on the tops of cheekbones, the bridge of your nose—places that would naturally get more sun. Instead of a fluffy powder brush, try a wide fan brush (you can even get a large one at the craft store) for applying bronzer. You should apply with feather-light pressure, and remember it’s easier to add more than to remove a heavy-handed application. Another tip is to apply your bronzer before your eye makeup, otherwise it’s even easier to go too heavy.

~ 1: You Pick Out the Wrong Shade and Tone

Unfortunately, there are many bad bronzer shades out there, but selecting the right shade for your skin is absolutely critical. Avoid shades that are too orange, too red, too gold, too sparkly, or too brown. Search for shades that are light latte or caramel brown. Mild pink or really soft red to copper undertones are ok, too, because tan skin often has these undertones naturally. The very best way to see how a bronzer shade will look on your skin tone is to literally test it on your finger. If it has even the slightest orange cast, move on to the next one.