YSL Dupe? Lightening Touch by The Body Shop! Review.

The Touche Eclat by YSL is, in theory, a concealer that is used for a touch of radiance. I, however, use it as a highlighter as the product does not conceal well (you’ve probably heard this before). However, it highlights wonderfully and this is my second one! (I only purchase this at the Duty Free due to its high price). 

I wanted to find a dupe for this product because of the price, and I came across the Lightening Touch by The Body Shop.

This product is a terrible dupe and I do not recommend it for anyone. I am in the number 3 in The Body Shop product and in the number 2 from YSL. The Body Shop product costs $14.50 whereas the YSL costs $42.00. This extreme price gap was what initially drew me into these two products (I bought 2). 

The Lightening Touch is bigger and has more product, so I was really excited to try it out. However, when you twist the bottom, the product separates, leaving you with a pigmented solid texture and a clear thin gel-like liquid. I first thought that this was a mistake from the factory, so I opened the second one I got and the same thing happened. Even when I shook the pen, there was no difference in the outcome. You kind of have to mix the liquid and the solid together. 

After I mixed it together on the back of my hand, I put it under my eye, where it was very sheer, and very splotchy, with dark solid spots amidst the liquid of the product. 

This product did not 1) conceal anything 2) highlight anything. It was just an extra layer of useless product. 

I read some reviews online and saw that this problem occurred after The Body Shop changed their formula, and that this product was a great concealing dupe (even better – since it actually concealed) to the YSL Touche Eclat. 

As a rating, I give it half a star out of 5 mainly because of the amount of product that is given and the colour similarity to the YSL. 

Check out this post on tumblr: http://uniqueflowerpond.tumblr.com/post/155159225331/dupes-no-the-touche-eclat-by-ysl-is-in

Frank Provost Hair Products Review - ENGLISH

Hey everyone! 

I noticed this collection in Lebanon earlier this summer when I decided that I was literally going to purchase every single product on this line. Or just a line of products that I can use next to each other. I bought the shampoo, its matching conditioner, the hair mask, the leave-in conditioner, the mousse, and the heat protectant (which, honestly, I did not use).

I decided to try the whole range of products for three weeks to see the full effect of the range working on my hair in unison (how it is supposed to be used).

First, let me start of with, this is not going to be a good review. If you are a fan of their products, then great! I, unfortunately, am not. 

Chronologically, I started with the shampoo and conditioner in the shower, and l put the hair mask on my hair. After rinsing the shampoo and conditioner from my hair, I did not really see a difference right off of the bat, but when I rinsed the hair mask, I noticed my hair feeling smooth. The hair mask smelt like mosquito repellant. I hated its smell and hated using it every time I did (six times total).

However, first impression-wise, it did my hair wonders and made it feel smooth and soft. 

I then went out of the shower and put the leave in conditioner, that smelt out of the bottle disgusting, but smelt pretty amazing in my hair the next day. 

The mousse was good, I liked how it actually did give me volume the next day, but it did not smell very good, and lacked any smell at all the next morning. 

Now, I do blow-dry my hair every night, especially considering I am in a sports team and I come back from practice late at night and want to sleep right after. 

These products, for the first two weeks did me well. I loved them. They did not do anything bad, and my hair looked straight in the morning for school the next day, so I was content. 

The end of the third week, though, my hair resembled hay.. literal horse hay. 

I was so disheartened, I was so mad at Frank Provost for creating such a line, especially since it was compared to the Dessange line in my head.

Overall, I give this line a 2/10. 

It did nothing to my hair. It ruined it in the end. I do not know what product specifically was bad, but the whole range in general was atrocious. 

The leave-in conditioner smelt nice, and made my hair able to be brushed, but it did not nourish my hair. 

The mousse did what is said it did but smelt bad out of the bottle, and had no smell on the hair the next day, which is a downside for me. 

The hair mask, towards the end of the trial period, did nothing.

Lastly, the shampoo and conditioner never really did anything, so it was not really a let-down towards the end. 

My opinion? Never buying this range again. Maybe I'll consider the mousse in desperate times. 

I still have half of the products left, and I am dreading using them! 

What should I do with the remaining product???!! ugh.. 

*These pictures are not mine, and were taken from google images! 

My Moisturisation Essentials! How I Keep My Skin Soft While on Ro(Accutane)

I have been taking 40mg of Roaccutane (Accutane or Isotretinoin) to combat my acne. I have been taking it since around February, and my course finishes in around October. With Roaccutane comes a lot of drying of the skin, as what Roaccutane essentially does is prevent oil glands from secreting oil.

I have been using these products on my skin since I have started my treatment, and have never experienced any severe drying. 

My body is very sensitive to smells, and I can't really use any scented body lotions other than the ones from The Body Shop or Lush (or ones that are specifically hypoallergenic), so I am very careful with what I put on my body, and have come very close to perfecting my moisturization routine. 

Body:

• St. Ives Daily Hydrating Body Lotion with Vitamin E
• This product is all fast absorbing, non greasy, hypoallergenic, and smells really nice. 
• I use this product in the morning after I wake up all over my body. It is so nourishing, I feel the softness of it on my skin during the day too. 
• One bottle of this lasts so long even though it is being put on my whole body.
• Buy HERE

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula - Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks
• This product has Vitamin E, Collagen, Elastin, and Shea Butter. It is also hypoallergenic, so it works very well with my skin. 
• I use this product at night all over my body, concentrating on my bum, thighs, and arms. This product is very thick, and so a little goes a very long way, and it lasts very long. 
• Concerning the stretch marks, I do notice that they do start fading and new ones rarely ever pop up. 
• Buy HERE

Feet:

• Boots Cracked Heel Balm
• This product is a balm rather than a lotion, and has the consistency close to that of a melted caramel syrup. It is soo thick and soo sticky, I always just put one layer on the bottom of my feet at night, top it off with some socks, and wake up in the morning with nice soft feet. During the day, if I feel like my feet need some more moisture, I put it on before I put on my socks, otherwise I just put any of the body lotions (mostly the Cocoa Butter) that I use for my body (mentioned above). 
• Buy HERE

Face:

My face is the oiliest part of my body, so it does not really need a lot of moisturisation. Even while I am on Roaccutane. 

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios AC (30 SPF)
• This sunscreen is moisturising as is, so in the mornings I tend to just put this on my face. SPF can be moisturising on its own sometimes, and my skin appreciates it as it gets very oily with a moisturiser added as well
• Buy HERE

• Neutrogena Visibly Clear Oil-Free Moisturiser 
• This product is a really good moisturising one. I put it at night before I sleep on a bare face after I take off my makeup with the Neutrogena Deep Clean Wipes. I usually put this on every night, and sometimes during the day when my face feels a little dry. 
• Buy HERE

Lips:

In general, my lips get very dry some days. I use these two products for about two days, and my lips instantly feel better. 

• Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula
• This lip balm has SPF 15 and I use whenever I feel like I need to. My lips feel so smooth after wearing this. 
• Buy HERE

• Steripan Balm
• This lip balm looks like a gloss on the lips. It is so nourishing, and fixes dry lips within the same day.
• I could not find a website that has this online :(. I bought it from a local pharmacy.

Hair:

I was debating about whether to put this section in or not since Roaccutane literally dries everything, and I decided for it! I use a lot of hair products that moisturise, so I chose my favourite one to talk about. 

• Aussie 3-Minute Miracle in Moist
• This product is something I use every single day. Sometimes I put it on for the whole 3 minutes, and sometimes I just put it on enough to finish the rest of my body. I wake up each morning with nice bouncy waves in my hair that are soft, easy to manage, and nice. I do sometimes feel like my hair gets a little oily after using it so much, but in that case I just use a normal conditioner that I rinse immediately for around two days, and everything goes back to normal.
• Buy HERE

Review: Kylie Lip Kits + Glosses & Metallics + Swatches!

So of course it was only mandatory that I gave into the new beauty craze and made my first purchase on kyliecosmetics.com.

The following things are what I ordered:

Lip Kits

Koko K: This colour is a really nice one. It is very light and can look very natural on people with naturally pale skin or lips. I haven't been able to wear it properly though because of how tan I became during the summer.

Candy K: This lip kit is by far my favourite one. It is great for the day, and looks very natural and it lasts very long. It is advertised as Kylie Jenner's favourite, and is many people's favourites too.

Posie K: This lip kit is also one of my favourite ones too. I like wearing it at night to dinners or to parties. It stays on really well and lasts very long.

Kourt K: This lip kit is the worst one of the ones I bought. I heard because it is a dark colour, it goes on very streaky and patchy. The more that is layered, the more that that it chips. It is not worth the $29.

Overall, the lipsticks are really good depending on the colour. Also, the lipliner is the softest and creamiest lip product I have seen in a long while, and you can wear it on its own. The lip kits smell so sweet and nice as well.

Some shades are now being sold separately as its own lip liner and its own liquid lipstick for cheaper.

!!DISCLAIMER!!: I have tried putting the lip kits on by laying the lipliner all over the lips, and also by just outlining my lips.

Glosses & Metallics:

So Cute: This gloss does not stay on very long as it is a very light gloss shade. It is nothing at all as what is shown in the music video. I would wear it on top of a lip kit to make it look good.

Literally: This lip gloss is my favourite out of the two. It is the middle shade, so it is darker than so cute, but lighter than "Like". This lip gloss also does not last too long, but lasts longer than the So Cute.

Overall, the lip kits are a bigger value for money, having the lip glosses be only $15.

Heir(metallic): This 'matte' lip gloss is the furthest thing from matte. It does not stay on too long and comes off very easily. I think the shade I got was too light. The pigment is great, but when I rub my lips together it goes away. I want to try King K. ($18).

_________________________________________________________________________________

Right to Left: 

Koko K
Candy K
Posie K
Kourt K
Heir
So Cute
Literally

Review: Mac Prep + Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer

Description on Website:

"A tinted skin primer formulated with soft-focus powders to help even out skin tone and add radiance. Lightweight and invisible, it goes on under foundation or powder for a naturally perfect look and subtle glow. Helps protect against pollution and UV rays. Available in four tints: Illuminate adds radiance to a sallow complexion; Neutralize calms a red, blotchy complexion; Adjust brightens dull skin; and Recharge adds a little "boost" to any dull complexion. Fragrance free."

I have this product in "Neutralize".

This product is one of my favorite products out there. It is on the pricey end, and I did get my hands on it by taking it from my mother's vanity, but nonetheless, it is so worth it. 

This product claims to "even out skin tone and add radiance." This product, although has a matte feel, making it suitable for people with oily skin (like me), does not make the face look dull. It adds a glow-y look to the face, making it look healthy and luminous all day. I have worn this product for up to 8 hours (during school and work) and I love how it stays. I do find myself feeling a bit oily after I am out in direct sunlight, or after I have played sports, but it is never extreme. When I play sports, the oil usually goes away as my sweat dries up, and the oil left is enough to blot, but this product never claimed to be sweat-proof. 

As for the evening of the skin tone, I feel like it uses the shine characteristic of this product to keep the face blurred, and to even it out as much as possible. 

This product has SPF 35, which is perfect for the summer time. 

Because I am Roaccutane, or Accutane (Isotretinoin), my face is very blotchy with dry and oily patches all over my skin. This product really evens them out well, making my face look pretty much flawless and glow-y.

Now you may have noticed that I have been referring to this primer as a 'product' rather than a 'primer', and this is because I do not always use it as a primer. On hot summer days, I merely just put this on my face, maybe add a second layer, and conceal some impurities that I may have that day, and I'm good to go! 

Some other days, though, I do use it as a primer, putting a thin layer under my powder or pressed foundation, and putting a full face of makeup. However, I usually do not go for this product when I am looking for a primer as it is pretty pricey. 

I usually use this product with just a loose powder, MAC's NC20 sheer loose powder. 

Overall, I love this product, and I just wish they make bigger ones. 9/10. :) 

Miniature Haul! + Possible Review?

My aunt recently visited me and she bought me two products that she swears by...hoping that I would love them just as much.

These two products are:

Boots Simply Sensitive Cleansing Lotion & Gently Refreshing Toner

CLICK IMAGE TO PURCHASE

 

As my skin is super duper sensitive, I always go for fragrance free products. I am downright allergic to any product that has fragrance. I honestly am not sure if this allergy is only so intense only on my body, as when I put a scented body lotion on I get a rash the next day, or if it also is as bad on my face. I don't really want to experiment with that.

Anyways, I have been using Neutrogena's oil free makeup wipes to take off my makeup at the end of the day, but I feel like wipes don't really work to their best potential. I always feel like there is still more makeup on my face after. However, they are good for easy fixes, and when it's really late at night, or when I travel and space doesn't permit more than just a packet of wipes.

I am really excited to use these two products that I bought. Maybe a possible review will be up in a while??

Pool/Beach Essentials Summer 2015

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I know it is back to school time for most people, but throughout summer I have compiled a list of beach/pool essentials. This list only consists of essential products, not beachwear.

NIVEA SUN CAROTENE SUN LOTION: I usually put this on as soon as I reach. I love this stuff, it gives me a really nice colour and it helps me tan really fast.
BUY HERE

CLAIRE'S SUNGLASSES: These are really cute, they have aztec printed legs (which you can see if you click HERE)


GARNIER AMBRRE SOLAIRE: I usually put this on myself after being in the water for a long time. You're supposed to reapply the NIVEA one on after every time you get inside the water, but I like the effect that the mix gives.


LA ROCHE POSAY ANTHELIOS AC SP 30: This is a sunscreen that my dermatologist recommended for me while I'm out in the sun. The "AC" in the name stands for acne and is made for oily skin. I don't see that this actually does any mattifying but it does protect my face very well so I do steer clear of it during the day.
BUY HERE 

PINK "TOTALLY BEACHIN" MUG: I am not a big fan of making smoothies. Although I love them and would like to have one every single day, I just find that I never have the right ingredients to make one. I started using this closed mug (which, btw, holds both hot and cold water) and filling it to the top with ice, and putting a can of Ice Tea in it. The Ice Tea flavours that I have been loving lately are the Pina Colada and Daiquiri drinks*. I love this mug because it's really pretty and inspires me to stay hydrated out in the sun.
BUY HERE

*These are named after alcoholic drinks, but contain NO ALCOHOL in them. The brand is Lipton, if anyone was wondering. 

ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES BY JENNIFER NIVEN: I am still on like page 200 but I am loving it so far. It is such a cute book..
BUY HERE

TEEN VOGUE MAGAZINE: Yes, this IS the August issue. The reason this issue is in this is because I have been loving reading it at the beach when I am looking for something nice to here
SUBSCRIBE TO VOGUE MAGAZINE HERE