My Thoughts Corner

Occasionally I come close some of the products that miss the mark. Although I tend to make considered purchased, there are some bits and bobs that don’t live up the hype or let me be more specific, they don’t live up to MY expectations. Once again, in these kind of posts, I emphasize that the products didn’t work for me only but they aren’t necessarily bad and might be HG for others. 

Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer | This is a product that has been well hyped and everyone seem to go nuts for it except few and I’m one of those. I first had to purchase it online as it wasn’t available in UAE or if it was, the price was 3 or 4 times more. Not only it took forever to reach but also it was shredded. I let you guess my frustration… I took a deep breath though and was hoping that the bronzer will blow my mind and make me overcome my first letdown but since it’s mentioned in this post, it didn’t. It is a smooth powder that’s bordering a cream, gives a warm glow, the smell takes you to a tropical island and all that jazz. BUT it did translate into nothing on my light skin tone, seriously nothing! The packaging, despite the lovely print, is too bulky. The Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer is a good product but only for a niche skin tone, being the pale gals. 

Max Factor Creme Puff Pressed Powder | Max Factor, founded by the man who invented the word “make up”, is a brand I haven’t tried much from. Recently, I have read a touching history about their pressed powder; Creme Puff. It’s a product that has been passed down generations. It’s even mentioned somewhere that it was the only pressed powder back then, unfortunately I’ve got nothing on hand to affirm the said, yet I honestly can’t seem to get how such product survived all these years. The powder is an old-fashioned formula that has a quite rough texture at touch, which perfectly explains the heaviness on the skin once on. It literally felt like an air blocking layer on top and looked chalky and cakey on my skin. The strong baby powder scent it has, was another disappointment adding to it the very dark shade range for a pressed powder. Sadly, the Max Factor Crème Puff Pressed Powder doesn’t meet my makeup concerns at no level.  

Catrice AllRound Contouring Palette | As a contour lover, I have been on the lookout for the best cream contour product for quite some time. Still I have to admit that I enjoy the Maybelline Master Contour V Shape Duo Stick, talked about here, however the more I got to the bottom the harder it gets to apply. Having spotted the Catrice Contouring Palette and for just few bucks, I could only help myself get it and I regret it. The packaging is great; very sleek and travel friendly. Nevertheless, the creams are not soft as a cream product is supposed to be and are truly hard to work with. The pigmentation is again very opaque letting the shades blend into nothing. With this I guess my quest for the perfect cream contour is still on. 

I Heart Chocolate Bronze And Glow | Unusually, this is no dupe. As we all know, the I Heart Makeup rocked the packaging of the chocolate palette range. For a matter of fact, I picked this one for its packaging. The powders are soft creamy yet a lot of fallout is noteworthy. Not to mention that the bronzer is not even visible on my light complexion even when I tried to build it up. Regrettably, the Bonze And Glow palette comes in one shade and would only thrill the pale skin folks. 

Kiko Eyebrow Fibers Coloured Mascara | I picked this product in the hope to find and affordable dupe to my beloved Benefit Gimme Brow but I didn’t. It is quite pigmented I’ve got to admit and has a liquid-y formula which ain’t practical as well as the huge wand as I always end up having some product on my forehead that I have to clean while I prefer a small wand to target the small hair without making a mess. Another drawback is the longevity; the Kiko Eyebrow Fibers held my brows in place but as long as the benefit one does. 

Catrice Re-Touch Light-Reflecting Concealer | My experience with this one was terrible. Simply it’s none of what it claims. It’s way too thick for an under eye, too drying and heavy. In fact, it accentuated my fine lines like no other concealer. The twist was also a nightmare; I kept turning for too long and once the product popped it was way too much. 

This is it for this day.

I’m an organizing freak and I loooove a good declutter … Every now and then I go around the house downsizing all categories and my makeup drawers ain’t any exception.  Though, in this process, there are some bits I find myself torn if I should keep or not; afraid that one day I might need them but in reality, if there is no added value then there is no point keeping it… To give an end to my misery, I usually give my maybe pile a last try and settle on which ones are worth holding on to and those to be tossed/given away. 

E.L.F Beautifully Bare Foundation Serum | I have listed this one back in 2016 in my “Disappointing Products”, yet I kept it to give it a proper go as a “tinted primer” and I haven’t. I certainly couldn’t wear it on its own as I love a good coverage, but this time, I went on with my concealer on top of my flaws and to my surprise this little bottle wowed me; it’s insanely lightweight and it makes my skin look so radiant and even. With an SPF 25, this foundation would make a great choice for summer days and the no makeup looks. For the time being, this bottle is going nowhere and will definitely retain it. 

Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette | Regular readers would know by now that I’m a huge fan of Makeup Revolution as it stands and when I spotted this palette I had to have it. It is certainly a different palette than the MR’s typical ones in terms of design, shadow size pan and versatility. Though I do like the great finish/color diversity, the pigmentation of some shades didn’t do a whole lot for me making them quite hard to work with. I have been trying this one on and off but, despite all the hype it was around it, I couldn’t make myself love it as much as the Iconic Pro 1, Pro 2 or the recently reviewed Neutrals Vs New-trals palette. Therefore, I’m passing this along to someone who could make a better use out of it.

Catrice High Glow Mineral Highlighting Powder | It is the only baked highlighter I own. I was very excited to have it but not so much after I tried it. It is a silvery champagne shade that’s supposed to provide a glamorous glow, but that was too obvious on my skin tone. The texture as well is quiet dry for my liking and has a lot of kick off leaving a chaos of stubborn glitter on my face. Unfortunately, this is a pass. 

Too Faced Rock N Roll Palette | I first got this palette for the packaging. I loved the color theme of the eyeshadows but never thought that’s what I would go for one day. And I did. And I loved it! To make the whole story short it’s a “glam meets pretty”. However, two things not to forget with this palette; wet your brush for an intense metallic/foiled effect and DO YOUR EYES FIRST. The shadows easily last for a good 8-9 hours. This is another one that’s for now going nowhere. It is a KEEP. 

Maybelline Colossal Go Extreme! Leather Black Volume Mascara | It is usually difficult for me to fall in love with a mascara and once I do I stick to it. Maybelline makes some of my favorite ones and when I got my hand on the Colossal Go Extreme I assumed it’s at the same level of quality. But No. I normally look for volume and length, as I’m blessed with none, and this one claims to offer extra volume and that’s not at all what I got… I’m also not a big of the wand shape as I like it to get to the tiniest of my lashes which is not the case here. I couldn’t see any added value. Currently, I have few other mascaras that I love way more than this one. 

At last, I’m keeping 2 products out of 5. It surely makes me feel good despite that’s not a huge number looking at my entire makeup collection. This is it for today. Stay tuned as there is more to come!

I never had the guts to try warm eyeshadows, simply because, and do not ask me where I got that idea from??, such hues aren’t for a brown eyed chick… I’m in fact a neutral shade sucker. Nevertheless, and only by an act of curiosity, I got my hands over the Makeup Revolution New-Trals Vs Neutrals palette. I own it for about a year but I started playing with the warms just two months back... And now, I’m wondering why the heck I waited this long.

The purpose of this palette’s naming is to enlighten folks, such as myself, about the “new” neutral shades (maroons, burnt oranges and peaches) vs the traditional ones. And as with most of MUR palettes, the formula of the New-Trals vs Neutrals is incredibly creamy and buttery and the pigment is absolutely there. However, wetting the brush before application of the metallic shades would be a huge game changer and help them pop even more on the lid.

Once more, Makeup Revolution got me impressed by how beautifully these shades apply and moreover they wonderfully last with or without a primer for a good 6-7 hours. The quality is no doubt up a notch.

And just like the Iconic Pro 1 and Pro 2 palettes, this one also comes in a black matte finish sturdy plastic case with a large mirror and a usable double ended brush, for me at least. I would hope though that Makeup Revolution would start printing the shade names on the actual palettes as keeping the transparent sheet could be a bit of a challenge.

I really appreciate how well balanced this palette is; the color selection is of warms, cool tones and classic neutrals with a variety of finishes; mattes, shimmers and few pops of glitters. It’s certainly a great complete palette that has a solid collection of on-trend shades.

I leave you with the swatch and will talk to you soon …Stay tuned!

Since I took part in the beauty community, I read tons of reviews raving about the Lorac Pro Palettes. As I couldn’t legitimize the price, I only picked their dupes from Makeup Revolution, which I reviewed here and here. But, when I first glimpsed their third edition, the Lorac Pro 3, I HAD TO HAVE IT….  And I DID. Let’s take a look!

The Lorac Pro 3 palette features 8 matte and 8 shimmer shades housed into a slim and compact creamy beige cardboard with a mini Behind the Scenes eyeshadow primer, which I have used once and didn’t like.

The color selection here focuses more on light nudes and warm neutrals, presented in a nice mix of highlighting, transition and definition shades, which makes this palette a complete one. The formula of these eyeshadows is simply gorgeous and buttery with a mind-blowing pigmentation. There is though quite a bit of fallout during application but that doesn’t translate to chalkiness or dryness … It’s quite the opposite! The eyeshadows actually blend silky. It’s with no doubt, one of the best formulas out there!

1^st Row

2^nd Row

As of the small size of the pans and the powdery formula that kicks up a bit at each use, it actually results in a messy palette and believe me it’s a real pain to keep it clean.

The Lorac Pro 3 palette is my first from this range and certainly not the last. It is a worthwhile investment in my palette obsession. The eyeshadows are finely milled and easy to work with. There isn’t one shade in this entire palette that I haven’t or won’t use. The palette is a gorgeous option for every day, from “barely there” to “full matte smudged eye”. I’m delighted with this palette and find myself reaching for it every single day since I got it. It is simply the perfect image of a neutral palette.

Welcome back to my blog! Wishing all a lovely new year 2017 full of love, health and joy!!

I’m starting this year with a review of the Makeup Revolution Light & Shade Palette which is an obvious dupe of the Kat Von D Shade + Light Palette.

I never imagined myself getting my hands on a complete matte eyeshadow palette, for the reason that I love a versatile one. However, after reading and watching many bloggers raving about the Kat Von D palette, I didn’t mind spending a small amount on the dupe to get an initial thought.  

The Shade + Light is a fully matte palette where the shadows are divided into quads of neutral, cool and warm shades which makes combining them easy for a main purpose of contouring the eyes for more definition. A double ended brush is also included in this palette.

The new talc free formula seems to do its magic here. The shades are soft and apply smoothly and easily with a minimal fallout but nothing that can’t be handled. The blendability and pigmentation are also impressive. I have to admit that I was quite skeptical about this palette when I first got it. And it’s fully matte, I thought there won’t be a lot of choices in term of looks whereas I’m amazed at the variety of looks you can create using the Light & Shade palette.

| Neutral Shades Swatches |

| Cool Shades Swatches |

| Warm Shades Swatches |

The packaging though is a total fail. I wasn’t expecting a cheap quality especially for such a gorgeous palette. I think an Iconic Pro kinda packaging would have been a better suit.

Unlike what I expected I love this palette. Makeup Revolution once more is offering an amazing product. It’s perfect for everyday use offering a wide range of matte shadows to be used in every single look. It’s with no doubt a must have for every beauty guru.

Thank you for reading.

Lightweight is a main norm for me to pick a foundation and that goes hand in hand along with the medium to full coverage that it offers. In 2016 I’ve been enjoying few of them so let’s get started.

My latest purchase is the Urban Decay Naked SkinWeightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup that I love since I got it. It’s such a nice foundation that feels like nothing, just like the name states, and gives a great coverage without being heavy or cakey. It also enables the skin to seem more radiant thanks to its light reflecting pigments and blurs all imperfections.

The Maybelline Instant Age Rewind The Eraser TreatmentMakeup is another foundation of choice of mine. It makes my skin look radiant and healthy and provides a medium coverage with a lovely satin finish.

The next foundation I will talk about is my first on its category and I’m so addicted to it; the Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in shades NC20 and NC35. This product is one of those smart ones as it reacts as a foundation and setting powder. The coverage offered is medium to full and feels like skin with a great staying power. For a fact, it’s my top foundation of the moment along with the Urban Decay.

Time for setting all that foundation and for that purpose I’ve been liking few. I will start with the banana powder in elfcontour palette which I use to set my concealer and brighten my under eye.  The powder itself is very soft, pigmented and blends easily.

Loose powders are not my thing just because it tends to be messy however I still own some and The NYX Mineral Matte Finishing Powder is my favorite. I was attracted by how soft and finely milled the powder is. It gives such a natural silky finish and I also appreciate how comfortable it feels once on.

My latest acquisition is the Urban Decay De-SlickMattifying Powder. Let’s first take a moment to appreciate the stunning packaging of this beauty. It’s a great pressed powder that adds radiance and glow to the skin without providing a natural and flawless finish.  

This is my current trust-y bunch of base products but I certainly have a longer wish list that I want to try.

Thank you for reading!!! 

Two months back the Makeup Revolution Golden Sugar Blush Palette was a part of my Summer Highlighter Picks post and it is one of the favorite highlighter palettes among bloggers community. Today I’m not coming with a full review on this one but I’m sharing my thoughts on the all new Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold Blush Palette. Let’s check it out!

Naturally some shades will stand out for some skin tones better than others but of course what might not work as blush, bronzer or highlighter could certainly be used as an eyeshadow and for that the bottom two shades (7,8) from the right will serve me that purpose.

My favorite shades are the top right matte (4) which is a great bronzer for warming up most skin tones but maybe not the dark ones, the pink shades (1) with mauve undertones and (6) a shimmer pink that are perfect blushes that add a lovely flush and lastly the highlighters (2,3,5) that vary from peach, golden champagne and a rose gold which I find stunning and believe me that’s quite weird coming from someone who’s not into highlighters at all.

Honestly there is no way to fault Makeup Revolution on this palette, or most of their products. It a gorgeous palette that’s great for travelling with a remarkable pigmentation that provides a dewy finish and a good longevity too!! As for which one of the blush palettes I prefer, I believe the original one is suited for all year round while the Golden Sugar 2 Rose Gold is more appropriate for summer time.

Have tried this palette? What are your thoughts on it? 

Just like every beauty guru, I tend to focused more on the latest releases while some beauty gems, though they are must-haves, seem to slip under the radar and don’t get the coverage and love they truly deserve. Hence, I thought of sharing my first batch of overlooked bits that make a difference in my beauty routine.

Throughout the years, I’ve tried several mascaras but I always kept a permanent spot for the Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara in my makeup stash. It’s been my trusty mascara for so long. Not only it delivers nice clump free length and definition to my lashes but it beautifully separates them from root to tip leaving the lashes looking 100% natural. This fantastic mascara also grants volume in a major way for some eye pop.

The second product that I’ve been enjoying lately and haven’t seen it in the spotlight is the Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base. It has a light creamy texture with a matte finish that doesn’t crease. It is very easy to work with and blends like a dream neutralizing the eyelid discoloration. The Essence eyeshadow primer, certainly enhances my eyeshadows color intensity and lasting power.

My lips are constantly dry and chapped and in my hunt for lipsticks I always stay away from matte formulas. I recently though gave the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks a try in the shades 09 Happy Nude Year and 10 Don`t Pink Of It and I’m glad I did. Despite the matte finish, the Bourjois lipsticks are comfortable matte and non-drying. The formula is lightweight and creamy with an impressive longevity. The color payoff is simply intense. I love them!

Few months back I picked the elf cream blush palette in soft since, you know, I don’t have the self-control to forgo any sort of blush. The palette offers a mixture of colors that alter from nude pinks to corals which makes them perfect for an everyday natural look. The shades are creamy in texture, nicely pigmented and ultra-buildable.

Thank you for stopping by … Until next time!!

Hello Beauties,

Following on my post about the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 1 Palette, I figured out it won’t take long before my next makeup revolution review takes place. For instance, I will talk about the sister palette, hence, the Makeup Revolution Iconic Pro 2 Palette. Let’s take a look!

I’ve got to say that there are a lot of similarities in here between the two palettes. The quality of casing is the same as the Pro 1, which adds a luxurious feel and definitely doesn’t match the bargain price. A double sided brush is included in here, which I actually don’t mind using for a simple eye look since it gets the job done, along with a huge mirror.

Just like its sister, the Iconic Pro 2 contains 16 gorgeous shades, each housed in a large pan. The colors vary between neutral, earthy and pearly tones making it a great choice for everyday wear. The formula is creamy, highly pigmented, apply effortlessly and the staying power is just impressive. Simply fabulous!

I’m really glad I got this palette, it’s definitely a must own especially at its price, quality and range of the colours. I’m impressed. Simply it’s just another incredible Makeup Revolution Palette.

This is it for today, hope you enjoyed. Have a great day!

| Bare Face|

| Green Concealer for my red and black spots and Pink for my under eye area |

| Maybelline Foundation applied |

NYX Highlighting & Contouring Pro Palette | Highlighters swatches