Review: e.l.f. Studio Glitter Gloss in Ruby Raspberry

 Ever since the launch of these new Glitter Glosses by e.l.f. USA, I had my eye on a few of them but I only ended up getting one shade after I have seen/read mixed reviews on them and from swatches, this was the only shade that really appealed to me.

I got the shade Ruby Raspberry and since the product is part of the Studio Line, it has very nice, sleek black packaging and I like the transparent bottom as I can see how much I have got left. The tube is small enough to fit in a clutch bag so it is ace to carry with you for touch-ups. The applicator is not the usual doe foot but it is a brush applicator instead. While some people tend to dislike this kind of applicator, I can say I like it, maybe because I have never had any issues with it.  One final note on the packaging is that the gloss closes tightly and the cap aligns perfectly with the rest of the packaging without leaving any messy residues.

Now this gloss is true to its name in the sense that it is extremely glittery and hence you can pair it with other lip products to give your lips a sparkly look but it is pigmented enough to be worn on its own.  I personally like to pair it with the following lipsticks mostly: e.l.f. Sociable, e.l.f. Studio Matte Lip Color in Natural, & Catrice Ultimate Colour Lipstick in Pink Me Up!  

I was kind of worried when I first got this gloss as I had seen countless reviews saying the glitter is very gritty and some even claimed they cut their lips on it.  With all honesty, I have never had such a problem with this gloss, but if you rub your lips together you will feel the glitter a little, just not as gritty as some have described it.  The texture is a bit on the sticky side but not too much (tip: eliminate stickiness by wearing the gloss over some lip balm). As for staying power, this gloss lasts around 3 to 4 hours on my lips.  One more thing I really like about this gloss is the sweet vanilla scent.

Overall, I would buy this lip gloss again once it's finished but if e.l.f. could use finer glitter, I think that would be better. I am really looking forward to try the Glossy Glosses now :) 

The Studio Glitter Glosses are available in 10 sparkly shades from the e.l.f. cosmetics website and they retail for €4/£3.50 for 6.8g of product.  

Review: e.l.f. Lengthening & Defining Mascara

E.l.f. Cosmetics always come up with some sort of sets/collections during the Holiday season and sometimes, they would contain products that are not usually available for individual sale.  This was the case with the e.l.f. Limited Edition Christmas Get the Look Set Day to Night from the 2010 Holiday Collection.

I really liked the mascara in the set and I was thrilled when they finally released it on it's own as part of their Essentials line.  Moreover, it is available in two shades, namely Black Brown and Black.  So, since I live in Malta, I had to wait for the UK site to stock this mascara and as soon as it was available, I ordered three (2 black and 1 brown) of it... yes that is how much I like this mascara! On a side note, I don't like splurging on a mascara as it has such a short shelf-life.  I'd rather splurge on a lipstick!

So, when I got them, they were packaged in a blister pack and the mascara tube is pretty standard; all black for the black ones and a brown tube and black cap for the brown one.  I only opened the brown one and one of the blacks initially so as not to introduce any bacteria in the one I wasn't gonna use yet.  

But I was really gutted to find that the black one was all clumped!! At least the brown one was ok and I could use it normally. So, I went ahead and opened the other black mascara, only to find that it was also clumped!! Here are pictures to show you what I am talking about:

So, since my black ones were clumped, they couldn't apply properly and they clumped my lashes instantly.  I really don't know what was wrong with them as the original one was so good!  Anyways, with the brown one I was really (read extremely) satisfied as it worked fine and even gives my lashes a fanned out effect, much like wearing falsies! So much so that whenever I'm wearing it, it's not the first time people ask me whether I'm wearing falsies or not.  The wand is pretty standard and is made out of traditional fibers.

I even ended up getting one for Mum as she wanted a nice mascara that makes her lashes stand out without breaking the bank.  With regards colour, the mascara is true to it's shade name... Black Brown as it has hints of brown and doesn't look as dramatic as a black mascara.

Swatches: Black Brown on the left vs Black on the right

So overall, I still like this mascara and I will be repurchasing the brown one, just not the black one! You can get this mascara from the e.l.f. cosmetics website for only €1.70!!

Review: Montagne Jeunesse Green Tea Peel-Off Masque

Working night shifts has had it's toll on my skin but thank God it is now getting used to them.  However, I always make it a point that whenever I can, I treat my skin once a week to a deep-cleansing facial and for these past weeks, I have been using a peel-off masque from my favourite face masque company, Montagne Jeunesse.  More specifically, I have been using the Green Tea Peel-Off Masque.

Besides Green Tea, this masque contains Ginger which helps reduce skin inflammation whilst maintaining the skin's elasticity and firmness as well as cleansing the skin of dirt and grime thanks to it's antibacterial properties; sqeezed Lemon is another constituent of this masque and it helps with revitalising and refreshing the skin (for ways on how you can incorporate lemon in your skin care and beauty regime, click here).  

The smell of this masque somehow conjures up images of Thai spas in my mind with the faint ginger and green tea scent and the colour and texture remind me of lemon flavoured jelly.  I know, yummy!! And your skin will thank you for using such a masque to aid it detoxify from everyday pollution and give it a deeper cleanse!

What's more? This masque will leave your conscience clear as much as your skin as Montange Jeunesse do not test on animals or use bits of our furry friends in their products! Moreover, this masque is suitable for Vegans, Coeliacs (gluten-intolerant individuals), Lactose and Nut intolerant individuals and it is also paraben free so skin really is in for a treat!

From my personal experience, I noticed that my skin looks instantly brighter upon using this masque and it truly feels deeply cleansed.  There is something about having to peel such masks that leaves me more confident that my skin in really clean.  The only downside to peel-off masques is that they can be quite messy to apply but on the other hand, they are very easy to take off!  I totally recommend this masque to anyone with blemish prone skin and anyone else who wants to give their skin a brand new start the natural way!

NOTW: International Women's Day

Good morning everyone :) So as you know last Friday was International Women's Day, a day that celebrates women and our struggle for equality in all aspects of life.  For the occasion, I went for a pink toned manicure but you can always use your favourite colours of course! 

This design is very easy to create and if you want to learn how I did it, then read on for the tutorial ;)

1. Apply a base coat to protect your nails and then follow with two coats of a nude pink polish.  Make sure you allow the different coats to dry before putting on the next.  I used Orly Nailtrition as a base coat and Essie Vanity Fairest as my nude pink polish.

2. With a make-up sponge. sponge some silver foil polish over the tips and also go slightly lower on the nails. When dry, proceed with a pink polish and use the same technique to sponge it on the silver polish.  Here I used Orly Dazzle and Rimmel 60 Seconds Starlet respectively.

3. To add a more girly touch, I applied a Hello Kitty bow sticker motif on my ring fingers.  

4. Finish off with a glossy top-coat such as Orly Top 2 Bottom to seal your design and make it last longer.

Essence & Catrice Cosmetics: Haul & First Impressions

I'm so excited to share this haul with you guys! It's rather small as I only picked up a few products to try out Catrice which is a brand I have waited for the longest time to be launched in Malta!! So earlier this week, the largest stand was set up at Tony's Pharmacy and on Thursday I met up with Martina, Dyna and Maria for some make-up shopping :D This is what I picked up:

Essence Express Dry Drops

Color & Go nail polish in Time For Romance

Catrice Ultimate Colour Lipsticks in The Nuder The Better & Pink Me Up!

(notice the different bullets) 

Catrice Intensif'Eye Wet & Dry Shadow in Black or White Swan?!

Colour Show Colour & Stay Lipgloss in Toast With Champagne

Now I can end the torture of not trying out the products before I take pictures but I can still give you some first impressions on the products as there were testers available and I could swatch the products before buying and that is always great!  In general Catrice is more 'expensive' than Essence with prices ranging between €4 and €6 for most items and it also looks more professional overall. 

The lipsticks are very creamy and pigmented and I like that the colour pay-off is intense from the very first application.  I am also a big fan of the sturdy packaging as it looks sleek and doesn't feel like it will break any minute.  In fact, these lipsticks are quite heavy when compared to others I have and I like that!  I have not yet tried the lipgloss but I'm quite fond of the colour and applicator and I like the fact you get a decent amount of product (5ml).  I think the lip products were all €4.50 each.  Lastly the eyeshadow is very pigmented and shimmery so it is more adapted for a night out.  I think it is best used wet rather than dry and make sure to use a very good base as it will stay in place longer than if used dry.

So that is all for now... I wish I got something out of the Legends of the Sky collection but nothing really stood out to me.  Overall I really do like Catrice so I will be purchasing more stuff from their range for sure.  What are your recommendations?

Review: Essence 24h Hand Protection Balm in Vanilla Apple Pie (Winter Edition)

Today I have a rave review of a product I have been using ever since I got it and as much as I am trying my best to revert to other hand creams I have just to make it last for as long as possible, I can't seem to stop taking whiffs out of it and consequently end up applying it... I'm talking about none other than the Essence 24h Hand Protection Balm in Vanilla Apple Pie (Winter Edition).

Now I am an avid hand cream user and over the last couple of years I have accumulated quite a few so I know my good ones and the bad ones.  This falls under the 'good' category.  I first heard of this product from Denise of All Things Fabulous Blog and when I went to Tony's Pharmacy last month I saw the last tube of this product and since I'm a sucker for everything vanilla, I grabbed faster than I could say Essence... and I'm so glad I did!!

The divine-smelling cream comes in a 75ml tube with a nice, warm 'illustration' of the product's scent.  The cream itself is white and has a rather thick consistency and a little will go a long way.  It doesn't leave a greasy residue when only a small amount is used but if you use a little too much, it is bound to take more time to be absorbed into your skin.  Controlling how much product you put out shouldn't be a problem though because of the actual packaging.

Being small, this hand cream is ideal to take with you out and about and personally, I always carry it around in my lab coat when I am at work to moisturise my hands and leave them smelling good after taking off the not-so-nice-smelling latex gloves. 

The only thing I am disappointed about with this product is the fact that it is a Winter Edition and I'm not sure if Essence will re-release it next winter so if I manage to catch sight of another one, I'll be sure to pick it up fast!  Needless to say, I totally recommend this product and the best part is that I bought it for only €1.50!!

So that was my two cents on this product. Have you ever tried it?

Tag: Nail Polish Addict

I just saw this fun tag on Christine's blog and wanted to share with you all my answers to these 10 nail polish related questions :) Enjoy and link me back your responses if you decide you want to this tag as well! 

Whats your favorite nail polish company? 

My favorite nail polish company is without any doubt China Glaze.  I get my polishes off ebay as over here in Malta I only know of one shop that sells the brand and each polish retails for around €7 whereas on the internet I can get them for €4 - €5. I also like the Color & Go range by Essence Cosmetics as they have a nice selection of colours and they only retail for around €1.40!

Glitter or no glitter? 

Depends on the occasion really as glitter is quite stubborn to remove and even with the foil removal method, I always end up with glitter all over my hands lol.  None the less, I still love playing around with glitter nail polishes because they can change the look of a nail polish instantly!

OPI, China Glaze or Essie?

I have never tried OPI as I just can't bring myself to fork out €9.95 or more on a bottle of nail polish so I cannot really comment on the brand.  On the other hand, I have tried both China Glaze and Essie and while I love the Essies I have in my collection, I prefer the China Glaze formulation as it lasts longer on my nails. Also, China Glaze are always coming up with fun collections and at the moment I'm really lemming some polishes from the Prismatic and the Safari Collections.

When do you change your nail polish?

I usually change my nail polish every week but sometimes I find myself changing it twice a week especially when I buy a bunch of new ones :)

Whats your favorite color on your nails?

Pinks, reds and purples are the colours I reach for most often but I do like to change it up every once in a while and opt for a green or blue or any other colour! 

Dark or bright? 

Both! You will never see me sporting full on black nails though... I hate black!

What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?

I'm actually donning a fresh manicure! It's quite girly and I have used the sponging technique. Stay tuned for the tutorial ;)

Matte nails - in or out?

I have tried matte nails but I still cannot decide whether I like them or not as I do prefer shiny nails.  However, dark colours tend to look better matte. I just need to experiment a little more ;) 

French manicure?

Definitely yes!! It is French so I like it :P Joking apart, I just can't a resist a well done French manicure as it looks so clean and fresh.

Favorite winter color?

Hmmm a nice reddish plum or taupe/greige are my go-to winter nail colours.

I tag all of you to do this fun tag. I would love to see your answers to these questions.