Hi Divas

Lip gloss is usually one of the first cosmetic products a young girl will own when introduced to cosmetics. For me, lip gloss brings back such nostalgic memories of when I was a young teen. Whipping out a lip gloss from my bag or pocket made me feel pretty, girlish and confident. Rimmel brought back all these wonderful nostalgic and sentimental feelings for me when I tried their new Thrill Seeker Glassy Gloss. Instead this time I have evolved from those pre-teen giddy feelings to confident girl boss energy. These lip glosses are fun yet exude a bold panache. The glosses promise plump, hydrated lips all day with a glassy shine. I am usually a matte girl but I love a good glossy shine occasionally to pizzazz my makeup looks.

 

Rimmel's Thrill Seeker Glassy Gloss has a caring vegan formula, infused with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants. These boost moisture for instant hydration. Some gloss products can be drying throughout the day, but Rimmel has secured our lips with moisturised ingredients for a soft pout. There are 13 shades to choose from depending on availability in your country. I tested 3 new shades in 100 Coco Suga, 500 Pine To The Apple and 600 Berry Glace. Each lip gloss has its own unique juicy scent. It's a mixture of fresh summer fruits with the sweetness of sugar. It smells like a fruity Popsicle on a hot Summers day. The scent is playful and makes it a joy to apply and wear throughout the day.

The lip gloss comes in an amazing 10 ml size. This is almost double than most competitive brands on the shelf. The doe foot applicator is huge and plush for a seamless application. I love that I can cover my lips in product with one swipe without double dipping. The plush applicator picks up a lot of product in one go. This is super convenient if you are in a hurry and want a quick touch-up with minimal effort. The texture of these lip glosses is a 10/10. The formula is non-sticky and feels so comfortable on the lips. It is definitely hydrating and delivers a glossy shine. The pigmentation of the shades is pretty and subtle. They are not too overpowering which makes them perfect to wear on their own or as a topper.

 

Hi Divas

 

The Festive Season is here and I have 3 amazing products from Wet n' Wild to help you create the perfect party looks. Whether hosting a Christmas dinner, getting ready for a New Year's party or enjoying a festival concert out of town, these products will glam up your holiday style. Wet n' Wild is a wonderful brand that should not be slept on. Their cosmetics come in an array of colours, shades and innovative trendy designs. There is always something for everybody when it comes to their makeup range. A woman can never go wrong with a little sparkle on the eyes or a pop of colour on the lips to add extra glamour. You cannot forget a touch of concealer to obscure those unwanted blemishes too.  

These nifty eyeshadow palettes are the perfect size to pop in a cosmetics travel bag and do a quick makeup look on the go. It has all the colours and texture combinations to create a versatile look. I have the palette Camo Flaunt which has warm-toned shades of matte camel brown, rose gold satin, reddish-toned pressed glitter, metallic silver sparkle and a deep matte brown for depth. As you can see in the swatches below, the shades are pigmented and have a great formula. They are not chalky at all and they blend really well. The glitters and sparkles do need a sticky base to adhere to. I suggest using a concealer or eyeshadow primer as your base and pressing the glitters onto your lid with a finger for precise application.

The Incognito concealer comes in a variety of shades and has medium to full coverage. The matte formula has built-in moisturising ingredients such as Shea Butter and Mango Seed Butter. The texture is lightweight and blends out seamlessly giving a natural finish. It is an excellent everyday concealer that covers under-eye circles and blemishes well. Even though it states that it is matte, the formula is not drying at all. It is a perfect combination of durable coverage and creamy consistency. The product is a true hidden gem as most consumers spend a fortune on this type of coverage. I love to use it on my eyelids to even out my skin tone and provide a tacky base for eyeshadows to adhere to.

 

This is a dual-ended lip colour with a pigmented colour on one end and a high shine gloss at the rear. Ingredients include Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil and rich antioxidant Passionfruit Seed Oil. The two in one lip combo has a radiant colour and comes in many shades. I have the shade LA Pink. The product has a built-in brush applicator on both sides making for easy and mess-free application. The formula is buildable, long-lasting and very comfortable to wear on the lips. It has a non-sticky texture and feels hydrating throughout the day. I generally only touch up after I eat. This is a budget friendly lip duo that gives great pigmentation and a glossy shine. 

 

I absolutely love the look I created with these Wet n' Wild products. This is glam on a budget but gives luxury results. My absolute favourite product used was the eyeshadow pan. The shades are versatile and fun to use. All the products are great on the wallet and have excellent coverage and pigmentation. Quick and easy makeup looks are now within reach. Let me know what your favourite products are from the brand down below.

Hi Divas
 

It's been years since I purchased an eyeshadow palette. I never felt the need to add to my collection since the dreaded lockdown days. I have been using the palettes in my collection intending to hit pan on all of them. When I passed the Essence stand a while ago to top up on some makeup essentials, I couldn't let this beauty pass by. The palette is named after my beautiful home town Cape Town and that was enough reason for me to make a transaction at the till. Upon opening the palette, to my surprise, it was filled with an exciting colour story. I was very eager to play with it as these eyeshadows were quite different from my collection.

The palette is designed with a sturdy cardboard casing that makes it light and easy to travel with. The length and width of the casing are perfect sizes. It is not cumbersome to use. I was surprised by the large mirror inside, making it a nifty case to escort around. The cover is a picturesque aerial shot of the iconic Cape Town views. Table Mountain stands tall looking over the gorgeous coastline and bustling city arena. This is the beauty of Cape Town captured in one picture; the colourful sites of the city along with its vibrant culture and diverse nature.

There are 12 bold shades in the palette consisting of 5 shimmers and 7 mattes. The variety of shades is what makes this palette an absolute winner. The 5 shimmers are yellow gold, rose gold, metallic silver and aquatic blue. The mattes are 3 neutral shades in two browns and cream, making great transition shades. The rest are a bold orange, leafy green and two shades of sea blues. I just love the cute tree and lion embossed on the pans. There are no names allocated to the eyeshadows, but the stark contrast in colours makes it forgivable. The pans are large and will last quite a long time. What a fun and fresh design. It makes me delighted to use the eyeshadows.

As you can see in the swatches, the colours really pack a punch. They are pigmented and have great colour payoff. I was especially surprised by the performance of the matte shades. They truly blended well on my eyes and were bold not only in the pans but on the eyelids too. Some of the shimmers are a bit chunky and you will need a concealer or eyeshadow primer to help them adhere to the skin. This especially applies to the gold shade. I prefer to use my finger to pack the pigment on. I used a combination of 5 shades. For my brow bone the white-cream and for my crease a combination of  light matte brown and bold orange. I carefully placed the gold shimmer on my lids as this eyeshadow has the most fallout in all the pans. For a pop of colour, I blended the two matte blues alongside the blue shimmer on my lower lash line.

This palette is gorgeous and you can create a variety of looks. If you are someone who wants to explore colourful makeup looks, this is the perfect palette to jump into. It's easy to work with and not intimidating. The mattes especially blend wonderfully. You can easily create a vibrant eye for any occasion. If you are a makeup fanatic like me, this is an excellent option to add to your growing collection. Have you purchased this palette?
 Let me know your thoughts below!

Hi Divas

Affordable and good quality products are always a delight to discover, especially in this crazy economy. Thankfully Makeup Revolution sets the bar very high regarding makeup on a budget that can rival any high-end cosmetics. The Revolution Conceal and Hydrate Radiance Concealer is an excellent option for those who want high-end results that are light on the wallet. This concealer is a sibling to the famous Revolution Conceal and Define Concealer. I loved the original concealer as it worked well for my combination skin and covered my flaws effortlessly. I have heard people found this version too drying for their skin type as the formula was matte. Hence Revolution came out with a hydrating variant. Since I have been getting older, I have been gravitating to more hydrating products. I am looking for a concealer to cover my puffy under eyes, brighten dark circles and ensure crease-proof longevity.

The Conceal and Hydrate Radiance concealer is packaged in a slimmer tube in contrast to its stubby predecessor. It has a sleek rose gold design and contains 13g of product. The formula is infused with Hyaluronic Acid along with Acai extracts. Hyaluronic Acid is well known to moisturise skin and keep it hydrated all day. Acai derives from the Acai berry and is popular for reducing skin dullness and promoting luminosity. Both ingredients are highly beneficial for radiant, moisturised and smooth under eyes. The concealer has a whopping 50 shade range. Each concealer is categorised into fair, medium and deep skin tones alongside their different undertone shades, such as yellow, neutral, pink, olive and golden. I chose the shade C8.5 as it was described as medium skin with a yellow undertone. This concealer is lighter than my skin tone because I love a super bright under eye effect. 

The concealer has a creamy texture and is quite thick in consistency. A little goes a long way as the product has excellent pigment and covers a large surface area when blended. It has medium coverage but can comfortably build up to full coverage as more product is applied. The doe foot applicator is medium in size and picks up quite a bit of product. One swipe is enough for me to cover my under eyes and top lid with a beauty blender. Speaking of blending, I prefer to use a makeup sponge rather than my fingers or brush with this product. As I mentioned above the concealer is quite thick and blending it out with a wet sponge gives me a flawless and even application. I follow up with the Makeup Revolution baking powder in translucent. This combination gives me a beautiful natural blurred under eye. 

 The concealer gives a radiant and sheer satin finish. It covers all my dark and puffy areas. My skin looks naturally fresh and smooth. The concealer wears well for many hours and does not crease or flake throughout the day. Some hydrating concealers tend to move around in warm weather and under sweat. Not this one! This formula is long-lasting and wears well even on hot days. I love that my under eyes feel breathable and not heavy or cakey. The coverage is medium to full on blemishes and pigmentation marks. It covers well and many layers can be added to hide flaws. This is an excellent hydrating concealer for my combination skin. Did I mention that it is vegan and cruelty-free too? Have you tried this concealer? I absolutely love it. Let me know your thoughts down below.

 

 

Hi Divas

 

I have been wanting to right this review for such a long time but since the great pandemic hit this year a lot of things, including my blog were put on hold.  It is probably a good thing that I am only writing this review now, since everyday glam makeup has gone out the window, thanks to mandatory wearing of face masks. Most women, including myself are opting for more natural and easy-going makeup looks instead of the full coverage we used to wear before things went down. Don't get me wrong, I still adore wearing full coverage, creative and dynamic makeup looks but going out on an everyday basis wearing a mask has made me opt for a natural glow from within. If you are wanting a foundation that is natural, hydrating and evens out the skin tone then the Fenty Beauty Hydrating Longwear Foundation is right up your alley. This is the second foundation launch within the brand which promises to be much lighter and more breathable than the original Pro Filt'r. The Pro Filt'r matte foundation is an absolute holy grail of mine, I was therefore very interested to see what the hydrating foundation has to offer. I was pleasantly surprised by the results.


The Hydrating Longwear foundation promises medium to full coverage with a natural finish and a smooth complexion. Compared to the first foundation this one has a lighter formula which is ultra blendable using the hands, brush or sponge. It contains Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate the skin, keeping the face fresh and looking natural all day. The formula is sweat and humidity resistant which prevents your makeup from breaking down in hot temperatures. Fenty Beauty promises a natural even tone face but not a dewy, wet looking complexion. Rihanna wanted this foundation to be for all skin tones, as the original matte was mostly loved by combination to oily skin types. This formula is adaptable and would work for dry, combination and oily as it is not overly dewy and won't cause excessive shine. I love that the hydrating formula is much lighter than the original because it can be worn every day. The matte one is pretty full coverage and can be too much on a relaxed day out. The option to be natural or glam is great within the line.


The packaging is significantly different to the first foundation in that the hydrating foundation comes in a plastic tube with a pump. The packaging is convenient, simple yet has the edgy designs, which we know Rihanna's music for. I love that they incorporated her edgy music style into the packaging. The design is very convenient and reminds me of a BB and CC cream style. It is light weight and safe for travel. The foundation comes in a whopping 50 shades and the tube carries 32 ml of product. You can see your shade on the outside of the tube which makes it simple to detect especially for makeup artists. The shades are exact matches to the previous foundation which is wonderful. You won't be confused looking for a shade match if you already have it in the matte foundation. I am the shade 290 and both products match really well. The matte is a little darker than the hydrating foundation as I feel it oxidizes slightly more. It is not a problem for me though as the two are perfect for my skin tone. 


Upon application, I found that you have to shake the tube before you pump out the product. Unfortunately the formula seems to separate inside the tube and you get a mix if oil and foundation. I therefore shake it really well and then pump out a max of two pumps. The foundation feels very light and blends easily onto the face. I like to use my hands for an ultra-natural look. For more coverage I would use a brush or sponge. This is not full coverage at all and I find that building it up past two pumps can make the face look cakey and congested around the pores and fine lines. This product gives light to medium coverage. If you want anything more than that you would have to use the matte foundation. This formula evens out the skin tone perfectly but does not cover under eye dark circles or blemishes as the original foundation. You would have to use a concealer and powder for extra coverage. The consistency feels much lighter and breathable on the skin than the matte foundation. This one is therefore excellent for an everyday even complexion.

 



I recommend the Pro Filt'r Hydrating Longwear foundation to those who have combination to dry skin. If you love BB and CC creams with a little depth then this lighter foundation formula will be your best friend. This is great to wear beneath my mask these days as I want to look presentable and not scare people with my ghastly quarantine face;-) I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful. Have you tried this foundation? Are you even wearing makeup under your mask? These are strange times! Let me know your thoughts below.

Thank you for reading.

Xxxx

Hi Divas

I hope that you are all healthy, safe and well during this crazy and uncertain time. If you have been going through any type of hardship with all that has been going on in the world, I pray that God will strengthen you and uphold you through these trying times. I, myself have gone through a lot of loss but I am thankful to the Lord for holding me up in these deep waters. I will do a more in-depth post as to what has been going on with me personally at a later stage. For now, I want to get your minds off all the anxiety and do a fun review. I purchased the well acclaimed Too Faced sculpting concealer in Sephora at the end of last year. I have been keeping it safe till now, as I wanted to use it in the colder months. I have combination skin and generally prefer matte consistencies in my makeup routine. This new concealer is part of the Born This Way range which focuses on hydration. I absolutely adore the Born This Way foundation and therefore could not wait to get my hands on the concealer, to compare formulas and see if they pair well together.

The Multi-Use Sculpting concealer is packaged in an astonishing 15ml of product. This is more than twice the size of a standard concealer, as most come in 6 ml tubes. It looks like a jumbo size compared to other concealers and resembles a mini version of the Born This Way foundation. I love the adorable ''Mini Me'' design. I am always a sucker for Too Faced packaging and this one got me hook, line and sinker. The main difference in the concealer besides the size when compared is the jumbo applicator, where as the foundation has a pump. The applicator looks like a giant doe foot and carries a lot of product. It is attached to the screw on top and is flexible enough to work around the face and disperse product evenly. The doe foot feels soft on the skin and the applicator angles are comfortable to use. The only thing I dislike about the packaging is the funnel base at the entrance of the glass bottle. It becomes very gunky when pulling product out, as a lot of residue remains in the funnel. This can get very messy overtime, if you don't clean it after each use.

The concealer is marketed as a hydrating, long wearing, photo friendly and non-comedogenic product. It is said to cover, contour, highlight and retouch with super coverage pigments. As the foundation, it is infused with Coconut Water, Alpine Rose and Hyaluronic Acid for a more hydrating and radiant formula. This is a very versatile product and can be used in place of your foundation for an overall natural base. You could also highlight and contour for a complete full coverage glam look. The product is very convenient for every day travel and Makeup Artists as it can perform in a multitude of ways. It comes in 35 shades which is quite impressive compared to other brands on the market. I love that the shades match the corresponding foundation shades which make it so easy to choose when shopping. I am the shade Warm Beige in the foundation and chose the shade Natural Beige in the concealer. It is one tone lighter than Warm Beige and has a neutral undertone. I wanted something a little brighter than my foundation shade for my under eyes. It is not too light to spot conceal or use all over the face.

The concealer has a cream like texture and glides well on the skin with the applicator. It is not thick or runny and does not dry too quickly either. The consistency blends out effortlessly on the skin using your fingers or a sponge. It sits comfortably on the delicate skin under the eyes and does not crease or bunch up in the area. The formula of the concealer is medium to full coverage. It has a buildable consistency but can become cakey after two layers. The concealer covers amazingly well and you could seriously skip foundation if you want a natural look as it blends and covers evenly across the face. As this is a more moisturising formula, I love that it covers my dark circles and blemishes without my skin feeling heavy, tight or dry. It gives a satin like appearance and since I am combination skin, I like that it does not give me an unnatural sheen or dewy appearance. It mimics the ''my skin but better'' look. The creamy texture blends effortlessly with other makeup products too. It performs amazingly with the Born This Way foundation. An absolute match made in heaven. They complement each other so well.

  Unfortunately I do not own the Too Faced setting powder but all my other powders set the concealer  with ease. There is no flaking or creasing on the skin. The formula wears really great throughout the day in all types of weather and activities. I wore it on hot and cold days and it held up great on both occasions. The product mixes well with the oils on my face which seep through during the day. My skin looks radiant and feels hydrated but does not look overly glowy or shiny. The coverage is wonderful and it is long lasting. This hydrating satin finish would be a winner for all skin types; dry, combination and oily. Each would enjoy the versatility and long wearing comfortable formula. I would definitely purchase it again as it is great value for money. A little goes a long way and the jumbo size will last you a really long time. I recommend this concealer for those who want a hydrating texture with the option of natural and full glam benefits!

Hi Divas

I received this beautiful palette from my blogger friend Kim of Avery Sweet Blog back in January. She kindly sent me a box of goodies to wish me a Happy New Year and this blockbuster was one of the items in the surprise box. I only own two Urban Decay Eyeshadow palettes being the Naked 2 and the Ammo palette. I was therefore super delighted to be given the Honey palette as Urban Decay have revamped and stepped up their game in the Naked ranges. They have launched three other palettes other than this, along with a new foundation and concealer line. They are one of the OG's (Original Gangsters), when it comes to high-end Sephora makeup back in the day. Since then, so many makeup brands have popped up and somewhat surpassed them in cosmetic releases, innovative ideas and unique packaging. I am happy to see that Urban Decay is not sitting on the side lines but pushing through in the beauty market. It is great to notice that such a well-established brand is exploring fresh product ideas to keep the old and new customers interested.

The Naked Honey palette is inspired by the rich golden and yellow tones of pure honey. From the packaging to the colour story within the eyeshadows, the sweetness, along with the earthly nature of honey shines through. This is a warm toned palette with rich and neutral tones to compliment every skin tone. You could wear this palette on an everyday basis to work with its earthy tones or jazz it up for a glam night out look, with the bright metallic shades. This is a very versatile palette, that would flatter all ages and occasions. The actual outer case is absolutely stunning as it is embossed with ripple effects, that look like a continuous flow of honey. The standout lettering gives the palette a luxurious feel too. The case is a lot more golden in tone, reminding me of thick large quantities of honey being poured out. The design in packaging is gorgeous and it makes me want to grab a jar of honey and eat it with a spoon. The casing feels very sturdy and comes with a big mirror, as well as the standard dual ended eyeshadow brush, which the brand is known for. When you open the palette, there is a sweet scent which wafts through. The whole experience in working with the palette from sight, to touch and smell is impressive and deserves gold stars.


The palette comes in 12 shades all with a common warm yellow tone theme. The names of the eyeshadows are inspired by the honey making process. There is a wide range of mattes and metallics to create different looks. The eyeshadows consist of 6 mattes, 5 metallics/shimmers and 1 satin shade. I love that using the palette on an everyday basis won't become monotonous. There are many colour combinations to choose from, to get a unique eye look. I have swatched the eyeshadows below using the NYX white eyeshadow base. Some of the shades might look different due to this and my skin tone. I will name and explain each shade to you from left to right in the palette.

First up is Fly By (white pearl satin) great for the brow bone, Sweet (matte peachy taupe) light transition shade, Swarm (matte light orange with yellow undertones) deep transition shade and the first metallic in the palette Amber (deep copper) similar colour to the outer case. Next up is Keeper (matte burned orange brown) excellent for the crease or all over the lid, Golden (metallic deep gold with a shimmer) beautiful shade for glam occasions, Honey (metallic bright yellow gold with shimmer), this is the masterpiece shade in the palette and Queen ( metallic olive toned shade with brown undertone and gold sparkle), beautiful on the lid for an earthy look. The last four shades are Hive (matte warm toned brown) great for the crease, Drip (rich brick brown shade) excellent for deepening the crease, HBIC (true copper coin shade), lastly Sting (matte chocolate brown with slightly purple undertone), great for darkening any look.




Bright Glam Eyes
For the first look I swept Keeper right across my crease extending it slightly up towards my brow bone. I deepened the outer corners using Hive and Sting to create depth. For the lids I pressed the magical shade Honey right across creating a little cut crease with a flat brush later. For the lower lash line I added the metallic shimmer Amber and topped it off with Flyby on my brow bone.


Soft Smokey Eyes
To start off I dusted Swarm across my upper lid as a warm transition shade. I placed Drip and Sting in the crease and outer edge for dimension. On top I pressed Queen all over my lid. This is such a beautiful shade to be worn for any occasion. I then placed HBIC on my lower lash line along with to brighten the look. I too added Drip and Sting on the lower lash line at the outer corners to deepen the look. To end off I applied Flyby to the brow bone.


I am truly in love with this palette regarding texture, formula, shades and design. Everything compliments my skin tone so well. These shades are warm and neutral enough to wear ever day while containing pops of shimmer for glamorous looks. The palette shades are adaptable and would therefore be great for travel. I recommend this Honey edition to an avid makeup lover. You will truly appreciate its unique qualities. I hope you found this lengthy review helpful and got some inspiration for makeup looks.


Thank you so much for reading!
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Hi Divas

I travel to the Middle East quite frequently, therefore it was only fitting that I try out one of the biggest makeup brands to come out of the region. For those of you who don't know, Huda Beauty is a very successful cosmetics brand created by Huda Kattan. She started out as a beauty blogger and ascended way up to a business makeup mogul, while residing in Dubai. In the cosmetics industry, her innovative makeup launches have become very successful throughout the world. I was mostly interested in her complexion products even though she has become very famous for her false lashes and eyeshadow palettes. I particularly wanted to try out her foundation as I was very intrigued by the extensive shade range and the full coverage filter blurring claims. These days everyone and their dogs are using social media filters to perfect their complexions. Huda claims her foundation provides a filter like effect, which means you can walk around in real life looking flawless like your Photoshopped pics, LOL. This too, is one of the few high coverage foundations available on the market as most are medium to semi-full coverage. If you do some research online regarding this product you will see a lot of the reviews and experiences are 50/50. Some absolutely adore this foundation while others hate it with a passion. After using it, I can clearly see why there are such extreme mixed reactions. Keep reading to find out more!

Faux Filter is packed in a square rectangular plastic bottle and comes with 35 ml of product. This of cause is 5 ml more than most foundations and the plastic bottle is meant to be travel friendly and light weight compared to a standard glass bottle. The branding and design of the foundation is very sleek and the plastic feels sturdy and well made. I do not mind the plastic packaging as it does not look or feel cheap. It looks luxe and very well made. The Buff and Blend Face brush that I purchased with the foundation is in a kabuki style with a matte rubber handle. The bristles are densely packed and feel compact. They are made with white synthetic fibres witch blend liquid and cream products easier.

 The foundation comes in 30 shades and are categorised between Fair (100), Light (200), Medium (300), Tan (400) and Rich (500). They are further broken down into Neutral (N), Beige(B), Golden(G) and Red(R) undertones. I purchased the shade Butter Pecan 330N, which is in the Medium category with a Neutral undertone. I could have gone for Baklava 340G (warm olive in tone) and Macchiatto 400G (identical to Butter Pecan with a golden undertone) but settled on Butter Pecan as this matches my neck and jaw line perfectly. The shades do run close together and are quite warm in tone. You could therefore have more than one shade that might work for you.



The consistency of this foundation is thick and creamy. One and a half pumps are more than enough to fully cover my face. Two pumps or more will make you look cakey and overdone. This is a heavily pigmented foundation, therefore a little goes a long way. The coverage is full and covers my under-eye bags and blemishes perfectly, I don't even need concealer when I wear this. For application, I applied it with the face brush and it gave me flawless and even coverage. I do notice slight creasing under my eyes and forehead lines sometimes. To avoid this, I recommend using a sponge to press the creamy consistency into the skin. This gives a smoother and crease free application. Since the foundation is so thick it can soak into the brush and sponge if applied directly. I recommend dotting the product all over your skin first and then blending it out.

 Once applied, you have to set your face with a powder and setting spray. Since the foundation is a cream it has a tendency to move around and slide off, if you do not set it properly. This foundation does transfer so if you hug someone really tightly it might not end well, LOL. In South Africa we love to hug each other. We hug at church, hug at work, hug your family members and so on. You need to set this and take precautions when hugging people. Any translucent powder and makeup setting spray will do the trick. As I said this is a highly thick and pigmented foundation. You have to make sure that your shade matches well, your application is smooth and you lock it in place with a powder and spray. Skipping these steps could prove fatal for your makeup the rest of the day.



 Below are pictures of me wearing the foundation during my professional headshot photo shoot. As you can see this foundation looks absolutely amazing in photos. My skin looks flawless and smooth, it is unbelievable. It really does give a blurring and filter effect on camera. If you are planning to attend an event where there will be a lot of photography, this foundation will be your best friend. It looks very flattering in photos. You can't even tell where the foundation ends and starts around my neck and chin area.

The shade Butter Pecan is a wonderful match for me. For reference I wear Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr' in 290, Too Faced Born This Way in Warm Beige and LA Girl Pro Matte in Light Tan. Faux Filter looks amazing in pictures but in real life, it can look too overdone. I think this is where most people struggle with this product. This is not a natural looking foundation. It is full coverage and highly pigmented. People will be able to see clearly that you are wearing makeup. This product is not good for every day wear. It is better suited for events and glam occasions. It is not light weight at all and therefore would be very obvious on a normal day out and about.


I noticed that the formula of the product changes throughout the day too. The foundation applies very matte at first but later on in the day it becomes luminous and your natural oils start showing through. Depending on your skin type, this could either be great or disastrous for you. Since the foundation applies very matte, it is important to prep the skin with a good moisturiser underneath. This is especially important for dry skin types. If your skin is dry makeup won't look flattering on the face. Hydrate your skin properly before wearing this. Since the product contains Argan Oil, this could be problematic for oily skin types as it starts to show through during the day. It might mix with your natural oils making you look oilier. I don't have any of these problems as I have normal to combination skin but I understand why certain people might hate this.

Also the foundation is heavily scented with an oud fragrance. Arabian oud is a rich woody and sweet scent that is very popular in the Middle East. Fragrances are known to be irritants to sensitive skin when placed in cosmetics. Do be aware of this if your skin reacts to perfumed beauty products. The fragrance does not bother me at all and I personally like this foundation because it works well with my skin type and is long wearing on me. It looks good in person but even better in pictures. Even though it works well for me, I wanted to give you the whole low down on this product, so you can make up your own mind on whether you want to try it or not. I hope you found this review helpful.


Thank you so much for reading this long and in depth post.
Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx

Too Faced Damn Girl! Mascara Review

Hi Divas

I picked up the new Too Faced mascara last year at Sephora and only recently started to use it. I only open mascara's when I run out of the one's I am currently using. I don't like having multiple mascara's open at the same time, as these are the products that tend to dry out quickly and expire easily after the first use. This is the first mascara that I have tried from the brand as I never bought the original Better than Sex mascara. What drew me most to this lavish purchase is the extraordinary packaging. It is so eye catching and beautiful. It appealed to my pink loving and creative nature. I have never seen such a unique design in a mascara before and it definitely gets full marks for me in the design department. The metallic pink wand with the geometric angles is innovative and aesthetically pleasing. I am glad that they named this mascara Damn Girl! instead of some sexual innuendo, because I feel those suggestive titles are super unnecessary when it comes to makeup. Call me a prude, but that is just how I feel. Apart from the beautiful packaging and more appropriate name, does it actually live up to the hype of giving ''shamelessly thick and curled lashes'' though? Well that is another story, so keep reading to find out my experience with it.



Too Faced developed this mascara to give intense thickness, voluminous lashes with a long-lasting curl. The formula of the mascara is a creamy mousse with whipped melting waxes and innovative polymers which give extreme volume, lift and lasting curl. It promises to give flexible lashes without flaking or smudging throughout the day. The mascara is said to last up to 24 hours with intense black lashes. Even the brush design is unique as it is created to resemble an infinity shape, which looks like the number '8'. This is a dual fibre brush with long and short bristles which combs through and lifts individual lashes. The mascara promises great volume, flake resistant curl that stays lifted and glam all day long. After 24 hours your peers are supposed to say ''Damn Girl!'', after looking at your lashes, LOL. My experience with this mascara is somewhat 50/50 on the 'Will I buy it again?' spectrum.



Firstly, the applicator is unnecessarily too big. This says a lot coming from me, as I have big eyes and can work with a lot of large brushes. I found this brush a little too cumbersome for my liking. Since the brush is massive, I find it difficult to actually get close to the base of my lashes and coat them evenly. The brush is so large it tends to transfer product on my upper lash lid thus messing up eyeshadow around my top lash line. This is super annoying if you spent a few minutes perfecting your eyeshadow look and have to wipe it away with an ear bud because of unsightly black transfer. The big curve in the middle of the brush makes it awkward trying to grip the lashes in one sweep. The brush is not tapered at the end either, therefore you really struggle to grab hold of the inner lashes without smudging product on your face. All these problems would be resolved if they kept the design of the brush but made it smaller in size. As I said, I have big eyes, so I shudder to think want someone with a smaller eye frame than mine would go through.


The actual formula of the mascara coats the lashes evenly and creates intense black volume. The consistency is a mousse like texture and it is not too wet or runny. More than two coats can cause clumping since the mousse texture is thicker than most mascaras. After two coats the lashes are well lifted with a slight curl. It does not give an intense curl but there is a slight wave. I love that my lashes feel great throughout the day since it does not dry them out or cause that hard-crisp feeling. The formula is comfortable to wear all day long and the lashes do not droop but actually keep their dramatic hold. This does live up to its claims of being smudge proof as there is no flaking or smeared marks on the face. As you can see above my lashes look great. They are super black, full of volume with a slight curl. The lasting power is wonderful at the end of the day. The mascara removes easily with your makeup cleansers too. You won't have to worry about tugging the delicate areas of your eyes to get it off.


I think you can gather that I have a dilemma with the Damn Girl! mascara. I love the dramatic effect this product gives my lashes. It looks so glam and voluminous. The formula is comfortable on the eyes and it has great lasting power. It really does what it suppose to do but the brush is just too large for my taste. The bristles are comfortable to use though and the wand sits perfectly in my hand. It's just that, the application takes longer since I have to be really be careful in not poking my eye out or transferring product on my eyeshadow. Would I purchase this again? I don't know. My lashes look great but to get there is a process that I do not have time for. The packaging of this mascara is beautiful, therefore it is such a pity about the oversized brush design. What do you think? Can you work with such large applicators or would you skip it? Let me know in the comments below.



Hope you found this review helpful.
Thank you for reading.
Divalicious Kisses!
Xxxx

Hi Divas

Complexion products are my number one items that I cannot live without. I would probably take it with me on a desert island and have it be on my top ten list of essentials. When I first started wearing makeup at the age of 15, I only used black eyeliner and a gloss. I never bothered to cover up any imperfections on my face as I was young and carefree. Fast forward a few years later, I have ditched the gloss and constant lower black liner. As I have gotten older, I realised how much I value a smooth and radiant complexion over anything else. I would rather splurge on a holy grail foundation than another 16 pan eyeshadow palette. I love the euphoria of watching my dark circles and life problems disappear under a layer of foundation with my kabuki brush. I know I am being dramatic, but that step is honestly so satisfying to me. I have therefore tested many foundation formulas and tried an array of awful shades to find the true gems that suit me. I will be recommending my holy grail foundations that work for my normal to combination skin and medium skin tone with yellow to olive undertones. I mention my skin type and colour undertones as what may work for me, may not be great for you regarding dry to oily skin or someone with a different skin tone to me. Please be aware of that as you read my recommendations.


Too Faced Peach Perfect
 I'm starting off with the cutest foundation packaging out of the 5 products. It comes in a tube with a gold pump. I love the peach details on the packaging. I only recently started using this but I decided to add it to my collection as I love the easy application and quick results it gives me. This is a medium coverage foundation that is very matte yet super comfortable to wear. I love using this as an everyday base product as it gives the most natural finish and my face still looks airbrushed. The shade Warm Beige is great for me because it has the right amount of warmth and it does not oxidize throughout the day. The tube is great for a quick application and is very travel friendly too. I recommend it to someone who loves a matte finish and a natural looking appearance. I do prefer to wear this in the Summer months since it is so matte and you will need to use a hydrating moisturizer in the Winter to pull this one off. Full Review Here.

Fenty Beauty Pro' Filtr
I'm going to come out and say it now! This is the best foundation in formula and in shade that I have ever used. I have received so many compliments from many people telling me that my face looks flawless when I wear it. This is a matte foundation and gives a medium to full coverage. It literally hides all my imperfections in one sweep. It blends wonderfully into my skin and looks like a dream. The shade 290 has warm and olive undertones which miraculously fits me like a second skin. The shades in this foundation do apply lighter in tone but oxidizes to its true shade after a few minutes. I find that the shades do get warmer throughout the day but it just blends so effortlessly into my natural complexion. I love it! Regarding performance, this foundation lasts all day with no cracking or fading. If you have dry skin make sure to moisturize well before use. Packaging is sleek, pretty and equipped with a pump in a glass bottle. It can be heavy to travel with but I don't mind though. Full Review Here.

L'oreal Infaillible 24H Fresh Wear
 The performance and formula of this foundation is very similar to Too faced Peach Perfect except it has more coverage. Can you believe that a low-end base has more coverage than a high end one? Believe it because it is true! This is a lightweight and matte foundation that is very comfortable and breathable on the skin. It gives a natural appearance and can be built up to fuller coverage. This is great for everyday wear and is very long lasting too. The only con is that the shades do oxidize. I have the shade 260 Golden Sun and it definitely gets one to two shades darker throughout the day. I have to go one shade down to make it a perfect fit for me. Do keep this in mind when purchasing the product. The packaging is not my favourite as it has that chunky L'oreal block design with a stumpy pump. It's not sleek but it gets the job done. It is in my top favourites as I love the way it wears and the coverage is great. I really do feel it out shines Too Faced Peach Perfect regarding coverage as well. Full Review Here.

LA Girl Pro Matte
This is my ultimate favourite low-end foundation. I don't know why this product does not get the hype and love it deserves. It is perfect for combination to oily skin types as it gives a comfortable matte finish. I love using it on hot Summer days. It can cling to very dry patches, therefore do wear a hydrating moisturizer or primer in those areas. The formula reminds me of Fenty Beauty Pro' Filtr as it has the same texture and consistency when blended out on the face. It gives great coverage and lasts throughout the day too. The shade Light Tan is perfect for my Summer skin tone because it has a warm yellow undertone. Even though Fenty gives a much more filtered look this one can easily be considered a dupe for it. The packaging is sleek and comes with a pump. I have travelled with the glass bottle before and it was very easy to pack into my makeup bag. This is the cheapest foundation out of the 5 and you get great value for your money. I will keep repurchasing because I love it so much. Full Review Here.

Too Faced Born This Way
I'm going to come out and say it again! This is one of the best foundations I have ever used.
This too was my first ever Sephora foundation purchase and my very first high-end foundation. I have fond nostalgic memories of it. Since then, I have gone through two bottles and am now onto the third. The packaging comes in a luxurious glass bottle with a pump. The gold details on the bottle and box make the product look very luxe. The formula and texture of the foundation is creamy, slightly thick yet blends effortlessly onto the face. The product contains coconut water and hyaluronic acid which makes it very hydrating on the skin. I therefore only wear this in Winter and Autumn because it gives me a hydrating satin finish. It always looks beautiful on the skin and it gives me full coverage with a healthy glow. The shade Warm Beige is great for my Winter skin tone as you can't even tell I'm wearing foundation when I have it on. I may need to go up a shade and use Sand in Summer time though. The performance is wonderful and I sometimes forget I'm wearing makeup since the foundation feels so comforting on the skin. This is the most expensive foundation out of the 5 but you seriously getting what you pay for. Both the packaging, performance and formula is top notch. I would repurchase till the end of days, LOL. Full Review Here.


Thank you so much for reading and I hope you found my recommendations helpful. Do share your foundation favourites below and let me know if I am missing out on any great complexion products. Lots of love!


Divalicious Kisses
Xxxx