Disappointing Products - Vol.1

Since I buy and try a lot of products naturally I come across some hits and misses. Luckily most of the time I do my research before I purchase anything, especially if it is more on the higher end. Today, I figured I would share with you some of the products that I either did not care for or was disappointed with. Please take it with a grain of salt. These did not work for me but they might perform differently on someone else.

First up is Essie Ridge Filling Base Coat. My main problem with this product is that it does not do the job for me. My nails are very textured, therefore if I want to wear metallic or matte colours I need to make sure the surface is super smooth. That is where ridge fillers come in handy. However, this product did not deliver. It actually made my manicure worse. It took ages for it to dry and it did not make a difference in terms of leaving a smooth, filled base. Actually after a while I noticed my nail polish pealing off in one piece. I haven't changed anything except the base coat. 

Armani Rouge Ecstasy lipstick, just look at that packaging! It is to die for. When you hold the lipstick it feels luxurious and has a good weight to it. I can't tell you the exact shade since the number has rubbed off but it´s one of the nudes in the range. I have nothing against the colour, it is a lovely pinky nude. However, the formula is not my favourite. The idea behind these lipsticks was the new innovative formula that combines the Colour & Care aspects. Care - offers comfort and softness to the lips, as if you were wearing a lip balm. Colour - provides an amazing colour payoff and staying power. It does stay true to colour, and the texture is not the most moisturising or comfortable on the lips. I much prefer their original Rouge D'Armani lipsticks.

Kiehl's Scrub, Essie Ridge Filler and Armani Rouge Ecstasy lipstick

Next up is Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub. As the name suggests it is the scrub that is made with real fruit extracts. It is suitable for all skin types. I did not care too much for this product. It had very few grainy particles that are supposed to exfoliate your face. If felt nice on the skin but did not offer enough scrubbing potential to my liking. I ended up using it as a cleanser instead. I think for people with extremely sensitive skin this could be a gentle enough product.

I had high hopes for Essence Single Matte Eyeshadow in Hazel Me Not! When I saw this colour I was sold. It is a perfect neutral mid-toned brown. I heard a lot of good things about Essence Makeup, therefore I decided to give it a go. Unfortunately it did not meet my expectations. The colour is great, however the pigmentation is barely there. You need to build it up and the texture is very chalky and powdery. If you are like me and used to working with Urban Decay eyeshadows and Makeup Geek eyeshadows you would understand the frustration. Nevertheless, I think this would be a fantastic choice for someone who is just starting off with makeup and doesn't want anything too intimidating. 

Makeup Geek Foundation Stippling Brush, Essence Matte Eyeshadow,
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

I am always on a hunt for a perfect mattifying powder. That is how I stumbled across the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder. Innisfree is a Korean brand and you can order it from eBay. I like the fact that it contains natural ingredients like Jeju mineral and mint. It claims to be a replacement for blotting papers making the skin soft and matte. I have tried it multiple times and it doesn't keep my oil at bay. Within a couple of minutes I get all shiny again. Many Korean beauty bloggers swear by this product but sadly it is not my gem. They do have a pressed version of this product so maybe that one is more effective.

Last but not least is the Makeup Geek Foundation Stippling Brush. I adore Makeup Geek products and what the company stands for. Hence, it was no surprise I stalked their website until this brush was back in stock. So many people have raved about it on YouTube and the blogging world. When it was back I put it in my cart without hesitation. When it finally arrived I was quite disappointed. It did not look like the ones I saw other people use. It had a way smaller head. Apparently Makeup Geek changed the design and I had no idea. I learned later that I was not the only one and many people have been equally dissatisfied. As a result, Makeup Geek listened to feedback and brought back the original design. I have not tried that one yet, since I can't justify buying another brush anytime soon.

This is it for now. I hope you found this post useful. If you have tried these products I would love to hear your thoughts!

Cheers,
Muffy