Lush Rosy Cheeks Fresh Mask

I am a big fan of Lush. They make some really nice products like the Mask of Magnaminty, Lip Scrubs & Balms and the Comforter Bubble Bar. I have tried almost all of their fresh masks simply because I shop too much there. If you return five empty pots you can get one fresh mask for free. This time around when I was returning my empties I decided to try a recent addition to their fresh masks selection called Rosy Cheeks.
  

As you can see it's pink. The consistency is rather thick, which means it won't slip and slide all over your face. It dries in about 10-15 minutes completely. Some of the key ingredients are kaolin, calamine powder and rose oil. As with all Lush products it's not tested on animals. The main purpose of this mask is to sooth and calm the skin. I think that it does a pretty good job at that. However, I have hard time understanding how can something be soothing yet so strongly scented. In my opinion the scent is extremely overpowering and it lingers on the skin. Surely it smells like roses but the intensity is way too strong for my liking (and usually I am not too sensitive to scents).

Another aspect worth mentioning is when you rinse this mask off it leaves your skin feeling and looking matte. I think if you have acne prone or oily skin you would love it. For me personally, I would have preferred it to be more hydrating. 

Overall, I think it's an OK mask. It's good for those days when your skin feels a bit meh perhaps due to stress or flying and it needs a bit of soothing and balancing. If you are looking for something that would be calming and hydrating I would instead direct you to my all time favourite Lush fresh mask - Catastrophe Cosmetic. 

I hope you found this useful. Let me know if you have tried Lush's fresh masks, I'd love to know!

Until next time,
Muffy

Paula's Choice Resist Hydrating Cleanser

Not all cleanser are created equal. Some would say it's just a cleanser so how fancy does it have to be. Well, here's the thing. If you have dry and sensitive skin it needs to be darn fancy. From my experience the majority of cleansers have a tendency to dry the skin out and leave it feeling like the Gobi desert. Therefore, anything that has hydrating in the name I am all up for. As such I decided to give the Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser a go. Plus I heard only good things about it, so why the heck not. 

This is my first experience with Paul's Choice skincare. I got really intrigued by it, as it's cruelty-free, made in the USA, non-irritating and is liked by many around the world. I have to say that it can get a bit overwhelming trying to find the right product range for your skin, as there are so many to choose from. I decided to go for the Resist range which targets wrinkles and dry skin.

Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser

Now the cleanser comes in a nice sleek bottle with a pump. Highly appreciate that. Plus you get a generous amount of product (190ml). It claims to be non-foaming with an exceptionally gentle formula that works quickly to remove makeup, while leaving your skin feeling fresh, soothed and soft with no greasy residue. It's suitable for all skin types. It's fragrance and colourant free. 

After using it for several months I would have to agree that it's non-foaming, doesn't irritate the skin and I just need a small amount (1 pump) to cleanse my whole face. However, I don't completely agree that it leaves the skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated. After using it (I use it as a second cleanse as I always remove the majority of my makeup with an oil first) my skin and especially a few dry patches on my forehead felt totally stripped of any moisture. Every time I used it, sure my skin felt clean, but not comfortably clean if you know what I mean. I would say as the weather is getting warmer and my dry patches are not as prominent, it tends to work better. This leads me to believe that in winter when my skin is particularly dry it's just not potent enough.   

Overall, I would have to say it's an OK basic cleanser. I'd imagine if you have normal or oily skin you would enjoy it. However, if you have dry to extremely dry skin this is not going to do the trick. I will continue using it in Spring and Summer but for colder months I would need to bring out the big guns, for example my all time favourite Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel.

I hope you found this helpful and if you have tried any other products from the Paula's Choice line, please let me know what are your top picks!

Cheers,
Muffy 

Morphe Elite Brushes Worth the Hype?

T-B: Morphe E3, Morphe E27 and Morphe E18

Makeup brushes are my weakness. I just love them. I have been on the hunt for a new blush brush and my lovely friends gave me a few brushes from the Morphe Brushes Elite collection for Christmas.  I have been using them ever since and have formulated a pretty solid opinion. To find out if these are worth checking out or not, keep on reading!

Morphe E3

Let's start with the Morphe E3 - Precision Pointed Powder Brush. This brush can be used for multiple purposes but I personally prefer it for applying blush. It's extremely soft and distributes the product so smoothly on the cheeks, without tugging, pulling or skipping. The bristles are synthetic. I don't have anything like it in my collection and it has fast become my go to blush brush. It washes easily and dries pretty quickly. A word of advice if you notice that your blush looks sort of blotchy: it might be because you are using a brush with natural bristles. Try using a brush with synthetic hairs instead.

L-R: Sigma E40 and Morphe E27

Moving on to the Morphe E27 - Pro Round Blender Brush. As the name suggests it's great for blending out eyeshadow, so you don't have any harsh lines. It's super fluffy and soft. It's non-scratchy on the eyes, blends like a dream and is made out of synthetic bristles. To me a good blending brush is a must. My go to for a long time has been Sigma E40 but after using Morphe E27 I'd go as far as saying that I prefer it over Sigma E40 simply because it's softer and fluffier (you can see the comparison in the picture below). It also sits well in my hand and pretty much does the job for me.

L-R: Sigma E40 and Morphe E27

Next up is the Morphe E18 - Round Crease Brush. It's meant for a more precise application and blending shadow in the crease. I don't personally use it for such purposes. Instead, I found it works great for smudging out eyeshadow along the lower lash line. I have previously tried pencil brushes but those tend to be pretty rough on the delicate under eye area. Morphe E18 is dense but at the same time quite flexible and soft, which makes it perfect for dispersing shadow. As with Morphe E3 and Morphe E27 it's made out of synthetic bristles.

L-R: Morphe E18 and Makeup Geek Outer V Brush

L-R: Morphe E18 and Makeup Geek Outer V Brush

Morphe E18 is very similar to the Makeup Geek's Outer V brush (as can be seen in the images above). The Makeup Geek's Outer V brush is just a tad bit denser. They both do the job, however I prefer Morphe E18 as it's more gentle. I mostly use the Makeup Geek's Outer V brush for applying an inner corner highlight and it's fantastic for that. 

Overall, I am very happy with the three brushes I own from the Morphe Elite Brushes collection. If you are on the market for affordable, good quality and synthetic brushes I think these are worth checking out. I have been eyeing Morphe E4 - Angled Contour brush, but it's always out of stock on Beautybay... arhhhhh!

As always if you have any suggestions for budget-friendly makeup brushes I have been missing out on, please let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

I rarely review luxury products on my blog but occasionally I do get a chance to try something out of the ordinary. I got this beauty as a gift and it's no doubt one of the standouts in my makeup arsenal. I am referring to the Dior Glowing Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink, from the Dior's limited edition collection for Spring 2016. Since it's Dior it's pricy, very pricy. Therefore, I wanted to get this review out for those of you that have been thinking if this is worth a splurge or not.

Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

First things first, the beautiful embossment speaks for itself, so no need to ponder too much on that. I do appreciate the fact that the product feels luxurious without weighing a ton, so it's easy to carry around in your makeup bag. Though when going on a holiday I am sure to take with me less precious pieces of makeup since if they break in transit it's not the end of the world. Just for your information these highlighters come in two shades: Glowing Pink (the one I have) and Glowing Nude. Glowing Nude is more of a golden champagne and is equally stunning, however I felt like Glowing Pink was more unique with the pinkish iridescent shift to it.

Also worth mentioning that the product comes with a mini Kabuki brush made out of white goat hair. When I went to ask about the brush the sales lady assured me that it was cruelty-free since the hairs are taken from the goat's beard which is trimmed. I just want to throw this piece of information out there, so you can draw your own conclusions. In my opinion the mini Kabuki brush is totally unnecessary as there is no way I can decently apply a highlighter with it, it's too dense and big for a precise and flawless application. 

Now let's talk a little bit about the product itself.  It's finely milled and doesn't have chunks of glitter, which is a big big plus. The texture is very soft and buttery, I would perhaps even describe it as a gel-powder. If you want your highlighter to be seen from outer space this product is not for you. This provides more of a sophisticated glow if you know what I mean. There is nothing wrong with an intense highlight but for someone with texture or mature skin that might not be the best look. I personally didn't own any highlighters until I received this one, simply because I have texture and scarring which made me stay away from anything that can potentially emphasise it. If you like you can for sure make this highlighter more "in your face" by simply building it up until the desired intensity is achieved. From my experience using this product it hasn't emphasised any texture or imperfections. I just lightly sweep it over the tops of my cheeks with the Real Techniques Setting Brush. The Dior Glowing Pink illuminator doesn't contain talc as do for instance Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors Pressed.

Dior Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powder in Glowing Pink

Would I recommend it? This is where it gets tricky. I think the product is beautiful, it does a great job at highlighting and providing a fresh glow to the cheeks. Glowing Pink is quite an interesting shade compared to your typical champagne, gold and white highlighters. That being said Dior is not cruelty-free, as it tests on animals when required by law, e.g China. If you are not concerned with that this product will deliver what it promises and you would enjoy using it time after time. However, if you are looking for a cruelty-free alternative I'd recommend checking out recently launched Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Powders. Unfortunately here in Finland Hourglass is not sold so it's impossible to see for yourself what these powders are like, but reviews seem to be pretty positive. Here again remember that as with the Dior Glowing Pink illuminator these powders would give you a subtle glow, nothing crazy. 

I hope you found this review useful and it helps you decide if this is something to add to your shopping list or not. If you have any recommendations for cruelty-free subtle everyday highlighters please let me know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Winter Skin Care Essential - Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream

Winter is officially over, but here in Finland it will still continue for the next month or so. As such I decided to sneak this post in and tell you about my number one product that has saved my skin during the cold winter months. It's the Mádara Pihlaja (Rowanberry) Daily Defence Protection Cream. 

Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream

Mádara is the Latvian manufacturer of organic skincare products. I haven't tried anything from its range until I stumbled across the Finnish blogger Kemikaalicocktail featuring this particular product. As a matter of fact Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream has been made in collaboration with Mádara and this beauty blogger. Hence her signature on the package. The idea was to create a product targeted to withstand harsh Scandinavian winters by protecting the skin from dryness, roughness, wind and cold. It's suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and atopic ones. The key ingredient as the name suggests is rowanberry as well as shea butter. It's vegan and certified by ECOCERT standards. You can use it on your face, hands, elbows - pretty much anywhere on the body where you have dryness. I use it mostly on my face to combat dry patches and redness.

Consistency of Mádara Pihlaja Daily Defence Protection Cream 

As for the product itself, it's amazing. It comes in a nice squeeze tube which is extremely handy for carrying it around in a bag or travelling. It's of a thicker consistency but absorbs like a dream so it won't interfere with your makeup application. As a matter of fact it acts as a great base. It won't leave that annoying greasy feeling on your skin. It does have a distinct non-perfumy scent which doesn't bother me but if you are sensitive to scents give it a sniff beforehand. 

If you have an atopic skin prone to eczema (like yours truly) and/or dry patches in general and you live in a cold climate this would be your best friend. It doesn't irritate the skin, calms it down and provides a protective barrier. It's also extremely affordable (around 15,00 EUR and you can get it on offer occasionally). I am not sure about its availability outside Finland but if you happen to see it grab it. In Finland you can get it at: Sokos, Stockmann, Ruohonjuuri and Jolie just to name a few.

Even though we are heading into spring I figured this could be something to keep in mind when winter rolls around next time!

Cheers,
Muffy

Urban Decay Nail Colour in Vice

Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

Recently I have been going through my friend's nail polish stash to see if there is anything that tickles my fancy. And I happen to spot the Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice. As far as I know Urban Decay doesn't carry nail polishes as part of their permanent line at the moment. But lo and behold I hear that they will be bringing them back and adding to the assortment. As such I figured why not put this guy to a test and share my experiences. 

Let's start with the obvious - packaging. In my opinion it's edgy, unique and I personally really like it. In regards to the colour itself, it's a metallic purply-wine colour. I usually don't gravitate towards metallic shades simply because my nails are very textured and this type of formula tends to emphasise it. Nevertheless, I think if you like metallic, complex shades you would love this one.   

Brush Applicator of the Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

One of the most important decisive factors for me whether I buy a nail polish or not is the brush. Doesn't matter how phenomenal the colour is if the brush is not to my liking, I wont use it and hence makes no sense spending money on it. The Urban Decay nail polish in Vice has an elongated slim brush and that is exactly the kind of applicator I just can't work with (and you will see exactly that in my messy application in the image below). I prefer more of a shorter flatter brush which pretty much covers my nail in one or two swipes. Think about the likes of Wet n Wild MegaLast polishes, YSL, Essie (non-prof one) and Essence. I could perhaps make it work if it was a nude shade but with bold colours such as Vice which are pretty unforgiving you simply can't get away with a sloppy application.  

Urban Decay Nail Polish in Vice

In terms of longevity it's OK. It's not the most long-wearing nail polish in my collection. That being said the longevity of a nail polish depends on what top and base coat you use, if any and what you do during the day (e.g type on the computer 24/7, wash dishes, open packages etc). As such I don't think it's a fair evaluation of how good or bad a nail polish is. As with all Urban Decay products these are cruelty-free. In terms of price I would expect it to retail for around 15.00 EUR. 

My final thoughts are, if you like metallic finishes, don't mind the skinny brush and looking for cruelty-free nail colours this could be a good alternative. Otherwise I feel like there are better options out there. I do hope Urban Decay will re-introduce these nail polishes and maybe for some miraculous reason changes the brush to a more user-friendly one and comes up with more creamier shades. In that case I would be one happy customer but we shall wait and see!

I hope you found this somewhat useful and if you know of any brands that make cruelty-free nail polishes please do let me know!

Until next time,
Muffy