GOSH To Be Cool In Copenhagen Matte Eyeshadow Palette Review + Swatches

I love compact palettes a lot. These are saving grace for days when you want to change your look instantly.

Gosh’s To Be Cool In Copenhagen Matte Eyeshadow Palette comes in a small but sturdy casing. I really like that because I don’t prefer the palettes that come in hard cardboard especially those like huda beauty and the balm cosmetics ones. This case comes with a large mirror which is perfect to create the look.

Designed for cooler looks the palette comes with 8 shades ranging from lighter shades like cream to darker shades like charcoal gray. The shades are not named so let’s say I will be interpret them in my way for you all.

Why I love the palette:

• The shades are actually matte shades and are long stay.
• Darker shades are perfect even if primer isn’t used. Highly pigmented.
• Easy to carry
• Versatile colors to suit all skin tones
• Easy to create a day look or a night look with just one palEtte
• Reasonable pricing and easily available
• Less or no fall out

What I don’t love:

• The lighter shades desperately need primer
• Pigmentation of the shades is inconsistent
• Blending issues with lighter shades

Overall, even though there are a few flaws I would still opt for this palette in a heartbeat because it’s very convenient. Gosh is the only drugstore brand that retails products free of any parabens and they believe in a cause dear to me that is of being cruelty free. Also they try to incorporate natural contents in their cosmetics which means less damage to the skin especially as sensitive as mine. Some of you may prefer having the palette with brush but personally I have never preferred those tiny brushes. I prefer using a sponge applicator and my blending brush that I got from Sephora.

You can purchase Gosh Products at Lifestyle Gulf and Boots Pharmacy.

Follow Gosh on Instagram and Facebook

Disclaimer: Products are sponsored by Gosh Arabia, all opinions are my own

Gosh Liquid Matte Lipstick & Velvet Touch Lip Liner Review

2016 was all about matte! Nails, lips, eyeshadows everything went matte! I personally love Matte so for me this is by far the best makeup trend of the year. The trend started with luxury beauty brands and soon drugstore brands caught up too. One such drugstore brand is Gosh from Denmark.

A few years back this brand was not a familiar one. However their products, marketing efforts, pricing and packaging all have created quite an impact in middle east. Gosh products are paraben free and they believe in a cause dear to me that is of being cruelty free.

I recently got the opportunity to meet the fabulous person behind the marketing of the brand and also got a chance to try out some products from their wide range. I will be reviewing the products in parts and today It’s two products, Gosh matte lipstick and Gosh lip pencil.

Gosh matte liquid lipstick

The shade I chose was Nougat crisp 007. I don’t get the idea behind naming it that but this is a nude shade perfect for day wear. When the Mua at Gosh kiosk applied it for my mini makeover, I fell in love with the shade instantly.

Review: The Matte lipstick is really pigmented and it is indeed a long stay lipstick. I was surprised to see that touch ups weren’t really required for this one. Though the color faded gradually but it did stay almost 6-8 hours. I had also swatched some of darker shades at the kiosk at realized that those were much more pigmented.

Now the issue with any nude shade Matte color is that they need a smooth surface to apply on which means your lips needs to be really healthy and moist prior to application. Gosh solves that problem because their liquid matte lipsticks contain plant oils that keep lips hydrated throughout. I have generally seen that in my lancome lipsticks but this is a first for drugstore lippies.

My only complain with this product is that it’s not ultra Matte but still recommended for daily wear.

Benefits:

– Easy applicator with flat sponge brush

– Intense colors

– reasonably priced

– Highly pigmented

– Perfume free

– Free from minerals

Gosh velvet touch lip liner

Review: Super smooth and creamy liner perfect to outlook your lips for liquid matte or even by itself. I got the shade nougat crisp 001 a shade that’s very in these days. Texture-wise its,similar to MAC lip liners. The color pay off is fantastic! The shade suits my wheat-ish pale skin tone.

I tried wearing just the lip liner instead of lipstick but it lasted just about two hours.

Benefits :

– Contains vitamin E and jojoba oils

– Water-proof

– Wide color range

– Highly pigmented

– can be worn as a lipstick

You purchase Gosh Products at Lifestyle Gulf and Boots Pharmacy.

Follow Gosh on Instagram and Facebook

Disclaimer: Products are sponsored by Gosh Arabia, all opinions are my own.

Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette Review

I am all in for beauty products that offer convenience. Generally I don’t carry a lot of makeup but when it’s meetings/office events I require to do a quick makeover to my face. In such scenarios a palette that offers all in one option works really well which is why when Revlon released their Eyes, lips and cheek palette I was very much interested in trying it out.

Coming to the palette, it’s compact and easy to carry around. I received this kit from Revlon team for reviewing and this is the Romantic Nudes 100 set. The palette mentions that the shades are universally flattering.

Features:

• Includes mirror and mini applicators

• Available in romantic nudes, berry in love, and seductive smokies

My review

image source: Revlon.com

Eyes – The top two shades are shimmering shades, very light and not very pigmented. On the other hand the remaining shades are a bit promising because once you start applying the color is visible. The darker shades are decently pigmented, very build-able and blend-able. I would highly recommend to use a good primer as the base to build your look and to make these eye shade last longer ( I used Nyx primer) The mini sponge applicator given along with the product is okay to use. You can expect these shades to last at least 4-5 hours without fading out.

Lips: The two shades given at the left are lipsticks. One is slightly towards coral, it’s buttery and I loved this shade even without adding the lipgloss. The other shade is a light plum-ish color. Both are great shades, one for day and night look. There is a lipstick applicator with the palette but I used my finger which was easier as the lipsticks have a very smooth texture. The lip glosses are great too! Gives lips a healthy sheen and not too sticky.

Cheeks: The blush powder comes with a tiny and cute blush brush. Honestly, I didn’t find this blush helpful at all. I applied it several times but couldn’t see the color on my cheeks. It’s a very light shade and I have a pale/wheat-ish skin on which there was no effect.

Pros: 

• All in one compact palette
• Mirror included
• Easy to carry
• Can create multiple looks, day and night
• Darker  eye shadow shades are more towards matte
• Shades to suit any skin tone

Cons:

• The palette doesn’t have any cover for the lipsticks which are liquid. The powders tend to fall on the lipsticks
•  Inconsistencies in pigmentation of shades
• Eye shadows requires a lot of blending
• Cost 

Revlon Eye,lips and cheeks palette is available through Desert cart at AED 55, I haven’t seen these at drugstores yet.

REVLON ULTRA HD MATTE LIPCOLOR REVIEW + SWATCHES

I am in love with Matte lip shades! Really not the shimmer kinds and glitter was never the thing for me especially on the lips. I would go for a daring color but in matte only. Keeping up with this matte trend, Revlon has introduced these cool new Ultra HD Matte lip colors. Let’s learn a bit about them.

Ingredients:

Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Isododecane, Vinyl Dimethicone / Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Silica, C30-50 Alcohols, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Diisostearyl Malate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bis-(C12-14 Alkyl PPG-4) Hexamethylenediurea, Kaolin, Bismuth Oxychloride, Silica Silylate, Parfum (Fragrance), Methicone, Sodium Saccharin, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, BHT, Benzoic Acid, Limonene, Linalool. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 27 (CI 45410), Red 27 Lake (CI 45410), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985).

Review + Swatches 

I really liked the shades that I was provided for reviewing. One on the verge of blush pink  HD Passion and other a daring pink HD devotion which is fun and flirty. Coming the the texture, these lipsticks are highly pigmented and have a light sheen when applied. The packaging mentions that it is a high definition lip color which is seen as just in one sweep the color is visible on lips. The wear time for these would be anywhere around 4-6 hours. It’s very lightweight, velvety and creamier in comparison to predecessors of Revlon lippies. There is a hint of vanilla and mango fragrance but it is not overwhelming at all which is great! The price is super affordable with AED 40 and all pink shades, who could say no to that? There are 7 shades available in Middle East, originally 16 were released in USA.

On the downside, I found it a bit sticky on lips and the matte-ness reduces with time. Also if I don’t apply lip balm, this product leaves my lips dry after a while. This is observed in previous Revlon lippies too! Which is strange because this product contains shea butter and is suppose to moisturize . Since this is a gel base lipstick, it needs a lip liner to finish the look.

I like the packaging, its easy to carry and breaking from the norm of going for a cylindrical shape or boxed, this product has a smooth oval shape that is cute and easy to even carry in the back pocket. The applicator brush is double sided sponge brush for easier application of course.

Overall, the shades are designed to suit almost all skin tones. It’s light but needs constant touch-ups. If you are someone who doesn’t want to invest much on lipsticks then this is certainly a good drugstore brand to go with. I would wear it because I love the shades. Can be used frequently if you apply a good lip balm prior application of this lip color( I used clarins hydraquench moisturizing lip balm).

Revlon products are available at all leading supermarkets, hypermarkets and drugstores across middle east.

Mini Dermal Haul from MySkinChoice.com

Korean beauty products have created their niche in this large beauty market. With unique products such as snail serum, oyster masks and many more..

Well I am not the kind who would experiment with any products containing animal contents so I chose to go green. I was sent these gorgeous products by Myskinchoice to try and the verdict.. Well read below guys, not giving everything away now!

Dermal Aloe Vera Gel 

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This product is exactly how one would imagine it to be. Clear as aloe liquid and lightly fragranced. I really like the texture as its light and quickly absorbs in skin, its best to apply in day time. though if you are like me living in a desert then this product is best for winters.

Aloevera is good to treat sunburns, anti aging and reduces acne. Recommending this gel to those who do not go heavy on makeup and need a light moisturizer for keeping skin hydrated. This product is very close to the actual aloe gel and requires frequent applications to see the results.

Verdict: for aed24, I am definitely buying this again!

Dermal Bamboo Sheet Mask

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 I generally use masks on weekends as I get time to multitask and relax too. So I used this mask sheet to see the results. It contains Bamboo essence but honestly the result was just about okay. My skin did feel tighter for a while but the effects wear off soon. I am guessing it is because maybe the product is too natural and not been messed with. Try it if you have a normal skin type, mine is combination skin and this mask didn’t help. However it totally doesn’t hurt to try out as its super budget friendly and has minimal side effects.

Try out the above and more Korean products,from Myskinchoice.com they have an awesome sale going on so go grab some festive beauty treats.

Veet Sensitive Precision™ Beauty Styler Review

My long time beautician & a dear friend :”I am going for a vacation”
Me: please don’t go! who will do my eyebrows? *puppy eyes*

I am okay to get anything else done other than my eyebrows at any other salon. However when I am away from my favorite beautician, I feel scared to even try out any new salon for my eyebrows.

Being an Asian, I am blessed with super thick eyebrows that don’t take much time to grow. I don’t wish to ruin the shape but the problem is how do I maintain it? I am sure many of you have faced this problem too. Especially when one is travelling, you can’t really pack your beautician with you.

Our prayers have been answered ladies! Veet’s sensitive precision trimmer is an easy way to maintain the shape of your eyebrows & keep it always on fleek! Besides eyebrows, this lovely trimmer can also be used for trimming sensitive body parts such as bikini and underarms.

Let’s find out the benefits as described on the pack:

Introducing the NEW Veet Sensitive Precision™ Beauty Styler, designed for use on the face, underarms and bikini area where skin is more sensitive and requires more gentleness.

It’s quick and gentle with cutting blades that don’t touch the skin, so no fear of cuts! And thanks to its two different sized trimming heads and dedicated accessories you can achieve high precision whilst shaping and styling

How to Use

Use the desired trimmer head to achieve the perfect shape of your brows or bikini line. The additionally comb attachments are ideal for achieving a uniform hair length for the perfect finish. Use on dry skin only.

Hazards and Cautions

• Please read all instructions before using this product

• If your skin is sensitive, allergic to cosmetics, or easily irritated when shaving, please try on arms or legs before using the product

• Do not use with shaving gel or foam. Use on dry skin only

• Do not dismantle

• Keep out of reach of children

My review

On eyebrows: Loved it! it’s effortless and you can’t feel the blade but it does the job really well. The styler along with the eyebrow trimmer though I felt was a bit too big and instead I felt comfortable to use the blade without styler brush.

On sensitive areas: I generally prefer waxing bi-weekly to get rid of hair in these sensitive areas such as bikini and underarms. This time I tried Veet trimmer, it’s definitely not like a full fledged epilator and the process of trimming these areas is really slow. I somehow felt the blades should have been a bit sharper for as the hair growth is generally thicker.

Pros:

– Perfect for carrying while travelling
– Easy eyebrow trimming tutorial
– Good to even trim hair in smaller area
– no risk of cuts! literally not, I tried it personally and the blades are safe to use.
– Reasonably priced
– doesn’t require and shaving gel/cream application prior usage.
– wireless
– Cleaning brush included

Cons:

– battery operated! I would prefer it being with charging device.

– works only on dry skin, cannot be used in water

– Battery wears off soon!

– needs noise cancellation! there is too much of a buzzing sound while using the device which is a bit distracting.

-instructions manual : a tad bit of clarity on instructions paper is required for users to understand how to use the product.

– needs eyebrow stencil

Final Verdict

There is a reason why this sensitive trimmer is marketed more like eyebrow shaper. Definitely does wonderful job of trimming eyebrows and keeping the shape intact. I have tried the general blades and even electric blades for eyebrows earlier and I made a disaster out of my eyebrows but thanks to Veet,  I will not face that issue anymore. The USP of this product is the blades which promise no cuts and is exactly that! good for those who have hyper sensitive skin because I have it too but Veet styler doesn’t cause any redness.

I am unsure of the bikini area and underarms as I would have loved if the blades were a bit sharper for this. The product cannot be used in showers as it cannot be in contact with water. The blades can be separated and washed.

Overall, I am glad that a Veet has innovated such a wonderful product that is so easy to carry. Perfect for busy women of today!

Veet Sensitive Precision Trimmer is available in all leading hypermarket, supermarkets and drugstores across UAE, currently retailing at AED139.

Click here to watch Veet Sensitive Precision Beauty Styler – Tutorial

Johnson’s & Johnson’s Hydration Essentials Cleansing Wipes

As a busy woman who is always travelling, I am always on lookout for products that make life hassle free. When I first heard of Johnsons & Johnsons hydration face cleansing wipes I was very much interested in trying it out.

I tested the Johnsons & Johnsons hydration face cleansing wipes for normal & combination skin that comes with extra ocean minerals which help in keeping skin hydrated. The fragrance is a familiar one, the kind you always associate with baby powders from J&J. The packaging comes with sticker on top that doesn’t let your wipes dry off and best part is that the sticker stays despite all the dust in my handbag (opps confession, my handbag is a well :P). A pack of 25 is perfect as one for each of working days.

Verdict

this little drugstore beauty product is a treat for your skin! Easily removes layers of makeup without damaging the skin. The product is designed as such to remove the toughest of makeup layers especially the mascara which most of us tend to go overboard with. Since the wipe has tendency to get abrasive, I would suggest to gently wipe sensitive areas such as under/over the eyes. My skin feels refreshed and hydrated post use of these.

In case you are one of those who don’t use makeup or keep it minimal, this product still works wonders in keeping skin moisturized.

Available at all leading supermarkets, hypermarkets & drugstores.

 

Kiss Eyebrow Palletes + Swatches

I am sure we all have had our share of experiences where our eyebrows have been plucked, trimmed and its finally reached that point where it looks like an absolute disaster. I have had several instances in past of such but thanks to brands such as Benefit, Dior and Too faced who introduced brow kits. These brow kits have helped me fill the sparse areas and give my eyebrows a fuller look or as they say nowadays eyebrows on fleek.

My first brow kit experience was with Dior, it was my sister’s kit that I never gave her back because I loved it so much! In case you are someone who is new to brow kits or doesn’t want to invest much in it then I suggest you begin with KISS brow palletes. There are two types of palletes that I tested. Beautiful Brow Pallete & GoBrow Pallete

Beautiful brow pallete

A detailed pallete contains:

Highlighter
Two brow colors
Four stencils
Two sided applicator brush
Brow comb & razor
Brow wax & spiral applicator

This little kit is a wonder for those seeking budget friendly products as in one kit you get all the essentials. I really like the fact that there is a highlighter in there which helps in enhancing the look and make eyebrows more prominent. The two colors in the pallete and highly pigmented and when I tested these on my eyebrows they looked perfect. The two sided applicator brush is useful too as the edged brush can help you shape and the sponge applicator can help you fill the brow itself. The wax helps in achieving long stay look for the colors. Check out the swatches for this pallete.

My concerns though are on the razor as it’s a bit flimsy and I was scared to use it to trim the eyebrows to give that perfect shape. Also the stencils can give you an idea of how you want the shape the arcs but it’s not going to fit on eyebrows as everyone has different shapes.

This brow kit can easily replace your expensive kits any day. Best for home use as it doesn’t contain a mirror.

Watch Kiss beautiful brow kit tutorial here 

Ruby Kisses GoBrow pallete

Brow wax
Applicator
Three Stencils
Mirror

GoBrow is a compact pallete that can easily fit in your clutch or even wallet. It’s so light weighted and a perfect pallete to carry along for touch ups. As mentioned earlier the wax is really strong and gel like texture helps keeping the color intact. However if you are exposed to high heat like I do in Dubai then it’s recommended to touch up after 6 hours. The colors and the wax are both long stay. This pallete comes in three shades dark brown, black and rich chocolate brown, so you can choose based on your skin type. Go Brow Eyebrow Kit consists of three stencils that you can use to achieve a full arch, a medium arch and a slim arch.

Concerns are on the stencils provided which can basically be a guideline to perfect shape but I wouldn’t suggest to rely on the same. As we all know every brow is unique, not even our left matches with the right one.

I felt both the palletes equally useful and are super budget friendly. The colors provided and suitable to all skin tones and both the kits come with easy instructions to use the same. These may last you up to three months in case used regularly. I really like such drugstore products that do the job perfectly. Be a Browfessional with Kiss beauty brow kits!

Pro tip: Tested this brow pallete for a different use too. My friend had some gray foreline hair, quickly brushed some of the color from beautiful brow pallete on her hair and finished with a wax for long stay. Voila! It worked! 😉

Get your Kiss USA Brow palletes from leading supermarkets/hypermarkets & even pharmacies such as Aster, Boots and Bin Sina.

Nailshop.ae Nail Decals

A good manicure can make your day and what can make it better is nail art transfers.

A few months back I met lovely Natalia from Nailshop.ae. Nailshop is a very interesting website that offers you nail art transfers, magnetic nail polishes, nail art stencils and more such unique products.

I was provided some of their nail decals for reviewing and here are the results. At first I made a mistake in how to use the nail transfers. I thought it’s like a tattoo which gets stuck on the nail. It was silly of me to not watch the tutorial. However once I did watch the video, it was easy and quick!

STEP 1 Watch the nail art transfer tutorial here

STEP 2 cut out the desired nail art and dip it in water just for three seconds.

STEP 3 Carefully peel the transfer foil from the paper and apply on nail. Let it set and cut off the excess from the edges.

STEP 4 Gently apply a clear coat to finish the look!

I tried two of their designs and loved it so much. These transfer just cost AED 12 onwards and look gorgeous on the nails. Mine lasted for about a week and because I don’t like to overdo the designs I prefer applying the nail transfer on one nail and painting the remaining with solid colors.

Overall, love the look and my nails look so pretty! Have a look at the two patterns below.

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Get your nails trendy and pretty with Nailshop.ae. Contact them on +971 56 460 48 50 or info@nailshop.ae

 

Salon Review: Kozma & Kozma

Ever since I started blogging, l have been trying to take the path unseen. Explore more and learn about new places and experiment with my style and most importantly with myself. Kozma and Kozma lovelies gave me an opportunity to review their service and I was thrilled to visit them.

As I enter the salon I was asked to be seated at their lounge area where I was asked to choose a complimentary drink. I went with Kozma & Kozma cocktail and was offered some sweeties from their sweets section. Pop rocks, gummies, heart candies you name it and they had it. I didn’t go for the sweets as I wasn’t in mood for them but the drink was fabulous!

Coming to my choice of service. It was Sombre or Balayage as some of you may know. These are more like subtle highlights that look absolutely gorgeous and natural. Since I have been donating my hair for years, I never colored them. However I figured out that lately they look extremely boring and change will lift them up and give a more interesting look. My balayage was done without any use of bleach and that’s because I had virgin hair.

Initially I was a bit confused of whether shall I go for a bright bold color such as pink or more softer hues that suit my skin tone. Kozma and kozma hair supervisor Julia advised me of softer tones to start with and maybe next time I can experiment with a bolder color. She bought out a hair color chart and started explaining how the color will look on me which really made me confident of my choice.

Julia is full of life and very eager to learn about different cultures. She is young but has experience of ages and has previously worked with Glow salon ( branch of Kozma & Kozma in Qatar). If you have to get your hair done, you’ve got to book with her.

I was completely relaxed and chilling with my drink while looking like an alien because of all the foils on my hair for the color to develop. While my color develops I was quickly taking some pictures of the decor because it is amazing!

Back from my little photo opportunities, I was taken to the Hairwash section where I was made to sit on a recliner sofa and was given a quick massage as well. A quick blow dry and my hair were ready to rock. Julia had added two colors for added effects on the hair. You might see in the slideshow below of how the color changes when hits the light vesus indoors.

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Talking about the decor, all treatment rooms are private and design wise different but the color scheme of gold on white stays throughout. Their staff Leigh Ann who again is an absolute gem, escorted me to the rooms explaining all the services offered. Every room is well lit and beautifully structured. The popping pink from hints of gold and white create such a girly and relaxing atmosphere to be in. I fell in love with their massage room as you can see below, it is stone walled and so relaxing!

Kozma and kozma stocks all the latest brands such as Opi, Ciaté, Olaplex, Dermalogica and many more. Not only that they have quickly gained popularity with their unique services such as Snowman/Unicorn/Mermaid mani & pedi too. They have been featured in various newspapers & magazines throughout the region.

As far as prices are concerned, Kozma & Kozma are pretty reasonable for the services offered. For the staff, they have some fabulous ladies, all very well experienced and friendly. The products used are all of premium quality and the staff constantly keep explaining about what they are using on the customer so everyone is well aware.

The booking sms clearly states that kids below age of 11 & men are clearly not allowed in the salon. Which is fab because it gives you that ME time most of us yearn for.

To book yourself in, visit WEBSITE  or Call on  056 5544534 or 056 5544535

 Location: Opposite J3 Mall, Jumeirah

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