Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Zoya Remove + Nail Polish Remover - Review

I ordered Zoya's Remove + Nail Polish Remover during the Facebook Promo back in January. Remove + is a mild acetone based remover that is the first step of the Zoya Color Lock System. The mild acetone formula with glycerin makes it far less drying than most removers out there. It does smell quite strong in the bottle but after cleaning, it leaves a pleasant smell which, I think is a huge plus.


What I like about this nail polish remover:
  • Cleans nails really well without drying. I've noticed my base coat goes on very smooth afterwards.
  • Packaged very well using the big flipper. I just have to twist the cap to unlock and press to get the product out on a cotton ball/pad and this way there is so much less wastage.
  • I don't have to rub the product a zillion times on my nails to get all the nail polish out. I just press for a few seconds and swipe.
  • Removes glitter nail polish very well!
  • Far less fumes than other removers and does not leave my nails stinking.
What I dis-like about this nail polish remover:
  • Although it does a great job, it is slightly pricey for a nail polish remover. But, the big flipper which retails at $9.99, comes a long way.
  • Availability - It has to be ordered only through Zoya's website or a salon that carries Zoya. I wish it was more readily available.

Overall, it is an amazing nail polish remover and totally worth trying out. The fact that it contains acetone and is still non-drying, makes it an excellent buy.

Have you tried the Remove + nail polish remover from Zoya? Do you love it? I'd love to know!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue

The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue is a rich, buttery foot cream that helps soften rough skin and moisturize feet. The texture is thick and very rich and melts upon massaging. Smells strongly of peppermint which is great for any foot cream. This has become my favourite foot care item and I am on my third tub already!
I've been having a horrible case of super dry feet especially, since the start of winter and this one provides a serious dose of moisture. It is very greasy and takes a while to absorb fully. I prefer slathering on a generous amount in the night and wearing socks if I want to walk around since it does make feet slippery. I know, it sounds like a big task but totally worth it at the end. With regular use of this, I've noticed my feet don't get so dry and stay moisturized for a longer time.This is the best moisturizing, softening foot cream I've ever used! Highly recommended!

Have you tried The Body Shop Peppermint Intensive Foot Rescue? Do you love it? What is your must-have foot care item?

Saturday, March 26, 2011

NYX Studio Liquid Liner - Review & Swatches

NYX Studio Liquid Liners come in a lot of fun, colorful shades and add a nice metallic sheen when worn over any liner or by itself. I got them in the most safe shades. Extreme Black which is a deep, glossy black with no hint of shimmer/glitter and Extreme Coffee, a dark metallic coppery brown.
What I like about these liners:

  • The shades are really intense and the thin wand makes application precise and easy.
  • I just need one swipe to get a nice glossy coat of liner. 
  • Dries pretty fast.
  • Nice shade range.
  • Pocket-friendly($4.50).
  • Dries to a slick, glossy finish. If you are looking for eyeliners that dry matte, these are not for you.


What I dislike about these liners:

  • They are not waterproof.
  • Accidentally rubbing your eyes causes them to peel off! It doesn't smudge though. 

If you like metallic eyeliners then, these are a fun thing to play around with. I might try the Extreme Blue and Extreme Purple next. Worth a try in my opinion.

Have you tried the NYX Studio Liquid Liners? Are you a fan of colored liquid liners? What are your thoughts?

Monday, March 21, 2011

Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser

I am so glad I discovered the Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser just in time when my old favourite cleanser(Burt's Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser) was a little too drying on me, in-spite of it being an all-natural, gentle, sulphate-free cleanser. Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser is a creamy cleanser that does a great job in getting the gunk out without leaving my skin dry and tight.
The smell is mild, not very overpowering and the consistency is just right. Although its sulphate-free, it foams up really well! I am not sure if this can be used as a one-step cleanser but, after cleaning up my basic eye and face makeup, this does a great job in cleansing whatever is left out. An amazing morning cleanser too.The milky texture makes it a luxurious cleansing experience.

Overall, if you have dry to normal skin and are looking for a gentle cleanser that is formulated without Sulphates,Parabens and Synthetic Dyes, this one is a fantastic option to consider. The price tag($21) might be too steep for an everyday cleanser but, the big fat tube comes a long way. Sometimes when I am not so lazy, I add an extra step by using it with my TBS Facial Buffer

Available online and in-stores at Sephora and Ulta.

Have you tried the Korres Milk Proteins Foaming Cream Cleanser? Do you love it? What are your favourite cleansers?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Flat Top Brush

Everyone loves affordable brushes, right? Sonia Kashuk makes one of the finest, affordable, quality drugstore brushes, in my opinion. The Flat Top Multi Purpose Brush is a 'must-have' brush from Sonia Kashuk if you need a total multi-tasker that does a fab job of blending face products.

I use this to blend in liquid foundation, tinted moisturizer, and some cream/liquid blushes for a dewy glow. It leaves no streaks behind after blending and the end result is totally FLAWLESS. The handle is designed in such a way that it provides great grip and control. I've even used this with powder blush for precise application, since the brush head is the perfect size to add a nice pop of color! Although, this brush is listed as a flat top blush brush, I wouldn't restrict myself to just that.

The brush, priced at $14.99 is a steal for the multi-tasker that it is. It might sound pricey for drugstore standards but, its soo worth it. I've washed it a lot of times and it hasn't shed at all. Since it is quite dense, it does take a while to dry, but that's not a problem since I wash it in the night and it's totally dry by morning.
I totally recommend this if you are looking for a flat top brush with a smaller than usual head size ,that does an amazing blending job for an airbrushed look.
Available only at Target Stores and Target.com .

Have you tried the Sonia Kashuk Flat Top Multipurpose Brush? Do you love it as much as I do? What are your favourite Sonia Kashuk Brushes?

Sunday, March 13, 2011

LUSH BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask

BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask is a refreshing, calmimg mask containing fresh and nutritious seaweed and seaweed absolute, cleansing kaolin, antiseptic honey, calming aloe vera and rose absolute. I was told at LUSH that since this mask is supposed to calm, cleanse and soften it can be used by all skin types.
This mask contains chunks of seaweed and smells totally fresh like any other homemade mask. Unlike so many masks, these chunks do not make applying a problem. The mask is the right consistency and feels really cool and soothing on my skin.
I leave it on for about ten minutes and wash it off. Make sure to scrub it gently 
while washing it off to give your skin some mild exfoliation.
My skin feels really soft and totally clean afterwards. This mask adds a nice glow and the best part is, there is no tight, dry feeling! I love the way this works on my skin and would totally re-purchase. Totally recommended if you need a refreshing face mask to add some glow and cleanse without drying. If you are looking for a mask that gives a nice moisture boost, try the Oatifix Fresh Face Mask.


Have you tried LUSH BB Seaweed Fresh Face Mask? Do you love it as much as I do? What are your favourite face masks?

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

NOTD - Sinful Colors in Sugar Sugar

'Sugar Sugar' is a shimmery red nail polish which was lying unused in my stash for over 3 months. I totally ignored this color for a while. I tried it on a while back and quite like it. Its a bright red with red shimmer that would look great on the toes.


I need only 2 coats for full opacity and the formula is great for the price. It retails for about $1.99 and can be found at Walgreens and Target. This was taken on the second day of application. I won't say this is a very unique color but, for the price, it sure is amazing.

All Sinful Colors nail polishes are DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde and Camphor free. If you like bright shades, the color range won't disappoint you. They do have a few pinks and nudes.
Have you tried Sinful Colors? Do you like them? What are your favourite shades?

Thursday, March 3, 2011

MAC Technakohl Liner in 'Photogravure'

I like the Technakohl Liners from MAC for the fact that they actually adhere to my waterline pretty well. MAC desribes "Photogravure" as a soft black with brown undertones. It looks more brown than black on my eyes or when swatched. 
These retractable eyeliners are supposed to be waterproof and smudge-proof. They do take a while to set - I would say a bit longer than what the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencils take. Once set, they are not totally budge proof. They do transfer quite a bit but, definitely not to the extent that I end up looking like a panda. Stays put for 4-5 hours(thats how much wear time I get from most waterproof eyeliners in general, except Clarins). You would definitely need an eye makeup remover to completely take it off.
The texture is quite soft and doesn't tug or pull. I've even tried it as an eye base while doing a smokey eye and it works perfectly fine.

Here's a comparison swatch against MAC Feline and Urban Decay 24/7 in Zero. I was surprised to see that it actually looks really brown when compared against some black liners.
Top to Bottom : Urban Decay - Zero, MAC Photogravure Technakohl, MAC Feline
I won't say "Photogravure" is a very unique shade. But, it's great for a soft, smudgy, smokey look and looks amazing all by itself too.
Overall, nice to have and worth the price tag. I would definately love to try out some other shades of the Technakohl liners.
Have you tried MAC Technakohl liners? Do you like them? What are some of your favourite eyeliners?