Review: MAC Moisture Infusion Serum & Oil Control Lotion

First of all, these two products are sold separately. Nevertheless, I think they work best together.

I have a combination skin.

PRICE

The lotion costs 34€, whereas the serum retails for almost 43€. I am totally aware that both of the products are pricey. In my opinion, you can totally only use the Oil control lotion on it's own, which is what I did for quite a while, before getting the serum.

THE PRODUCTS & CARE

Moisture Infusion Serum

The product claims to be a light weight serum, which is going to provide your skin with moisture, as well as prime your face. It comes in a pretty, small bottle with a pump, and has, just like all the MAC products, a very sleek and simple, yet modern appearance. It contains 50ml (=1.7 fl oz). One pump is the perfect amount, because both of the products, especially the serum, are very economical. The serum has a very neutral scent, and feels really soft and silky, once you apply it.  However, you don't necessarly need to use the serum, in order to get a result (without saying that it has no effect). Not only does it prepare your skin for any makeup application, but also evens it out and gives it the perfect texture for the application of the oil control lotion.

Oil Control Lotion

This cream is supposed to control your facial oils, without drying out your skin. It really does make your skin look healthy and radiant. Also, it comes in the same sized bottle. You can use it under your makeup, which is going to reduce the oily appearance, as for example on your T-zone. I still recommend you using a setting powder. For me, it really prevents any face products from accentuating my dry spots, which, in my opinion, always happens once you set your face makeup, or apply any other powder. The scent of this cream is more intense, without being too powerful. It smells really fresh and clean, and reminds me of their Fix+. 

FINAL WORD

I personnaly think that this combination is the perfect care throughout the day. In my opinion, the most important thing for a day-cream is that it doesn't feel heavy or thick on your skin, which is what I appreciate the most on both of the products. I use this series all year long, and not once have I had dry skin in the winter, or oily skin in summer. 

Review: Biotherm Aquasource Nuit

PRICE
Right before we start, I want to point out that this gel is a Made in France product. It only comes in one size and costs almost 45€.

THE PRODUCT
The gel comes in a really handy, little pump jar which contains 50 ml (=1.69oz). I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but i've been using it for over a month and I'm not even close to being half way through!
The product claims to be a highly concentrated, hydrating jelly, that you're supposed to use every night. Also, it's supposed to keep and reconstruct your endogenous moisture.

FIRST IMPRESSION
When I first applied the gel to my face, I was surprised, because I expected something more creamy. However, the gel keeps your skin from becoming really greasy over night. The smell is divine! It has something really unique to it, which makes it hard to explain. It has a hint of citrus in it. What I really appreciate is that one pump is the perfect amount for the face.
However, you should definitely try the smell before you buy the product, just in case you don't like it (I can't think of anything worse than putting something on your face that you think smells horrible, AND trying to fall asleep with it).

CARE
I am really in love with the product. Even though we're already in November, my skin is not dry at all. I feel like this product is the perfect care to use over night. Another reason why I love it so much is because I really don't like to use any cream on my face during the day. It provides my skin with moisture and prevents it from early aging. Furthermore, I had no problems at all with any kind of
intolerance or irritations.

FINAL WORD
I feel like this is the perfect skin care for me, as it makes my skin soft and healthy. Let's be honest, we all only have one skin, that why we need to get along with it for a whole long life. Considering this fact, I find that the use of a good care is essential. I recommend this hydrating gel to all of those, who are looking for a new, effective night-care, and that don't like greasy products.

Review: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

PRICE
Considering this is a Clarins, I find the price quite reasonable. With its 16.50€, this Lip Perfector brings you 12mL, which, compared to normal lipgloss tubes, is a generous amount.

THE PRODUCT
The Lip perfector comes in 6 different colours. The product claims to give you soft-looking and smooth lips after a regular use. In addition, it promises to treat your lips with several vitamins and substances. The result will be naturally coloured, healthy and juicy lips.
It comes in a tube with an application 'sponge' on it. The product will be pressed through the little holes in this applicator.



PERSONAL IMPRESSION
When I went to Sephora to try the lip perfector, I really loved the little sponge, which guarantees you a smooth application. Furthermore, the smell is really pleasant, because it is so decent. Once I had applied it, I was suprised, because it is not sticky at all. It feels smooth and gives you a light shine. This shine, however, is not comparable to the shine a lipgloss gives you, since it is much more natural and really sheer. I feel like it's more of a translucent shine, than a real glossy finish. What I immediately found, is that it gives your lips some kind of a 'photoshopped' look.
For when it comes to the care, I'm not really sure. It definitely smoothes your lips out, but I don't think it could handle really dry lips during winter for example. However, it gives you a nice shiny look, without sticking together or drying out your lips.




FINAL WORD
The Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector is definitely a great substitution for a lipgloss. It doesn't give you the same result, yet feels better on your lips and contains many good ingredients. I recommend it to all of those, who have no particular problem with dry lips, but just want to take care and prevent their lips from early aging. Just like your skin deserves a daily care, your lips do as well. If you want a product, that is a balance between a lip moisturizer and a light gloss, then you should maybe have a look at this Lip Perfector.

Review: LeniBrush Eyeliner Brush E05

LeniBrush might be a brand that most of you don't know. It had been launched by a german online shop for cosmetics, which is the following:

http://www.kosmetik4less.de/

The online shop has many common brands(Sigma, China Glaze, Beautyblender...), but also many, that I had never heard about, and that I completely fell in love with! (The Balm, Barry M, Sleek, Red Cherry,...). I really recommend you having a look!

PRICE

The angled eyeliner brush costs 6.30€, which I think is really inexpensive and reasonable.

THE PRODUCT

The brush is almost 16 cm long, which, in my opinion, is a really good size for an eyeliner brush. It has synthetic hair, which is really gentle to the sensitive eye area. Also, synthetic hair keeps its shape easily, which is essential for a good eyeliner brush. I feel like the angle and the lenght of the bristles are perfect. The resistant hair is packed quite densely, which allows you to draw a clean eyeliner without messing around. The brush is also perfect to draw fine lines. It has a really classic look, and seems to be inspired by leading makeup brands such as MAC or Sigma. 

USES

I typically use my LeniBrush in combination with my MAC Fluidline. However, you can of course use it with any gel or cream eyeliner you have. 

In addition, you can use your E05 to smudge your kohl eyeliner. You won't end up with your kohl all over the lid, since the brush is fairly delicate and fine. 

Furthermore, you could use it with a powder on your brows. Nevertheless, I think the brush is not thick/dense enough. Some people however love to use it on their eyebrows, but since I fill in my entire brows, this takes me too long. 

THE BRAND IN GENERAL

I honestly have not really tried any other brushes from that brand, since I'm not a huge fan of inexpensive brushes. However, I'm thinking about getting 2 or 3 more, to give it another chance. 

FINAL WORD

I think that this brush is really worth buying, since the cost-benefit-ratio is simply amazing! After I've had mine for over a year, a bought a second one (so that I don't need to clean the other one every single time). In my opinion, this is just the perfect eyeliner brush, and I have constantly been using it for the past 2 years. 

Review: MAC 217 Blending Brush

PRICE

The 217 blending brush by MAC costs 25€. I know this sounds a lot for a brush, but you have to consider you're going to keep this brush for a very long time.

THE PRODUCT

The brush has, in my opinion, the perfect lenght with its 17cm. The bristles are made of natural, uncoloured hair. Since the hair is left in its initital state, it brings a certain roughness. This roughness allows you to get a good amount of product on your brush. However, I don't think I have ever ended up with too much product on it. The hair is quite resistant, but not too much. It has the perfect structure due to the bristles' oval arrangement. MAC describes the fibres as "densely packed" (which I really couldn't rewrite any better). Just like all the MAC brushes, the 217 is hand-sculpted.

USES

I personally think that you can use this brush for literally anything.

First of all, you can use it to blend your eye makeup. What I also like to do, is to go directly into the product and put it into my crease. Also, you can use it to put the highligt under your brow or put a base colour on your lid(which I don't really do often). Basically, you could do an entire eye makeup look with this brush if you used it in the right order (from light to dark colours).

Then, you can use it for cream eyeshadows, as for instance the paintpots by MAC.

Furthermore, you could use the brush to set your concealer with some setting powder. I feel like concealer always needs an extra setting, since you tend to layer it, if you have really dark circles. Also, a bigger face brush might not get into all the little wrinkles around your eye.

In addition, you can use your 217 for small contour work on your nose, or highlighting on the bridge of your nose and your chin.

FINAL WORD

In conclusion, this brush is an all-rounder. It is definitely one of the most precious pieces of my makeup collection. Even though it is a little pricey, this is a really loyal tool which can be used in so many ways. The brush is definitely worth the investment.

I've had mine for a year now, and I'm really thinking about getting a second one, so that I can use one for everything shimmery, and the other one for the mattes.

Comparison: Naked and Naked2 by Urban Decay

PRICE

Both the palettes cost the same, 45€.

THE COLOURS

Both the palettes contain 12 highly pigmented colours.

Naked

The Naked palette contains 2 mattes and 10 shimmery colours. It seems to have a lot of dark colours, which is why I think it could be more matching when it comes to night looks.

Naked2

This palette brings 3 matte and 9 shimmery colours. It contains a lot of really light tones, which could be really useful to do a daytime-look. The colours "Blackout" and "Busted" compensate for this tendency.

Conclusion

Of course, my opinion doesn't necessarily counts for you. It depens on your makeup habits (wether you tend to do many dark makeup looks on your everyday basis or not). For me, personally, the palettes find their use in two different periods of the day.

What the palettes have in common is first of all the colour "Half Baked". It is the only colour that exists in both of them. Furthermore, they both have a perfect highlighting colour. In the Naked, this is "Virgin", which has more of a pinkish undertone than the highlighter colour in the Naked 2 (Bootycall). In addition, the glittery black from the first version has become a matte. Also, they both contain greyish colours. In the Naked, we find a blueish, dark, grey colour called "Gunmetal". In the Naked 2, there are 2 grey shades, one lighter than the other. "Verve", which could also be considered as a light silver perfectly matches the darker grey "Pistol". Since they are both very cold colours, I imagine them to look really good with very light eyecolours.

PERSONAL FAVOURITE

I think it is really hard to say which one I prefer. Since i tend to do more darker makeup looks, I think I might favour the Naked. However, I dote on the colour "Bootycall" from the Naked2. The colour "Tease" is also very special to me. I used to put it on my eyebrows, until I figured it was just too light. Nevertheless, since this is a matte, taupe with a greyish undertone, it might be the perfect eyebrow colour for medium blondes.

A colour i don't like at all in the Naked is "Buck". In my opinion, the reddish, orangey undertone is really annoying. Whenever I use it, i mix it with another colour. (Most of the time, this other colour is "Tease".)

What palette do you prefer and why?

Review: Christian Dior Diorific Lipstick

PRICE

Just like all the Dior Products, this lipstick is of course a little pricey. With its 32€ it's definitely a high-end lipstick. It contains 3.5g (0.12oz).

FIRST IMPRESSION

The packaging of this "Haute Couture" Lipstick is pretty simple and sleek. It has a golden colour. The lipstick formula seems to be kind of rich in relation to its creaminess and shine. It has a slightly shiny finish, which is not glossy at all. It glides really easily on to your lips, which makes the application really comfortable. It has a really decent smell to it, which personally doesn't bother me at all. In addition, it has a really good coverage.

THE PRODUCT

The lipstick comes in 10 different colours, which I honestly think is not a lot. I own a classic blood-red lipstick (Ange Bleu 013) and a shimmery coral (Corail Hip Hop 024). In my opinion, the product is a longlasting lipstick, as it doesn't get of so easily (even with an oil-based makeup remover). I'm not saying it stays in place for ever, but compared to other lipsticks, I think it does quite a good job.

DURABILITY
I applied my "Ange Bleu" to my lips without any lipliner or base. It looks smooth and shiny.
After 3 hours, it has of course set. It has not dried out at all but has become more of a matte finish. It still feels creamy and smooth. It has slipped just a little bit into the wrinkles of my lips, which probably happened because i didn't use any lipliner.

After lunch (pasta), the colour had faded a little, especially on the inner part of my lips. Also, I feel like it has slippes even more into my wrikles. My lips feel pretty dry now and the smooth creaminess has disappeared. I reapplied it, which gave me shiny and red, yet not so smooth lips.

After 2.3 hours after the reapplication, the lipstick has not set, as it had after the first application. It is shiny and creamy, and still feels good on my lips. It has not dried out my lips.

FINAL WORD
I think the Diorific is quite long-lasting, as it still looks good after 3-4 hours. However, you definitely have to reapply it after a meal.
There are many lipsticks that are really long-lasting, but I think it's really hard to find one, that doesn't dry out your lips. I recommend the Diorific, as I think it's fairly unique in it's care. It keeps your lips pretty moistured and conditioned.

Nevertheless, you should never forget to moisture your lips with your favourite lip balm after wearing lipstick.