REVIEW: Oriflame Skin Dream BB Cream

Official description:

All-in-one solution fusing make-up, skincare and SPF protection. At once conceals all types of pigmentation, blemishes, discoloration and reduces appearance of pores. Hydrates and creates a perfect, lustrous skin tone. Use everyday for a dewy, flawless-look. Oil-free. SPF 30. 

Packaging: Tube containing 30 ml.

Texture: Similar to a liquid foundation.
What it does: Because the essence BB cream I recently bought is a shade too dark for my skin, I bought this one from Oriflame in the shade Fair because I'm white like a ghost when I'm not tanned. For me, it's like a light to medium coverage foundation, but I like how you can't tell I'm wearing any make-up and it's also good in the transfer department because I hardly see any traces on my phone (that's for me the ultimate transfer test). I like to use BB creams because I don't have severe acne, just some redness, so I usually go with concealer on any acne or blemishes and BB cream to even out my skin color. This BB cream has SPF 30 (another thing I care for) and it's oil free. For me, it's as good as the Garnier one, and it's actually better in the shininess department.

Ingredient List:

AQUA, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, PEG-10 DIMETHICONE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, CAPRYLYL METHICONE, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, STEARIC ACID, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE, HEXYL LAURATE, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA, METHYLPARABEN, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, PROPYLPARABEN, DISODIUM EDTA, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, ALUMINA, SILICA, BHT

Price: 23 lei (5.5 euros)
Re-buy or pass: Definitely re-buy!

REVIEW: essence all-in-one BB cream

Official description:

one for all! this lightly tinted cream ensures a smooth, radiant and flawless complexion. it makes small skin imperfections disappear without blocking your pores. the oil and perfume-free beauty balm is available in three different skin tones with spf 30. the must-have amongst foundations for a smooth complexion.

Packaging: The packaging is always cute at the essence products and this bb cream is no exception. Comes in a tube containing 30 ml.
Texture: Similar to a liquid foundation.

What it does: Well, even from the description, they say it's a tinted cream. Basically, this is a tinted moisturizer with a light to medium coverage. This doesn't cover acne or anything like that, but it helped me with my redness, and that is quite enough. One think I don't like is that the lightest shade (called 01 Universal) is a hint too dark for a fair complexion like mine. If it's blended well, I can work with it. Also, oily skin isn't this cream's best friend. You can't use this without a powder or you'll shine bright like a diamond. What I do like is the SPF and the fact that it's oil free. I had some bad break outs and now I'm healing and I didn't notice this BB cream making things worse.
Price: 14,60 lei (almost 4 euros) at my local essence counter.
Re-buy or pass: I'm glad I tried this BB cream and it's a nice product for the price, but...I like Garnier better.

W7 The Big Five Eyeshadow Palette review

Official description: Couldn't find one
Packaging: Nice, slick case with zebra print on the top, a mirror and a double ended sponge applicator. 4 gr.

Texture: Silky, shimmery eyeshadows.

What it does: It's the first W7 product I own and I love it! The eyeshadows are much nicer in reality, but they don't show up well on camera because they're on the shimmery side. And I do love shimmery eyeshdows. If I were to compare them, I would say they're like e.l.f. ones. Not the greatest pigmentation, but with a primer they do pop on the eyelid and I had no problems with the creasing. I like all the colors, which is pretty rare even for a small palette. It has a silver, a pink, two golden shades a lilac one. For me, it goes to my favourites because the formula, the shades and the packaging are great for me. They were really cheap so that's why it's not like I could demand the greatest quality, but they are decent.
Price: 14 lei (3 euros) on cosmetiq.ro
Re-buy or pass: I would buy this palette in other shade combination.In fact, I would try other eyeshadows from W7 in general, because so far I like what I got.

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quad review

Official description:

Reveal your most alluring eyes with NEW True Color Eyeshadow. Our quads are numbered so getting those fabulous eye looks are as easy as 1,2,3...4!

With True Color Technology:
The rich color you see in the compact is the same color you get on your eyes.
Rich, vibrant color with crease-proof wear
Color saturated shades designed for every skin tone
Numbered shades for our easiest expert eye looks ever!

Exquisite stay-true coordinated shades make every eye-look effortless.

Packaging: The eyeshadows come in a sturdy plastic case and they have a double ended sponge applicator. The packaging changed, because mine are older eyeshadows bought from an online outlet.5.6 gr (0.20 oz)

Texture: These are different from the duos, because those have a nice satin finish, while these are pretty chalky and powdery. I hope they changed the formula too when they changed the packaging, because boy, do these suck!

After rubbing and rubbing and rubbing, here are some decent swatches of the colors

What it does: My quad is in the shade Iced Dreams, and I have a white pearl shade, a lilac one, a blue pastel and a purple. I had another quad in smoky shades a few years back and I remembered I didn't like that one either but we Romanians live under the false impression the cosmetics we get here are not that good because they're made in Poland, so I thought if I get this quad made in the US, I'm gonna see the difference. Well, let me tell you these are the same. I tried to swatch these, but it was already night time and the lightning wasn't good, but those eyeshadows are just not pigmented anyway. I applied them over my usual primer and let me tell you they came across as simple highlighting colors, and I used the most pigmented two of them. So, for me, this quad isn't worth it at all and I don't want to try another even if I get it for free. This is the second one I own and the lack of pigmentation and the chalkiness are obvious.
Price: 9 lei (2 euros) on cosmetiq.ro
Re-buy or pass: Definitely not. I'm done with the Avon quads.

Avon True Color Eyeshadow Duo review

Official description:

Our new True Color Eyeshadow Duo features exquisite stay-true coordinated shades to make every eye-look effortless. Formulated with New True-Color Technology, the rich color you see in the compact is the same color you get on your eyes. You'll see rich, vibrant color in a single sweep. Best of all, these color-saturated shades are designed for every skin tone. Crease-proof wear.

Packaging: The eyeshadows come in a nice, sturdy plastic case and they also have a sponge applicator (I don't use those). I got mine without the box because I bought them from an online outlet.2.8 gr. (10 OZ).

Texture: The texture is soft,silky and they are easy to apply. 

What it does: I have the Bronze Patina duo ( a shade that's not available anymore because these eyeshadows are older) and I have the colors Rose Gold and Chestnut. I used them with my trusty e.l.f. primer and they didn't crease for about 8 hours. That's usually how much I wear make-up on a daily basis. The color seem sheer and washed out on their own, but with a primer they do pop. I like the silky texture, there's no fall out and they blend easily. My only complaint is with the colors. I bought this duo online and unfortunately, the pictures were not that clear, so I went more for the description. The Chestnut shade looks gorgeous swatched,but there's something that doesn't fit with my skin tone or maybe with my eye color, but this color makes me look tired all the time. That's a shame, because I liked the shade very much. That's a negative thing for me with this duo, but it's my own fault because I chose the shades. Otherwise, these are eyeshadows I would recommend to someone who's gonna use them for subtle looks, like going to work or casual meetings. Nothing fancy, nothing wow, but decent quality eyeshadows.
Price: 6 lei (1.5 euros) on cosmetiq.ro
Re-buy or pass: I would buy another duo, but at this price, not what they usually go for. 

 

Oriflame Master Curl Mascara review

Official description:

The wait is over! Curl, bend and coil lashes like never before. Curl Protect Technology’s smooth formulation helps to keep lashes curled for up to 14 hours while the super-arched brush catches and stretches every lash for the flirtiest, curviest lashes ever.

Packaging: Comes in a pink tube containing 8 ml.

Texture: The texture is fine, not too thick and not too liquid.
What it does: I usually like Oriflame mascaras and this one is no exception. The wand has a curved shape, which helps me get all those little lashes in the corner of my eye. Now, as for the curling effect, I'm sorry to say it didn't do anything special. I must say though, this mascara is great for volume and definition and it goes nice on the lashes because it doesn't have a thick formula. Nevertheless, the curling effect promoted by the company just didn't show up on me.
Price: 15 lei (4 euros)
Re-buy or pass: I would repurchase this mascara again, depending if it's on sale or not.

Oriflame Sparkle in Paris Eye Pencil review

Official description:

Add some sparkle to your night, with these 3 shimmering shades. Glistening metallic eye pencils add a bit of excitement, creating an all-out dramatic look that will surely turn heads. Easily sharpened and glides on effortlessly.

Packaging: The pencil comes without a box or anything else, but I do like the design of this collection in general.1 gr.
Texture: Creamy, but not too much, shimmery.

What it does: When it comes to this collection, the lip gloss was not what I was hoping for, but the pencil. To die for. I'm in love. I bought the shade Purple Shimmer because I thought it's something suitable for fall. The color is exactly was I was expecting, a deep purple with shimmer. I used this pencil also in the waterline and it didn't budge for 7 hours while I was at work, and after that I removed my make-up, so I don't know how long it actually lasts. The formula is great and the shade is gorgeous.
Price: 10 lei (2 euros)
Re-buy or pass: I would buy this pencil again if it were on sale,but in exactly the same shade. The others are a black one and a silver one and I have enough blacks already.

Oriflame Sparkle in Paris Lip Gloss review

Official description:

Luscious shine wherever you go, with 3 new limited edition Power Shine Lip Gloss shades. Metashine pearl technology, delivers a sparkling and ultra-gloss finish with luxurious shine. Unique applicator designed for easy, precise application.

Packaging: The gloss comes in a tube with the golden logo of the Sparkle in Paris collection (launched for the 2012 Holiday season). There are 5 ml in the tube.
Texture: Non-sticky formula, with tiny shimmery particles in it. It also has a sweet, pleasant scent.

What it does: I wanted this entire make-up collection last year, but I never got around to buy it and then I quit being an Oriflame consultant for more than half of this year, but there's something that always drags me to them. So, when I saw lip glosses and the eye pencils on sale, I immediately bought one of each. The lip gloss is in the shade Frosty Purple, and I expected some color showing up on my lips. Well, it doesn't. In the tube it has a gorgeous mauve color, but on my lips it's just a clear lip gloss with some shimmer. I like the formula and I will use this gloss, but sadly, the catalogue pictures were misleading once again.
Price: 15 lei (4 euros)
Re-buy or pass: This gloss was almost 4 euros on sale, so I think for that money I should get a more pigmented products. Too bad for the packaging design, because I won't be buying another one.

Oriflame Neo Chic Lipstick

Official description:

Moisturising creamy formula to hydrate lips and bring a flawless finish. Limited edition bright pink shades without shimmer.

Packaging: The packaging is very cute, with the pink and the lace details on the box and also on the tube. The tube contains 4 gr, although I thought at first the lipstick is kind of small.

Texture: Very creamy and sheer, with a nice scent. It reminds me of roses, but not the nauseous kind. The scent doesn't linger.

What it does: I got this lipstick in the shade Strong Fuchsia and I was expecting a truly vibrating color. What I got is a rather sheer lipstick, and it looks more like lip tint on me. It's very moisturising and I like the lack of shimmer, but I would have liked more color payoff. As far as I'm concerned the catalogue pics are not accurate and neither the description.

Price: 18 lei (4 euros)
Re-buy or pass: I got this lipstick on sale and I think it's overpriced. The products just doesn't rise to the expectations and they are much better lipsticks out there, sometimes even cheaper. What can I say? The packaging fooled me a little bit.

Beauty UK Baked Blusher review

Official description:

Baked mineral powders refined into a pressed blush formula to provide a sheer, luminous veil of colour. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage to enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer. Choose from 5 fabulous shades.

Packaging: The packaging is nice and sturdy, the typical black one with the company's logo on it. On the back side it also has a retractable brush, but it's really tiny, so I don't use it. I think it usually come in a box which I didn't get because there are no ingredients listed or other information besides the shade.
Texture: It's my first baked make-up product I have, so I don't know if it's supposed to be so...dusty.

What it does: This is also a product I chose from the giveaway I won and it's my biggest disappointment. The eyeshadows and the bronzing pearls are not that pigmented, but I can work with that, as for this blush...The color just doesn't show up on my face and I'm on the pale side. I got no 01. Candy Shop shade and I thought it would be a nice pinky shade. It looks good swatched because I used my fingers to rub the product in, but with the brush I just have to use it multiple times to get a little bit of color.

Price:24 lei (about 6 euro) from beautyukcosmetics.ro
Re-buy or pass: I wouldn't buy this because there's simply no color pay off.
Disclaimer: By winning a giveaway I wasn't conditioned on posting positive reviews about the products, actually I wasn't conditioned on reviewing them at all, so this is my honest opinion!

Beauty UK Eyeshadow Palette review

Official description:

Make a fresh statement everyday with our best selling 10 eye shadow combo palettes - as featured in Vogue.

Packaging: The eyeshadows come in a nice,sturdy case. They also have a double sponge applicator, but I like to use brushes instead. There's no mirror, but it's not something so bad, because I usually don't look in those tiny mirrors when I do my make-up.They all have 10 gr together, so they're rather tiny. You get 10 colors.

Texture: These eyeshadows are very satiny, but you have to apply them carefully because they tend to have a bit of fall-out. In this palette they are all shimmery shadows.
What it does: Moving on with the products I won at the giveaway, I wanted to try some eyeshadows too, but they didn't have them all on stock and I didn't want the palette with the nudes, because I like to have some colors too, so I chose the no.1-Pastels palette. One eyeshadow came broken, but that's because of the Romanian postal service since they tend to handle packages without any care whatsoever. It's a nice collection of eyeshadows, you get 3 brown shades, a white highlighting shade, a lilac shade, a pink shade, two blue shades and two green shades. These eyeshadows are rather sheer, so you don't get that much pigmentation and they are all shimmery, but I like the fact that they look so good on the eyes, like from a distance you look like you have some make-up on, and you can see the colors only if you get closer. I used them with primer and they staid put for about 7-8 hours, meaning a typical working day and that's what I want. I must say on the website they looked bigger and I was surprised to receive a small palette instead, but I do like the colors very much. I would say these are great for beginners and for people with little make-up skills like myself, not for those who usually do elaborate looks and that are looking for very strong pigments.On my hand I swatched without primer the brown from the top row on the left, the dark blue, the golden shade next to the brown one, the pink, and the green shade next to the pink one.

Price: 24 lei (about 6 euro) on beautyukcosmetics.ro
Re-buy or pass: Honestly, I'm glas I didn't pay for this palette because I didn't think it was this small and it's not like it's something I can't live without. I'm glad I gave it a try, but I don't think I would buy another one.
Disclaimer: By winning a giveaway I wasn't conditioned on posting positive reviews about the products, actually I wasn't conditioned on reviewing them at all, so this is my honest opinion!

Beauty UK Bronzing Pearls review

Official description:

Pots of petite pearls to give you a summery glow all year round.

Packaging: The bronzing pearls come in a plastic container with a black lid and the logo on it. They have some sort of a brush included, but honestly I didn't even try to use it because tiny brushes given for free are almost never good at anything. It doesn't seem like it, but there are 15 gr of product inside, and I say that because when I first saw them I thought there was too little.

Texture: Well, they're pearls and they are small, but not in a bad way.
What it does: As far as I can tell from the packaging and from the website, there are no other shades available, just an universal one. On the swatch it may look a little dark, because I rubbed a bit so you can see the color, but on the skin, they give that golden glow a bronzer should give. They are shimmery, but nothing chunky, so if you don't mind a bit of shimmer, these bronzing pearls suit almost every skin tone. There's not much pigmentation and I noticed this to be something common for Beauty UK face and eye products. They are similar to e.l.f. meaning they're great for beginners or for those who are going usually for subtle make-up and nothing too extravagant. I myself like it that way so that's why I like these bronzing pearls too.

Price: 20 lei (about 5 euro) on beautyukcosmetics.ro - these were also part of the giveaway I won
Re-buy or pass: I like them but it's not something I would necessarily want to have again.
Disclaimer: By winning a giveaway I wasn't conditioned on posting positive reviews about the products, actually I wasn't conditioned on reviewing them at all, so this is my honest opinion!

Astor Mattitude HD foundation review

First, I must say I'm not the best person to talk about foundations because I admit I only used cheap stuff until now and the only more expensive foundation I had was Revlon Colorstay which I hated because it looked like a mask on me. So this is my first drugstore foundation that's more expensive.

Official description:

Do close-ups make you uncomfortable?
Now, Mattitude HD mattifies skin to High Definition perfection. Shine is banished, pores seem to vanish and imperfections disappear to give you a pixel-perfect complexion no matter how close you zoom. Its unique technology blends tiny micronized pigments with minuscule glass spheres in an ultra-light gel formula ensures 16-hour shine control and real color fidelity for a perfect matte finish that never looks flat.
Pixel-perfect finish even close-up!
Benefits:

• Even, matte, natural-looking finish
• 16-hour shine control
• Oil free and airy light gel formula
• Skin-protective vitamin and SPF 22
• 16-hour color fidelity
• Leaves the skin feeling soft and supple

 Packaging: The foundation comes in a bottle with pump and it contains 30 ml. The pump is very good because it allows you to get as much product out as you want.
Texture: Mattitude is soooo soft, it reminds of those foam foundations and you don't even feel it on the skin when applied. It also smells like vanilla cookies to me, but the scent doesn't remain, so it doesn't bother me.

What it does: From what I can tell, this is the perfect foundation for me. I'm in shade Natural 012, which is supposed to be a dark shade, but it just looks like a second skin to me, now that I'm a little bit tanned. And by a little, I do mean just a little. I think that maybe the light shades might be too light on this one? Either way, just swatch it if you want to buy it and don't buy it online if you don't know your exact shade. Now, for the shine, you do need some powder if you're really oily like me, but at the end of the day I get some shine on the nose and one my forehead. With some touch ups after 4-5 hours, the foundation stays all day. I like the fact it has SPF and it doesn't oxidate or turn orange on me or anything. It didn't come off on my clothes, and my skin was so smooth, like when you use silicone primers (which I didn't). To make a long story short, I love this foundation so much and it's the best I've used so far. It covers redness and small acne, and I made a short demo on this. On my hand I drew a thik black pencil line and as you can see it got it covered and you can't even tell where the foundation is.

I didn't try the trick with liquid eyeliner, but I'm satisfied with the coverage and it's also buildable, so I just apply it in tiny dots where I feel I need some more. It doesn't do wonders though, so for visible acne scars and stuff like that it won't completely cover it.
Price: In my town everything is more expensive because we have only like 3 make-up shops, so it was 50 lei (about 12 euro). I could get this cheaper online, but the shipping would be 2 euro at least and I only needed a good foundation and nothing else for the moment.
Re-buy or pass: Definitely re-buy because I love it so much I don't want to try anything else (unless I get a gift or something).

e.l.f. Spring Collection Eye Manual review

 I always wanted a beauty book from e.l.f because I like the design and I heard the eyeshadows are better then the ones from the usual palettes. I got mine in Classic and there was a Nude one available only with nude shades.

Official description: This all-on-one book includes the must have makeup essentials to create any look that reflects your personal style.The small sleek design is great for on-the-go beauty touch ups.

Packaging: There are 12 eyeshadows, a small eyeliner pencil in black and an applicator in cute cardboard box, with a step-by-step manual included.There's also a mirror and a plastic sheet to protect the cover from getting dirty from the eyeshdows.

Texture: These eyeshadows are less dusty than the ones from the other palette I have from them, also from the Spring Collection. Only a couple of them are matte, so if you're not into shimmery colors this isn't the palette for you.

What it does: I very much like the color selection. There are browns, greys, pinks, purples and gold eyeshadows, the colors I like the most. I swatched 3 of my favourite colors: a golden shade from the left top row, the purple from the right middle row and the black from the right third row.

They have some nice reflexes, but I like all of the colors. I had no fall-out, but I used them only with primer because it's hot like crazy here and I didn't want to risk anything. I wore my eye makeup for about 8-10 hours with a primer and it didn't crease or anything. The eyeshadows are not crazy pigmented, but I like it that way because I don't have a light hand when it comes to makeup and I tend to put too much color, so I like using more subtle eyeshadows.
Price: 11 lei (almost 3 euro), because it was 60% off.
Re-buy or pass: I'm interested in other beauty books and I'll definitely buy some others because I'm happy with the quality,but not at full price because they are expensive here in Romania. I'd buy this only on at least 30% off sale.