Weleda - Citrus Hydrating Body Lotion

I always use a few body lotions/oils in rotation and which one I choose, depends very often on my mood. I have a few expensive ones for when my skin needs some extra pampering and I have some less expensive ones that I use on a daily basis. The one I'm going to review today is on the less expensive side but it really delivers!

I bought this body lotion a few weeks ago when grocery shopping. I needed a simple yet effective lotion so I grabbed this Weleda Citrus Hydrating Body Lotion and didn't think much about it. Weleda uses many natural ingredients and their products have never let me down before, so why not give this one a try?

After taking a shower it was time to rub on some lotion. The first thing I noticed was that the product was rather runny and smelt very strongly of limes (which I love). At first I was a bit worried that it might not be as moisturizing as I had hoped for and that the smell would become overpowering after a few minutes, but I was so wrong! It spread out really easily and felt lovely on the skin. The smell faded after some time and I was left with very soft and hydrated skin. I really can't tell any difference between this lotion and some of the more expensive ones when it comes to results!

I am very happy I decided to give it a try because it's a product I'll definitely repurchase. I reach for it almost every day and my skin's always left feeling amazing. And, as a bonus, my wallet is happy too! :) I'm also very tempted to try Weleda's Wild Rose Pampering Body Lotion, because it has Rosehip seed oil as one of its ingredients and I bet it smells lovely too. Who knows, maybe the next time I'll go grocery shopping... ;) -L.

Revlon - PhotoReady liquid foundation

As I mentioned in my previous foundation post (click!), I was planning to try out some other foundations available here. And just few days after I posted that review, Revlon's PhotoReady foundation arrived to me! I've been using it everyday for over a month now and to be honest I'm still not exactly sure whether I like it or not. But before I jump to conclusions, let's focus on the details.

According to the producent, the Revlon PhotoReady should help achieve poreless, airbrushed skin in any light. This effect is possible thanks to photochromatic pigments that bend and reflect light to erase every flaw. Revlon also promises that this foundation will give complete, yet undetectable coverage and a soft, luminous finish. It is also oil and fragrance free and has SPF 20 (which adds to the luminosity). Sounds promising, right? PhotoReady is packed in a nice bottle that contains 30ml of product and has a precise pump that will give you the exact amount of foundation you need for your face.

Unfortunately for me, I wasn't able to choose the right colour for me. Revlon hasn't released all the available shades (there are 12 in total) in my country and the lightest one out here is 003 Shell, which seems to be a little bit too dark for me right now. To make it worse, I noticed it sometimes tends to darken on my skin (blaming my current face powder for that) so I need to be really careful with it. At the beginning I was using my fingers to apply it but I find a flat top brush better to blend the foundation well. Once again a good moisturizer is a must before application, since PhotoReady is ruthless for every little bit of flacky skin you may have on your face! So sometimes instead of erasing your flaws it exaggerates them. Not nice of you PhotoReady, not nice! ;) The foundation gives light to medium coverage but you can build it up, since it does not look like you're wearing a mask. It applies quite well and leaves no streaks if blended well. PhotoReady, as promised, photographs really well despite having such a high SPF! I think it looks well in both natural and artificial light and that's why I can forgive some imperfections this foundation has.

Natural light on the left, flash on the right. Noticing the shimmer? :)

Apart from the shade, I think my biggest issue with PhotoReady are the photochromatic pigments, which are nothing else than.. glitter! I really don't mind a little glow (after all this is an illuminating foundation, I knew what I was getting myself into) and when you shake the bottle before application or mix it with a different foundation, you won't look like a disco ball. However, after few days of using PhotoReady I've noticed shimmer on my coat, my collars, on everything that I wore! It also rubs away even though I use setting powder. Because of those infamous photochromatic pigments this foundation is not really suitable for people with combination to oily skin, since your face will look really shiny after all. Even though I'm dry at the moment I get a little bit too shiny and need a fix after 3 - 4 hours. However, if I blot my skin after moisturizer and before applying foundation, PhotoReady sits longer on my face. So if you have a similar problem like me, you should definitely try this trick!

Revlon PhotoReady foundation, which is said to be a dupe for MUFE HD foundation, has it's ups and downs. If you have dry or normal skin with no flaws, this will definitely lighten up your appearance, but if you have combination or oily skin and hate shine on your face with passion, you should look for something else. I was really excited to try this one out after reading so many positive reviews and I'm not gonna lie, I am a bit disappointed. But if mixed with other foundations it gives a really nice glow on my skin and lasts longer so I will definitely use this one up!

What are your opinions on Revlon's PhotoReady foundation? Are other products from this line worth a try? Waiting for your opinions!

A.

A/W Beauty Essentials: Bronzer

The lack of sun and sleep made me look extremely pale and tired lately. I'm not a big fan of foundations or tinted moisturizers (just some concealer if needed) so I have to look for other options to make my skin look more glowy and healthy. One of my favourite tricks to bring my face back to life is bronzer. The one I use is a gel, because I have yet to find a powder or cream formulation that looks natural on my skin.

Easy application in three steps. Hope you can see the subtle 'tan' on my hand.
Haven't blended it in all the way so you'll be able to see the difference a bit better.

The product I'm talking about is the Clinique Non-Streak Bronzer. It's a very dark and concentrated gel and comes in a big tube. Since you don't need a lot at all it'll last you for absolutely ages! My favourite way to use it, is by mixing a bit of my moisturizer/SPF and this gel with a cotton bud and just simply applying it all over my face for an even bronzed look. It doesn't give any coverage at all but makes you look as if you've spent the last few days outside in the sun. It's completely unnoticeable (if blended well) and looks just like tanned skin. The colour is very natural (no orange face!) and you choose how tanned you want to look by adding more or less of the gel. You can also add a bit more on your temples or under your cheekbones if you fancy a sculpted look.

As with all make up products, it tends to fade away after a whole day. However, you'll still be able to see you're not as pale as before using the bronzer. Also, it fades away very evenly so you won't be left with darker and lighter spots or bronzer in creases/wrinkles. It's completely safe to use when it's raining outside or when you're sweating: once it's applied it doesn't move until you wash it off with a cleanser. Make sure to massage your face a bit longer than usually so there won't be any product left on your skin!

The only downside is that you can't really use it without mixing it in with a moisturizer. It's hard to blend the gel well on its own and it won't look as natural. So if you find yourself in the middle of the day in need of some bronzer, maybe try mixing it with a moisturizing serum or a very light cream instead of trying to make the gel work on its own. I know, I'm not a fan of putting moisturizer (or any other product) on 'dirty' skin either, but I haven't had any problems this far.

So, what are your tricks to make yourself look as if you've slept more than you actually have? Or can you maybe recommend me a good powder/cream bronzer for touching up throughout the day? -L.