Archive for category Products
Algenist Multi-Perfecting Moisturiser Review!
Posted by belleamourblog in Products, Skin care on June 5, 2015
Here we have a premium gel moisturiser by Algenist – a skincare brand from San Francisco. We have been kindly sent Algenist products for review by Space NK, London. If you have big pores, oily/dull skin this could be the moisturiser you are looking for! Read more below…
Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector
I would like to say that I ‘suffer’ from large pores on my nose, have an unbalanced skin texture (certain areas contain blemishes) as well as an oily T-Zone. Most of us ‘suffer’ from all types of conditions on our skin whereby looking for the right skincare could be a difficult task; it could be a waste of time, effort and investment!
For me, a good start to the day (everyday) is with a good moisturiser 
. I always take max 3mins to massage moisturiser in circular motions using my right hand with my index, middle and ring fingers. I take time with the moisturiser in the mornings whilst getting ready for work; the quick facial massage helps to relax my muscles and skin tissues before a start to a busy day. It is also one of my beauty secrets for a morning radiant look! 😀
What makes a good moisturiser is a product which does exactly what it says on the tin. I personally invest a lot of money on moisturisers as I do take them seriously; it is my morning skin breakfast! 😉
The moisturiser for review is the Algenist Multi-Perfecting Pore Corrector Gel Moisturiser. This moisturiser is for people with large pores, blemishes and combination skin type.
Algenist with Alguronic Acid 60ml for Pores, Evenness and Radiance
Upon feeding my skin with the goodness of the Algenist moisturiser, it adequately fed the right amount of ‘moisture’ to my skin without the ‘dry-like’ feeling that most oil-free moisturisers do. If your main skin concern is the production of sebum on the face, this lightweight gel formula will help regulate a balance on the skin as it contains salicylic acid which is good for acne/blemish sufferers.
The gel moisturiser is also refreshing in scent. It smells somewhat like seaweed and has a fresh botanical like smell.
If you are an OCD freak (like me) you may not be comfortable digging your fingers to get a lump of gel out the tub; I do not think I can share this product 
. Even if you were to get a spatula to scoop some product out, it made me ponder and question the active ingredients in this tub. Does the gel expire as soon as sunlight hits? Does the active ingredients stop working as soon as oxygen is present? Is the tub ‘good enough’ to hold the contents of the gel or is a pump better (to maintain hygiene AND perhaps maintain the ‘active ingredients’?)? Who thinks about a moisturiser so much (lol)?! 
(so you must be wondering) but due to the price of this product (£50 Space NK) you must be curious to see if it is worth your money! 😛
Then… ❗ it somehow made sense to why the tub was not fancy, but a matt grey film covering the glass thick container was to keep the sunlight out! Smart!
Retails for £50 and can be purchased from any Space NK stores from the UK or Algenist online.
Upon 3 months of use, here are my findings in a condensed bite sized summary:
- This gel moisturiser does not contain SPF (Sun Protection Factor). Therefore it is best to apply sun block to the face first then apply this moisturiser on top;
- If you plan to spend the entire day at home, I guess you can lay off the SPF and allow the ingredients to absorb into your skin; Enjoy!
- The cream unfortunately rolls when you over massage the face! I dislike creams which roll off, why o’ why! I recommend my beauty tribe to not use this cream the days you are wearing makeup/using it as a make-up base as over blending causes the gel to roll off;
- I find the cream at its best state when it is just the SPF and the moisturiser. The cream does not roll and does not look like dead skin cells (ewww);
- I have noticed the reduction on the size of pores on my nose and an even skin balance across my face!
- Provides adequate skin nourishment (especially if you have combination skin) whilst preventing production of excess oils.
- T-Zone area seems to be under control as face stays oil-free for longer!
If you are/were planning to purchase this product, I hope this blog post has provided you with an insight as well as contributing thoughts for an informed decision!
With Love,
Follow us:
Beauty favourites for April – Top Picks!
Posted by belleamourblog in Products, Skin care on May 3, 2015
Find out what our top most favourite beauty products are {in no particular favourite order} for April and reasons why. . . ❓
1. The Body Shop Body Butter in Pink Grapefruit (£13) – The Body Butters are gorgeous in all flavours and are a tub full of goodness. I use this to keep moisturised in the autumn weather which makes my skin feel silky, smooth and very well moisturised. For my Muslim folks, after Wudu, this is a great product for dry skin – especially feet!
2. Topshop Highlighter in SunBeam (no longer available for purchase) ⭐ – This is the real bomb! This highlighter gives a subtle yet ‘showy’ glow on the cheekbones. This is our April favourite because this shade suits all skin-tones fair, medium to darker complexions. We have received many compliments on this highlighter as the cheeks look gorgeous once light reflects on the cheekbones. If you are a student, you can benefit from the 20% student discount available from TopShop!
3. Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder shade Warm Beige (3.99) – during the winter months, this powder has proved successful in maintaining a light matte look for combination skin. I find that if you have pores on your nose (like me) you will have to go VERY light on the nose as the powder seems to gather around pores unfortunately. Whether you wear foundation /BB/CC or nada on your face, dust this on your T-zone lightly and you will be camera ready. 🙂
4. Zukreat Artist of Makeup (AOM) Extreme Art Liner Pen (£18) – I use this pen every single day since the purchase and launch of this exciting eyeliner nearly 2 years ago! This eyeliner provides precision and buildable coverage where needed; so you can go very simple or even intricate due to the shape of the nib. The nib is oil and water repellent and great on hygiene as it minimises cross contamination; therefore it is used on clients and myself and everybody is always satisfied with the results. 🙂
5. The Body Shop Bronze Shimmer Waves Brick (£16) – You may have seen my Instagram/Facebook posts ranting on about this bronzing shimmer brick – that’s because I absolutely love this thang! If you have medium/tanned skin-tone you will love this too. This is one of my makeup staples and works nicely as a duo contour and blush. I also use it as a veeerrry light highlight – the play is endless! They also range in other shades too but bronze is the one for meee! 
6. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona (£31) – Recent purchase and so far so good. Worn at many wedding events and other occasions and kept my face hydrated as well as dewy. I will not recommend this to dolls who have oily skin types, however if you have dry skin, this can work in your favour =^-^=. Spot the foundation on forehead, chin, and cheeks and buff in with your favourite brush or sponge; a little goes a long way!
7. L’Occitane En Provence Lip Balm (limited edition, not available for purchase) – This lip butter sinks and penetrates your lips with moisture and hydration – it really does! Before bed I would apply this on my lips and then by morning I have hydrated lipstick ready lips. The formula is very buttery therefore you only need a pea-sized amount to feel the moisture being locked in. In fact, this tube has lasted me over a year! I know Vaseline – Petroleum jelly is readily and conveniently available, but I find Vaseline lip balms tend to sit on the surface of your lips without any penetration or proper hydration. Although this version is no longer available, the standard lip balms by L’Occitane are still good enough!
8. Pure Virgin 100% Argon Oil – my favourite beauty purchase from Morocco last year. Soon as I landed on the grounds, I had to visit the factory to purchase. As we all know, natural oils all have their special properties and uses, one being Argon mainly for the treatment of good hair and skin. Use natural products where possible and ditch as many chemical/synthetic products where necessary. I spritz the Argon oil twice on the face and massage the skin until the oil is absorbed into the skin. A great opportunity and time to allow blood circulation AND face muscles also feel relaxed 🙄
9. Urban Decay Naked Flushed – Streak (£22.50) – Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kardashian’s Makeup-Artist) actually used this product on Kim for her first wedding and that’s why I purchased. It is a soft and subtle bronzer, highlighter and peachy blush and has been very compact for my travels and short weekend breaks. It adds glow and subtle shimmer and I find it complementing with the Nars Sheer glow foundation. For medium to dark skin tones, this trilogy is buildable. As for Fair skin tones, one swipe is usually sufficient.
Those were our top picks for April! Hope you also had a mirroring favourite from our list here.
With Love,
Follow us:
Illamasqua – The Blush up Brush
Posted by belleamourblog in Make-up looks, Products, Reviews on December 31, 2014
Are you looking for a brush which provides definition, contour, elongation and ease? A brush to help you as a beauty enthusiast or beginner to contour? Well, I may have found the perfect brush for you, by Illamasqua! This is one of the ultimate brushes (I’ve discovered) which provides a ‘3D definition’ experience: D.
The Illamasqua Blush Up Brush is priced at £28.50. If you have a Pro Artist account, you can benefit from the discount on the brushes. This is a highly recommended brush to own as part of your many brush collection and kit!
As you can see from the image above, it is a highly dense ellipse shaped brush. I have taken photos from all angles to illustrate the dynamics of the cut of the brush. So, the base of the brush is flat and angled and the sides being stiff to create definition.
Here is a look I have created using the Blush Up Brush. I have used Sleek’s Contour kit (compact contour) alongside Illamasqua Blush Up Brush to define my cheekbones. I am aware that many of my dolls who own the Sleek Contour Kit find this product heavy. During use you have to be very light handed and must buff instantly once applied; or else it’ll look like mud on the face (a big disgrace!).
Well anyway, with the Sleek Contour kit (as heavy pigmented it is) I used the brush to define the contour areas, in fact, it was defined really well.
Instagram: @BelleAmour_mua
Here is another close up of my cheek contour and a slight but subtle definition on the nose too.
One more final close-up of the makeup look 😉
The brush has certainly defined the contour areas (esp the cheeks) well. If used correctly, when your contour looks harsh, just use a fluffy blending brush and brush in an upward stroke. The technique is all down to the way you apply colour – how much/how little. Furthermore to merge the blusher with the contour and highlight so it looks ‘well blended’ but noticeable at the same time.
Tip: If contour is overly harsh, use a translucent powder (either compact or loose) and lightly dust the area in question and see how the harshness fades… 😉
Happy New year from the Belle Amour Team x
With Love,
Follow us:
Huda Beauty Lashes
Posted by belleamourblog in Products on December 8, 2014
Do you have a love for lashes? Or, at least not mind wearing a pair for special occasions? If you are looking for an ultimate pair to own as part of your lash stack collection :p, your clientele or for the quality check out Huda Beauty Lashes!
Huda Beauty Lashes in Giselle
I was having an awkward moment doing the ‘Huda Lash pose’ (left) trying to align the packing to my face (hehe).
Huda is a top beauty blogger and Vlogger based in both Dubai and US. Known for her popular Youtube channel, Huda has certainly smashed the beauty industry with beauty tips, luxury beauty reviews and looks; even my peers who do not know much about beauty/makeup, know Huda – that’s impressive, an indication of success!
Huda has started her own beauty product line of lashes and nails, now shipping internationally! So all you dolls who have been waiting patiently, or been sending your Sephora orders to your friends and family, it is no longer required :D!
Fortunately I got my hands on these lashes through a competition I have actually won (on her Instagram giveaway)! Huda sent a range of her lashes to include: Giselle (pictured), Coco Jo, Claudia, Samantha and Candy.
The lashes are weightless, looks natural and certainly amplifies your look. If you are looking to get married, give these lashes an investment on your big day.
I will be updating this post at a later stage once I have pictures of me in them! However, for additional reviews and pictures of customers in Huda Lashes please do check out Hudas following social platforms:
To Purchase: HudaBeauty.com
With Love,
Follow us:
The Belle Amour Blog 
Recent Comments