Algenist Multi-Perfecting Moisturiser Review!

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:

Facebook | Instagram

Beauty favourites for April – Top Picks!

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:

Facebook | Instagram

Illamasqua – The Blush up Brush

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:

Facebook | Instagram

Top Notch!

Hello Dolls!

Here is a look I’ve created with an edgy liner!

Simple lining the eyes is of course an all-rounder (plus safer), however it becomes tad boring when there’s a lot one black liner could do….

I’ve come out my comfort zone this time round to try this funky notch styled liner. Pair it with either a simple/semi dramatic look like I have and voila it looks different! I actually like it 🙂

Notch Eyeliner Style

Certainly give this a try on the upcoming festive season parties and be the statement 😉 !

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

Great Gatsby Inspired

Instagram: @BelleAmour_mua

“Now I am old-fashioned. A woman, I consider, should be womanly. I have no patience with the modern neurotic girl who jazzes from morning to night, smokes like a chimney, and uses language which would make a billingsgate fishwoman blush!”

– The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ❤

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

Nip + Fab

– Nip + Fab –  ig: @BelleAmour_mua

Since college days (Ahh yes… The good old days!) , I’ve somewhat known about Nip + Fab products. How? (So you must be thinking…), my friends used to frequently post about their beauty hauls on Facebook status where I initially discovered this brand (so it subliminally imprinted on my brain since). I followed up to see where you can purchase Nip + Fab from – turned out only selected stores or their e-commerce site stocked them (wasn’t an Internet shopper back then).

A few months onwards, Glamour Magazine once featured their products on the health and beauty section and mentioned how Nip + Fab is one of the Celebrity beauty staples; vaguely remembering the singer Jamelia using it for cellulite/body lotion fix.

Just last week, I popped in to a bigger Superdrugs store and to my surprise, I stumbled across the ‘raved about’ Nip + Fab products. I was so excited to see this product being available AND stocked locally too that I had to pick at least two items up.

What came to my attention was the price, it was an absolute bargain! But that was quite strange when a few years earlier, I was not intrigued to purchase a £20 lotion (due to being a student and living that typical student life). Looks like their pricing and brand positioning strategies have changed.

As you can see from the above picture, I purchased the Nip+Fab Yoga Blend Body Lotion for only £4.25 (left) and the Nip+Fab Detox Blend Body Lotion also £4.25 🙂 we could not get lower than that back in my days (damn I feel so old -.-) !

The verdict : If you scan through the Superdrugs online store, under the Nip and Fab section, you will notice there are a few products ranging from £15+. I’m certainly laughing (in a good and happy way) as those same products were only available full price before and now they’re quite affordable and very cheap.

So far, I have used the Detox Body lotion and am liking the non-greasy feel and quick absorption.
It is 490ml so you cannot go wrong, even more because it comes with a pump which you can recycle if you must!

If you like the fresh scents of subtle tea tree or jasmine with that fresh scent of cucumber, then I am pretty sure you will like this lotion. OR, you may be like my cousin who put the bottle down after testing ‘ERGH! That smells like toilet freshener’. either way dolls, test and smell before purchasing!

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

Invitation for the Liz Earle and Latest in Beauty event

I had the pleasure of being invited to the exclusive event held by Liz Earle in their flagship store in Duke of York Square, London.

Liz Earle – Duke Of York Square

It was a wonderful and somewhat festive evening (after work) as Liz Earle held the Christmas-themed event which included seasonal skincare hints and tips and expert advice from their brand and beauty ambassador Sarah Carr; not to mention the complimentary manicure, drinks and canapés!

It was a beauty carousel; you tour each section of the store to be educated and to learn more about their products and services – yes services too! Liz Earle (bigger stores only across the UK) has treatment rooms with bespoke facial treatments in private sanctuaries – it is slightly steep on pricing, but hey, Christmas is coming up so you may want to hint it to someone OR purchase gift vouchers for this amazing experience (money well spent!).

While I toured the store with a Belle Amour team member, we met Sarah Carr (Brand and Beauty Ambassador) who gave us product recommendations based on our skin concern whereby my concern were blemishes and pimple prone skin. I admired how I was not forced to purchase Liz Earle products, but was rather an informative educating session.

My initial perception of Liz Earle being a ‘mature skincare brand’ certainly changed; as now to me, is a fragile botanical skincare ‘resuscitator’. :p

However, how can I attend these events and come empty handed? Ummm… well not me! I purchased a few items to trial out to see how my skin reacts and thereafter, Liz Earle kindly gave us goodie bags which was also a treat!

Products purchased and received from Liz Earle goodie packs

So far, I have trailed out the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser & Instant Boost Skin Tonic. Eager to try out the latter, after work to help remove makeup and residue (which is always the biggest skincare chore); I directly massaged the cleanser on to my entire face – even the eyelids! To my surprise, my eyes did not sting as it was very soft and gentle on my skin. I took this to my advantage to massage a little harsher around my eye area as the bottle says it removed ‘…grime and even stubborn mascara’ – very impressive. However, I DO NOT recommend massaging like a crazy cat to my Dolls who have highly sensitive skin/eye areas.

Liz Earle (right) Cleanse & Polish. Liz Earle (left) Instant Boost Skin Tonic

Once the cleanser was massaged I waited 5mins like a facial mask, prepped the cloth in warm tepid water then washed off the grime. The face felt nice and clean with no trace of makeup residue.

Finally, to finish off the program, with a cotton pad, I swept the facial tonic on face and neck to revitalise and tone the skin and did not bother moisturising as I did not feel the need to.

From my experience, if you are planning on owning any of the Liz Earle range, ensure the Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth is your starting point.

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

The Alum Crystal Deodorant

Had such an amazing time in Morocco last week, touring the city of Marrakesh and Essaouira; what a wonderful and hospitable country it is!

One of the activities I naturally enjoyed doing the most was shopping in Jemaa el Fna square; if you love to get yourself a bargain on many items (beauty, ornaments, accessories, jewellery to clothes) this is the place to be!

From visiting stand-to-stand, I have come across many ‘lotions and potions’ stands which intrigued me the most. I wanted to know what the native Moroccans use to beautify themselves; are they commercial products or secret natural goodness? What a typical product is and what they use in the heat to maintain perspiration.

From these stands and shops, I have acknowledged the popularity of Moroccan Argon oil, different types of mint teas, Rhassoul clay masks, rose water and Hamam pamper packs (each of which I have managed to purchase except for the masks) …and the Alum stones. Morocco is certainly known for natural organic herbal beauty; this is what greatly interests me.

With the interest of the natural Alum Crystal, I had to pick one up as I was shown demonstrations. In the past, during research, I have come across this natural earthly goodness but turned a blind eye and did not show much interest – I don’t know why!

Check this out:

The Natural Alum Crystal is used as an astringent and basic antiperspirant

This is the natural alum crystal or potassium alum which is a natural mineral found in earth and mined for many years. Popularly used as deodorant in the Far and Middle East. The Alum crystal contains many virtues due to its antibacterial and natural properties. It acts as a basic antiperspirant/deodorant (for your armpits and even feet!), astringent and styptic to prevent bleeding and closes pores. What’s more, you’re preventing yourself from using synthetic products on your skin and welcoming natural remedies.

From growing up, using deodorant/antiperspirants has become an automatic hygiene regime and I strongly feel the West is quick to pick up these ‘man-made’ synthesised products without acknowledging the harmful effects on the body and environment. But hey, we all live a modern life-style so we need something readily available quick and easy.

This Alum stone is considered safe for the family, especially to those who suffer heavy perspiration because it does not block pores and allows your body to perspire as usual.

How to use the Alum stone as deodorant:

1. Wet the stone, leave it to damp;
2. Apply a thin layer on the areas you wish to sweat less, this could be your foot or arm pits;
3. Damp your stone again to keep it clean and leave it on a soap dish to reside;

Upon using it myself, I straight away felt dryness and smoothness which felt great. It is odorless and though the stone looks sharp, it does not feel rough on the skin as overtime it evens out. With its natural and economical value, I foresee this stone to last me at least 2 years (subject to size of stone purchased and the amount of usage). I strongly recommend my dolls to ditch the deodorants/antiperspirants and welcome natural products to your skin, as your skin is the biggest organ which we must take care of. Whatever you introduce to your skin it will always absorb into your bloodstreams hence why pregnant women are extra vigilant what they feed into their skin!

The Alum Stone is readily available in Morocco to purchase. Alternatively from the comfort of your home you can purchase from the following sites:

1. Alum stone
2. Amazon
3. The Executive Shaving Company
4. Functional Cosmetics Company

Do let me know if you are using/used the natural alum stone and your feedback on this.

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

My Love for Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

A part of being a Make-up Artist means investing in the right cosmetic brands that’ll aid your creativity with the provision of ease. Every doll looks for that ‘one’ eye-liner to help them with that perfect flick and seamless finish. Effortless, yet a quick fix to look great – just like a little black dress, but on your eyes…

A product which has been subliminally passing me by on Instagram and Space.NK has been all of Eyeko’s cosmetic ranges, especially their eye-liners which I could not resist!

Make-up Artist or not, us dolls who wear make-up, our basic cosmetic staple IS an eye-liner. This is the basic tool which empowers women to look effortlessly great !

I am (I am sure you are too…) always on the look out for great eye-liners, esp to help me with bridal make-up. I love the whole intensified black seamless finished look eye-liners create when worn on top of eye shadows.  Asian bridals in particular have a common traditional signature style; that is a bold, smokey framed look!

Popped into Selfridges to purchase the Alexa Chung Eye Do eyeliner £15. Whilst doing a tester, I was quite impressed by the swatch (yo…first impressions count). The intense black swatch grabbed my attention instantly and I had to ultimately own one.

Alexa Chung Eye Do Eyeliner for £15

The colour pay off is intense and as the description goes (on their website), it does provide a carbon black stroke. What more is that it is waterproof!

Eyeko Eyeliner: Swatch and the design of nib

You have room for creativity and flexibility with this pen-eyeliner mainly because the aesthetics of the nib allows you to either create the perfect cat-eye flick or subtle eye-liner to accentuate the eye OR those dramatic cat-eye look for the night out.

However, with the good and brilliant, there’s also a drawback. Funny, because previously I mentioned how the “aesthetics of the nib” is brilliant, but it is also its own drawback. The nib is not designed to be a bristle, but a felt-tip nib. Bristles is what provides you flexibility. Flexibility of creating thick/thin liners and control. As the nib is felt-tip, you have to control your eye-liner carefully ensuring the tip is used to create your liner and not the sides of the nib. If I make no sense ( I don’t blame you) see for yourself and test it before splurging that £15.

Now… could not resist the ‘freedom’ this eye-liner provides so took the liberty to create this dramatic cat eye-liner look. I have outlined my eyes with Eye Do Eyeliner then filled in the lid. I wanted a bit of shimmer so dusted a little shimmer on top for the evening look.

Belle Amour, My dramatic cat-eye look with Petrol Blue waterline and black shimmer

Honestly, I did not have to use concealer at all to ‘fake’ the sharp edges/crease lines as it was all done by precise application of the nib which glided on smooth. Remember – to use point of nib only.

Hope you liked this dramatic look and if you own any of the Eyeko range, please comment and leave your feedback below as I would love to hear from you.

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram

My Review of the Lime Crime Velvetine: SuedeBerry

Hey Dolls,

I hope you are all doing well today and enjoying the Vitamin D (hoorah!).

Thought I should do my first product review (on the blog) on a lip product which is hyped about, this is the Lime Crime Velvetine in Suedeberry. It is a matte coral red with a slight orange tone – love colours like these! A beautiful colour and statement lips for summer 2014 me thinks.

The packaging: Opaque matte feel instrument.

What I envision when wearing a colour like this – A high clean pony tail, dewy skin with a highlighted face and a pair of shades to accessories. Sometimes makeup can partake and influence what you’ll wear 😉

Full face shot of wearing the Lime Crime Velvetine in SuedeBerry coupled with brown/bronze smokey eyes

I have purchased the Velvetines (Suedeberry & Pink velvet) from the UMAE Expo 2014 this year after reading sound reviews, but wanted to trial the product myself as everyone has their own unique experiences; especially for the colour of their skin tone, lip tones or the shade against their skin tone.

As I am South Asian, the natural pigmentation of my lips are dark, so this review is particularly for my dolls who have dark pigmented lips like myself.

Lime Crime Velvetine in SuedeBerry lined with NYX lipliner pencil in Orange

In the photos, I have lip-lined my lips with NYX Lipliner Pencil in ‘Orange’.

Now swishing over to the points of what I personally like and dislike about the product:

Que j’aime {What I Love}:

• Love the colour, perfect for summer and can be worn on its own should you wish for the bare minimal makeup look;
• I love mattes, this is matte!
• Smells buttery, soft to wear;
• Liquid lipsticks are just innovation and creative;
• The swatch (below) doesn’t wash off my hands – so it is waterproof and ‘touch proof’ {as indicated on their site}.
• Even if you have dark pigmented lips, just slab foundation over them to get a true shade!

Lime Crime Velvetine swatch

Ce que je déteste {What I dislike}:

• From the photo below, I still feel you can see my natural lip pigmentation peeping out of the Velvetine. This indicates that this shade is not hyper-pigmented and is quite sheer when applied. Yes, before you think it, I washed foundation across my lips to prime, lip-lined to aid colour intensity, still didn’t work as I thought it would. Therefore, you may have to top-up or wear a full coverage thick foundation on your lips;
• Depending on how intense you want the colour to appear, you may have to keep reapplying until you are happy with the vibrancy. Even if you dislike this colour anyway, Lime Crime do other shades i.e. Red Velvet which are dark in shade therefore the pigmentation of your lips will always show a different shade;
• Leaves streaks, so you have to apply consistently.

Lime Crime Velvetines

Overall, I don’t think I will repurchase if it ran out, as I need to use more products to aid the vibrancy which means = more effort. I LOVE coral shades and own plenty – ask my sister (hehe) she can even mime my love for it – it’s my absolute fave! However I am quite disappointed how I have to reapply just to cover the dark pigmentation; I am in awe how cool fair skin toned dolls look on their Youtube tutorials!

If you have dark pigmented lips like me, or any thoughts on this product please do let me know as I would love to hear your feedback.

Belle Amour x

Where to purchase from:

• Lime Crime Official website:

http://limecrime.com/lips/velvetines-39.html

• Cocktail Cosmetics:

http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/prod/lime-crime-clueless-witch-velvetine-collection

• Love Makeup

http://www.love-makeup.co.uk/lime-crime-velvetines-p-5621.html

• NYX lipliner Pencil:

http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/p-117-slim-lip-pencil.aspx

With Love,

Follow us:

Facebook | Instagram