Name: Beauty
Brand: Calvin Klein
Size: 1oz
Price: 50$

What I liked:
- pretty and not too sweet floral scent
- very wearable, would suit most women
- not overpowering

What I didn’t like:
- very unoriginal and unremarkable scent
- doesn’t last all day

Calvin Klein Beauty is one of the most mainstream, unoriginal and unremarkable scents I’ve ever tried. There’s absolutely nothing in it that makes it stand out in the very competitive fragrance market, but its main strong point is how easily wearable it is. It is a subtle but pretty and elegant floral fragrance that would suit most women, especially those who don’t like leaving a trail of scent behind them or wearing something too strong and spicy at the office. In fact Beauty would be a safe and unoffending fragrance to wear at your workplace.

Also, those who like me dislike floral fragrances because they tend to be too sweet will appreciate that Beauty isn’t like that. It has a certain sweetness of course, but it’s not too intense nor nauseating. But you’ll definitely have to like Jasmine to enjoy Beauty as that’s pretty much all you’ll smell from beginning to end. Other notes can be detected at different stages, but overall the fragrance doesn’t change that much throughout his lifespan. After some fruity accents at the very beginning, the fragrance soon turns into a flat floral.

The Jasmine note is very prominent and is mixed with calla lily, which, unlike other types of lily, has a much subtler scent. Because of this, Ambrette seeds are also present and add a nice warmth to the scent. This note usually adds a spicy touch but I can’t smell that at all here. The base is a clean and warm musky and woody (it contains cedar wood) blend with the lightest touch of vanilla. The fragrance lasts about 6 hours on me before it starts to fade so if you stay out of the house all day you may have to reapply it once or twice. The bottle isn’t very remarkable and too simple imo, but it nicely captures the understated elegance of the scent.

Available at: Macy’s, Sephora.com and theperfumeshop.com

Summary
Calvin Klein Beauty is a pretty and not too sweet floral scent that’s easy to wear and will suit most women. However, there’s nothing distinctive or remarkable about it. It’s very unoriginal and dull, but elegant nonetheless. Staying power is average and I think the bottle looks quite boring too.

Rating: 3/5

Name: Sheer Gloss in Cherry
Brand: NYX
Size: 15ml
Price: $5.50

From NYX’s website:
Add some clout to your pout with one quick sweep. The mineral-based lip gloss formula boosts moisture levels and protects lips, while coating them in sheer wash of transparent color. This lip gloss can be worn alone, or used to dial up the glamour of your favorite lipstick.

What I liked:
- wide shade selection
- provides a hint of color and lots of shine to the lips
- texture is smooth, not-sticky and feels comfortable on the lips
- fairly hydrating for a drugstore gloss
- longlasting for a lip product
- lovely fruity scent
- brush is soft
- packaging is pretty and contains a lot of product
- the price

What I didn’t like:
- if you like pigmented glosses, this is not for you
- it’s easy to squeeze out too much product and overapply

Do you love red lips but are scared you won’t be able to pull them off? Then try a sheer red gloss, like NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry. Sheer glosses are a good introduction to red lips as they only provide a hint of color that can be easily built up if you want a more intense look. And pretty soon, you’ll feel confident enough to wear bolder red lip shades.

NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry is a sheer red with a very shiny finish. It provides a soft wash of color on the lips that makes it very wearable and suitable for most skintones. You can wear it on its own or on top of a lipstick to add some shine to it. The color disappears after an hour of wear but the gloss and shine hang around longer and can last, if you don’t eat nor drink, up to 4 hours.

The texture is quite thick but not sticky and feels very comfortable on the lips. And for a drugstore gloss, it is fairly moisturizing. I can actually avoid prepping my lips with lip balm before applying this gloss. The subtle fruity fragrance, although a bit artificial, is still very pleasant and the gloss tastes nice too.

The gloss comes in a sturdy and pretty tube that contains a lot of product (15ml) that will last you for ages. It has a brush applicator whose bristles are very soft and apply the gloss well. However, when you squeeze the tube, too much product comes out so it’s easy to overapply if you’re not careful.

Available at: amazon.com and cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Summary
NYX Sheer Gloss in Cherry provides a hint of color and lots of shine. Fairly moisturizing and not sticky, this gloss feels comfortable on the lips and lasts about four hours if you don’t eat (the color disappears only after one hour though). It has a lovely fruity scent and a soft brush applicator. However, it is easy to squeeze out too much product and overapply if you’re not careful.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Mon Jasmine Noir
Brand: Bulgari
Size: 1.07oz
Price: €66.73

What I liked:
- nice scent
- not overpowering
- the bottle

What I didn’t like:
- not original
- may be too subtle for some people

I reviewed Bulgari Jasmine Noir a few years ago (back when I had just started blogging and didn’t know how to write a good fragrance review so if you think you can’t do that either, just keep practising and you’ll soon get better at them too ) and didn’t like it. The scent was so subtle it could barely be smelt and I could hardly detect any jasmine in it, which was somewhat ironic as that’s what gives the name to the scent.

So when I received a sample of his cousin Mon Jasmine Noir, which is supposed to be a lighter version of Jasmine Noir, I didn’t have very high expectations, but I still decided to give it ago. So, do I like it? Yes and no. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this time you can smell both the scent and the jasmine, but disappointed by how mainstream and common it is. It smells like most floral scents out there. Really, don’t companies even try to make original scents anymore?

The fragrance opens with a fresh burst of citrusy golden cedrat mixed with sparkling lily of the valley. It’s an interesting combination but sadly my skin didn’t seem to like it as it didn’t smell that good on me. Bummer. In any case, that doesn’t last long. Soon, the blend of jasmine and plum takes center stage. The notes are now stronger, warmer and somewhat powdery too. The scent’s sweet without being too sweet and, even though they’re not my fave notes, this blend smells lovely. The drydown is somewhat disappointing. It’s a mix of musky nougat, synthetic woods and patchouli, but it doesn’t smell as woody and musky as you’d expect it to. Fans of floral fragrances may appreciate that though.

Overall, Mon Jasmine Noir is fruitier, more jasminey (is that a word? lol) and less sweet than Jasmine Noir. It is also more sophisticated and intense although absolutely not overpowering. It still is quite subtle and only those close to you will be able to smell it. Lasting power is average. It only lasts about 6 hours on me before it starts to fade. The bottle instead is gorgeous and perfectly captures the luminosity of the scent.

Available at: Nordstrom, Sephora.com and Ulta.com

Summary
Bulgari Mon Jasmine Noir Fragrance is a subtle fruity floral scent that smells lovely but is not original at all. It’s fruitier, more intense and more sophisticated than Jasmine Noir, but staying power is average. The bottle is gorgeous, though.

Rating: 3/5

Name: Powdery Eyeshadow in Lavender Grey
Brand: Bottega Verde
Size: 3,5g
Price: €13,99

From Bottega Verde’s website:
An extremely thin powder, a perfect stay, a long lasting effect and an absolute pearly finish.

What I liked:
- provides a soft wash of color on the lid
- often on sale

What I didn’t like:
- not very pigmented
- creases and fades after a few hours without a primer
- very messy to apply, lots of fallout
- unpractical packaging
- brush provided scratches skin
- retail price is too pricey for what you get

Do you buy a product even if you know that the packaging is very unpractical? I usually stay away from poorly packaged products, unless they come in a set which contains more interesting things I’d love to try. And that’s how I got to try Bottega Verde Powdery Eyeshadow in Lavender Grey, even though a look at the packaging is enough to know application’s gonna be very messy.

Inside the packaging, you’ll find a brush that’s supposed to make application easier. It’s not one of the usual sponge-tip applicators that come with eyeshadows, but a small brush with bristles that aren’t soft at all and scratch skin a bit. Unfortunately the opening is so small that no other brush will be able to get inside and pick up the color so you’ll have to make do with it.

But the brush is not the only problem. The powder doesn’t adhere well to the lid and just flies everywhere. Every time I use it, I experience lots of fallout. I tried using a primer to help it stick to the skin better, and pat it on the lid instead than sweeping it (both of which are not that easy to do with the brush provided anyway), cos both tricks usually help reduce fallout, but neither worked this time. If you wanna try, I suggest you do your eyes first so as not to ruin the rest of your makeup.

I guess I could put up with the unpractical packaging and the messy application if the eyeshadow was really good but sadly even this disappoints. Lavender Grey is a grey shade with lavender undertones and a very subtle pearly finish. Color payoff is very sheer too. If a soft wash of color on the lid is all you want, you may like this but, if like me, you prefer pigmented eyeshadows, you’d better skip this. Staying powder is only average. It only lasts about 4 hours on my somewhat oily lids before it starts to crease and fade, but that can be fixed by applying a primer underneath.

Available at: bottegaverde.com

Summary
Bottega Verde Powdery Eyeshadow in Lavender Grey has a subtle pearly finish and sheer color payoff. The packaging is unpractical, the brush scratchy and application messy. It is very prone to fallout and needs a primer to last all day. It is also quite expensive for what you get, but can be often found on sale.

Rating: 2/5

Name: 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Eldorado, Electric and Mildew
Brand: Urban Decay
Size: 1.2g
Price: €18,00

From Urban Decay’s website:
Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals.

What I liked:
- available in lots of colorful shades
- very creamy, glides on easily
- pigmented
- doesn’t irritate eyes
- lasts long, even on the waterline

What I didn’t like:
- smudges slightly after 8 hours of wear
- the price

As my regular readers know, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils are my favourite pencil liners. They are available in lots of beautiful shades and today I thought I’d talk about three of my favourites: Eldorado, Electric and Mildew.

Eldorado is a beautiful and warm yellow gold color. I love applying it on the waterline cos it really brightens up the eyes and makes me look more awake when I’m tired. Electric is one of my favourite eyeliner shades ever. It is a light blue that is very, very bright and summery. It is simply gorgeous and would add a touch of fun to any look. Mildew is a mossy green eyeliner and looks particularly good when paired with brown eyeshadows.

The pencils have a very creamy consistency that glides easily on the lid without tugging and have excellent color payoff. Once applied, they stay put for about 8 hours on me before they start to smudge but only minimally. They last for a good few hours on the waterline too and don’t irritate nor sting the eyes.

Available at: Sephora.com, Ulta.com and Beautybay.com

Summary
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencils in Eldorado, Electric and Mildew are three beautiful and fun shades that will add a touch of color to any look. They have a very creamy consistency and last long both on the lid and waterline. However, they are quite pricey.

Rating: 4.5/5

Name: Fan di Fendi
Brand: Fendi
Size: 1.07oz
Price: $76.00

What I liked:
- nice fruity floral blend
- longlasting
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- very unoriginal and mainstream
- the price

Are you a fan of Fendi? I am definitely a fan of this fashion house, which represents elegance and sophistication, but their Fan Di Fendi fragrance leaves a lot of be desired. Fan Di Fendi is a fresh and youthful fruity floral scent that’s said to capture the fun and freedom of life. Well, it is fun indeed until you realise that you’ve played with it a thousand times before. Fan Di Fendi, albeit nice, in fact, is one of the most mainstream scents I’ve ever tried and smells exactly like most fruity floral scents already on the market. I don’t think another one was needed and, in any case, from a brand like Fendi, I expected something better, more distinct and original.

Nevertheless, if you’re a fan of this type of fragrances, you may like Fan Di Fendi. It opens with a sweet and fresh burst of tangerine mixed with a subtle hint of pear, and pretty soon the pink peppercorns makes its appearance, but this note too is quite faint. The youthful, vibrant and quite warm top notes disappear pretty quickly and the florals take over. I can distinctly smell a generous dose of jasmine, which I feared would be overpowering but it’s not at all. It’s quite delicate and sweet instead. Rose Damascena is supposed to kick in at this point too, but I can’t really smell it at all.

The drydown was a bit of a disappointment for me. It is a blend of patchouli and soft leather accord, which I was hoping would smell like a good leather bag, only more subtle obviously. And subtle and soft it is, but also kinda boring and dull. I mean, the smell of real leather, albeit subtle, may be too much in a fragrance maybe, but still I expected this note to give an edgy feel to the scent and it didn’t. Instead, the drydown is clean but somewhat old fashioned. But overall, it’s a nice, warm and youthful but sophisticated scent that’s very longlasting and can be easily worn both during the day and night and in summer and winter too.

Available at: Amazon, macy’s and Sephora

Summary
Fan Di Fendi is a fruity floral scent that’s both fresh and warm, youthful and sophisticated. It is appropriate both for day and night time and it is quite longlasting. However, it is very mainstream and smells like most fruity floral scents on the market. It is expensive too.

Rating: 3/5

Name: Glitter in Eyeliner n.8
Brand: Layla
Size: 6ml
Price: €9.60

From Layla’s website:
Also the eyes can be illuminated thanks to the glitter! Layla assures a prefect laydown and a superior duration thanks to the most fine brush.

What I liked:
- great color payoff
- glitters are fine and tiny and make eyes sparkle beautifully
- fine brush makes application very easy
- longlasting

What I didn’t like:
- messy to remove!

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know how much I love Layla Glitter in Eyeliner. They are very pigmented so one coat is enough to achieve an opaque line, are easy to apply thanks to the thin brush applicator and last for the entire day. And n.8 is no exception.

N.8 is a soft black shade chock full of fine gold glitter that is simply gorgeous! The glitters are very fine and make your eyes sparkle without being over the top. It’s a very festive shade, perfect for nights out and parties.

The only con is that it’s messy to remove. Although it comes off with just water, the glitters have a tendency to end up everywhere on your face if you’re not careful!

Available at: http://shop.laylacosmetics.it

Summary
Layla Glitter in Eyeliner n.8 is a beautiful soft black shade chockfull of gold glitters. It is very pigmented, easy to apply and longlasting, but removal can be messy.

Rating: 4.5/5

Name: Design Lift Patch Yeux
Brand: Payot
Size: 1.5ml x10 sachets
Price: €42.00

From Payot’s website:
The soaked Design Lift Patch Yeux patches smoothe, decongest and calm the contour of the eyes in the blink of an eye! Indeed, 10 minutes is all that’s needed to visibly reduce dark rings and under-eye puffiness for a guaranteed youthfulness and radiant burst result. The eyes, which are transformed, light up after a single application. Used as an intensive treatment once a day for a month or on an occasional basis as soon as the need is felt.

What I liked:
- leaves the eye area soft and smooth
- under-eye puffiness is slightly reduced
- doesn’t irritate skin

What I didn’t like:
- used as an occasional treatment, the effects are minimal
- only 10 sets of patches are included in each box
- the price

I usually like to try skincare products for 3 or 4 weeks before writing a review, but after thinking about it long and hard, I thought I’d make an exception for Payot Design Lift Patch Yeux. The box contains 10 sachets, each of which includes 2 soaked patches designed to decongest and smooth the eye area, but I only got a sample of this product so I was able to try it only once. I just figured that, because these patches are meant to be used whenever you fill the need to and not daily, they should work from the first application so my first impressions, if not a comprehensive review, may still be useful to those interested in trying this product.

True, Payot says these patches can be used as an intensive treatment once a day for a month, and I have no idea how the product will work in this case, but I know that, if you’re on a budget, that’s something you couldn’t do anyway. Each box, in fact, retails at €42,00 and you’d need at least 3 of them to have enough patches for a month and that amounts to €126! For that price, I’d expect it to work miracle! But let’s see if these patches are good as an occasional treatment, shall we?

All you have to do is apply the patches under your eyes and leave them on for 10 minutes. Then, you remove them and work the excess product into the skin by patting in with your fingertips. After this treatment, I noticed that the skin under my eyes was softer and smoother and my bags were reduced, but only slightly so. In fact, you could barely notice the difference, but it is always better than nothing I guess. Used more regularly, they may give better results, but as I said, these are pretty expensive and, once you stop using them, its effects will disappear too.

Payot Design Lift Patch Yeux is supposed to work and restore skin’s elasticity thanks to a new pepti-oriza calcium complex combined with a relaxing rice extract. I really hate when companies give these fancy names to ingredients as I’d rather know what they are made of so that I can try and assess how well the product can keep its promises. In this case, I suppose this new complex is made of 3-aminopropane sulfonic acid, acetyl dipeptide-3 aminohexanoate, calcium hydroxymethionine and oryza sativa (rice) germ extract, all of which can moisturize the eye area and make it soft but I couldn’t find any studies showing they can reduce puffiness or dark rings.

That doesn’t mean they can’t as I think the company may have tested this complex to assess its effectiveness, but I would rather see their finding confirmed in independent studies before splurging on this product. More interestingly though, the patches contains Vitamins C and E, which are powerful antioxidants, although their concentrations are likely too small to do much. It also contains niacinamde, which increases ceramide, free fatty acid and collagen production in the skin, stimulates micro-circulation in the dermis, boost elasticity and decreases skin discoloration. Because of this niacinamide is one of my favourite skincare ingredients, but if you want to incorporate it in your routine, I’d recommend Olay products instead as they contain higher concentrations of it and are a lot less expensive.

Ingredients:
Aqua (water),glycerin,pentylene glycol, butylene glycol, 3-aminopropane sulfonic acid, acetyl dipeptide-3 aminohexanoate, biotin, calcium hydroxymethionine, calcium hydroxymethionine, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, echium plantagineum (seed) oil, lecithin, magnesium pca, manganese pca, methylsilanol mannuronate, niacinamide,oryza sativa (rice) germ extract, panthenol, propylparaben, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium pca, tocopherol,tocopheryl acetate, trifolium pratense (clover) flower extract, zinc pca, borago officinalis seed oil, cellulose gum, dextrin,disodium edta, glyceryl polymethacrylate, hydroxyethylcellulose, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, polysorbate 20, propylene glycol, sodium citrate, chlorphenesin, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, sorbic acid.

Available at: feelunique.com

Summary
Payot Design Lift Patch Yeux contains 10 sachets, each of which includes two patches. They can be used both on an occasional basis or as an intensive treatment for a whole month but I’ve only tried it in the first way. As an occasional treatment, it makes the eye area soft and smooth and reduces undereye bags, but only minimally. They don’t irritate skin but are very expensive.

Rating: 3.5/5