Name: L’Istant Magic fragrance
Brand: Guerlain
Size: 1.07oz
Price: $74.00

What I liked:
- light floral woody scent
- sensual and sophisticated scent, perfect for a date or evening occasions
- longlasting

What I didn’t like:
- some people may find it too powdery and old-fashioned
- if you’re into sweet or fresh scents, this is not for you

Guerlain L’Istant Magic (am I the only one bothered by the half French half English name, by the way?) was launched in 2007 as a flanker of the strong oriental floral L’Istant. L’Istant Magic, however, is said to be a lighter version of the scent, “a caress of flowers and woods” and aimed at a younger audience too. But when I read the notes and discovered it contains both rose and almond, I was sure I wasn’t gonna like it. I’ve always disliked the scent of almond and even though that of rose is nice, it is just so common in perfumes that it doesn’t excite me anymore. But L’Instant Magic must really be a magic fragrance because, once I spritzed it on, I fell in love with it, almond, rose and all.

The scent opens with a fresh burst of bergamot, that is immediately followed by the cooler scent of freesia mixed with powdery rose. The floral notes give the scent a sensual, old-fashioned vibe, which I actually love. I guess this accord may remind some people of something their grandmother would wear, but to me this powderness makes the scent elegant and timeless, instead than out of fashion and boring. The drydown is woody: it is a mix of sandalwood, cedar and white musk with a hint of almond that gives it a very pleasant creamy quality.

I really love the contrast between the cooler top notes and the warm musky and woody base of the scent. Although the scent is very linear and doesn’t change much throughout the day, this contrast, imo, prevents it from being boring and flat. Instead, this juice is sexy and sophisticated, confident and feminine. It’s quite light but I still think it’s more suitable for the evenings, especially for a date with a special someone. It also has impressive staying power. Although now I use it only on special evening occasions, I first spritzed it on on a morning and it lasted till evening.

Available at: amazon and perfume.com

Summary
Guerlain L’Istant Magic Fragrance is a light floral woody scent better suited for the evening. The cool top notes contrast beautifully with the warm base, creating a scent that’s sophisticated, sexy and feminine that lasts for hours. However, it is also quite powdery, which can put some people off.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Seaweed Power Clear Pore Exfoliant
Brand: Oxy
Size: 100ml
Price: £5.99

From Oxy’s website:
OXY Clear Pore Exfoliant harnesses the power of natural seaweed to cleanse deep into your pores. It cuts through grease and oil, removing dead skin, clearing spots, blackheads and oily skin.

What I liked:
- removes dead skin cells and dirt, leaving skin clean, bright and soft
- the price

What I didn’t like:
- can be too harsh if you use too much product
- unpractical packaging

Do you remember my review of the Oxy Seaweed Power Fresh Skin Wash, which is part of a new range of skincare products designed for those with oily and spot-prone skin? Well, Oxy recommends to substitute it with the Oxy Seaweed Power Clear Pore Exfoliant 2 to 3 times a week. That’s because, although both products do their job well, they are too harsh for skin when used together, so don’t try that.

The Clear Pore Exfoliant has a runny consistency and is infused with black and white beads. The instructions say to wet your face with warm water, massage the exfoliant into your skin for a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly. The beads aren’t too harsh on the skin (unless you use too much product but more on that in a minute) and effectively remove dead skin cells, dirt and even makeup, leaving skin very clean and brighter, yet soft.

Like the other products in this range, this too contains Hydrolyzed Algin and Zinc Sulfate, which, when used together, regulate sebum levels and inhibit acne bacteria. It also contains Salicylic Acid, a beta hydroxy acid, which has the ability to exfoliate both the surface of the skin and inside the pores, thus unclogging them and helping prevent breakouts. However, these ingredients are much more effective when left on the skin for hours, which isn’t the case with rinse-off products like this exfoliant. So, for best results, I’d recommend you to massage the exfoliant into the skin gently for at least 5 minutes before rinsing it off.

And make sure not to use too much product, something not made easy by the packaging. Although the sleek white tube with the image of seaweed on it is hygienic, it has a big opening that pours out more product than necessary, so be very careful to avoid wastage. I also noticed that, because I store the tube on its cap and the consistency of the exfoliant is quite runny as I’ve mentioned before, I always find some product on the cap when I open it, which is very annoying! I wish they’d solve this problem as it makes the packaging unpractical, which brought the rating down a bit.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Silica, Polysorbate 20, oxidized Polyethylene, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Xantham Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Salicylic Acid, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Algin, Limonene, Linalool, Menthol, Zinc Sulfate, CI 77499.

Available at: amazon and boots

Summary
Oxy Seaweed Power Clear Pore Exfoliant exfoliates skin, removing dead skin cells, dirt and impurities, leaving it clean, soft and bright. It doesn’t irritate skin (unless you use too much product) but the packaging is not very practical.

Rating: 3/5

Name: 3D Forever Lip Gloss in Geisha
Brand: Mirenesse
Size: 14g
Price: $29.95/AUS$39.95

From Mirenesse’s website:
A Brilliant transparent mineral gloss with long lasting wear. A Super juicy emollient texture and flavour full taste. New Curved applicator makes it super easy to apply!

What I liked:
- highly pigmented
- hydrating, not-sticky texture
- easy to apply, glides on smoothly
- no burning or stinging feeling
- good staying power, fades evenly into a stain
- delicious citrus scent
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- doesn’t plump my lips much
- the price

I had never heard of Mirenesse until my blogging friend Tine, the lovely lady behind Beautyholics Anonymous, sent me one of their lipglosses to try (thanks hun!). I do love discovering new brands and I was very impressed with this gloss. Mirenesse 3D Forever Lipgloss comes in a black and golden bag with the picture of a fan on it. I find this really cute. The gloss itself is packaged in a sleek and huge tube (it contains 14gr!) that will last forever!

There are 10 shades available, ranging from wearable nudes to feminine pinks to daring reds. The one I received is Geisha, a bright and shimmery red with a very shiny finish. The shade is very pigmented and a little bit goes a looong way, so if you only want a hint of color you’ll have to be careful when you apply it. I do love its brightness, though, and one swipe is enough to achieve an intense but surprisingly wearable coverage. Application, thanks to the slanted wand, is really easy.

The texture is on the thick side but not sticky at all. And it’s quite hydrating too. In fact, not only it doesn’t dry my lips, I also don’t need to put on lip balm before applying it. It also glides on smoothly on the lips and stays put for about 3 hours. After that, it starts to fade evenly into a stain and slowly, completely disappears. And did I mention that it has a yummy citrus lemony scent? It doesn’t smell fake at all and doesn’t hang around long.

Miranesse 3D Forever Lip Gloss also promises to make your lips look plumper, but it didn’t do much for my lips. They look slightly bigger when I wear it, but the difference is barely noticeable. I think it’s just an illusion created by the hydration and shininess of the texture, but this gloss looks so pretty on the lips that I don’t mind that it doesn’t plump my lips much. And I was glad to discover that, unlike a lot of plumping glosses, this doesn’t make my lips burn nor string.

Available at: mirenesse.com

Summary
Mirenesse 3D Forever Lip Gloss in Geisha is a beautiful bright and shimmery red shade. Very pigmented, it has a quite hydrating, non-sticky texture that glides smoothly on the lips. It lasts 3 hours before starting to fade into a stain and doesn’t sting nor burn lips. However, it makes them only slightly plumper and is expensive.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Le Male
Brand: Jean Paul Gaultier
Size: 1.03oz
Price: $48.00

What I liked:
- remarkable, powdery and floral, spicy and woody scent
- strong and longlasting
- unisex, can be worn both during the day and night

What I didn’t like:
- the packaging

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Eau De Toilette is a classic. Released in 1995, seventeen years later, it is still immensely popular and loved by both women and men. It’s one of those scents that we have all smelled at some point, even if only on a stranger to whom we didn’t bother asking what he/she was wearing. Its popularity is due to its audacity. Le Male is yes woody, spicy and masculine like you’d expect a men’s cologne to be, but it is also powdery, sweet and floral, characteristics you usually associate with women’s perfumes. And yet, this mix works. The result is an unisex, sensual blend that men can wear without feeling like their masculinity is menaced. And judging by the reviews I’ve read, women love to smell it on guys.

Le Male is a strong and powerful scent so one spritz is more than enough and it will last on your skin for the entire day. It opens with a fresh mint note mixed with artemisa, soon followed by a stronger burst of bergamot. At this stage, the fragrance is refreshing, but it also has a touch of sweetness and is a bit powdery too. The mintiness lasts for about an hour and is then replaced by lavender, a typical note in men’s colognes, mixed with spicy cinnamon and cardamom. This is the most masculine stage of the scent, but not so masculine that will put women off. The drydown is a nice, sensual and powdery blend of vanilla, tonka bean and sandalwood.

Overall, Le Male combines masculine and feminine, powdery and woody, spicy and sweet notes in a way that’s both unconventional and irresistible. It can be worn by anyone, men and women, both during the day and at night. It’s not one I’d wear all year round though. Because it is strong, it is more suitable to autumn and winter than summer. It’s also a scent that won’t let you go unnoticed. You’re gonna attract attention when you wear it. Although I love the scent, I’m not a big fan of the packaging. I find the bottle, which is shaped like a male torso, quite creepy.

Available at: sephora and ulta

Summary
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Eau De Toilette is an interesting and original mix of powdery and floral, spicy and woody notes that can be worn both by men and women, during the day and at night. It is strong and longlasting. However, I find the packaging creepy.

Rating: 4.5/5

Name: Seaweed Power Deep Calm Balm
Brand: Oxy
Size: 50ml
Price: £5.99

From Oxy’s website:
OXY Deep Calm Balm is an oil-free moisturiser. It harnesses the power of natural seaweed to keep skin soft and hydrated, whilst helping to prevent oily skin, spots and blackheads

What I liked:
- lightweight texture, absorbs quickly
- moisturizing, makes skin soft and smooth
- keeps the oil at bay for a few hours
- helps prevents breakouts
- creates a good base for foundation
- sleek and hygienic packaging

What I didn’t like:
- not moisturizing enough for those with dry skin

Last week, I introduced you to the Oxy Seaweed Power skincare range, which uses the power of natural seaweed to prevent oily skin, spots and blackheads. Today, I’ll talk about my favourite product in the range, the Deep Calm Balm. Just like the other products in the line, this moisturizer also comes in a white tube with an image of an algae on it. I really like the packaging, it is sleek and hygienic. The moisturizer itself is white in color and has a subtle, refreshing scent that disappears very quickly.

The texture is quite lightweight and absorbs really quickly into the skin. It makes skin very soft and smooth, and creates a perfect base for makeup, thanks to the blend of silicones it contains. But don’t worry about them breaking you out, they won’t. Not only this cream didn’t make my skin break out, but I haven’t even been getting the odd pimple since I’ve started using this range! In addition, it keeps my skin moisturized all day, and keeps the oil at bay but this only for a few hours. I don’t think it would be moisturizing enough for those with dry skin though, but then this range, although Oxy claims it is suitable for all skin types, was designed for those with oily and acne-prone, not dry skin.

The moisturizer contains Zea Mays Starch, which has absorbent properties and can soak up excess oil, and Lactic Acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid derived from milk, that exfoliates skin by dissolving the “glue” that holds the skin cells together, thus allowing them to slough off. This ensures the dead cells aren’t blocking the opening of the pores so that sebum can flow more freely, thus helping prevents breakouts. The moisturizer can also regulate sebum production and inhibit acne bacteria thanks to the combined action of Hydrolyzed Algin, a substance extracted from the membrane skin of brown seaweed, and Zinc Sulfate.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zea Mays Starch, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, PPG-3 Myristyl Ether, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Isoceteth-10, Parfum, Silica, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Algin, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Linalool, Zinc Sulfate, Butylphenyl Methylproponial, Alpha- Isomethyl Ionone, Pentaerythrityl tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate.

Available at: Amazon and Boots

Summary
Oxy Seaweed Power Deep Calm Balm is a lightweight moisturizer that absorbs quickly, leaving skin soft, smooth and hydrated. It also helps keep the oil at bay for a few hours and prevent breakouts. The packaging is sleek and hygienic too.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Eyeshadow Blender Brush / Pennello Da Sfumatura
Brand: The Body Shop
Price: $18.00 / €9.00

From The Body Shop’s website:
An elegant, high-quality makeup brush that provides even blending of The Body Shop makeup Eye Colors, particularly in the crease of the eyes.
Ampio e vaporoso, ideato appositamente per sfumare l’ombretto nella piega palpebrale o per applicare l’ombretto in modo più trasparente sulla palpebra.

What I liked:
- firm but soft bristles that don’t scratch skin / le setole sono “solide” ma morbide e non graffiano la pelle
- doesn’t shed / non perde setole
- can be used to apply and blend eyeshadows / può essere usato sia per applicare che per sfumare gli ombretti

What I didn’t like:
- bristles could be a little bit softer / le setole potrebbero essere un pochino più morbide

I bought my first crease/blending brush in my early twenties and since then I’ve been wondering how I could have lived without it for so long. This is one of the most important brushes to have in your stash as it makes it so easy to blend eyeshadows into a gradient and contours your crease, adding depth and definition to the eyes. One of my favourite blending brushes is The Body Shop Blender Brush.

Ho comprato il mio primo pennello da sfumatura quando avevo all’incirca 23 anni e da allora mi chiedo come ho potuto farne a meno così a lungo. Questo è uno dei pennelli più imporatnti da avere nel vostro arsenale di makeup perchè rende facile sfumare gli ombretti, rendendo meno netti i distacchi tra i vari colori facendo in mondo che non si veda dove finisca un colore e ne comincia un altro, e scolpire l’arcata plapebrale, donando dimensione e definizione agli occhi. Uno dei mie pennelli da sfumatura preferiti è il Pennello Da Sfumatura di The Body Shop.

The Body Shop Blender Brush has a long handle that’s thicker at the end and synthetic bristles that are very stiff yet soft and don’t scratch skin. Nor do they bleed or shed. In fact, this brush has never shed a single hair since the day I bought it several months ago and, despite being washed regularly, it is still in perfect condition. The bristles also have a slightly flattened domed shape that work great both at applying and blending eyeshadows.

Il Pennello Da Sfumatura di The Body Shop ha un lungo manico che è più spesso in fondo e setole sintetiche che sono “solide” ma morbide e non graffiano la pelle. Non perdono neanche nè il colore nè qualche peletto. Infatti, questo pennello non ha perso neanche una setola da quando l’ho acquistato qualche mese fa e, nonostante io lo lavi regolarmente, è ancora in condizioni perfette. Le setole hanno anche una forma piatta e leggermente arrotandata che funziona bene sia per applicare che per sfumare gli ombretti.

The bristles pick up just the right amount of color you need and effortlessly blend it out on the crease. It softens the edges of your eyeshadows so that you get a seamless gradient and is perfect for blending smokey eyes looks. The brush can also be used to apply eyeshadows on the lid: it provides just a soft wash of colour on the lid, which makes it perfect to apply any bright and colourful eyeshadows you may have but don’t use because you’re afriad you can’t pull them off, making them appropriate to be worn during the day too.

Le setole raccolgono proprio la quantità giusta di colore di cui hai bisogno e lo sfumano facilemte sull’arcata palpebrale. Rende meno netti i distacchi tra i vari ombretti applicati ed è perfetto per sfumare i look smokey eyes. Il pennello può anche essere usato per applicare gli ombretti sulla palpebra mobile: deposita solo un tocco di colore sheer sulla palpebra mobile, il che lo rende perfetto per applicare ogni ombretto colorato e acceso che avete ma non usate perchè avete paura che non vi stia bene, e rendendoli appropriati per essere indossati anche durante il giorno.

It also means that you can use the brush to apply a subtle hint of colour to the browbone to highlight it. I’ve always liked The Body Shop brushes and knew their Blender Brush was gonna work well to blend colours on the crease, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how versatile this brush is. You could actually do an entire look with this brush which is great for when you’re in a hurry or travelling. If I had to find a fault with this brush I’d say the bristles could be a bit softer (they’re not hard but not as soft as those of MAC 217 Blending Brush for instance) but they’re soft enough not to scratch skin so I don’t really mind that.

Questo rende anche possibile usare questo pennello per applicare un tocco di colore trasparente e luminoso sull’arcata sopraccigliare per illuminare l’occhio. I pennelli di The Body Shop mi sono sempre piaciuti e sapevo che il loro Pennello Da Sfumatura avrebbe funzionato bene per sfumare i colori sull’arcata plapebrale, ma sono rimasta piacevolmente sorpresa dalla sua versatilità. Potete addirittura fare un intero look con questo pennello il che lo rende ideale per quando si va di fretta o si viaggia. Se dovessi trovare un difetto a questo pennello direi che le setole potrebbero essere un pochino più soffici (non sono dure ma neanche morbide quanto quelle del pennello da sfumatura 217 di MAC ad esempio), ma sono abbastanza morbide da non graffiare la pelle, per cui non è davvero un problema.

Available at: thebodyshop-usa.com and the-body-shop.it

Summary
The Body Shop Eyeshadow Blender Brush has quite soft and firm bristles that don’t bleed nor shed. The domed tip makes it easy to blend out eyeshadows into a seamless gradient, while the flat shape allows you to apply just a soft wash of color to the lid and browbone area.
Il Pennello Da Sfumatura Di The Body Shop ha setole abbastanza morbide e “solide”. Non perde setole né colore quando viene lavato. La punta arrotondata rende facile sfumare i colori in modo da ridurre i distacchi tra di loro, mentre la forma piatta permette di applicare un lieve tocco di colore anche sulla palpebra mobile e l’arcata sopraccigliare.

Rating: 4/5

Name: Omnia Coral
Brand: Bulgari
Size: 1.35oz
Price: $80.00

What I liked:
- pleasant fruity floral scent
- strong, but not overpowering
- lasts all day

What I didn’t like:
- not particularly remarkable
- unpractical bottle

I have to admit I’m not a big fan of the Bulgari Omnia range of fragrances. To me, the packaging is just unpractical and the scents not that remarkable. But I must be in the minority because the brand keeps releasing a new Omnia scent every one or two years. The original Omnia (and my favourite) was launched in 2003 and it was a spicy-woody fragrance with good lasting power. Sadly, I believe it has been discontinued. In 2005, Omnia Crystalline followed. It is a fresh-fruity-woody scent but quite subtle and not everyone can smell it.

In 2006, Omnia Amethyst, another floral-woody scent was born, but to me it smells bland and powdery. Two years later, Omnia Green Jade was launched. This one is aimed at teenagers and younger women and it’s a very subtle floral blend with woody notes that disappears pretty soon. The latest addition in the range is Omnia Coral, which is the first fruity floral scent the brand has ever created. Maybe it’s because they took so long to release a fruity fragrance that I’m just sick of them, but I’m afraid I’m not really a fan of Omnia Coral. Why?

The opening is a quite strong, fresh and sweet burst of red fruits, which according to the brand are goji berries and bergamot. At this stage the scent is sweet, but not so sweet to be nauseating, youthful and summery. A certain sweetness hangs around in the heart too, although the scent now gets warmer. Hibiscus and water lily are said to be at the heart of the scent, but all the notes are quite meddled together and you can’t distinctly smell them. You just smell sweetness or red fruits but you’ll have to trust what the brand says to know what’s in them. The drydown is the most pleasant part of the scent for me. It is warm thanks to cedar wood and musk, and has a touch of fruitness due to the pomegranate note.

More floral than fruity, Bulgari Omnia Coral is a fresh and vibrant, youthful and sweet scent that can be worn all year around. It is stronger than the other Omnia floral flankers, but not overpowering. You’ll just have to make sure you don’t apply a lot as a spritz is all you need really. And it lasts for the entire day. However, just like the other Omnia scents, this one isn’t particularly remarkable. It just doesn’t stand out from the hundreds of fruity floral scents on the market. It is true that it is less sweet than most of them, and nicely-done, but I guess I was hoping for something more original and elegant and this isn’t it.

Available at: Nordstrom and Sephora

Summary
The latest addition in the Omnia range, Bulgari Omnia Coral Fragrance is a fruity floral scent that’s youthful and vibrant, sweet and warm and wearable all year around. It is sweet but not too sweet, strong but not too strong and it lasts for the entire day. However, it is not particularly remarkable and the bottle is unpractical.

Rating: 3/5

Name: Seaweed Power Fresh Skin Wash
Brand: Oxy
Size: 150ml
Price: £5.99

From Oxy’s website:
A refreshing, lightly fragrant, everyday wash with jojoba micro beads, OXY Fresh Skin Wash harnesses the power of natural seaweed to reduce spots, redness and blackheads. As well as being effective against spots, OXY Fresh Skin Wash is also naturally kind to skin. Dermatologically tested, it is suitable for sensitive skin, and contains no alcohol, parabens or SLS.

What I liked:
- removes dirt, makeup and other impurities well
- also provides an exfoliating action
- didn’t dry nor irritate my skin
- fresh scent
- sleek and hygienic packaging

What I didn’t like:
- not suitable for sensitive and dry skin
- can be irritating if you use too much product for each application

When it comes to treating blemishes, and oily and acne-prone skin, a lot of teens and even adults with these problems turn to popular drugstore brand Oxy. Oxy knows that this type of skin needs a powerful but gentle approach and has created a new line of products that features Hydrolyzed Algin, a substance extracted from the membrane skin of brown seaweed that has antioxidants properties and, when combined with Zinc Sulfate which is also present in these products, can also regulate sebum levels and inhibit acne bacteria.

I have to admit I’m always doubtful of the efficacy of these compounds in rinse-off products cos they soon end up down the drain, but Oxy Seaweed Power Fresh Skin Wash is still a really nice cleanser for those with oily and acne-prone skin. My skin is combination but because I’m prone to the odd breakouts, I decided to try this line anyway and it worked really well for my skin too. But I will talk about the other products in the upcoming weeks. For now, we’ll concentrate on the face wash.

It comes packaged in a white tube with an image of algae on it, which is pretty, sleek and hygienic. The opening is really small, which allows you to pour out only the small amount of product you need. The product itself has a fresh and clean scent that’s pleasant and not very strong so it disappears quickly. It has a thick gel-like consistency and contains red jojoba beads that provide a gentle exfoliating action. I have to admit I was scared that, because of the beads, the face wash would be too harsh for daily use, but it isn’t.

First you need to wet your face and then you can massage the face wash into your skin. Make sure you use only a very small amount for each application (you don’t need more anyway) or it may irritate your skin. But when I use the right amount, my skin isn’t irritated, red nor feels tight. Instead, the face wash quickly removes all traces of dirt, makeup and other impurities, and leaves my skin clean and silky soft. However, although Oxy says the face wash is suitable for all skin types, I think it would be too harsh for those with sensitive or dry skin because these skin types don’t need to be exfoliated daily.

Ingredients:
Aqua, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Silica, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Jojoba Esters, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Hydrolyzed Algin, Limonene, Linalool, Menthol, Benzalkonium Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Magnesium Nitrate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylsothiazolinone, CI 77491

Available at: Amazon, Boots and Superdrug

Summary
Oxy Seaweed Power Fresh Skin Wash is a great face wash for those with breakouts, oily and spot-prone skin. It removes all traces of makeup, dirt, oil and other impurities, and performs a gentle exfoliating action, leaving skin clean and soft without irritating nor drying it out (unless you use too much product). However, it may be too harsh for those with sensitive and dry skin.

Rating: 3.5/5