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

Hello everyone,

call me a snob, but I’ve never paid much attention to the Sephora brand. I don’t have a Sephora store near me, so whenever I have the chance to go to one, I am so busy catching up with the latest releases from Benefit, MUFE, Too Faced and other American brands that I always neglect the more boring Sephora Collection counter. But this summer, I’ll make an exception. The brand has teamed up with illustrator Izak Zenou to create a whimsical, fun and girly collection of products that feature his illustrations on the packaging. Let’s see what the collection includes, shall we?

IZAK BAKED EYESHADOW PALETTE ($30.00)
This cute, notebook-style palette contains eight baked eyeshadows: Chiffon, Candy Bondon, Vienna Vieee, Mystère, Rustique, Vintage d’Époque, Bonsoir and City Of Lights Cité de Lumières.

IZAK SATIN KISS TWIN LIPSTICK ($15.00)
A duo of creamy and moisturizing lipsticks. Available in: Coquette, Mademoiselle and With Love.

IZAK BRUSH SET ($39.00)
A cute and whimsical, five-piece brush set: Powder Brush, Foundation Brush, Shadow Brush, Crease Brush and Eyeliner Brush.

IZAK COMPACT MIRROR ($16.00)
A luxurious pocket mirror.

IZAK BAG COLLECTION ($24-$44)
A collection of pretty makeup bags.

Doesn’t everything look gorgeous? The collection is available now at Sephora.com. What do you think of it?

I have already talked about a few sunscreen myths here, here and here but there seem to be so many misconceptions about this essential product that I thought it was important to set the record straight on a few more. After all, not knowing enough about sunscreen and when to apply them, can cause a lot of harm to our skin. So, let’s get started:

1. I already have a “base tan” so I don’t need to wear sunscreen

First of all, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. A tan, whether you got it from sun exposure or a tanning bed, is a sign that your skin is damaged and it is absolutely not a substitute for sunscreen. While it is true that a tan may give your skin a tiny little bit more protection from burning, your skin can still burn. And in any case, that won’t protect you from all the damage (like premature aging and cancer) the sun can do to your skin. So, always, always, wear sunscreen, even if you already have a tan.

2. If I stay in the shade, sunscreen is not necessary

Again, this is false. Although you should always seek the shade whenever possible (or wear a hat or even use an umbrella), you still need to wear sunscreen. That’s because shades don’t completely block all the sun rays, leaving your skin exposed to damage if not properly protected.

3. SPF 30 is twice as strong as SPF 15

I wish! While I think it is very important to wear a high protection factor every day, especially when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, the truth is, that there really isn’t that much difference between SPF 15 and SPF 30. A sunscreen with SPF 15 can block out about 93% of the sun rays while one with SPF 30 about 97%. Higher factors can block out about 98% or 99%, but the assumption that the protection provided is proportionally increased by higher SPF factors is wrong. And most expert think that SPF 15 is enough for daily wear, although I personally think that if you’re going to the beach or spending a lot of time outdoors, it’s best to use at least SPF 30.

4. Sunscreens block out all UV rays

Again all I can say is, I wish! The truth is that no sunscreen, not even those labelled SPF 100, can completely block out all UV rays. Some can block out 97% or 98%, like we’ve seen above, but there always is a small percentage of rays that won’t be blocked out. In addition, there are lots of sunscreens on the market that protect only from UVB and not UVA rays. These offer only partial protection and should be avoided so be sure to check the label carefully before purchasing.

Do you know any other sunscreen myths you’d like to bust?

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

Last Friday, Sugarpill has launched the latest palette in their “Heart” series. It’s called Heart Breaker and it features 4 vivid and bright matte eyeshadows:

2am: purple, matte with a slightly pearl sheen
Acidberry: vibrant green, matte with a slightly pearl sheen
Mochi: mint seafoam, matte with a slightly pearl sheen
Velocity: vibrant matte royal blue

Aren’t the colours gorgeous? This palette is just right up my alley and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. It’s available at sugarpillshop.com and retails at $34.00.

What do you think of this palette?

Happy Sunday!

Another week has already gone by. Time really flies fast, doesn’t it? It’s already time again for some random ramblings:

Dirty Dancing

I’m usually not a fan of dance movies, but there’s one I never get tired of watching: Dirty Dancing. It’s one of those classical movies that will never be old, isn’t it? It just has the perfect combination of dancing and romance but it deals with some serious issues as well. Both Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey are very talented and they have such great chemistry. And let’s not forget the soundtrack. Who doesn’t love and hasn’t danced (although not as well ase Baby and Johnny) to (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life? Overall, a wonderful movie that will make you smile, cry, think and dance! What’s your favourite dance movie?

What I’m Reading Now

Murder On The Orient Express by Agatha Christie. This is one of Christie’s most famous books and, in my opinion, one of the best. Poirot is travelling on the Orient Express when a blizzard forces the train to stop in the middle of ex-Yugoslavia. The next morning, Edward Ratchett, an American millionaire, is found dead. He was stabbed twelve times. The killer must still be on the train, but who is he/she? Poirot examines the crime scene and interrogates all the people on the train, but the murder seems inexplicable. As always, the Belgian detective will have to rely on psychology and his little grey cells to solve the mystery. The characters are interesting, the story is well-written and, although the beginning is slow, it soon picks up speed and you won’t be able to put it down. I usually don’t read detective stories twice, but I enjoyed this book so much I think I will revisit it in a few years’ time. Overall, an amazing read!

The Links

My Women Stuff reviews Guerlain Perles d’Azur Meteorites.

Clumps Of Mascara shares her top 6 favourite mascaras.

The Beauty Brains wonders if astaxanthin is a good sunscreen?

Beauty Fool shares some makeup tips for hot summer weather.

Future Derm wonders if Vitamin E helps or hurts a scar?

Sunday Survey, Vol.102

1. Do you karaoke?
Not really. I don’t have the guts to sing in public. I know you don’t have to be good and it’s all just for fun, but still it’s something I’m not comfortable doing.

2. What’s your skin type?
Combination: dry cheeks and oily t-zone.

3. What blush are you wearing at the moment?
Milani Minerals Blush in Luminous. It’s one of my fave ever brushes because it gives such a natural and healthy glow to the cheeks.

4. Hamburger or hot dog?
Hot dog!

5. What do you think of water beds?
I think they’re fun but I’ve heard they’re not that good for your back. Besides, I’d constantly worry about it springing a leak.

It’s your turn now!
1. Do you karaoke?
2. What’s your skin type?
3. What blush are you wearing at the moment?
4. Hamburger or hot dog?
5. What do you think of water beds?

What it is
Ethylhexylglycerin is a substance derived from Glycerin.

What it does
Ethylhexylglycerin is a preservative often used instead of parabens. It can also be used as a carrier for other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol.
In addition, it is also used as a skin-conditioning agent to make skin soft and smooth.

Side effects
Ethylhexylglycerin can cause irritations in some people.