Battle of the Brands | Catrice Professional Make Up Techniques Face Palette vs Essence Strobing & Contouring Palette

I have a different kind of post today, one where I compare similar products from different makeup brands and I'm starting with two face contouring palettes from sister brands Essence and Catrice. I own another contouring palette from Pupa Milano which I love and still use on an almost daily basis but that is a pricier option so I wanted to compare these two palettes which come with a more affordable price tag. Want to know which one gets my vote? Read on to find out!

Packaging

As soon as you look at both palettes, you can immediately notice that the Catrice one looks more expensive - it comes with its own sleeve and instructions at the back which also feature on the back of the palette itself. The palette is a glossy black in colour with the brand logo on the bottom left corner and a wavy lid. On opening, you get a mirror, 8 products and a mini brush which I'm going to be honest with you, I don't see how it fits the palette's purpose. Moreover, there is a protective piece of plastic with the respective product names on it. 6 of the products are powders while the other 2 are creams.

As for the Essence one, you also get a black palette but it has a window on the lid, no mirror and all 10 product pans can be seen from the outside. It also comes with instructions at the back. All ten products are creams. I think the Essence palette does look cheaper compared to the Catrice one, so, thus far, Catrice gets my vote.

Formulas

The Professional Make-Up Techniques Face Palette from Catrice comes with contour powders, blushes, highlighters as well as a matt powder and a matte cream. Save for the Pearly Blush and Highlighters, all the rest of the products are matt finish. Pigmentation and staying power are not an issue with any of the products. My favourites are the Matt Bronzing, Matt Cream and Highlight Gold. This palette is intended more towards sculpting your face and creating a contoured look.

Catrice Professional Make Up Techniques palette swatches

The Strobing & Contouring Palette from Essence also has more matt shades apart from the white shade and the last two products from the first row. I like that this palette also features a yellow hued product which can be used as a corrector against dark circles. Pigmentation is a bit lacking with the lighter shades but the dark ones make up for them. Staying power is not an issue with any of the shades from this palette either though.

Essence Contouring & Strobing palette swatches

Ease of Use

I found both palettes pretty easy to use - the formulas are amazing and they hold up well. The only two products I had hiccups with were the blushes from the Catrice palette - they are very pigmented so do use a very very light hand with them. As for the pearly one, I think I'll stick to using it as an eyeshadow rather than as a blush because it is too shimmery a blush for my liking.

Price

I think by now you're dying to know the price of these palettes so here goes. The Essence one retails for €6.99 while the Catrice one retails for €13.79.

The Verdict

Time for the truth! As much as I have enjoyed using both of these palettes, I have to choose the Catrice one over the Essence one for various reasons i) the packaging as it looks way classier and expensive than it actually is; ii) it comes with a variety of products in different finishes and also includes 2 blushes. The price for the Catrice one is almost double but I'd rather spend my money on it and know I have a variety of products and better formulas.

Have you tried any of these palettes? What would you like to see me compare next?

PR Samples

Review | Plumper Lips with Teoxane RHA Lip'sculpt

Hello everyone :) I've got another review post for you today and it's all about a revolutionary new product from Teoxane, the RHA Lip'sculpt.

The brand Teoxane is not new on this blog for I had the pleasure and opportunity to try other products from them before. Apart from dermo-cosmetic products, the brand also has a successful line of dermal fillers and I am not going to lie, I thought Lip'sculpt was actually a lip filler. I was relieved to know it wasn't (yes I am scared of needles!) and so I agreed to give it a test run.

As far as signs of aging on our faces go, the lip contour is the first to give in. Most notably, the area is prone to a significant loss of fat mass which in turn causes superficial dehydration and a decrease in barrier function as we age. The lips will consequently appear finer and vertical wrinkles start to appear. 

I am still young for wrinkles to appear on my skin but my lips have always been on the thinner side. On the other hand, like I said before, I am scared of needles so lip fillers will be the very last thing I consider to do. Thankfully, Teoxane has come up with RHA Lip'sculpt that claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as augmenting lip size after 28 days of use.

Teoxane RHA Lip'sculpt comes in a box complete with an information booklet while it comes in the sleekest of tubes with a metal applicator to up the application experience. Basically, Lip'sculpt is a serum that contains a concentrate of Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid, Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA) and Glycerine to achieve volume, lifting and hydration respectively. It also contains Ivy and ginseng extracts and Konjac to further help achieve the afore mentioned effects.

There is a recommended, simple mode of application as explained in the booklet that comes with the product and I have been applying the product morning and evening for the past two months or so.

While fortunately, I don't have any wrinkles at the moment, I can definitely comment on the size of my lips. First things first, this is just a serum meant to give you a temporary plumped lips appearance so don't expect the results to last as long as with fillers; however, I still like to apply this serum before my lip products to have plumper looking lips. When the effect wears off though, my lips return to their usual size (they don't go from XS to XXL but there is slightly more volume). Also, there is no tingling involved so yay! However, my lips do feel a little numb (not completely, just a wee bit) for a couple of minutes immediately after application but they go back to normal in no time. I haven't really seen a drastic change in my lips' volume but I would recommend the product for anyone wanting a temporary solution. The product can also be used to complement a lip filler treatment.

What do you think? Would you consider using such a product over fillers? Leave a comment below!

Teoxane products can be bought from authorized stockists and clinics. 

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Beautifull Volume with TRESemme

Having thin hair comes with a few bad points, for me, it is mostly a lack of volume. I have found an effective solution though and it comes in the form of three products from TRESemme's Beautifull Volume range.

We have heard it before - the amount of shampoo and conditioner you use can make or break a style. In fact, using too much can weigh down your hair. TRESemme has taken a whole new approach to avoid weighing the hair down and let me tell you, it is the best solution I have found for my hair type. They came up with this 3-step system which comprises a pre-wash conditioner, a shampoo, and a hair maximizer cream.

The groundbreaker here is that you apply the conditioner before you shampoo your hair clean! Usually, it's the other way round but with this system, the hair is then so clean, it will retain volume easily. I wash my hair every other day because it gets very oily very easily. I start with three pumps of the Pre-Wash Conditioner which I distribute evenly through my wet locks, leave on for a minute before rinsing and proceed to wash my hair with the Beauty-Full Volume Shampoo and again rinsing thoroughly.

I like to gently squeeze the excess water out of my hair before gently patting it with a towel. I then proceed to apply the Hair Maximizer cream, let my hair air dry a little more and then blow-dry it. The Hair Maximizer has this cool opening through which the product comes out - you just squeeze the centre of the tube and the right amount of product is dispensed!

My hair definitely looks more volumised and it stays as such until my next wash! This three-step system definitely gets two thumbs from me! What do you say to effortlessly volumized locks?

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Flormar Tropical Splash Limited Edition Collection

Summer is all about bright colours and Flormar is definitely on the right track with the brand's summer collection proposition for 2017 - Tropical Splash.

The collection boasts a vast array of products: 4 nail enamels, 6 lipsticks and 6 matching lip glosses, 8 eyeshadows, a mascara, 2 highlighters, 4 bronzers, 2 perfumes and 4 body mists - that's a mouthful isn't it?!

With all the bright colours available in this collection and the super stunning packaging, I was already taking note of which products to get from this collection when, much to my delight, I arrived home after a long day at work to a lovely surprise - I was sent some products from this collection to try out. I took them with me to a weekend getaway in Gozo to try them out and haven't let go of them since!

The packaging has summer written all over it with the ombre boxes reminding me of the perfect summer landscape - clear skies, cool blue waters and warm golden sands! The same ombre effect is translated onto some of the products too such as the lipsticks, whereas other products such as the mascara and bronzer have a monochromatic packaging.

Tropical Sun Bronzing Powder BR01 Maldives | Dramatic Volume Mascara Black
Tropical Lipstick 04 Orange Sunrise | Summer Metallics Eyeshadow 07 Emerald

Of course the product that caught my eyes first was the lipstick. I was sent the shade 04 Orange Sunrise which is an orange-based red. I have to admit that I am not particularly drawn to such shades because I am quite pale, however, I was surprised at how much this shade suited me! I like the buttery-soft formula on this lipstick, not to mention the awesome pigmentation and a smell that reminds me of watermelons - it can't get more summery than that!. I put this lipstick to the test for dinner and I am happy to say that it lasted all throughout. Naturally, it did fade away a little but for a regular lipstick that doesn't have a matte finish, I honestly didn't expect it to last that long!

As much as I prefer to wear bright colours on my lips, I just had to somehow incorporate this gorgeous emerald shade for a dinner date with my better half as it happened to match the dress I was going to wear. I used the eyeshadow to line my bottom lashes for a hint of colour though I wouldn't rule out the possibility to wear it as a full colour on my lids. Pigmentation is ok - not too strong but just enough for the colour to show up nicely. Green is one of my favourite colours and I think it complements my eye colour; even my boyfriend commented on how good it looked on so that's a big plus ;)

Next, I have one of the best mascaras I have ever owned. I have a couple more Flormar mascaras which I find to be of very good quality and they really give my lashes a nice, fanned out look but this Dramatic Volume Mascara outdid them all hands down! The wow factor lacking in the packaging is made up for with the exceptional performance of this mascara - it has the perfect brush to achieve a full fanned-out look which gives the illusion of wearing false lashes. It has a nice, deep black colour which coats the lashes in an even, non-clumpy manner. The only 'issue' I have with this mascara is that I would have liked it better to be waterproof since we are talking about a summer makeup collection but other than that, this gets a 10/10 from me.

Lastly, I have the ubiquitous product in every summer collection - bronzer. Compact bronzers are my favourite as you can build up the colour to your preferred intensity. I am really enjoying this one at the moment as it has a matte sort of finish that makes the product very versatile - you can use it for contouring, instead of a blush, or even to give you an overall tanned appearance. The compact even comes with a mirror inside and the bronze packaging had me in awe as soon as I took it out of the box, this is most definitely a go-to product! Moreover, the colour, BR01 Maldives is the perfect match for my light complexion.

Overall, I think you got the gist that I really like this collection, so thank you Flormar for sending these products over! Flormar has stores in Paola and St. Julian's which are worth checking out for some fabulous products at very affordable prices!

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Review | Thalgo Prodige des Oceans Le Masque

A while back I was invited to the re-launch of Thalgo in Malta by the new distributors VJ Salomone. Apart from an introduction to the brand itself, the top range from Thalgo, Prodige des Oceans was launched in Malta and we were generously given a full sized jar of the face mask along with some other samples of the other products in the range at the end of the event.

The mask comes in a beautiful blue elliptical glass jar with a silver cap and you tell immediately that it is a luxury product. You get 50g of product which will last you quite a long time as you only need a small amount and you are only required to apply the product twice a week. Needless to say, I was eager to get home and give this mask a try that very night.

What makes this mask different from others is that it only takes 5 minutes for it to smooth wrinkles, clarify the complexion and leave the skin intensely smooth. Alternatively, you can also leave it on overnight for a more nourishing experience. The latter is exactly what I did when I first tried the mask and my skin was baby smooth by morning. It looked much more radiant and it didn't feel like there was a layer of product on it.

The mask is so soft and creamy, that it literally melts into your skin. In fact even in the jar, the mask tends to turn into a soft, airy mousse and I think the summer heat is to blame. When I am in a hurry, I just put the mask on for 5 minutes and let it work it's magic to transform my skin just when I need it to look its best.

Although the core Thalgo range is quite affordable, the Prodige des Oceans range does come with an expensive tag primarily because of the nature of the ingredients used in the products. However, I feel this mask is a luxury I would consider splurging on, to maintain youthful looking skin.

PR Sample

Pupa Milano New Summer Releases

I always get excited whenever Pupa Milano release new products and I was lucky enough to get my hands on a couple of items from their latest releases which of course I shall be sharing with you in this post.

First off, the Extreme Bronze Moisturizing Tanning Foundation SPF20 in the shade 001. I was instantly curious about this foundation and was looking forward to see if the texture matches my beloved Pupa Milano Professionals BB Cream + Primer. And yes, it didn't disappoint! The texture is lightweight which is just what you need for summer! Moreover it is resistant to water, sweat and humidity, making it the ideal product for the Maltese summer. It also has SPF20 so you know your skin has some protection against harmful UV rays. Coverage is light and it just gives my skin the perfect sun-kissed glow.

Wearing Pupa Milano Extreme Bronze Foundation 001 - see how natural it looks?!

The Extreme Bronze Foundation is available locally in shades 001 and 002 and retails for €19.10. It has been launched in combination with the Extreme Bronze Bronzing Powder which is available in 3 shades and retails for €15.95.

Pupa Milano Extreme Bronze Collection

Another product which has fast made its way to my current favourites, is the I'M Matt Lip Fluid in shade 097 Light Plum. Pupa are expanding their range of this highly popular product with 8 new shades. I'm a huge fan of the formula of these lip fluids and their pigmentation is to die for! With just one swipe, you get complete coverage with a nice velvety matt finish. I particularly like this shade as it complements my skin tone and it practically goes with anything! Price is €12.85. The Pupa lip products range now also comprises 10 new shades of I'M Pure Lip Colour which retail for €12.85 each.

Wearing Pupa Milano I'M Matt Lip Fluid 097

Lastly, Pupa have introduced the Vamp! Eyeshadow palettes. I have the 003 Absolute Nude which is an absolute favourite as it has the four colours I reach for the most. They are all shimmery shades are perfect to create an understated neutral look. Locally, there are two palettes available as part of a Special Edition Kit which comprises a palette and 3 Easy Liner Eye Pencils for €21. Oh and you could also try your luck at winning four Vamp! palettes in the giveaway that is currently going on on the blog's Facebook page!

I have the tester version of the palette (centre) but you can see what the palette actually looks like in the other two photos.

Pupa Milano Easy Liner Eyes which come with the Vamp! palettes

Look created with Pupa Vamp! Palette 003 Absolute Nude

Also worth a mention is Pupa's Summer Collection - Savanna which presents us with neutral hues of bronze, gold and khaki synonymous with this time of year and two gorgeous highlighters for the perfect summer glow!

PR Samples

Gorgeous Eyes in a Blinc!

Remember my introductory post to Blinc Cosmetics? After having had the chance to review two mascaras and an eyeliner from the brand, this is what I have to say about them.

First off I am going to review the mascaras, both of which feature the innovative tube technology through which the mascara forms tiny, no-smudge, water resistant tubes around each of your lashes instead of painting them like a conventional mascara. At the event we were given a sample of the Mascara Amplified in Black and I also purchased the original Mascara in Dark Green.

The difference between the two is that the Mascara Amplified can be built up with several coats to achieve the desired length and volume of the lashes while the original Mascara only enables application of one coat. Also, the Amplified Mascara comes only in Black and Brown while the original Mascara comes in an array of 6 shades. Both mascaras come in a purple tube which I am guessing serves to representing the whole tubing mascara concept and I'm digging it!

Both formulas are smudge-proof, water resistant and sweat-proof. Another thing that distinguishes Blinc Mascaras from those of other brands, is that it only takes warm water and gentle pressure to take them off. In fact you can actually see the tubes on the cotton disc! This eliminates the use of eye makeup removers, thus making Blinc mascaras perfect for individuals with sensitive eyes.

I tried both mascaras on consecutive days to see how they compare and the only difference I could see was the way my lashes looked. As far as the Amplified Mascara goes, my lashes looked more voluminous with respect to when I used the original Mascara. Both mascaras lasted all throughout the day without smudging and they only came off when I gently rubbed my eyes in the shower late in the evening. As for the Dark Green Mascara, I really like the colour but it doesn't really show up unless you're up close. The final verdict on these mascaras is still a good one though! I highly recommend them if anything for their incredible staying power!

Blinc Amplified Mascara in Black

Blinc Mascara in Dark Green & Liquid Liner in Black

I was also given a sample of the liquid Eyeliner in Black. Now I have to come clean here and confess that I am rubbish totally incapable of applying liquid eyeliner without making a huge mess and end up looking like a panda. What I did was apply my usual gel liner on the lash line as a guide and then proceeded to apply the Blinc liquid liner over it and it helped make it last longer without budging. I am very impressed with the pigmentation and fluidity of the Blinc liner. It's extremely black and once it dries, it won't budge - unless it's peeled away!

So would I recommend Blinc products? I definitely would to anyone with a busy lifestyle but as far as volume is concerned, I have mascaras which volumize my lashes better so for a glam look I would opt for an alternative mascara and top with the Blinc ones for longer lasting makeup! Other than that, all three Blinc products have impressed me greatly with their staying power!

**Try your luck at winning two products from the Blinc range in the giveaway running on my Facebook page - open till the 2nd of June 2017**

Blinc Mascara Amplified and Eyeliner were given to me by Paloma Cosmetics Ltd. for consideration while I purchased the Dark Green Mascara with my own money.