Drunk Elephant Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser & Comparison to Original Beste Jelly Cleanser

I’ve been a Drunk Elephant lover for years. I was excited when their new Beste Jelly Cleanser came out earlier this year. Original review HERE. Now Drunk Elephant has reformulated this product after listening to customer feedback. People hated two things about the original launch–It burned their eyes when they used it in the eye area & the cap didn’t lock all the way and was prone to leaking.

I personally loved the old twist cap and never had a problem with it leaking. I also never use cleansers like this in the eye area as I prefer micellar waters to remove my eye makeup. I don’t cleanse with oils or gel cleansers like this in the eye area. That’s just my preference. That being said I still had to try the new one out because it’s Drunk Elephant and I just had to know how different they were.

First I must say how much I love the addition of the black artwork on the new Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser. Love it. It comes with a flip top cap. So hopefully this solves the leaking issue for those who experienced it. Details per Drunk Elephant:

An innovative jelly cleanser that removes all traces of makeup, excess oil, pollution and any other grime from the day. Free of SLS, fragrance and essential oils, Beste™ No. 9 is totally non-irritating, non-sensitizing and appropriate for every skin type.

With a unique blend of mild surfactants and makeup dissolving emollients, this gentle formula rinses away without an ounce of residue, leaving skin clean and soft.

Beste™ No. 9 is formulated at an ideal, non-stripping pH level of 5.9. This cruelty-free product is vegan and gluten-free.

Suggested Usage Squeeze Beste™ No. 9 into palm. Add water to lather and gently massage over face, eyes and neck. Rinse well with warm water and pat dry. Use nightly or in alternation with the other Drunk Elephant cleansers.

Tip: we recommend skipping the morning cleanse, as it’s not necessary if you’ve cleansed your skin the night before. (How odd is this “Tip” statement in here? I totally don’t agree with that)

The new version smells the same as the old one which is pretty much none. The texture is still a jelly style cleaner. It’s just a touch thinner than the original. You can see below the new version is on the left, the old version on the right. You can also see a color difference. The new version on the left is clear, the old version on the right has an almost brighter or blue white based tone in comparison.

You can see the foaming action it has without water. This is from rubbing on dry skin. This is typical of these style jelly cleansers.

So I do like the new version better. Not for the packaging or eye area stinging issues that were the main reason for the reformulation. I like this version better because it feels less drying on the skin. The older version left my skin a tad dry. That was the main reason I wasn’t using it a lot. It felt like I has used a mild soap on my skin, leaving behind that squeaky clean feeling after cleansing. This new version is more like a non-drying jelly cleaner.

This is very similar to Glow Recipe Blueberry Bounce or INDIE LEE cleansers. I’m going to be putting together a jelly cleanser style comparison to compare these types of formulas so stay tuned. This was a good reformulation for this product. It should be more popular now. I would repurchase this new version where I would not have on the old version.

Main Ingredients

 

Mild surfactant blend: a stack of mild cleansing agents, including coconut-based surfactants rich in fatty acids, that work together to create a rich foam that effectively dissolves even stubborn makeup, sunscreen and oils while supporting the healthy barrier of skin.

Virgin marula oil: high in critical antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, this nourishing oil boosts the cleansing and makeup-removal power.

Glycerin: a skin-identical humectant, helps replenish hydration levels that are normally lost in skin during the cleansing process.

Cucumis melo cantalupensis (cantaloupe) fruit extract: rich in antioxidants, helps soothe and hydrate.

Ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Sodium Methyl Oleoyl Taurate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Propanediol, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis Fruit Extract, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate

Allies of Skin: 1A All-Day Mask, 1A Overnight Mask & Molecular Saviour Mist: Review

Allies of Skin is a new brand I’m exploring. I kept seeing it all over Instagram and couldn’t help myself so I grabbed all of their products. They have a small line so that was four products at the time. They have added three new items but that’s for a future post. Allies of Skin is a Singapore founded brand. I want to list their ‘About Them’ section because sometimes a brand has an interesting philosophy–Allies of Skin is one of those.

Allies of Skin was founded with a simple goal in mind: To create smart, effective products for the modern multi-hyphenate; using potent antioxidants and intelligent nutrients. Every product is designed to effortlessly complement all aspects of a demanding life. We believe that taking care of your skin should never feel like a chore. We believe that the process should be easy and gratuitous. Our entire range is adaptogenic; each product works synergistically with your skin to adapt their function according to your specific needs. Your products should work hard for you; not the other way around. 

Allies of Skin is driven by a fundamental belief in the skin’s ability to heal and correct itself. Our guiding principle is to facilitate and enhance the healing process with powerful actives in clean, optimally concentrated formulas that repair, regenerate and also re-train your skin to perform at its best. By activating the receptors that stimulate collagen & elastin, and encourage cellular renewal & repair and by inhibiting melanin formation at its source, the long-term cumulative outcome is skin at its healthiest. That’s what we are all about.

I grabbed both the 1A Masks and the Molecular Saviour Mist. I’ve been playing with them all for about six weeks. I love the idea behind their brand–Simple, easy, effective, well formulated products. Some interesting details about the 1A line per Allies of Skin:

The skin is the largest organ we have and one of the smartest. Our 1A Masks are concentrated nutrient reservoirs designed to provide your skin with all the nutrients it needs to heal itself. Think of our masks as multi-nutrient supplements for your skin. Just like how you would take a multivitamin supplement every day for best results, our masks were created to be used daily. 

We created our 1A Masks to be effortless skin saviours. They are concentrated enough to be used on their own but designed to play well with all other products. Treat them like you would a moisturizer. If you have a favourite essence or serum, use them first. Then apply our masks on top (you don’t need an additional moisturizer). Apply sunblock and makeup after; if desired. Our 1A Masks can be used on the eyes, lips and cuticles too.

The 1A All-Day Mask–Details per Allies of Skin:

So last night left you a little worse for wear and you didn’t get as much sleep as you would have liked. Attain the effects of a good night’s sleep with our 1A All-Day Mask. 

The world’s first leave-on day ​treatment​​ mask​​, this powerful formula fuses the potency of a mask with the easy application of a moisturising cream​. It ​fortifies your skin’s defences against harmful pollutants in the atmosphere while reversing tell-tale signs of stress and fatigue​. 

By​ supercharging your skin with a multitude of peptides, antioxidants and anti-inflammatories​, ​irritation ​is reduced ​and natural collagen production​ is boosted​. Clinically proven to reduce acne lesions by 36% in​ 28 days​.​ ​

For best results, use daily in place of your daytime moisturiser after our Molecular Saviour Toner Mist. 

Suggested Usage After cleansing and using the Molecular Saviour Mist, apply to face, neck, and around eye area. Use daily for best results. Do not rinse off. The 1A All-Day Mask can be used both in the morning and night, alone or under SPF/makeup, if desired. For all skin types – especially tired, dehydrated and stressed. Created for the weary adventurer and insomniac in all of us.

Benefits:

• Brightens and refines skin.
• De-puffs and tightens skin.
• Hydrates and repairs tired, worn-out skin.
• Promotes the effect of a good night’s sleep.
• Plumps skin with healing moisture and nutrients.
• Increases natural production of collagen and elastin.
• Soothes skin while reducing redness and calming inflammation.
• Reinforces skin’s barrier and reduces Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL).
• Protects and purifies skin against pollution, heavy metals and cigarette smoke.
• 36% reduction of non-inflammatory acne lesions (closed and open comedones) after 4 weeks of daily use.
• Nutrient-rich reservoir that plumps skin with healing moisture and nutrients throughout the day with over 35 powerful actives.

Full Ingredients See at the end of post 

Active Ingredients:

CXA-6 Panacea Complex–A powerful blend of Chronocyclin™, Citrustem™, Haloxyl™, Niacinamide, Spin Trap and Thiotaine repairs damaged skin, increases collagen production and protects against DNA, oxidative and pollution damage.

Glycoderm–Restores skin’s lipid barrier to prevent transepidermal water loss while simultaneously providing hydration.

Moringa Seed Extract–Anti-pollution active that purifies, repels impurities and prevent them from sticking to the skin.

Hyaluronic Acid [High Molecular Weight (HMW) & Low Molecular Weight (LMW)]–HMW Hyaluronic Acid retains moisture on the skin surface while LMW Hyaluronic Acid’s smaller size enhances its absorption rate and allows it to intensely hydrate and plump up skin.

Matrixyl Synthe’6–Peptide that reduces wrinkles and stimulates collagen production.In clinical trials, Matrixyl Synthe’6 was shown to produce a 31% decrease in the volume of wrinkles after 60 days.

Antioxidant Blend (Niacinamide, 3-0-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Astaxanthin, Blueberry Extract, Spin Trap, Ergothioneine, Vitamin E, Caffeine, Madecassoside, Acai Fruit Oil, Blue Green Algae)–Provides biologically active trace nutrients, brightening, de-puffing, wound-healing and collagen synthesis properties. Also protects skin from oxidative and cellular damage.

Crocus Bulb Extract–Repairs skin’s matrix and stimulates skin cells to release growth factors; enhancing the synthesis of collagen & elastin and greatly improving skin firmness. In clinical trials, Crocus Bulb Extract was shown to increase skin firmness by more than 12% after 28 days.

Matrixyl 3000–A composition of two peptides that work to repair the skin matrix by stimulating collagen and elastin production thus reducing the appearance of wrinkles. In clinical trials, Matrixyl 3000 was shown to producea 23% decrease in the volume of wrinkles and a 20% decrease in the depth of wrinkles after 30 days.

Soothing Healers Blend (Aloe Vera, Squalane, Galactoarabinan, Ceramide 2, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Sodium PCA, Lecithin, Honey, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids)–Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF) mimic the structure and function of healthy skin. They strengthen the skin’s delicate barrier and helpit repair& regenerate itself better. They also protect the skin from dryness, irritation and environmental stress.

Sounds good right? Do I even need to continue with the review? I will in case you’re not convinced yet. I use this as a day cream/lotion. It’s really more of a hydrating gel cream. It’s not a lotion at all-it has a gel cream texture. It’s more hydrating than the average gel cream. This has a very minimal scent. The scent is a natural kind of scent from the ingredients only. No artificial scents or essential oils. The packaging is practical-a black plastic tube with a pump. Mess free, no reason to have to open the cap everyday to dispense product. You can pretty much squeeze out every last drop, or cut open the tube (which I’m sure I and everyone else will do).

I usually don’t find gel creams hydrating enough to be used in place of a lotion or light cream. I normally have to layer a light lotion over a gel cream. This is one of the only exceptions for me. I find this one to be enough alone for me. 1A Mask manages to make my skin glow, look brighter and tighter all while hydrating perfectly for day. It’s a really good product and does what it says. It’s a little pricey at $89 for a 50ml tube. However, I really find much of the current skincare lines and products tend to be overpriced. So at least you get a product that works and has an amazing ingredient list for the higher price tag.

I would highly recommend it. The only drawback this one has is that it sometimes doesn’t play well with others. I’ve noticed it can pill on occasion depending on what you layer it with. If you let the layers under it absorb long enough as well as let this one fully absorb before applying sunscreen it fairs better. Products with silicones, oils and really slippery style serums was what seemed to cause this to pill more. This works best in a more minimal routine. Since this has so many actives in it, it’s powerful enough to be in a minimal routine. You don’t need all the bells and whistles with this one.

The 1A Overnight Mask–Details per Allies of Skin:

Life’s too short for you to not live life to the fullest. The same goes for your skin. Put your best face forward everyday with our 1A™ Overnight Mask. Packed with an abundance of cell-energising, reparative actives like Indian Ginseng and Pterostilbene, our 1A™ Overnight Mask works while you sleep to boost your skin’s immunity and accelerate skin cell renewal, giving new life to dull, sallow skin.

A perfect antidote to taxing late nights and an excellent shield against harsh, dehydrating cabin air, the 1A™ Overnight Mask contains our patented Ally-R™, a stabilised form of Retinol that combats blemishes, smoothens wrinkles, and reverses sun damage, all without any of the traditional irritation. Also clinically proven to help problematic skin types regenerate faster, reducing acne lesions by 67.2% in 28 days. This formula is ​Vegan.

For best results, use this cream formula every night after our Molecular Saviour™ Mist.

Suggested Usage After cleansing and using the Molecular Saviour™ Mist, apply to face, neck, and around eye area. Leave on overnight and do not rinse off. The 1A™ Overnight Mask is designed exclusively for nighttime use. Always apply SPF the morning after. For all skin types — especially dull, dehydrated and problematic. Created because we believe that it’s never too late to harness the restorative benefits of sleep

Benefits:

• Brightens dull, lifeless skin.
• Speeds up cellular renewal rate.
• Nourishes dehydrated, stressed skin.
• Protects skin from dehydrating conditions.
• Stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.
• Anti-glycation protection to maintain fresh, supple skin.
• Reduces non-inflammatory acne lesions by 67.2% in 28 days.
• Ameliorates the appearance of acne, hyper-pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Offers all the reparative and renewing properties of Retinol without any of the traditional irritation.
• Nutrient-rich reservoir that harnesses the skin’s most optimal repair period to heal and rejuvenate stressed, problematic skin — improving pore size, radiance and skin texture.

Full Ingredients See at the end of the post

Active Ingredients:

CXA-6 Panacea Complex–A powerful blend of Chronocyclin™, Citrustem™, Haloxyl™, Niacinamide, Spin Trap and Thiotaine repairs damaged skin, increases collagen production and protects against DNA, oxidative and pollution damage.

Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide–Hydrophilic in nature, this plant-based hyaluronic acid forms a breathable protective film at the skin’s surface and provides superior moisturizing properties.

Pterostilbene–Next-generation form of Resveratrol; one with increased bioavailability and potency. It is a powerful reparative antioxidant.

Antioxidant Blend (Niacinamide, Spin Trap, Ergothioneine, Glutathione)–Prevents UV damage, recycles Vitamin C, provides skin cells with cellular energy so that they function better. Also protects skin from oxidative and cellular damage.

Ally-R–Encapsulated form of stabilized Retinal that works without any of the traditional irritation. This treats everything from acne to wrinkles to loss of skin elasticity and sun damage.

Ellagic Acid–Potent skin brightener that also functions as an antioxidant.

Prodizia–Excess sugar molecules from a sugar-rich diet (or a champagne-heavy one) attach themselves to collagen fibres in a process known as glycation. The process causes healthy collagen fibres to lose their strength leading to wrinkles and saggy skin. This extract protects and repairs fibres damaged by glycation.

Low Molecular Weight (LMW) Hyaluronic Acid–LMW Hyaluronic Acid’s smaller size enhances its absorption rate and allows it to intensely hydrate and plump up skin.

Indian Ginseng–Reinforces the skin’s natural defence mechanisms and stimulates the regeneration of healthy skin cells. 

Nutrient-Rich Oil Blend (Organic Argan Oil, Arctic Cranberry Seed Oil, Cloud Berry Seed Oil)–Abundant in healing trace nutrients, essential fatty acids, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Nourishes skin with mega hydration.

This one sounds good too right? Same packaging. This has a lighter cream texture and a yellow color. Scent is also very minimal, just from the ingredients. It won’t bother anyone. I use this as a night cream. As it contains retinol I skip my retinol serum when I use this. Even though this has a lighter cream texture it manages to be enough for my skin providing hydration all night long. This one is a little pricier than the day mask at $109 for a 50ml tube. I love that this cream hydrates all night long. Too many creams are hydrating for the first half of the night, then I wake up with dry skin. Not with this one. This product manages to hydrate all night long leaving me with hydrated, plump and radiant skin that looks like I slept at least 8-10 hours even if I slept only 5 (my normal is 6 hours). Love it.

This product uses Retinaldehyde which is different than traditional retinol and a newer form of retinol. It’s supposed to be stronger and yet more gentle than traditional over the counter retinol. Retinaldehyde is a more stable form of vitamin A (retinol) that converts to Retinoic Acid slowly in the skin. This slow conversion process with Retinaldehyde and the skin lets it work on a more cellular level. If you’re sensitive to even over the counter retinol side effects than Retinaldehyde may be the solution for you as it’s generally more tolerated and gentle. Yet it still provides the same anti-aging cell renewal from vitamin A/retinol.

The Molecular Saviour Mist–Details per Allies of Skin:

A godsend for thirsty skin, our Molecular Saviour™ Mist is composed of an aloe and rose water base and a rejuvenating blend of probiotics and antioxidants such as Lactobacillus Ferment and Acai Berry that leave your complexion glowing and dewy.

The ideal travel companion, we supercharged our mist with a special anti-evaporation molecule so that it clings to skin cells instead of simply vanishing. Every spritz delivers a potent dose of soothing antibacterials and restorative nutrients like Silk Amino Acids and Cucumber Seed oil that work throughout the day to refine pores and counteract the effects of jetlag and fatigue.

To use, mist before moisturising with our 1A™ All-Day or 1A™ Overnight Masks. Spritz throughout the day for an instant lift in spirits and skin hydration levels. Keep calm and mist face. Clinically proven to reduce acne lesions by 42.7% in 28 days. ​This formula is ​Vegan.

Suggested Usage After cleansing, close eyes and gently mist face and neck. For best results, follow with 1A™ Masks. For an added hit of refreshment, store this in the fridge. For all skin types – especially thirsty, dehydrated and problematic. Created because we believe that effortless convenience is not only a virtue but a necessity. Mist anytime during the day for an instant boost of hydration, over sunscreen/makeup.

Allies Tip Perfect for use before and during flights to hydrate skin. Due to the heavier molecular weight and concentration of our Molecular Saviour™ Mist, you may find that product dispersion is on the heavier side as compared to your regular mists. Try pressing gently down on the nozzle to dispense smaller amounts all over the face.

Benefits:

• Tones and refines pores.
• Anti-evaporation formula ensures this clings to your skin cells.
• Helps balance skin’s PH level.
• Provides a heavy dose of healing hydration and antibacterial protection.
• Soothes and calms stressed skin.
• 42.7% reduction of non-inflammatory acne lesions (closed and open comedones) after 4 weeks of daily use.
• Nutrient-rich reservoir that reverses the effects of dehydration and weariness caused by too much alcohol, flight and air-conditioned environments.

Active Ingredients:

CXA-6 Panacea Complex–A powerful blend of Chronocyclin™, Citrustem™, Haloxyl™, Niacinamide, Spin Trap and Thiotaine repairs damaged skin, increases collagen production and protects against DNA, oxidative and pollution damage.

Charged Rose Hydrosol–Pure rose water that has been enhanced with a heavier molecular weight so it clings to skin cells instead of evaporating. Rose hydrosol offers healing, soothing, antibacterial benefits to the skin.

Acai Berry–Nature’s super-food; it is abundant in trace nutrients, offers anti-inflammatory properties and is a powerful antioxidant.

Colloidal Silver–A proven topical antibiotic and antibacterial active that quells inflammation and promotes healing.

Ergothioneine–Powerful antioxidant that protects skin from UV radiation. Reduces sunburns and sun damage.

Lactobacillius Ferment–Potent antibacterial probiotics create a healthy balanced skin flora and reduce appearance of acne and redness.

Silk Amino Acids–Hydrating antioxidant that penetrates the skin’s surface to boost skin’s moisture levels as well as deliver essential nutrients for optimal cell growth.

Healing Oil Blend (DAMASK ROSE OIL, PALMAROSA OIL, JUNIPER BERRY OIL, CUCUMBER SEED OIL)–Reduces inflammation & redness, heals stressed skin and provides restorative antibacterial properties.

This mist is packaged in a black glass bottle. Very luxe and weighty. It does have a stronger mist than others. It’s not that really fine mist. It smells like rose water. Not fake synthetic roses, like real rose water. I can’t tolerate synthetic rose but real rose water is divine when done right and not overpowering. I don’t use this as my main face mist, I really only use it before these masks like the instructions say to do. At $55 for a 50ml bottle it’s pricey enough. Though to be honest all face mists are way overpriced in my book for what they really are. When you think about it you’re getting a bottle of fancy water to spray on your face. I do think this is a lovely mist if you like mists. I always tell myself I’m going to stop buying mists but then I look at some with these amazing ingredient lists (like this one) and then I grab it.

Molecular Saviour Mist Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Polysorbate 20, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Lactobacillus Ferment, Deuterium Oxide, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Tertrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ergothioneine (L), Phenyl t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap), Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Juniperus Communis (Juniper Berry) Fruit Oil, Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Callus Culture Extract, Cymbopogon Martini (Palmarosa) Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Colloidal Silver, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Steareth-20, Xanthan Gum, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide.

1A All-Day Mask Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caffeine, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Squalane, Galactoarabinan, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Ceramide 2, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Crocus Chrysanthus Bulb Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum (Giant Knotweed Extract) Extract, Opuntia Vulgaris (Cactus) Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate (L), Hyaluronic Acid, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Gardenia Jasminoides Callus Culture, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Callus Culture Extract, Niacinamide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sphingolipids, Phospholipids, Astaxanthin, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Madecassoside, Phenyl t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap), Ergothioneine (L), Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Fruit Oil, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Honey (Mel), Bisabolol (L-alpha), Tocopheryl Acetate (D-alpha), Panthenol (D), Sodium PCA, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Lecithin, Lysophosphatidic Acid, Lysolecithin, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Powder, Sorbitan Olivate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Isohexadecane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Potassium Hydrolyzed Polygamma-Glutamate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tribehenin, Acacia Senegal Gum, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, PPG-2 Hydroxethyl Cocamide, Steareth-20, Polysorbate 80, Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Xanthan Gum, O-cymen-5-OL, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol.

1A Overnight Mask Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil (Organic), Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Galactoarabinan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate (L), Oxycoccus Palustris (Arctic Cranberry) Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloud Berry) Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Withania Somnifera (Indian Ginseng) Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Callus Culture Extract, Retinal (Retinaldehyde), Pterostilbene, Ellagic Acid, Phenyl t-Butylnitrone (Spin Trap), Ergothioneine (L), Glutathione (L), Mirabilis Jalapa Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lavandula Hybrida (Lavendin) Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol.

Charlotte Tilbury English Beauty & American Sweetheart Lipsticks

Charlotte Tilbury just released some exclusive holiday goodies on her site. Among them is a few limited edition lipsticks in American Sweetheart & English Beauty. I love Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks so I grabbed both. There was a red as well but I have enough reds I never wear so I skipped that one.

American Sweetheart—Details per Charlotte Tilbury:

Darlings, discover a lip look for every city! My K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in American Sweetheart is a naturally tawny pink lipstick in a moisturizing finish. This creamy, buildable formula is perfect for adding a polished look to your makeup look.

WHAT MAKES K.I.S.S.I.N.G LIPSTICK MAGIC:

• Perfect, full, kissable lips really do grow on trees!
• The Lipstick Tree protects your lips from UV damage & oxidative stress to leave them soft, soothed & hydrated.
• Light-diffusing pigments gives your lips a multi-dimensional finish to leave them look full-bodied and luminous.
• The blend of waxes glides over your lips for a rich, buildable colour.
• Ideal for a moisturizing, pink lipstick perfect for everyday wear.

I reviewed the K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formula HERE. It’s a creamy hydrating pigmented lipstick. I adore this formula. American Sweetheart is a warm creamy deeper pink nude. This is very warm, much warmer than I expected. I was hoping this was going to be similar to the discontinued Confession lipstick also described as a tawny nude. As you can see in swatches below this is much warmer and pinker than Confession. It wasn’t my favorite shade. I prefer Confession more.

English Beauty–Details per Charlotte Tilbury:

Darlings, discover a lip look for every city! My Matte Revolution Lipstick in English Beauty is a pretty, naturally nude pink matte lipstick. This wearable, modern matte finish is perfect to dress up with a smokey eye or for everyday wear.

WHAT MAKES MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK MAGIC:

• Younger, healthier looking lips can be yours with this formula!
• Antioxidant Lipstick Tree extracts with soothing orchid help to soften, protect and hydrate your lips.
• Revolutionary, square, angled tip mimics the shape of a lip brush for a precise application.
• 3D glowing pigments will help create the illusion of lit-from-within lips.
• Ideal for buildable, long-lasting matte finish lipstick.

I love the Matte Revolution formula. It’s my favorite comfort matte. I reviewed the formula HERE. English Beauty is the closest I’ve gotten in the matte formula to my perfect nude. Super Cindy is too warm. Pillow Talk is too deep and brown. Very Victoria is too cool and brown. I’ve been just waiting for this perfect light pink nude in the formula, as well as the KISSING formula.

English Beauty applies out of the bullet like the perfect light pink nude. Then it set to a deeper cooler pink shade. More of a light cool rose. I notice these matte shades tend to seem lighter and warmer on application then they set down five minutes later to a slightly deeper and cooler tone. While the shade is very similar once it sets it can change the entire feel of the lipstick. Ultimately English Beauty sets to a cooler neutral rose pink. It’s a lovely shade and my favorite of the Matte Revolution nude bunch to date. It’s just not what I thought it was going to be when I first swiped it on.

Left to Right–American Sweetheart, English Beauty:

Top to Bottom–Charlotte Tilbury Very Victoria, English Beauty, Pillow Talk, American Sweetheart, Confession:

Omorovicza Gold Eye Lift: Review

If you’ve been following this blog for a while you know I’m a huge fan of Omorovicza. The Hungarian brand uses thermal water as the base for it’s products. There is something magical about those Hungarian thermal waters. Rich in minerals like magnesium and calcium this thermal water just really agrees with my skin. Up next to talk about is the Gold Eye Lift. Details per Omorovicza:

This nourishing, anti-aging, gold eye cream reduces the appearance of wrinkles and renews the appearance of youthful elasticity. It also brightens tone and helps to undo sun damage in the delicate eye contour.

Key Benefits

• Tense the skin in the delicate eye contour throughout the day with the sequential release of chicory root fructo-oligosaccharide.
• Heal micro-damage and strengthen skin with a powerful anti-inflammatory, colloidal Gold.
• Diminish dark circles with anti-coagulant vitamin K.
• Resurface fine lines and wrinkles, and reverse sun damage with vitamin A (retinol).
• Reduce puffiness with arnica.
• Enhance skin tone and help reduce the appearance of age spots with Vitamin C. It also boosts the synthesis of collagen and elastin to help restore elasticity.
• For renewed elasticity and vitality, strengthen dermo-proteins such as elastin and collagen with polypeptides (palmitoyl tripeptide and caprooyl tetrapeptide).
• Retexture the lipid matrix to restore suppleness with ceramide.
• Leave skin firmer, more supple and younger-looking Healing Concentrate™ delivers minerals deep into the skin.

This eye cream is the most hydrating and moisturizing of the three Omorovicza offers. I’ve tried all three eye creams now. It combines vitamin A or retinol with vitamin K and vitamin C, arnica, colloidal gold, ceramide and peptides for a multi-targeted eye cream. This anti-aging cream is good for dark circles and loss of firmness. Gold is anti-inflammatory, vitamin K is usually in creams for dark circles. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that plays a big role in the body’s coagulation. In essence vitamin K helps keep your body from excessive bleeding and bruising which is why it helps with dark circles. Arnica is anti-inflammatory and helps accelerate the healing process. I actually have a big tube of Arnica gel I use for post massage because of it’s healing properties. Retinol is your anti-aging powerhouse working on fine lines and wrinkles, it can also help reduce dark circles by thickening the skin and reducing the transparency of the skin under the eyes.

The texture is a thicker cream and it has a pale yellow color. The scent is very minimal & very Omorovicza–which is always a light non-offensive scent. It’s always pleasant, light and never heavy. I love the glass pump packaging. The pump has an inner bag so the cream is essentially in an air free environment. This is the most moisturizing of the three eye creams. It’s perfect for night use. I would consider this a medium weight eye cream. It’s not the heaviest nor is it anywhere near being a light cream. You’ll find this to be enough hydration for overnight.

Overall, I found this to be a very pleasant eye cream to use. It was hydrating, nourishing and it worked. It works within reason. I say that for all eye creams because I always think we have this expectation that an eye cream can fix all of our dark circle issues from not sleeping or bad habits like too much wine. I’m guilty of both and I know a cream can’t fix my bad habits. I would purchase a bottle as it was well done.

Ingredients

Aqua (Hungarian Thermal Water), Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Root Oligosaccharides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Saccharomyces (Hungarian Thermal Water) Ferment Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Mannitol, Sodium Lactate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Safflower Glyceride/Palm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Prunus Domestica Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phospholipids, Colloidal Gold, Retinol, Gluconolactone, Chlorella Vulgaris/Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Pectin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Yeast Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Glyceryl Caprylate, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Dextran, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool.

*I received this item free to test, all thoughts are my own.

Current Product Favorites & Obsessions

It’s been warmer this week than the previous two so I went back to using some lighter foundations and cream products. I’ve been reaching for the Chanel Ombre Premiere cream shadows again. A lot. I’m loving Silver Pink as a base with Memory as the center lid. Memory really warms it up overall and it’s the perfect day combo I can apply in less than two minutes. See review and swatches HERE. Rituel de Fille Rare Light Luminizers are a cream highlighter I reach for constantly. The shades are so unique and multi-dimensional. They are creamy but not too creamy. They have enough weight to last. Phosphene is one of my favorites. Review & swatches HERE, HERE & HERE.

Cle de Peau Beaute Radiant Stick Foundation in Ocher has been a favorite all spring and summer. While it’s a very lightweight coverage foundation, the ease of swiping it on with the water cooling sensation during application is sublime. What I love the most about this one is that it doesn’t budge once you’ve applied it. Review HERE. I also love Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation. It’s lightweight and pleasant to wear. This is one of the only cushion style foundations I’ve ever enjoyed as it’s not as oily or greasy as some of the others. I wear shade no 30. Review HERE.

I didn’t expect to like the limited edition La Mer The Illuminating Powder. Maybe I just didn’t want to because its pricey. The heavy weight case is amazing. It has a artsy floral design on the compact. The powder itself is finely milled and produces a lovely glow, no shimmer or intense shine here. It’s a perfectly light highlighter with an amazing smooth texture and really pretty case. More to come soon.

Dr Jart+ UV Sun Fluid is going to be one of my winter sunscreens. It’s not drying, clear and a lightweight milky serum gel fluid texture. I love that it’s SPF 30 and not 50. There’s no reason to wear SPF 50 on a daily basis. This feels like a lightweight serum lotion more than an SPF. Love it. Talked about it HERE.

Byredo has become a favorite fragrance brand of mine over the last two years. Byredo Rodeo is a new scent only found on their website. It’s limited edition. Top: Leather Accord; Middle: Midnight Violet, Suede; Base: Black Amber, Vetiver. Very simple and clean. It has a leather scent but the floral balances it out to make it light. It has a very addictive quality to it. It’s what I wanted Hermes Cuir d’Ange to be. No powdery notes at all. Just light leather with a slightly sweet hint that makes it just plain good.

Now that it’s getting colder I can start wearing facial oils in the daytime again. Mostly on the cheeks but I will use all over once the artificial heat kicks on for the winter. I have the air conditioner on tonight, so not quite yet. But in the next month or so. KYPRIS Beauty Elixir II is a lovely dry lightweight facial oil perfect for my combination skin. Review HERE.

OSKIA’s new Citylife collection is superb. A full post is coming shortly. As I get older my eyes get drier. Combined with the ever so slightly cooler weather I’ve been using heavier eye creams. The OSKIA Citylife I-Zone Balm is a lightweight oil based balm that melts into an oil with the heat of your fingers. Pat it right into the eye area before bed for a not too greasy extra boost of eye hydration. I quite like it.

Jane Scrivner is a new UK brand for me to delve into. I tend to really like UK skincare and perfume brands. I grabbed two items from them.This ‘OO’ Over oil Cream is very unique (And it’ a Beauty Short List Winner). Not only is it bright yellow, it has a whipped light texture that’s amazingly hydrating. It’s even suitable for night use. More to come.

Top to Bottom–Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation, Cle de Peau Radiant Stick Foundation, Rituel de Fille Phosphene, La Mer The Illuminating Powder, Chanel Silver Pink, Chanel Memory:

Top to Bottom–Dr Jart+ UV Sun Fluid, Jane Scrivner ‘OO’ Over Oil, OSKIA Citylife I-Zone Balm:

Violet Voss PRO Eye Shadow Palette Taupe Notch

I have absolutely no need for a large eyeshadow palette or more nude eyeshadows (even though that’s all I wear). Yet something about this palette intrigued me when I saw pics online. The shimmers looked nice. So I threw the Violet Voss PRO Eye Shadow Palette in Taupe Notch in bag bag and have been playing with it for the last week. Details per Sephora:

What it is:
A game-changing eyeshadow palette with 20 rich shades in a variety of finishes.

What it does:
This uniquely rich, taupe-toned color story includes 20 wearable shades that work just as well individually as they do paired with each other. The versatility of this palette gives you the ability to create limitless looks.

This set contains:
– 20 0.06 oz/ 1.8 g Eyeshadows in Elite (soft beige), #1 (peach ivory), Bestest (soft peach brown), Super (soft golden beige), Top Notch (peach), One N Only (pink sandy brown), Upper Crust (tan), Royal (mushroom), Exclusive (smokey brown), First Class (medium muted brown), High (warm rose-toned brown), Taupe (grayish brown), Numero Uno (icy cool taupe), MVP (warm toffee), Ace (cool-toned brown), Extra (warm milk chocolate brown), World Class (cool-toned purple brown), VIP (deep copper brown), Supreme (warm rustic brown), Prime (deep cool ash brown)

Violet Voss Cosmetics was created to provide professional quality makeup for both the beginner and advanced makeup enthusiast. Their easy-to-blend, highly pigmented shadows are formulated with hydrating jojoba oil, and the selection of palettes let you create endless looks – from subtle to sultry.

This palette is housed in a cardboard case much like the Z Palettes. I love nudes so this taupe palette seemed like a good buy for the $45 price tag. The eyeshadows are pigmented, not drying nor powdery, smooth and actually pretty damn good. I was impressed which I didn’t expect to be. The texture is buttery on the shimmers and silky on the mattes. The mattes aren’t too dry or streaky and apply pretty well. Which is all I can ask for on a matte. I love the mix of mattes and shimmer shades. You can create and amazing number of looks with this palette. The majority of shades in this palette are all in the neutral to cool range.

The longevity is average. I didn’t get any creasing with them but by hour 10 or so there was some fading. If you happen to be up from 6am until 10 pm like me this will fade pretty well by ten pm (I apply at six am). I wouldn’t hold that against this palette in any way, that’s a long day. These aren’t Natasha Denona quality but pretty similar in the shimmer textures. I do prefer my Surratt mattes to these, but these mattes are actually pretty good in general. I’m not a fan of cardboard cases but for the cheaper price I can deal easily. This is a pretty good quality palette for a decent price. If you’re a nude/taupe eyeshadow lover you should check this out.

Elite is a matte pale cream. #1 is a shimmery champagne. Betest is a matte milk chocolate. Super is a shimmery light neutral rose gold pink nude. I love this shade. Top Notch is a matte pale peach. One N Only is a shimmery neutral pink beige.Upper Crust is a shimmery light neutral tan. Very taupe like. Royal is a matte cool medium gray brown. Exclusive is a matte medium neutral brown. First Class is a matte medium cool brown.

Top to Bottom–L to R First Row than L to R Second Row:

High is a shimmery medium to deep plummy brown. Taupe is a matte deep cool brown gray. Numero Uno is a shimmery medium to deep cool gray taupe brown. MVP is a shimmery medium plum brown. Ace is a shimmery deep neutral to warm steel gray. No blue tones here. Extra is a matte warmer neutral medium to deep cocoa brown. World Class is a deeper matte slate with gold micro glitter. This and Top Notch are the only two shades I don’t like. VIP is a shimmery deep cooler bronze brown. Supreme is a shimmery cool deep plummy red toned brown. It’s almost like a soft black with red pearl. Like a better formulated MAC Smut. Prime is a shimmery deep sooty brown toned gray.

Top to Bottom: L to R Third Row than L to R Fourth Row:

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels: Review

I used to not be an eye gel or eye patch person. I found them so overpriced for a one time throw away use. Yes I always loved how they gave instant results in combination with the cooling de-puffing effect. Someone told me to try skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. They’re more reasonably priced than some others at 8 pairs for $30 (still overpriced). That’s about $2 an eye or $4 for every use. Not cheap in general. Details per Dermstore:

skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels are easy-to-apply, under-eye gel pads work to firm, de-puff and reduce fine lines and wrinkles for younger-looking, revitalized eyes. Elastin promotes firmness while hexapeptide reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Ginkgo Biloba diminishes puffiness and antioxidant Co-Q10 neutralizes free radicals for a rejuvenated appearance.

Most of these eye patches I try are more serum like or watery and slide around. These skyn patches are actually a hydrating gel that miraculously stays put for the whole wearing time. They don’t slide around. They’re cooling and hydrating to some degree like an eye patch generally is. They do de-puff, firm and help reduce lines as promised. The effects are temporary as is with all eye patches. To be expected and not a deal breaker. I imagine if you used these every night you would see a more permanent line reducing effect from the Hexapeptides, but no one can afford that. Weekly use at most. These are perfect before a night out, photo session or for that moment of self-care/pampering most of us tend to use things like this for.

I love that these are more affordable than others and don’t slide around. They come packaged in single serve pairs. You will get an instant de-puffing, cooling & firming effect from these. Just don’t expect long lasting miracles. I would repurchase these to keep them around for masking.

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Angelica Archangelica Root Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Acrylates Copolymer, Agar, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Hyrolyzed Elastin, Acetyl Hexapeptide0-8, Caprylyl Glycol, Perfluorodecalin, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Peg-75 Shea Butter Glycerisdes, Glycosphinogolipids, Xanthan Gum, Ubiquinone, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Extract, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Oxycooccus Palustris (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Aluminum Glycinate, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Phoneoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol *With Minerals.

Pat McGrath Labs LuxeTrance Lipstick, Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil & Ultra Lip Pencil

I recently visited the new Pat McGrath Labs counter at Sephora. I’ve had bad luck with Pat McGrath products in the past. Mostly because the kits were so complex–they just never felt designed for someone who needs a simple morning routine like myself. I always hated the cheap lab style packaging and the fact that everything came in a kit and not as singles. I hate kits because I never use half of it so it’s a waste. I was happy to finally see a line from Pat McGrath that was not kits and came in beautiful sturdy packaging. I grabbed the LuxeTrance Lipstick in Donatella. Most of the shades were what I figured they would be. Dark, bright or very vibrant. All shades are creams no shimmer.

I was surprised Donatella worked for me. With the description Beige Mauve I figured it would be too cool for me. This is a cool beige mauve as it says. However, it’s a great nude. Not too light to wash you out either. It’s not extremely cool in tone either. Check out that box. It’s stunning. It shuts by wrapping the string tie around the two circles. The glittery lips is an amazing photo. The packaging is a deep navy glossy plastic with a gold metal trim. There is gold lips on the front–Love it! Very artsy and unique much like Pat McGrath. While her kits were always too extensive for me I did appreciate their artistic appeal.

The bullet of this lipstick is also stunning. It’s so glossy & has a very streamlined shape. I almost didn’t want to ruin this by wearing it because it’s so beautiful. The texture is creamy. The lipstick is pigmented, has a satin finish and is long lasting. I very much loved it. I’m thinking of grabbing a red shade now. This feels creamy and thick on, not too thick but enough to really last and hydrate the lips at the same time.

Here it is on the lips. Not too cool, nor too pale. Has enough pink (mauve) to not be just a cool brown nude. If you love nudes I would recommend this creamy long lasting satin finish formula to anyone. While it’s a bit pricey at $38 it’s a good quality lipstick with a fun artsy flair.

The Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil & Ultra Glide Eye Pencil were pleasant surprises for me. These glide on like butter. Seriously these are amazing. They’re pigmented, blend easily and last all day long. These don’t budge or smudge. I’m officially obsessed now. The lightweight gel texture is so good. Plus look at that box packaging. Love it.

I grabbed the Permagel Lip Pencil in Done Undone. Described as a light pink nude. That’s accurate. I’s a warmer toned pencil that has an ever so hint of shimmer to it. This on isn’t drying on the lips like some long last lip liners. All lip liners are drying to some degree from the high wax content, this one is not bad. It’s very comfortable.

I also grabbed the Permagel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil in Shade. Described as a midtone taupe which is fairly accurate. It’s a cool brown grey. It’s a deeper shade but a relief from black. I like non black shades for the most part to define my eyes. Black is nice but can be a bit harsh for me. These pencils retail for $25 and come with their own pencil sharpener. They are well worth the price.

Overall, I was very pleased with this new range of products from Pat McGrath. Finally her great quality products match in a quality package. I would love to see her expand the lipstick shade range. There’s a big lack of shades in the lighter nude range. Not really pale shades, though that’s lacking too, but in the medium light range. The majority of shade are in the medium, medium deep to dark and vampy range. I wanted badly to love the eyeshadow palette as well, but it just had way too much glitter for me. As expected the texture was amazing on the eyeshadows.

Left Done Undone, Right Shade.

Top to Bottom–Pat McGrath Donatella, MAC Fleur de Force, Surratt Hevyn, Zelens Nude Beige, Charlotte Tilbury Confession, Lipstick Queen The Whole Truth, Le Metier de Beaute Beauty Professor:

Top to Bottom–Pat McGrath Done Undone, Kevyn Aucoin Flesh Tone Lip Pencil Medium, MAC Spice, MAC Boldly Bare; Pat MGrath Shade, Armani Smooth Silk #2, Pixi Graphic Greige:

The Brush Bar & Board: Review

I love my Japanese brushes. I also love to keep them clean. Well, not really. No one really likes washing all their brushes because it feels like a chore. However, I do love having clean brushes. I love anything that makes this chore easier. Typically I wash my brushes using friction in my palm with mild soapy water, then hang them upside down to dry. I used to hang them on a towel bar with hair ties. See my post HERE for this brush system. It’s an effective and very cheap system. If you have enough towel bars for all your brushes. I then discovered the Benjabelle Tree which I discuss HERE. Still fairly cheap and I can store the drying brushes in my closet overnight to dry.

The ultimate purpose of drying your brushes upside down is so the water doesn’t loosen the glue in the ferrule of the brush and ruin it. I was approached by The Brush Bar to try their brush washing system. As I am always up for a new way to clean and dry brushes I couldn’t say no. I received The Brush Bar & Brush Board to play with. Details per The Brush Bar:

The Brush Bar A game-changing tool that solves one of the biggest frustrations in makeup: brush care. All smart beauty lovers know that drying brushes with the bristles pointing up is a no-no – water seeps into the ferrule and loosen the glue that holds the bristles together. Laying brushes flat prevents this, but often leads to misshapen bristles and long drying times. Enter the Brush Bar! The patent-pending design secures brushes pointing downward, preventing damage and misshape and cutting drying time in half – all while taking up just a couple inches of space on counters, sinks, and vanities! Plus, it folds into itself for easy storage and travel.

 

Features

• Innovative design fastens brushes with bristles pointing down so they keep their shape, last longer, and dry faster
• Its 10 prongs in 3 sizes (2 small, 6 medium, 2 large) hold brushes of any brand, any size
• Sleek, compact design is space-saving and travel-friendly
• Comes with its own velour carrying case

The sleek black case opens, flip out the prongs with a flick of the wrist, and close the case again. You can then set the case on any flat surface with the prongs facing out to hold your brushes that need drying. This is a matte black plastic case with metal prongs. It retails for $38.

The case is weighty on the end across the prongs so it sits on any flat surface without toppling off. I set this one my little picture shelf and left my brushes to dry all day. It was extremely versatile and portable, you could set it anywhere there’s a flat surface. It was nice as I could keep my drying brushes high and away from my two year old’s brush grabbing hands.

The large prongs worked well for blush brushes and most larger face brushes. It’s not large enough to fit my Tom Ford Bronzer Brush and it struggled holding this SUQQU Face Brush. I had to really shove the SUQQU brush in there. The medium prongs held my eyeshadow brushes well. The small prongs held the small brushes well. My really small concealer brushes were too small and slid right out. The prongs were just too big for them. While I loved the innovative design, portability and ease of use, I found this worked best for small to large brushes. Extra large and extra small brushes just don’t fit in the prongs.

The Brush Board A game changing makeup brush cleaning tool. Made of a hard material with 6 different surfaces that deep cleans, but does not damage brushes. Simply deposit your brush soap onto a selected surface, add water, and swirl your brush to deep clean between the bristles. The first ever makeup brush exfoliator.

Features

• Made of firm material for maximum cleaning power
• Water-pooling sections that cup water for a lasting lather
• 6 different textures to scrub between and around the bristles
• For the most effective clean, apply a brush cleanser and a splash of water before gently swirling brushes back and forth along the board’s surface.
• Can easily be cleaned by running it under warm water and laying out to dry
• Keeps hands clean and dry as you wash your brushes
• Comes with its own velour carrying case

Surfaces

1. Cylinders – gentle clean
2. Pyramids – 4 edges and a point for the deepest clean
3. Cones – deep cleaning cones double as a bristle comb to separate bristles for quick drying
4. Triangular Cylinder – medium scrub
5. Straight Grooves – dual purpose scrubber and scraper
6. Wave Grooves – a waved version of the straight grooves

I found I liked to use this best by laying it flat in my bathroom sink as it left my hands free. I filled the board with mild soap (I use baby shampoo) & lukewarm to room temperature water (never use really hot water to clean brushes as it loosens the glue in the ferrule which is what you’re trying to avoid). The best system I found with this was to put soap in the cylinder side (shown on the left here) so you can scrub the brush in the soapy water with the rougher cleaning side first. Then I moved the brush to the middle more gentle side for a rinse and extra scrub. Lastly I did a final rinse in the most gentle side (shown on the right). This technique seemed to really clean my brush quickly and effectively without getting my hands dirty. When your done just dump the water, refill and repeat.

You can see the makeup come right off while cleaning. I found the first side with the cylinders, cones and pyramids was very good at cleaning but a little rough for more gentle haired brushes. I would only use this side on the tougher brushes like synthetics and maybe goat hair or the larger brushes with longer hairs to get in there better.

The side with the cylinder, waves and grooves was my favorite side. As the cylinders on this side are still rough and harder on gentle brushes, I only used that side on the goat hair brushes. I used the grooves/waves for squirrel hair eye brushes and more gentle hairs. The grooves and waves cleaned the gentle brushes well enough. Don’t press and swirl too hard while cleaning. You want to prevent splaying the brushes out and ruining their shape. Be gentle. This board retails for $28.

Overall, I liked the cleaning system and it worked well. The Brush Bar is portable and easy to use. The Brush Board is effective for hands free cleaning. Once I figured out my system it was easy to clean quickly. The Brush Bar is offering you my readers 15% off your first purchase with code MICHELLE15 here at getbrushbar.com

 

Current Product Favorites & Obsessions

With Holiday collections exploding all over and new skincare launches I’ve gotten quite a bit of new stuff the last few weeks. I’ve also rediscovered some old favorites again. I’ve heard of Royal Fern for  while. I’ve seen their brand around but just never purchased anything. I recently grabbed the Royal Fern Phytoactive Cleasing Balm and I’m so glad I finally did. The bouncy jelly cleanser smells light and fresh like cucumbers. It doesn’t dry the skin and isn’t a foaming style cleanser. This cleanser has green tea extract, cucumber, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, jojoba oil and the Royal Fern Complex (found in all products)–fern extract, sea buckthorn oil, wild rose oil, African Voacanga tree seed oil & coconut oil. While this cleanser does contain oils it’s not really a balm or oil balm cleanser. It’s very much a jelly style. I love it in the morning or as a second cleanse. More to come.

Allies of Skin just released three new products. I’ve become quite addicted to their line in general it’s quite good. The Fresh Slate Purifying Cleanser + Masque is a cleanser that you can leave on for two minutes to get a quick extra masking style treatment. I love multi-tasking products like this that make my life easier. This is a deep cleaning cleanser and mask using Manuka honey, colloidal silver, cacao, 1% BHA (salicylic acid) & clay. It smells like a honey cocoa dream, is easy to use and I’m quite smitten by it. More to come.

Kat Burki has been a brand obsession of mine over the last year or so. The scent of all of her products is just to die for. I know I call it a cucumber dream which is really the only way I can think of to describe it. It’s heavenly. The PH+ Enzyme Essence is a newer product for Kat Burki. I’ve tried a few samples and am finally diving into my full size bottle. This essence as a thicker gel style texture. It’s hydrating. This contains the usual Kat Burki KB5 complex, aloe orange hydrosol, witch hazel, botanical hyaluronic acid, cucumber hydrosol, pumpkin seed oil, vitamin E, wild cherry, papaya, turmeric, hydrangea and licorice extract. What’s not to love? I’m completely smitten and think this will be a permanent staple in my skincare closet. More to come.

African Botanics has also been a recent product obsession of mine. Very luxe green beauty brand. Their products are well rounded and formulated. Their Resurrection Eye Cream was recently reformulated and I purchased the old version before I knew if was being redone. I saw it on sale and decided to try it. I really like this eye cream. It’s thin enough to not feel heavy or greasy but it’s super hydrating. Perfect for night and the cooler winter months. This contains African Resurrection Plant extract, Marula Oil, Peptides, Baobab, Kalahari Melon seed oils, Arnica, Green Rooibos Tea extract, Shea Butter and Carrot Seed oil and Green Coffee Oil. Sounds great right? I can’t wait to get and test the new version out as well. More to come on this one.

I’ve recently rekindled my love of Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder Foundation. I stopped using it as much because I was testing new things for a while. Every time  go back to it I remember why it’s so amazing. Lightweight, good enough coverage, looks like skin and slightly dewy but not greasy or too dewy. I wear shade no 6. Review HERE.

A few weeks ago a was going through my primer drawer and grabbed my Zelens Satin Primer. It was almost empty and I figured I would try to finish it up so I could clean out the drawer a little. This primer is lightly hydrating and does provide a satin like finish. Not matte, but slightly matte. Satin is the perfect way to describe it. It feels like skincare but does help control some oil without being too drying like matte primers. Perfect for Spring/Fall/Winter. I originally reviewed it HERE.

Top to Bottom–Kat Burki, Royal Fern, Allies of Skin, Zelens, African Botanics, Charlotte Tilbury:

I grabbed the Beautylish exclusive Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette Smoky Eye Beauty. I love her Instant Look palettes as the powders are finely milled and buttery smooth. Better quality than her normal palettes. This one is fairly neutral which I love. Review HERE.

Dior just released a limited edition holiday highlighter. The Dior Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer Precious Rocks is just stunning. I love the original release with it’s finely milled light as air powder. This Precious Rocks version is a bit more nude beige than the permanent shade 002. It got the same light as air powder texture. It feels a touch less frosty than the permanent ones as well. Though it contains hints of micro glitter they don’t distract or overpower the luminous natural nude glow that this one gives. More to come.

I kept striking out with Pat McGrath Labs releases in the past. I was going to skip the new lipsticks then I tested them at the Sephora store on a whim. LuxeTrance Lipstick in Donatella was the really creamy cool nude beige that I loved. Described as a beige mauve which is pretty accurate. I love that she’s finally improved her packaging to not look like a cheap lab sample. The bullet on this case is exquisite I didn’t even want to ruin it by using it. This is so creamy, but not a hydrating lipstick in that sense, more of a satin finish almost comfort matte. It’s kind of in between those two in texture. More to come.

Tom Ford just released this really pretty, very limited lipstick shade Orchid Soleil. It was only on Sephora and Tom Ford’s site and it seems to be sold out on both. I’ll start with the absolutely stunning packaging on this. Just amazing. This purple rose gold ribbed case with a matching shimmering mauve beige nude lipstick inside. I’m glad I grabbed it on the fly before it sold out. Keep an eye out for this one to see if it comes back into stock if you love Tom Ford. More to come.

Top to Bottom–Dior, Pat McGrath, Tom Ford: