Review - Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector

Oh my goodness, my life is now worth living! I have found Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector and my life is complete! This product quite literally works miracles.

Let me tell you first the condition that my skin was in a couple of days ago. I've been having unsightly breakouts around my chin and mouth recently which have been causing me a nightmare. I've been using a Clean and Clear foaming face wash in the mornings and a Clearasil overnight wash in the evenings which have kind of done the trick, but then my skin get's really dry... I'll tone down the foaming face washes a little and up the moisturizing but then I get the breakouts again. It really is a vicious cycle and I've been at my wit's end, particularly because every time I apply my foundation and concealer I've been concerned about drying my skin out even more or oiling it up too much. I simply couldn't win.

I was considering giving up skincare for good (why bother when none of my expensive products have been working?) when the lovely people at Garnier sent me three free sachets of Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream and everything changed.

Now for a little background; B.B. Creams (Blemish Balms!) were developed by a German doctor back in the 1950's in order to provide a light-to-medium coverage for problem skin WHILST fighting the problem itself. Made famous by a beautiful Asian actress with a gor

geous silky complexion, this idea spread across Asia and has finally made it to Europe. All of the big cosmetic brands are jumping onto their own version of the BB Cream each promising to make your skin look, and more importantly, feel good.

Let's check out Garnier's product claim:

"It's your latest beauty secret... An all in one, sup

er dooper, anytime, anywhere, skincare solution for perfect skin.

Use it on its own, use it as a primer, when you get up, after the gym, a post-work touch up, pre-date beautifier... the list is endless.

Discover the 2 little letters that are driving beauty editors into a frenzy... B.B. has arrived!

- Feel the sensation of the light texture that ins

tantly melts into your skin.

- The formula with mineral pigments gives an instantly 'perfect' skin. The result? Sheer coverage; imperfections look blurred, lines softened. Your skin look luminous, smoother and more even. See the B.B. difference!

- 24hr hydration. Skin feels more supple, smoother, softer. Feel the B.B. difference!

- UV protection: SPF 15 to help protect the skin

Go B.B! In just one step, even, cover, hydrate, illuminate and help protect your skin."

Let's get down to business. This product currently costs just £8.99 at www.boots.com and if you want to try it before you buy (although take my word for it, you'll LOVE it) then hop on over to http://www.garnier.co.uk and request your free sample.

So how did I fall in love with a beauty product? Well, like I said, I was struggling with my skin when this product arrived for me in the post. I wanted to try it immediately, but I already had make-up on and I was about to settle down for the night, so I decided (begrudgingly) that I would wait until the next morning to try out the Miracle Skin Perfector.

Now, although I had high hopes for the product, my expectations were not so great because basically, this product sounded too good to be true. Usually the words 'miracle', 'skin' and 'perfect' don't go together in my experience, so I figure

d it was all just a gimmick although hoped that it wasn't. I was not disappointed one bit.

BEFORE...

I woke up on Friday morning and my skin was as miserable looking as ever. Dry in patches, spotty in others, and my eyes looked tired and grey. 'Fantastic' I thought as I tore the top off the sachet in my bathroom. Initially when I saw the three sachets I figured I had three days worth of product... When I began applying the product and realized the extent to which 'a little goes a long way' applied to the cream, I was really pleased to see that each sachet could be used for about three days. Of course this depends on the amount of coverage you would like.

The formula is really creamy and rich when first squeezed onto your finger. I applied directly to my face with my fingertips and I felt that when I started to stroke it across, it became a lot lighter and more liquid, which made it feel more moisturizing and comfortable to wear. After patting it onto the skin on my forehead, cheeks, chin and nos

e I noticed that it was still a little streaky, but this may well have been because I was using too much product. This was easily remedied though by buffing it into my skin with a standard powder brush.

Now, the finish... was... heavenly. My skin felt silky soft to the touch, my complexion looked milky with no discoloration at all and even my spots we only noticeable upon closer scrutiny. My dry patches vanished and yet my skin felt like it could breathe; the Miracle Skin Perfector was not clogging up my pores or creating a suffocating film trapping the oil into them. In fact, my pores which are usually quite present were virtually invisible. My skin was even and the tone was a sort of natural-looking perfection which I've never seen on my own face before.

Although the coverage was just right (amazing con

sidering the brain-boxes at Garnier only call it 'light to medium') I did dust a little powder over my T-zone as I was looking a little 'dewier' than I usually like. Then again, this could be down to the amount of product I used.

AFTER...

The finish held it's ground all day until I removed it with a make-up wipe in the evening. My skin underneath was already softer than usual.

Now, I've only been using this product for three days, as I said. And yet, I feel like the general condition of my skin has already improved vastly. Even without the product on, my skin feels much more hydrated, the redness around my eyes has faded and even my spots appear less red and the sizes appear reduced. Basically I could not be happier.

For the first time in ages, I feel like I've found a product which lives up to its claim and I can genuinely recommend it to anyone. It is cost-effective is you only need a little bit, a great price for the effect you get, good for your skin, works well alone or as a base and actually stops people as they come out of lectures so they ask you, 'Excuse me... I know this is weird but... what foundation do you use?' (Ok, so that last one only happened once, but still!)

In my next Boots haul I'm definitely buying a full tube... Garnier sent me a £1 off voucher too so I'm an extremely happy bunny!

Have you guys tried out a B.B. cream yet? Will you be purchasing the Miracle Skin Perfector? You're mad if you don't!

gabriellasofia

Beauty Tutorial - Sweat-Proof Makeup Look

Hope you enjoy this tutorial for sweat-proof makeup! This is the look that took care of me during a whole summer working in the humidity of Orlando Florida 16 hour days in the baking sun, so if this doesn’t work for you then you have problems... :P

All of the products were purchased them with my own money and I have not been encouraged by any company to do this tutorial... Nonetheless, I love the effects and totally and completely 100% recommend the products. This is what they were all called and how much they cost:

L'Oréal Paris Studio Secrets Anti-Shine Mattifying Primer - £10.29 www.boots.com

No7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser - 50ml in Medium - £12.00 www.boots.com

benefit erase paste concealer & highlighter - £19.50 www.boots.com

No7 Creme Touch in Honey Milk - £9.00 www.boots.com

benefit brow zing in Bronzing Medium - £22.50 www.boots.com

Victoria’s Secret Cheek Tint – APARENTLY UNAVAILABLE but any dewy cream blush will do...

benefit coralista box of powder £23.50 www.boots.com

EcoTools Bamboo Powder Brush - £10.71 www.boots.com

InColor FabuLiner Liquid Eye Liner in Brown - $1.99 www.walgreens.com

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara - £7.99 www.boots.com

Max Factor Lasting Lip Tint in Pink Princess - £7.99 www.boots.com

Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm SPF 15 - $2.99 www.walgreens.com

Let me know what products you use to appear matte through the summer heat...

Thanks for watching, beauties.

Love
gabriellasofia x

Review - LOreal Infallible Brush Foundation in Natural Rose

Once again, I have totally not been given money or free products by the company in order to write this review. I bought the product with my own money and always come up with my own opinions as to whether or not I like the product and if I will be purchasing it again. So here goes...
The claim made by the company with regards to this product is as follows; 'Infallible, the well known range for long lasting make-up, introduces it's latest innovation: a combination of a non-transfer long lasting foundation with a high precision brush, for easy application and a perfect looking finish. Even, Breathable, Undetectable.' Do I feel that this is an honest claim? For the most part yes, but there were (as always) some areas where I was slightly disapointed in this product as an everyday foundation.
I have been using this foundation for a couple of weeks now, to a variety of different events. I've exercised, slept and worked wearing this product. I bought it from Boots where it retails at £12.99 which is pretty standard for a good-quality drug-store product. However, whether this product works out as generally cost effective is another question entirely...
I only say that because I believe I will get through this bottle in no time, due to the application process. When you take the lid off this product you find a foundation brush attached, so you need to turn the barrel to the left for a couple of clicks for the product to be dispensed. The instructions given on the side of the bottle suggest painting the product onto the back of your hand, then dipping the brush in so that you can get the desired amount of foundation on the brush before applying it to your face. Honestly, despite the fact that this brush feature is the novelty which sold this foundation to me, after my first go I kind of wished that it wasn't there! What was the problem? I hear you ask. Well, firstly as I turned the barrel, the product didn't come out. No big deal, upon first application you may well have to turn the barrel a little more. However, anxious not to get too much product, I tentatively twisted it for about thirty clicks before the product eventually came out. Of course when the foundation did arrive, it kept coming, giving me at least double what I would usually use. Great. This is why I don't think the product will work out as cost-effective as I've had this problem every time that I have used it since that first time.
The brush is described as being of 'high precision'... it's a nice brush, especially for being provided with a product (I often don't like brushes that come with products as they are of cheaper quality than when sold individually). The bristles are soft and it feels so gentle when you are applying the foundation. However, I'm not sure if this is a 'high precision' brush if only because I noticed various nooks and crannies which seemed to be void of product, for example around my eyes and the sides of my nose it seemed that the product hadn't quite reached them. Also, after a couple of uses, some of the bristles began to clump together which happens with most foundation brushes... Without fixing this, I found that the foundation was going on much streakier, and needed more time to be blended so I had to get this sorted! Usually this is a problem easily remedied by simply cleaning the brush in a mild formula baby shampoo, but with this brush being attached to the product I had to be really careful to avoid contaminating the formula. This made washing the brush a bigger more detailed job than it usually is, causing somewhat of an inconvenience to say the least.
Another problem with the whole Brush Feature Dilemma was the fact that it was necessary for me to put the foundation on my hand first, which was a bit of a hassle as I then had foundation all over the back of my hand. Plus, this foundation is really hard-wearing, so when I went to rinse it off my hand with some soap, it stayed, which meant I had to take a make-up remover wipe out of the packet just to wipe it off. Of course, this is one of those sort of Catch 22 problems, as it showed me at least that the claim that LOreal made about the product being 'long lasting' was true!
Seriously, this product does not budge! One time, I applied it at ten in the morning, went for a half hour jog, came back, had a shower, studied for five hours, took a nap, worked a busy six hour shift at the pub where I'm a bar-maid, then when I got home there was a party I wanted to go to and assumed I would have to do my make-up all over again, but upon looking in the mirror I was pleasantly surprised that my skin looked as fresh as if I'd just applied the foundation! Result.
However, and I know it is annoying that I say this about most liquid foundations but... I really don't like a 'dewy' finish, and this is what I got with the LOreal Infallible Brush Foundation. At least this is what I got when I applied the product with the intended brush. I just think that finish looks sweaty, sticky, and slimy and what with my T-zone being by no means perfect, even as soon as I'd applied the product my nose and forhead reminded me a little bit of a horrendous oil slick. But like I said, that is completely down to personal choice as I know that a lot of you guys like a 'dewier' look.
In order to fix this, I used my powder brush and applied a little of my Holy Grail Foundation, Hello Flawless by benefit in I'm Cute as a Bunny!: Natural Honey retailing at £24.50 at any benefit counter. I only needed a little to take away that sheen and once I'd dusted some of this over my problem areas I was happy with the finish although would still not call it 'perfect' as I had to use another product to counter its negative points... Some might argue that I could use this product almost as a tinted primer as that's sort of what I did, but I'm not sure that's a good idea because even though the product is relatively light-weight it is still too heavy for everyday priming.
I also found that once I started applying the product with my fingers, the finish was a lot more matte so that's what I've been doing, which is a shame really because if I'd known I would end up abandonning the brush I perhaps wouldn't have wanted to pay so much...
The formula is really easy to wear, it feels almost as if you don't have anything on, and it makes my skin feel and appear very smooth and soft. 'Even, Breathable, Undetectable' is right, particularly if you have the correct colour for your skin which everyone should have. I used Natural Rose after trying three shades on my jaw-bone. It literally looks like I have perfectly even-coloured skin which is a definite plus!
As for the product being a 'non-transfer' foundation, this is simply untrue. I only had to brush my face against a colleagues shirt during a quick cuddle at work and it left a powdery residue behind. Also, this was before I started applying my powder foundation over the top, so there is really no excuse. However, this is not by any means the worst of this kind of experience I have had, but it does contravene the brand claim which is a big deal to me.
Conclusion. Would I buy this product again? Maybe. I won't be rushing out for it once I've finished this bottle. But then again, I might consider it if I need a quick fix familiar foundation if purchasing in a rush, as my experience has had more positives than negatives I think.
Let me know if you've tried this or a similar product! As for me, my quest for the perfect foundation... continues.
gabriellasofia

Review - Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation in Nude

So before I get stuck in, I have to let everyone know that I am not sponsored by any of the companies I write about, nor do they send me free products in order to sway my reviews. The products I review are either bought and paid for with my hard-earned cash, or freebies available to everyone online, on beauty counters or in magazines. This particular product is one which I found on page 66 in the May issue of Company magazine.

Let's take care of business first. Clarins' new Skin Illusion foundation retails in Debenhams at £24 which kind of justifies the fact that if this sample hadn't been free in my magazine, I wouldn't be able to review it. The shade provided to all is Nude which obviously isn't ideal as it is difficult to judge the effects of a product when it isn't a correct match to your skin-tone... luckily, Nude would have been the color I would have been closest to anyway, so this didn't impede my review. Hooray!

So as soon as I flicked over the page and realized that there was a free sample of a high-end product which I wouldn't able to afford yet would now be able to review, I was so excited to try it! Straight away I tore the top from the sachet and began to decant the product into a little pot which anyone can collect for free from most make-up counters (benefit in particular are happy to fill these with products for you to try when you purchase another item if you ask, then you can clean them out once they are all finished). I thought it would be best to empty it into a pot rather than squirting it directly onto my hand as with it being a new product I wasn't sure how much I might need and didn't want to waste any, plus whatever you don't use often dries up in the sachet and you don't get as good an effect if there is enough to use on multiple days. Yes, I am that stingy that I even try to make free samples last. Thankfully, this was not a problem I was to experience with this product...

When I say a little of this goes a long way, I really mean it! Using my foundation brush, I took a little of the Skin Illusion and began to paint it onto my nose, before extending it across the rest of my face. A very thin liquid formula, the product was very easy to paint on initially with long strokes to ensure full coverage, and then smaller back-and-forth strokes in order to smooth the brush lines.

Let's quickly take a minute to go through the product's claims. The two-page spread advert includes a list of declarative statements, including 'You can't see it, you can't feel it,' 'it moisturizes and protects' and 'The finish is so natural, no one else will know it's there'. Filled with minerals and plant extracts (although most skincare products are really, so nothing spectacular there...) the Skin Illusion foundation didn't quite live up to the promises made by the advert upon this first application.

Now, allow me to explain myself. Although I had washed my face and applied my moisturizer about half an hour earlier, my skin had not been exfoliated for a couple of days which I'm sure was the fault of the few issues I had with the product the first time I tried it on. Basically, I could see it. It looked cakey around my dryer areas (my T-zone) and shiny everywhere else. Also, I could feel it there, although this wasn't necessarily a bad thing... it felt a bit like I had a thick moisturizer on, like the sort that you put on before bed to give your skin a treat. However, I only usually use that kind of treatment before I sleep as the clammy feeling of a filmy lotion on my face really irritates me when I'm awake. Yet, I guess this honors the 'moisturize and protect' statement so one out of three isn't bad. Also, I must concede that this is all based on personal preference. What I would call 'sticky' and 'heavy' others might refer to as 'dewy' and 'rich', so please use this review not as an instruction manual as to whether to purchase the item or not, but rather as an assisting guide helping you to imagine how the product would work for you.

As I say, I hadn't exfoliated and thought, 'perhaps I haven't given Skin Illusion a fair shot', so after removing my make-up that night, I used my day-to-day face scrub The Greatest Scrub of All by Soap and Glory (£8. 17 in Boots) then applied my night-time moisturizing face cream Intense Lotion by Aveeno (not created for use on face, but mine was prescribed especially by my doctor, this product can be purchased in larger pharmacy chains for about £11.) The next morning I used Clean Mary by Soap and Glory (£6.15 on ASOS.com) then a bit of my mom's Vital Restore Day Cream by Garnier (£10.20 in Boots) and I tried again. This time, the cakeyness was gone! Success! However, I found Skin Illusion to still appear a little too shiny and ended up topping it with benefit's Hello Flawless (£24.50 in Debenhams) before leaving the house a little later.

If I'd paid for this product, I would have been a little disappointed. What's the point in buying on high-end foundation if you have to use another high-end foundation in order to make it look 'like a second skin' as the advert implies. However, this is a product that will last. In one free sample sachet I reckon I would be able to use this foundation for somewhere between six and eight days, which is more than I can say for most expensive skin-care products. It didn't break my skin out which other foundations have been known to do, so kudos Clarins. Plus, it kind of smells like watermelon which I'm not sure was intentional by the creators but is a welcome perk!

In conclusion, I won't be purchasing Clarins Skin Illusion foundation because it didn't give the matte-flawless finish which I personally look for in a similarly priced product. And yet I'm sure that others out there might love this product for the exact reasons that I didn't, and with ten shades to choose from, I'm sure those people will find a way to make it work for them. I wont buy this product. But I will continue using it, trying to 'get it right' until it has run out, and I will let you know of any new developments as and when they occur.

Let me know if you've had an experience with this, or a similar product and have a Happy Easter!

gabriellasofia

Make It, Don't Fake It, Earn the Benefits, Avoid the Consequences...

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in a while, so sue me. Things have been busy recently, but let me promise you, Dear Reader, not a day goes by that I don't think of you and my beautiful neglected blog, wishing and praying to God that one day I will have enough time on my extremely-full hands to pass on the mini-pearls of wisdom which I stumble across unexpectedly each day.

So am I any less busy than I have been these past few months? No. Have I been overcome by my uncontrollable yearning to tell you about the mundane activities which have mostly filled my time? Again, no. So why on earth have I chosen today, of all days, to relaunch myself into the stratosphere of online media? Well, perhaps I have a message.

I have spent an awful lot of time recently watching vlogs on Youtube, reading blogs on the internet and keeping up with all sorts of characters across the globe via social networks. Well, perhaps not all sorts, but at least those who share similar interests to me; media, fashion, beauty, hard-work, pursuing ones passion etcetera. Anyways, just the other day I was hunting down a tutorial on the mighty Youtube (which by the way I have recently realized offers a wealth of beauty advice if you know how to word your topic in the search bar, but that's a story for another blog...) I wanted simply to find out if there are any alternative ways of using Eye Bright by benefit cosmetics. As it turns out, there are about a million different ways in which this product can be used... really a sensible investment for your make-up train, but again, that's a story for another blog also.

After watching a couple of helpful tutorials, I couldn't help but click on a video whose title caught my eye. Entitled 'Warning - Fake Benefit Cosmetics' this video features the online beauty 'guru' Chyaz Samuel, 20, expressing her disgust upon the receipt of some false benefit cosmetics which were sent to her following a purchase she had made on ebay. The vlogger, who goes by the screen name of punkchyaz, ordered two items, BADgal eyeliner and BADgal mascara, for discounted prices.

It was clear when these items arrived that the products which would usually retail at £14 and £16.50 respectively had not been sold to her, but rather she had received two false and unconvincing duplicates of the genuine products. Naturally, Samuel was not very happy with this transaction and managed to get her money back for both products.

Following this, I clicked through to another vlog which was actually a review by a different 'guru' entitled 'fake benefit thrrrob - ebay!' In this video, the 20 year old vlogger who goes by the screen name 'M3Lchann3l' tells the story of a similar experience where a fake product arrived in the disguise of a poorly-executed rip-off of benefit's statement beautiful packaging. This beauty 'guru' on the other hand actually didn't mind about the fact that she had been sent a fake, but was content with the quality and price of the item which she had been sent. She was merely bemused by the fact that someone out there had taken advantage of not only herself, but also the brand, benefit, in order to make a fast buck.

Samuel's message is clear; beware of ordering beauty products from anyone other than the company themselves, or a reputable vendor. And rightly so, considering the danger which she believes herself to have narrowly avoided; upon receipt she noted that the mascara stank of 'strong chemicals and alcohol', looked 'like paint', was 'dangerous' and 'should not be put near eyes'. Her anger is clear, and the fact that Samuel made the successful effort to claim back her money from the seller is the only somewhat redeemable quality countering the fact that she bought this item in the first place.

So, lesson learned. But what about those who missed Samuel's video and skipped straight to 'M3Lchann3l's video which expresses only the message 'it might not be real, but it works.'

Whilst Samuel was 'disgusted' at the risk these sellers are putting people at, I am disgusted with those who are buying from them too.

Before I continue this rant, let me clear some things up for you. If I don't go into this now, there will be those out there who will presume 'Oh, its OK for her, she probably gets free products, or asks daddy for some money to be able to afford the real products'. This is completely untrue. I work four jobs in order to feed what I refer to as my 'habit' for fashion, beauty, eating-out etcetera. To be able to afford my daily benefit foundation "hello flawless!" I have to work for five hours which is one whole shift. I earn the right to be hacked off at those who help the horrible rip-off merchants out there to continue screwing over my favorite cosmetic brand by purchasing these vile knock-offs.

We have all been there when someone else takes the credit for the hard work which we have put in, haven't we? Now imagine that the evil person behind that betrayal is lazy, uneducated in our field, and taking advantage of the people too innocent to know any better; putting their health at risk, robbing them blind and falsely advertising using our name in order to get ahead against all the odds.

This is sickening.

I wanted to write this blog in order to let everyone know to avoid these vultures as much as possible, and also to exercise your better judgement when confronted with the naivety of those out there who like 'M3Lchann3l' will not fully understand the negative consequences of what is effectively theft until it is too late.

If you cannot afford a product then work for it. If you don't want to work for it, then perhaps you need to reconsider your lifestyle, but please by no means consider handing your money over to these cowboys.

You've been warned...

Ciao for now

gabriellasofia