1.08.2016

Product Review: Garnier Micellar Water

Dupe Alert! How many of you tried the Bioderma Micellar Water and fell in love with it? And then fell out of love when you remembered the price? Well, now there's a cheaper alternative that gives the same cleansing benefits. It's the Garnier Micellar Water!!! I bought mine from Ulta.com for $8.99 (now on sale for $7.64) and I normally get the Bioderma from Beautylish (I know you can also purchase it on Amazon and some Asian Stores but I didn't trust the authenticity so I got mine from Beautylish.com).

First off let me tell you that I use the Micellar Water almost everytime I wear makeup whether it's before application to prep clean my face or after a full day of wearing makeup (I apply it using a cotton square). Some people might think what's the point of this product? It's not only for your lazy days when you don't feel like washing your face (you know we all have those nights where you just want to fall asleep with a full face of makeup on). The Micellar Water allows you to take off your makeup without leaving an oily residue so you don't have to technically wash your face after its use. But I do want to point out that I often use the Micellar Water to remove stubborn makeup and then wash my face with my usual cleanser. 

When comparing the quality of the two products I would say that it feels the same on my skin. There's a lot of companies that have Micellar Water products but I have never grown fond of those lines. I have tried the Simple Micellar Water hoping for it to be a dupe to Bioderma, but unfortunately I did not find it to be the case. 

If you are curious to try it out, I'd say go for it! It's far more affordable and easily accessible than Bioderma. Also, you can use this product to remove liquid lipsticks  (I have tested both brands and they removed the liquid lipstick in a similar fashion but of course you can use an oil based product like Vaseline to remove liquid lipsticks much easier). Similarities between the products include: 
appearance, smell, functionality, and similar ingredient lists. 

Please note you should test a small area of your face prior to full application to make sure you are not sensitive to this product. I have not had any issues but it's always important to be aware that any skin product has the potential to cause irritation or other sensitivities. 

I hope this review helps anyone who is on the fence of trying out a Micellar Water product or deciding between an expensive or affordable alternative. 

Direct description from Ulta.com:
This All-in-1 cleanser is surprisingly powerful yet gentle to skin. It effectively removes makeup, cleanses skin and refreshes. A multi-purpose cleanser that contains Micellar technology. Like a magnet, micelles capture and lift away dirt, oil and makeup without harsh rubbing, leaving skin perfectly clean, hydrated and refreshed without over-drying.

Dermatologist tested for safety. Ophthalmologist tested. Non-comedogenic--won't clog pores.

Ingredients:
Aqua/Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium EDTA, Poloxamer 184, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide.


1.06.2016

Glowing in the New Year!

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! It's been a while since I updated this blog. I thought I'd share a beautiful look I created last weekend on my friend! She wanted me to keep the eyes neutral but wanted drama with the lashes. So I gave her just that! She loved the blush and highlighter combo and I kept saying how her lip color is the perfect color for her! I loved the warmth the foundation color gave her and it suited her skin really nicely. I kept taking pictures of her because she was glowing and I couldn't stop staring at that highlight! lol I'll do a quick overview on some products I used. Enjoy this stunning lady's pictures!

Face:
  • EX1 Foundation in shade 100 mixed with a pump of shade 200
  • Laura Mercier Cream Contour Palette 
  • Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour Palette to set cream contour
  • Girlactik Highlighter in Lustre
  • Too Faced Blush Wardrobe Palette (I used two shades to get a custom color)

Lips:
  • Girlactik Matte Lip Paint in Starlet

Eyes:
  • Too Faced Chocolate Palette


BEFORE



AFTER