Showing posts with label Pixi. Show all posts

Review: Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner

Hey Beauties!

Chemical exfoliants are extremely popular right now and with a good reason. I am not a skin care expert, but so far, I've learnt that chemical exfoliants are less abrasive on the skin (than for example physical ones - those with little micro beads in them) and more effective, because of the acids. Acids can fall into two types AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHA (beta hydroxy acids). As far as I've studied it, AHAs get rid of dead skin cells on your skin layer, while BHAs also go into the pores and clean those as well. If I'm wrong, be sure to correct me.


Pixi Glow Tonic is a very raved about product, especially in the UK thanks to skin care expert Caroline Hirons. It's enriched with glycolic acid, which falls into the AHA category of acids. This is suppose to brighten, tone and condition your skin after cleansing it. It's also suppose to sooth and hydrate the skin. 


It contains glycolic acid - derivative of sugar cane, aloe vera, ginseng, witch hazel and horse chestnut.


It comes in a plastic orange tinted transparent packaging, which is very simple. It has small hole that lets you pour out the liquid onto a cotton pad and then you just swipe it across the face. It doesn't really spill any product, if you use it with cotton pad. 

Details are mint colored and it has gold writing on it. Very simplistic design. 

I got it for 18£ on Cult Beauty and you get 250 ml of it. 


Previously I've only tried Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner as my first chemical exfoliator and I liked it, but it was suppose to be used only two times a week, since it was stronger. As I was looking for something that I could use daily in the morning and evening, Pixi Glow Tonic was very recommended choice. 

It's a transparent liquid. The scent is kind of floral fruity. It's not bad at all and not too invasive, (tolerable). 

This is also targeted for sensitive skin and mine definitely is. I don't feel any tingling sensation or irritation at all. It's very gentle on the skin and definitely appropriate for all skin types in my opinion. It feels very hydrating on the skin and you can feel a layer of something on it. It's not one of those super light sink in products. It dries down to a matte finish. After the use, skin is smoother on the touch, but I wouldn't say it's as effective in this as Clarins. I mostly like it for the hydrating properties, since I feel like it really brings back some moisture to the skin right after cleansing it. It also soothes the skin a bit. Especially if you've been abusing pimples or have a bit of redness. As far as being brightening goes, I haven't notice huge difference. It might have slightly helped with my darker areas around the mouth, but definitely didn't erase them completely. 

I don't find it as mind blowing as some describe it. To me this is a good starter chemical exfoliant for those that haven't use any of it before. It's also good for those with sensitive skin. It will make your skin a bit smoother and it will also hydrate it. I would use this as a toner in the morning and evening. 

I got into chemical exfoliants, because I've been noticing more and more bumps on my face. They look like clogged pores and uneven texture on the skin. I've also had some milia in the past. Those are basically mini cysts of keratin. They look like white dots stuck under the layer of skin and you can't pop them out. They are actually hard inside and need to be removed with professional help. Since I don't want this to keep popping up on my skin, I've heard that chemical exfoliants are a must have. I've recently bought a BHA liquid from COSRX and am a lot happier with it and its effectiveness. Pixi glow is becoming a bit too gentle and basic for me and for what I need to achieve with those products. 

Pixi Glow Tonic is a nice starter chemical exfoliant for those that want smoother and hydrated skin. It's also good for sensitive skin and it soothes the skin a bit. It's a nice every day use tonic to keep your skin at check, if you naturally don't have many problems with it. For me personally it's not as strong and effective as I would like it to be. I would also recommend you to try Clarins, if you're looking for a next step up from Pixi, since I feel it is a bit stronger and makes skin even smoother. 

New In (2)

Hey Beauties!

Today I'm showing you what I got in a few past months and what reviews you can expect in the future. I only included products that I haven't reviewed yet. 


Balea Cleansing Oil

I've heard good things about this oil and the fact that it has similar ingredients to L'Occitane cleansing oil, so of course I had to try it. So far, I like it. It really does feel very similar to L'Occitane 5% Shea Butter Cleansing Oil. It's very greasy and breaks down the makeup nicely. Once it touches the water, it transforms into a white milky texture. It leaves behind a slight oil residue. All in all, I'm impressed for something that costs under 3€.


Maybelline Color Show The Blushed Nudes in 447 Dusty Rose

I was browsing through Austrian DM and found this jewel from their limited edition called The Blushed Nudes. It's an amazing pastel purple nail polish shade. I also find Color Show range a lot thicker and more opaque in formula compared to Colorama. I still don't get why we don't have Color Show in Slovenia, it's like Maybelline is intentionally keeping us away from all their really nice products. 


Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner

Since I ran out of my Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner and I didn't really like the Paula's Choice testers, because they were breaking me out like crazy and some of them even stung my face, I decided to look up Pixi Glow Tonic. It's highly raved by the skin care goddess Caroline Hirons (if you don't know her, shame on you) and she loves this as well as a ton of other people. I finally found it on Beauty Bay and bought it. It's also a lot cheaper than Paula's Choice and you get a huge amount. I like it. It seems to be very gentle and right after I use it my skin feels very smooth to the touch. It's one of those chemical exfoliators and it also feels hydrating, all at the same time. 


Morphe Brushes Single Eyeshadow in Starlight

Along with Pixi I also threw in the basket one of Morphe Brushes single eye shadows. I've been eyeing their 35O palette for so long, but the only sites that I can actually get a hold off this palette are always out of stock. Go figure. Maybe they should just make more of it and faster (God, sometimes it feels like I'm the one that's stupid here). Anyway, I decided to at least try one of their singles, since those are supposed to be even better quality. The shade range was also almost sold out, but I decided to try this warm yellow shade. I've only tried it twice and it's not bad, but also not as impressive. It's really pigmented, but for some reason it vanished through the day. Maybe I just had and extra oily day. I definitely need to try this more. 


Ebelin Konjak Sponge Green Tea

Konjak sponges were very popular like a year ago and I just never understood the hype. But since DM made their own version for a fraction of the price, I decided to try it. What I love the most about it is the fact that it feels like you're giving yourself a massage while you're rubbing it against your face. It's hard, but once you soak it, it's very soft and gentle. It smells weird when you open it and I think it might be because of the green tea. It does exfoliate the skin, so if your skin is dry, I would avoid using it too often.


Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer in 005 Light Natural

So Catrice came out with another shade of this concealer and it's the lightest version, although also the most yellow toned. It's actually perfect for my warm skin tone and I like that it's lighter. I love using it under my eyes as it almost brightens it up, because the shade is actually lighter than my foundation. Of course, I got it, because I loved other two shades. It's my favorite drugstore concealer ever. 


Diamond Beauty Eyeliner - Black and Loose Whitening Powder

I got a chance to review some of the Diamond Beauty products, which is a Japanese brand. I love their eyeliner. It's in a pen form, but it has more of a brush tip, which is very precise. I love the fact that you can draw the thinnest lines possible. Review is here. I also got one of their loose powders and I went for the whitening one, thinking it's going to be the lightest shade. It is very light, but it has shimmer in it, which I'm not a fan of. Actually I should correct myself, I don't know how to use it properly. It's supposed to go in the center of the face and it looks good on cloudy day and it mattifies nicely, but I hate when it starts to sparkle in the sun. Have to give this more of  a test and see if it really has the brightening purpose. 


L'Occitane Fleur de Cerisier Body Milk

L'Occitane sent me one of their new body milks, which contains shea butter and cherry blossom floral water. It's a light nicely perfumed body milk. It gives you a bit of moisture, but without the greasy or heavy feeling. The smell is interesting. I can't decided if it smells fruity or floral. Kind of a mix of both, but a subtle one. I definitely like it. 


Born Pretty Store Panda Smooth Liquid Eyeliner

While ordering something from Born Pretty Store for my friend, I remembered Mateja really liking this Panda eyeliner. I haven't tried it a lot, maybe three times, but I can say I don't like it better than Diamond Beauty. This one is more runny, though it could almost be said that a bit more pigmented in just one swipe. It runs into those little skin cracks more than Diamond Beauty and needs longer time to dry up. It's also a lot less long lasting. In fact, if I rub it, it goes off my eyes while Diamond Beauty stays the same all through the day. I have to use it more to make up my mind about it.


Avon Face Pearls, Angled Brush and Supershock Mascara

Avon also sent me a few of new products. Among these were one of their best selling products in a very pretty gold and pink design. I love this design. Face Pearls are apparently very popular. It's like a highlighting powder, but the shimmer in it is quite big and visible. It's a very light almost white shade. Angled brush is amazing. Perfect for applying highlighter or precise contour. It's unbelievably soft. Supershock mascara is also one of their best selling mascara, but so far I am not impressed. It doesn't seem to do what I want. It gives definition and length, but lacks volume. I do like to use it under my other mascaras or on my lower lashes.


Avon Color Trend Lipstick Amour, Planet Spa Sweet Sensuality Bath Elixir and Friendship Bracelets

Avon also surprised us bloggers on Valentine's Day with a Valentine's Day inspired package. I was actually eyeing this Color Trend lipstick in the catalog, because it looked so pretty with embossed hearts. I wore it on Valentine's Day and really like it. It's definitely on a sheerer side, a very universal pink shade. It feels hydrating and needs to be reapplied for full opacity. I loved the feeling of it on my lips. I also tried Bath Elixir, which was not like their usual bubble baths. It made a lot less foam, but felt very smooth in the bath tube. I got a very greasy feeling and it was left on my skin, once I showered, which means it's a very nourishing product for your bath. It also has a luxurious yasmine scent that fill the whole bathroom, while you're bathing. Friendship bracelets are adorable. Not really my style, but a nice thought. I should definitely give this to one of my friends. Maybe I'll even DIY that butterfly on my other bracelets. 


Ebrand 

I got an offer to try Ebrand products, which I think are actually targeted towards skin care salons. I wanted to try their soothing cream for sensitive skin and one other body peeling, but they also sent me some other testers. I got body peeling with almonds (doesn't seem harsh enough), face peeling (has very small granules, I like it), vitamin mask (it's not hydrating enough), cleansing milk for the face (nice one for removing makeup), soothing face cream for sensitive skin (like it, it's very lightly moisturizing, soothing and smells like bubble gum) and face toner (smells amazingly of mandarins or something like that, nicely hydrating). Most of these products are actually fairly sensitive and none of them irritated my skin, but I am surprised at how heavily scented they all are. Some scents are amazing though.


Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara and Ciate Paint Pots in Serendipity

I won a giveaway on Maja's Instagram and got these two products. I have to say that I haven't tried the mascara yet, although I hear mixed reviews. I have many others to use before I open another one. I was very looking forward to trying one of Ciate nail polishes, because these look so darn cute. Serendipity is pink shimmery nail polish that looks nice as a glitter top coat over other shades. I only tried it once and I really like how smooth it is in spite of all that shimmer in it.


theBalm Hot Mama Blusher

The Balm also offered to sent me some of their products and I was really excited to get Hot Mama blusher. It's definitely the blush shade that I would choose among their range. It's a nice coral shade with a shimmery gold sheen, which is to die for. You know me, I love shimmer and highlighters and this is a highlighting blush, so of course, I love it. 


theBalm Nude'tude Nude Eyeshadow Palette

I also got this palette. I actually wanted Nude Dude, because it has more of those warm toned eye shadows that I love. In all honesty, I haven't tried this out much, because of some miss communication problems. I did try it once and the pigmentation seems nice. I'll have to use it a bit more to report though.


Essence LE Wake up, Spring! Eyeliners (01 Happy First Day of Spring, 02 Let's the Spring Begin and 03 Spring a-ling a-ling)

When I saw colored eyeliners in Essence's new Limited Edition, I was so excited but at the same time so stupid that I both all of them. Stupidly, because it turned out to be less than impressive. They seemed really saturated and pigmented in the store, but when I try to apply them on my eye, they just don't perform. The nib doesn't get saturated, in fact the lilac one the tip doesn't saturate at all. I had to literally break the tip by pushing it down to squeeze out the product. I also tried the white one and it's not pigmented enough. It's thicker and you have to go over the line multiple times. I still haven't tried the mint one, but I think it's pretty much going to be the same. It was a waste of my money, to be honest.


Essence Eyeshadow in 15 Hazel Me Not! and 19 The Grammy Goes Glammy

I had a gift card and was waiting for the new Essence products to arrive so I can try some. I swear we were like the last city in our country to get the products. Why am I not surprised?! I browsed through their new revamped eye shadows and actually found some nice shades. I though the pigmentation wasn't bad at all. I got these two shades, because I am looking for another lighter contouring shade for the nose. As you may know I love to use Essence I Heart Nude Eyeshadow in 05 My Favorite Tauping for contouring. I haven't tried if this one is lighter or not, but it seems promising. I got the other shimmery champagne shade for highlighting. Either cheek bones or inner corner of the eye. It seemed fine and not too glittery. It's also really shiny, which I like. 

Ebelin Precision Eye Shadow Brush and Lip Brush

Lip brush is a repurchase. It's my favorite, because it's straight cut, so you can create the perfect edge. My old one has really frayed bristles, so I replaced it. I also got the precision brush, because I always want those smaller tip brushes to smudge the eye shadow around my lower lash line. 

Essence Smokey Eye Brush

Again one of those precise point brushes for eye shadows. This one is a lot fluffier and bigger than Ebelin's.

Essence Nail Art Duo Stylist

I call this a dotting tool and use both sides to create different dots as well as to draw on nail designs. Apparently thinner side could be used to draw lines, but I can't imagine that going well for me. I always use brushes for lines.

Essence Turn It Sunny Top Coat and Studio Nails Fast Cuticle Remover

I love warm shades and this is a top coat that should give you a warm yellow toned look to your base. Obviously, I wanted this. Maybe I can turn every cool toned shade into a warm one. I can't remember on which blog I saw this, but I remember the person saying that this Fast Cuticle Remover is the quickest way to remove cuticles. As I feel lazy to soak my nails every time I paint them, I wanted to try this. I only tried it once and it did make the cuticles easier to push back, so it should be good. 


Avon True Colour Matte Eyeshadow Quad in Au Naturale

Avon surprised us bloggers with a few of their products for Women's Day today. What a lovely thought from a brand for women. I love their Mocha Latte quad, because it has three very nice matte brown shades and now they've come out with matte quad palettes. I got Au Naturale, which is basically matte brown palette and I am really excited to try it. The first two shades seem really similar to those in Mocha Latte. 

Avon Big and Multiplied Volume Mascara

Their latest volume mascara. It has a bushy multiple small bristles and the brush definitely seems promising. It should give you thicker and multiplied lashes with lots of volume. It also says that it should be clump free and the bristles catch every little lash. Sounds dreamy.

Avon Care Pink Jasmine Hand, Nail and Cuticle Cream

I only tried it a little on my hands. Seems to be very quick absorbing white cream. It smells really subtle and almost reminds me of hard soap smells. 

Avon Naturals Body Care Sultry Red Rose and Peach Shower Gel

This smells exactly like it says on the packaging - of roses and peach. It's a sexy floral fruity smell. I haven't tried it out yet. 

February 2016 Favorites

Hey Beauties!

This month has been all about good products for dry skin, because this winter is getting the best out of my skin. I wish it would just be spring. I also love everything Asian, which I'll speak more about in this post and I joined Snapchat.



Herbio Shower Gel Cotton Seed

This is a greenish blue gel, which cleans your body and smells subtle and calming. I'll talk more about it in a separate review. I've been loving this, because skin on my body has been dry and many other shower gels just further irritate it. But this is very natural, nicely moisturizing and it doesn't irritate the skin. 


Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner

This is great for in the morning and in the evening. I like to use it in the evening. It's a chemical exfoliant which is also moisturizing. I like the smooth effect that it gives to my skin and the fact that it also provides a bit of moisture. Great stuff and the amount is huge. 


Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-purpose Dry Oil

I already have a review of this here. It's my skin savior in these winter months. I've been using this for a while almost every evening and it looks like I haven't even tested it properly. This amount lasts you for a really long time and it makes your skin very soft and smooth. It also nourishes it, so you always wake up with hydrated skin. 


Ebelin Konjak Sponge

So Ebelin made their own version of konjak sponge and it's so cheap. I've been testing it out a bit and I love this for one good reason. It's the best product for a nice facial massage and for spoiling yourself. It's super soft, but still gives some pressure to the skin and it feels like you're giving yourself a face massage. It also exfoliates the skin a little, so if you have dry skin, I wouldn't recommend you to use this every day. 


By Nanda BB Cushion Magic

My first cushion BB and I really like it, again because of the colder days. This is a very glowy and very dewy product and I need to powder it at the end or I look like a grease ball in the matter of an hour. But this is the best product for dry skin and for a quick makeup. I have a review of it here. I absolutely adore cushion system and want to try more of these. Do you have any recommendations?


Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer 005 Light Natural

Catrice added a new lighter shade to their range and I had to get it. I've been using it for every makeup this month. It's lighter and a bit more yellow toned. This is perfectly moisturizing with a medium coverage. You can also build it up and I love the fact that it doesn't go into small lines. I also love the lighter shade, which I almost use to highlight with a bit. I have a review of two other shades here


The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer

My holy grail highlighter. I have a review here. I've been abusing this all through the whole month. It's a champagne gold highlighter with fine shimmer and it gives you the best glow ever. A really noticeable glow, which I love. I won't go into details, because I'm sure you're sick of me talking about it.


Zoeva Cocoa Blend Eyeshadow Palette

This is from now on my favorite eyeshadow palette. It has all the basic matte browns and a few neutral shimmers as well as some warm pops of color. The quality is amazing and the price will blow you away just as well. Definitely need to get some more palettes from Zoeva. I reviewed it here.


Diamond Beauty Eyeliner in 01 Forever Black

I've already wrote a review for this here and I can say that this is my favorite eyeliner so far. It's in a pen form, but has a brush tip and it's super precise. You can draw the thinnest lines possible or thicker. It dries fast and doesn't transfer. What more could I ask of eyeliner?!


Avon Dreams Eau de Parfum

The fragrance that I've been really enjoying using this month is the new one by Avon called Dreams. It's a very sophisticated romantic and subtly sweet fragrance. I'll do a whole review in a separate post. This is definitely for all you dreamy romantic souls. 

Snapchat

I've recently joined Snapchat. I didn't really get it at first, but then my good friend (who's name I shall not mention) said that this is the best way of stalking other people, haha. This has now become a rather interesting tool for posting spur of the day moments and even recording some of my makeup there. I can post a lot more non-beauty related photos there. So, if you'd like to see what I'm up to, you can follow me. My Snapchat name is adjustingbeauty

Asian Makeup on YouTube

I've been into Asian makeup this month. I got some Japanese brand makeup to test and I've been browsing through some Asian online stores. I've actually ordered one foundation which I still didn't get. Their makeup seems to be so innovative and effective and I am all over it. One YouTuber that sparked my interest in Korean makeup is PONY Makeup. I've watched all her videos. I also liked watching Meej Muse Korean-Australian YouTuber with some great product reviews of Korean makeup products. I love the subtle and sparkly eyes with eyeliner, perfect base and ombre lips. It's a totally different approach to makeup than our European-American makeup with heavy contouring and outlined lips. It's a lot more natural and softer looking. Pretty, I would say. The visual images have been stuck in my mind and I've even started doing ombre lips with lipsticks and lip glosses. Now I have a huge wish list of Asian makeup products, that I'm probably gonna be obsessing over the next few months. 

Btw do you have any Asian makeup YouTubers that you would recommend me to watch?