Tarte BB tinted treatment primer- Review

Tarte Cosmetics was always a brand I was interested in but they never stocked the brand in Dubai or offer international delivery from their website. Sephora in Dubai just started selling Tarte a couple of months ago although ironically their website now offers international shipping too. 

Anyhow, the first Tarte product I decided to purchase is the BB tinted treatment primer. A couple of things attracted me to this. Firstly, it is a BB cream which I prefer to use instead of foundation. It is also a primer and the major plus point is that it contains SPF30, and lists zinc oxide as one of its active ingredients. What’s not to love? 

The texture of this BB cream is powdery when applied. It has light to medium coverage which is buildable. I usually apply it with a buffing brush or even with my fingers at times. I just need a light layer, and it immediately covers any redness and gives me an even skin tone. It is quite matte and does not really need a powder on top. Skin looks smoother, pores disappear, and since it is also a primer, it leaves my skin oil- free for about 8 hours at least. 

This would work best on normal /combination or even oily skin. Also, the zinc-oxide is known for healing the skin and getting rid of blemishes. What more can one ask for? 

My rating – 10/10

What is your favorite BB cream? 

My visit to Aveda Dubai Flagship Salon

I almost always do reviews of products in my blog but this time I thought I would do a post on my visit to a hair salon in Dubai. 

My sister and I decided to visit the Aveda Dubai  Flagship Salon in Dubai and all I can say is WOW! ! It is located on the roof of the Galleria Mall in Jumeirah and what a stunning place the salon is. 

Entrance to the salon

Firstly , you don’t need to go through the mall to get to the salon. There is a lift only for Aveda customers situated at the entrance of the mall. The salon is very spacious with separate areas for hair, nails, Aveda products and other services. There was also plenty of natural light due to the number of windows and a cosy area with tables and chairs at the terrace to relax if required . 

Service was excellent the moment we stepped in. We were initially shown around the whole salon and then seated at the hair section. Before starting on our hair we were given a shoulder, neck and head massage with one of the Aveda natural oils which we were made to choose. 

We were happy to know that Aveda products are more than 95% natural and the Aveda hair color that was used on us smelled fabulous. We usually hate the chemical smell of hair color. 

I particularly loved the wall of natural leaves facing the nail section as well as the wall showing the history and achievements of Aveda ever since the brand was introduced. They even had a flat lay especially set up for those who want to post a picture on Instagram . 

History and achievements of Aveda

Flat Lay for Instagram

Some of the ingredients used in the Aveda products

We made sure we left with an Aveda shampoo and conditioner and we will definitely be trying more products especially since they contain naturally derived ingredients and are paraben and sulphate-free. 

Amazing Aveda products for sale

We highly recommend the Aveda Dubai Flagship Salon and we will definitely be back. 

Vichy Purete Thermale waterproof eye make-up remover- Review

When I have heavy eye makeup on, I make sure I take it all off using a dedicated eye make-up remover before I remove my face make-up using my oil cleansers. 

I am onto my second bottle of the Vichy Purete Thermale waterproof eye make-up remover and it is brilliant. I have always hated waterproof eye make-up remover- in general because they are so oily and hated the feeling on my eyes. This one is relatively lighter, and takes everything off with 1 or 2 swipes of a cotton wool. It also doesn’t sting my eyes. 

Boots usually has amazing offers which is when I stock up and this is an excellent alternative to other more expensive eye make-up removers in the market. 

Anyone a fan of the Vichy Purete Thermale? What products do you use to remove your eye make-up? 

Retinol- the magic ingredient for perfect skin

Hi everybody! All those who personally  know me or have been following me in social media know how skincare obsessed I am. I have always kept myself updated on latest skincare brands and through trial and error have worked out what works best on me. 

For about a year now, I have started incorporating retinol into my skincare routine (all thanks to Caroline Hirons). Once we cross the age of 30, we need to take extra care of our skin and retinol is the answer. For those who are not sure about what is retinol and what it’s benefits are- Retinol,  or Vitamin A is an anti oxidant and the answer to fighting wrinkles and it’s also anti-aging therefore,  it is best for mature skin and in my opinion, not really necessary for people in their 20s. Retinol can also shrink pore size caused by clogging or sun damage (not genetic ones). It does not have to be used every single day. Every alternate day is sufficient but it has to be follow by spf the following morning (and every morning of course). 

My first foray into the usage of retinol is with Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. I use it after every 2 nights, right after double cleansing my skin. This oil is fabulous. I have been using it for about a year now,  straight after I stopped breastfeeding my child (avoid using any retinol products while pregnant or breastfeeding). My skin has never looked better. It has become virtually poreless with no pigmentation and looks so even-toned. My skin (especially the morning after application) looks so plump and radiant.

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil costs a bomb (£85 for 30ml of product)  and can be purchased from Space NK or Cult Beauty websites. It lasts extremely long though,  and is worth every penny for the benefits it gives. Another costlier alternative is the Zelens Vitamin A treatment drops which costs a whopping £115 for 30ml of product. 

Disclaimer: This review is entirely based on my experience with Sunday Riley Luna. Please do sufficient research at your end before using any retinol based product especially if your skin is not accustomed to such products. 

Pixi skintreats Nourishing Cleansing Balm- review

Hello my beautiful friends.

Lately, I have been trying to get my hands on as much skincare products as possible from Pixi skintreats. I find them highly affordable and after being so well known for Glow Tonic,  I knew the rest of the products would be worth trying.

I got my hands on the Nourishing Cleansing Balm as I was curious to know how it would compare to my favorite cleansing balm of all time- the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm.

Firstly, this smells lovely and pleasant. It is a thick texture due to it containing Shea Butter. I use it as a second cleanse every evening and just like the Emma Hardie one, the balm turns to oil once applied. I then remove it with a wet flannel.

This is definitely much thicker than Emma Hardie so I make sure I use a small amount and I also ensure I properly take it all off using the flannel. This is best for dry/dehydrated skin due to its Shea Butter content. If you have oily skin and don’t want a thick buttery balm on your face, then definitely avoid this. I have combination skin but this worked fine for me and didn’t give me any breakouts.

While I do love this is as a more affordable option,  I still prefer my Emma Hardie cleansing balm because it is lighter (and oilier) and is much easier to remove.

If you are on a budget and if your skin can take Shea Butter,  then definitely go for the Pixi Nourishing Cleansing Balm.

I bought mine from Cult Beauty and it costs £18 compared to the much more expensive Emma Hardie moringa cleansing balm which costs £38 for the normal sized jar. (I am definitely going to keep the Emma Hardie one as a treat maybe once a year).

Has anyone tried this?  What ate your thoughts? What is your favorite Pixi skincare product?