Deciem NIOD Flavanone Mud Mask First Impressions Review - A Long One!

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Deciem Niod Flavanone Mud Mask Review

I am not sure about you guys but I am always looking out for something different, something unique in terms of science and ingredients used in skincare and of course how well the product delivers on the claims and I feel NIOD from Deciem fits the bill perfectly! Deciem was founded by Brandon Truaxe (formerly associated by Indeed Labs) and they call themselves "The Abnormal Beauty Company". NIOD as known as Non - Invasive Options in Dermal Science is on the higher end side of skincare spectrum with some very unique products fully backed up with science. Naturally it intrigued me!

MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion Review

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MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Review


MAC is known for their vast makeup range but recently MAC has done quite well with their small skincare range starting with the MAC Lightful C Marine Bright Formula products. The range consists of Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Cleanser, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula SPF 30 Moisturizer, Lightful C 2-IN-1 Tint & Serum with Radiance Booster, Lightful C Vibrancy Eye Cream, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Essence, Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Moisture Cream and lastly Lightful C Marine Bright Formula Softening Lotion which we will be talking about more in detail below. This Lightful C Marine Bright Formula is quite raved about in the blogging world and even got 5 star rating from on Beautypedia aka Paula's Choice.  Lets take a closer look now!

Holy Snails Perseids Oil Review and Comparison with Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil

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Holy Snails Perseids Oil Review


If you have been following me on Instagram (which you should as I share my daily morning and evening skincare routines there plus a lot of extra stuff) this post would not come as a surprise to you, as you have seen me mention this oil several times in my skincare routine in past several weeks! Face oils have come a long way. I remember when I started using oils as moisturizer 3-4 yrs back the only oils I could find were the Vit E from The Body Shop and Clarins Facial Oils, latter being my favourite for past several years and you can find the detailed review here.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Review

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Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm Review


Every other company is coming out with their versions of "Cleansing Balms" all thanks to Caroline Hirons! Clinique was one of the very few first companies to come out with cleansing balm and let me tell you straight up they have hit it out of the park in the first try itself! It is a bit on a higher side but worth every penny and let me tell you why!

What is it? Lightweight makeup remover quickly dissolves tenacious eye and face makeups, sunscreens. Transforms from a solid balm into a silky oil upon application. Cleans thoroughly, rinses off completely. Gently helps remove the stress of pollution so skin looks younger, longer. Non-greasy. Non-drying. Ophthalmologist Tested. For all skin types.

One beef I have with Clinique's website is that they have no mention of ingredient list anywhere! I couldn't even find the ingredient list on Sephora! C'mon Clinique! In today's day and age not mentioning the complete ingredient list of a product is totally NOT acceptable! I hope they change this soon!

Ingredients:- Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Polyethylene, PEG-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Water, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol


Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm


My Thoughts:-
I have been using Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm for over 2 years now and have repurchased quite a few times, infact I would never want to be without it..ever! The balm comes in simple sturdy plastic packaging containing 125ml of product. The outer packaging is quite lovely with bright purple accents! The balm itself is white in color and melts right away once it comes in contact with your skin.

It is a fantastic cleanser for makeup removal and removes the most stubborn makeup including waterproof mascara and eyeliner. Its completely fragrance free and very gentle so does not irritate the skin around the eyes. You just need a small dollop of this balm and massage it on DRY skin. It melts the toughest of the makeup! To remove simply use damp hands or a damp washcloth and gently swipe it away. The balm turns milky white when it comes in contact with water and washes away quite easily!

Its completely fragrance free and free of essential oils, mineral oil etc which is more than one can expect in a balm! The formula contains safflower oil and vit e and is suitable for all skin types. The best part for me personally is that it DOES NOT leave any residue behind other than smooth soft skin! A little goes a long way and if you are someone who wears makeup everyday or even few times a week you need this cleanser in your life!

Another way I love to use this balm is after waxing! If you are someone who waxes your face/hand/legs using those ready made strips like Veet etc you know the sticky residue it can leave behind sometimes and that stickiness does not go away with water, it needs a good oil based cleanser and this balm works fantastically well for that purpose! It has never broken me out or irritated my skin! Highly recommend this balm to everyone!

Price:- 29$ for 125ml

Availability:- Clinique.com, Sephora.com, Nordstrom.com (Free shipping always), Macys.com(free shipping always), Belk.com (free shipping always), Ulta.com and other major retailers! Also Clinique website offers 15% off for new customers!



Clinique Makeup Remover Review

I hope the review was helpful, if you have any questions or queries or if you would like me to review any other product please do leave your suggestions in the comment box below and I will get back to you asap!

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!



Deciem Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum Review

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My skin has changed a lot in last few years from being combination - oily to dry and dehydrated all thanks to my hectic work schedule and traveling! Also as we age our skin tends to become more and more dry and signs of ageing start to show. Even though I don't have any fine lines or wrinkles my skin does tend to get dry a lot almost to a point of feeling tightness in the skin and not in a good way. Hyaluronic Acid based creams and serums are exploding in the market all thanks to Caroline Hirons, atleast that where I first heard of it!

If you don't know Hyaluronic Acid is a component naturally found in our bodies and has the tendency to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! Thats some intense hydration! Hylamide is the first born of the brand Deciem and one of the most affordable options in skincare combined with some very high level science! 
Clinically-advanced serum for multi-depth rehydration, visible plumping and texture regularity.

So what is Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum exactly?
A highly active concentrate of advanced hyaluronic complexes, next-generation peptides and biotechnological technologies to target rehydration on and below skin surface, while visibly improving lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and textural damage.

SubQ anti-Age Technologies
Clinically-advanced serum for multi-depth rehydration, visible plumping and texture regularity.
Copper Lysinate/Prolinate
Next-generation Swiss technology targets multiple types of collagen for overall improvement in visible skin health and visible skin age
Nonapeptide-3 Retino-Complex
A novel technology that promotes better visible anti-aging results than Retinol with less irritation
Next-Generation Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Advanced form of Matrixyl (TM of Sederma) helps to reduce the look of lines, wrinkles and surface irregularities
Contains five forms of hyaluronic compounds to target multiple depths:
Ultra pure, non-animal-origin Hyaluronic Acid targets surface hydration and elasticity
Two forms of very-low-molecular Hyaluronic Complex absorb quickly to target below-surface rehydration
A novel Hyaluronic Acid pre-cursor helps visibly plump skin
A tamarind-derived plant hyaluronic form offers immediate rehydration
Contains a multi-functional skin barrier saccharide identical in form to skin carbohydrates:
Offers instant and longer-term rehydration
Promotes comfortable skin feel within just 2 weeks
Improves visible skin surface texture
Improves skin barrier function
Contains an Antarctic and Hawaiian Algae Complex to promote renewal and help prevent moisture loss
Contains a next-generation skin binding glycoprotein for increased active exposure:
Advanced binding agent optimizes skin exposure to active technologies for a boosted effect

Full Ingredient List:-
aqua (water), glycerin, ethoxydiglycol, hydrolyzedyeast extract, sodiumhyaluronate crosspolymer, pentylene glycol, tamarindus indica seed gum, pseudoalteromonas fermentextract, hydrolyzed sodiumhyaluronate, sodiumhyaluronate, polyacrylatecrosspolymer-6, trisodiumethylenediamine disuccinate, lactobacillus/eriodictyoncalifornicum fermentextract, saccharideisomerate, copperlysinate/prolinate, palmitoyl tripeptide-38, myristoyl nonapeptide-3, ahnfeltia concinna extract, ethylhexylglycerin, methylglucoside phosphate, cetylhydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcyclodextrin, polyglucuronic acid, hexylene glycol, salicylicacid, lecithin, phospholipids, caprylyl glycol, sodiumhydroxide, citric acid, potassium sorbate, sodiumbenzoate, sodium citrate, chlorphenesin, phenoxyethanol, leuconostoc/radish rootferment filtrate.





My Thoughts
I picked up Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age serum along with their eye cream(review coming up soon) last year in November during their black friday promotion and have been using it ever since, infact I am almost done with it. The serum comes in a very stylish and modern packaging which to me is very feminine and attractive! It comes in a frosted glass bottle with a pipette and bright purple sticker! I love how the purple stands against the plain white frosted bottle! 

The consistency of the serum is thicker than I expected, it almost feels like oil but once applied on the skin it vanishes in few seconds! My skin literally drinks it up instantly! It gives a boost of hydration and skin feels soft and plump. The serum contains very impressive ingredients including 5 types of hyaluronic acid blend which is a blessing for likes of us having dry and dehydrated skin! Before using this serum I used to get dry patches around my nose and sides of the mouth but since I started using this serum the dry patches gone! Even if I don't apply the serum consecutively everyday I no longer get those dry patches!

It is a fantastic hydrating serum on its own but my favorite way of using is under moisturizers/serums and oils! It keeps me hydrated through out the day as compared to using it alone. The serum will work for all skin types as its hyaluronic acid and gets absorbed instantly without any sticky residue behind! Only 2-3 drops are needed for the entire face and neck so a bottle does last a long time! You can even mix it with your other serums and moisturizers and it works fine.

The only grips is I did not see any textural changes in my skin mainly referring to scarring, I still have visible pores on the cheeks and still have some texture due to previous battle with acne. Having said that I do not have any fine lines or wrinkles yet (fingers crossed) so I really cannot vouch for that but I have heard people say it does work on fine lines and wrinkles making them appear lesser as hyaluronic acid makes the skin plump and well hydrated. 

Over all its a fantastic serum when it comes to hydration issue especially for the price point it really is very high quality! Hylamide also has booster series with a lower price range and I picked up the Low Molecular HA to see how it compares to its big brother SubQ Anti-Age and Hydraluron so definitely stay tuned for a comparison in the future!

Please do check out the Deciem website to read about their science in detail along with their other brands like NIOD, Hand Chemistry etc

Availability:-
Hylamide SubQ Anti-Age Serum and in general Hylamide range is available in CVS, Target, Joyus, LookFantastic and Boots websites.
Deciem website offers free world wide shipping plus currently they have 20% off going on throughout the month of May 2016 with the code LOVEYOU2016 so definitely take advantage of this offer if you have been wanting to try out any of their products!

Also look out for offers from CVS and LookFantastic as they always have 20% - 30% off going on! For eg only for today ie 11th May 2016 you get 25% off on CVS online store with the code 25FREESHIP and free 2 day shipping no minimum!!! This happens very rare!

I hope this review was helpful, if you have any questions or requests please leave them below in the comments section of you can even email me directly via Contact Me page.

Until next time take care and stay beautiful!




Pixi Glow Tonic Review & Is It Worth The Hype? With some dupes and suggestions!

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Pixi Glow Tonic Review and Dupes


Finally I have a new blogpost up for you guys! If you have been following me for long you know how much I love chemical exfoliations ie my AHAs! I have been using Glycolic Acid/Lactic Acid products for more than 4+ years and they do work very well for me...for eg Glyco A. However I wanted to incorporate AHA in my daily skincare routine in the form of a toner and since Pixi Glow Tonic is now available in Target I bit the bullet and finally purchased it last year in September and since then never looked back!

As I mentioned I started using Pixi Glow Tonic last September when my skin was going through a rough patch. It felt dry, rough, dull and lacked glow, nothing was working and thats when I decided to add AHA toner in my everyday routine. What is it you ask?

Exfoliating facial glow tonic. It helps tone, firm and tighten the skin. It removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin. For all skin types. Alcohol free

Ingredients:- Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Leaf Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) Seed Extract, Glycolic Acid, Ammonium Glycolate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol (and) Fructose (and) Glucose (and) Sucrose (and) Urea (and) Dextrin (and) Alanine (and) Glutamic Acid (and) Aspartic Acid (and) Hexyl Nicotinate, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Biotin, Polysorbate 20, Fragrance

Lets look at the key ingredients

AloeVera Leaf Juice - Soothes and moisturises the skin, treats sunburn and acne as well as fights anti-ageing!

Witch Hazel - Its natural astringent and helps with oily skin problems like acne, its also known for soothing irritated skin.

Horse Chestnut Extract - It has Anti-inflammatory properties

Glycolic Acid - My favorite! Glycolic Acid is an AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) derived from sugarcane and is highly effective in treating dullness, pigmentation, acne, fine lines, blackheads etc!

Ginseng Root Extract - Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory properties!



My Thoughts -
There is no better way to say than I love this toner..a lot! When I purchased it I wanted a mild AHA since it was the first time I was incorporating AHA toner in my skincare routine and this one is perfect for that! I have used this toner for over 6 months and have repurchased it a number of times! It comes in 2 sizes 100ml and 250ml so if you want to try this toner I'd say start with the smaller size and always do a patch test. 

Since I started using it I have seen a huge difference in just the texture of my skin, it feels a lot smoother, softer and less blackheads! Its very gentle on skin, there is no alcohol so sensitive skin people can rejoice! I love the addition of ginseng extract and witch hazel, you can definitely smell the ginseng its very soothing on the skin and for the nose as well! The fragrance is not very strong so people with sensitive nose can definitely give it a try!

The toner contains 5% glycolic acid making it very gentle and soothing on skin making it perfect as everyday AHA treatment without irritating the skin. It also is a perfect toner for morning time skincare routine as most of us would prefer gentle products and nothing too strong for the day time! The consistency is light weight and gets absorbed immediately leaving no sticky feeling behind, also it does not sting at all! It gently exfoliates the dead skin cells on the surface and makes way for new brighter skin! Since its alcohol free it does not dry out your skin like some toners with alcohol.

When to use? I use it directly after I cleanse my face morning and evening ie
Cleanse -> AHA/BHA Toner/Treatment -> Serum -> Moisturizer

Over all I highly recommend this toner to everyone! It will suit all skin types!

Rating:- 5 out of 5!

Price:- 15$ for 100ml and 29$ for 250ml

Lets talk availability as I know this product is not available across all countries so Ill try my best to list down few dupes or similar kind products!

UK/International - LookFantastic (the price of pixi glow tonic is 26.50 which is less than US price of 29$ and LookFantastic does ship to International including India!), CultBeauty(Shipping is free on your 1st order - Yes even for International customers! If you are from India and would like to try this product definitely checkout CultBeauty as they ship to India and have a fantastic customer service plus you will get your 1st order shipped free no min!). ASOS - Currently out of stock but you can keep checking here


Dupes/Similar Options
Pixi Glow Peel Pads (22$ for 60) - Pixi Beauty have come out with whopping 20% glycolic acid pads which are great! I would advise to use them weekly or max 2-3 times a week! Available at Target, PixiBeauty, LookFantastic , BeautyBay and CultBeauty.

SilkNaturals 8% AHA Toner 9$ for 120ml - This is a lactic acid based toner and has got fantastic reviews and they do ship internationally

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads (60 count) 12.99$ - 2.8% Glycolic Acid, even milder than Pixi Glow Tonic hence perfect for 1st time acid users, available at Target, Ulta, Walgreens , CVS etc 

First Aid Beauty Radiance Pads (30$ for 60 count) - FeelUnique, Sephora, Dermstore (Free shipping always, no min plus receive 15% off on your first order! This is one of my favorite sites to shop as they have Anastasia, Becca Cosmetics, Coverfx, Tarte, Sunday Riley,  LORAC and 100s other brands! 

For more dupes check out Caroline Hirons post here on top 10 Acid Toners!

For all my Indian readers check out Ethicare Acmed Pads, they have both glycolic acid as well as salicylic acid! Very reasonably priced for around 400/- for 50 count and available across all pharmacies, you can also get in touch with their customer service or email them online and they reply back almost immediately! The % of both the acid in Acmed Pads is Salicylic acid 3% and Glycolic Acid 5%!

Hope this review and information was helpful, if you have any queries or request kindly leave them in the comments section and I will get back to you asap.

Thank you!