YSL Couture Kajal Eyeliner: The Review

November 24, 2015 - 1 Comment

It’s been awhile since an eyeliner surprised me. I’ve tried the creamy pencils, the liquid ones and yes even the felt-tip ones so I thought I had them pretty much covered. Until I came across the new YSL Couture Kajal.

It’s part of the YSL Pretty Metal Fall 2015 collection and I have to say the packing on this series is seriously smokin hot! One of those collections that actually looks so pretty just sitting on your makeup table.

But the Couture Kajal is innovative to say the least and unlike something I’ve come across before, because it’s a 3-in-1 Khol Eyeliner Eye Shadow stick. What that means is that it works as

1- A kohl for your lower waterline

2- Your regular everyday eyeliner (on the thicker side) to contour your upper eyelids

3- A Smokey eye shadow

The Formula

To say it’s ultra-creamy is an understatement. The natural waxes allow it to give you super smooth application. Oh and you can kiss sharpeners goodbye. It’s sort of crayon-like at the tip so there there is no twisting or pumping for more product release. What you see is what you get…So here is where things can get tricky, be gentle in your application don’t press too hard if you don’t want to break the top off.

The Pigmentation

Seriously intense. Expect deep dark color. This is not for the faint of heart, or eye in this case. Color payoff is very strong. And it’s also VERY long-lasting. In fact I had to use makeup remover to erase the swatches off my wrist. So in case you were using Couture Kajal for smokey eyes, move fast, like really fast.

The Finish

As matte as the mattest of mattes and darker than the darkest nights- just the way I like my kajals.

Verdict

Just when you thought eyeliners couldn’t get more interesting, YSL surprises us with the Couture Kajal. For someone who isn’t very precise, the grip on this eyeliner is a game changer for me. I also plan on buying the Couture Kajal in Blue Cobalt and Vert Anglais. You will love everything about the Pretty Metal Fall 2015 Collection especially the eye shadows and Couture Brow eyebrow gel which I can’t wait to get my hands on as well.

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Benefit Cosmetics To Open in Lebanon

November 3, 2015 - 7 Comments

That’s right! Many of us in Lebanon wait to travel and hit up a Sephora in Dubai or Europe to get our Benefit Cosmetics beauty fix but not anymore.

I’m happy to be one of the first few to break the news that on the 1st week of December of this year, Benefit Cosmetics will finally be available in Lebanon at ABC Ashrafieh and ABC Dbayeh. The points of sale will also include my personal favorite, the Benefit BrowBar, where you can get your eyebrows Tinted, Waxed and Tweezed by a Benefit expert who is trained in the art of what the brand likes to call Brow Mapping! Learn more about that here.

I was happy to meet with Benefit Cosmetics this week to bring you this news and will be sharing with you many of their latest updates and releases so make sure to follow me on Instagram and SnapChat IvySays for all the latest. Also you can now follow Benefit Cosmetics Lebanon on Instagram here.

I personally love this brand because of how fun and innovative most of their makeup is, it’s totally different in its catchy approach to beauty and original products and I’m also a huge fan of their unique packaging.

If you’re not familiar with Benefit Cosmetics let me walk you through a couple of their iconic and bestselling products.

They’re Real Lengthening Mascara

This one’s all about drama! For extreme length and volume in your lashes. It’s an all-timer and favorite among mascara aficionados and beauty bloggers. It will really make you second-guess whether or not they’re real or fake.

BeneTint

This is one of my personal faves, it’s a lip and cheek stain liquid in rose tint. It will give your cheeks this barely-there sort of sexy flush you get only from a crazy cardio session, and it’s buildable and super long-lasting. It looks like a nail polish bottle, smells like rose water and can be applied with your hands.

Brow Zings

The eyebrow kit of eyebrow kits. Whether you want to add definition to your eyebrows or simply fill in sparse areas you will love this set, it includes a pigmented wax cream and a setting powder. It also comes with a miniature angled brush, blending brush and tweezers for those last minute plucks. You really don’t have to be an expert to get nice thick brows with this kit. And the entire package is so compact it can fit in all our nano-bags.

Hoola Bronzer

It’s a universal medium-dark shade bronzer with an extra matte finish. It comes with a small cheek brush inside also for those last-minute touch ups. I haven’t used it before but I swiped some on my wrist and already love how well it blends. I also hear it’s the perfect blush for contouring so I can’t wait to try it out.

The Pore Fessional

This is sort of like a primer and loose powder in one, you can use this both under or over makeup to minimize the appearance of pores and help your makeup stay on for hours. It’s an oil-free formula and it feel so silky and smooth.

The Roller Lash

Another cult classic from Benefit, I haven’t tried this one yet, but I can’t wait to after reading the rave reviews it has. It’s supposedly inspired by hair roller, the hook’n’roll brush is supposed to grab lift and curl each lash to give you a wide-doey-eyed look.

Also read my detailed review on the Gimme Brow here

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Ivy Reviews: Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics Nostalgie D’Orient

August 20, 2015 - Leave a Comment

Before I tell you about the wonderful message behind Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics limited Nostaligie d’Orient I think I I speak for a lot of women when I say we appreciate makeup that gets us, the kind of easy-to-carry sets that can be thrown into a makeup bag and pulled out for quick pick-me-ups throughout the day. So when I heard that Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics was coming out with this three-piece pencil set that included a black kohl, red lipstick and concealer all in one, I knew I had to give it a try.

With Nostalgie d’Orient, Bassam Fattouh wanted to depict the beautiful side of Lebanon, the idea that despite all the issues this country faces which dominate international headlines, it also imports beauty around the world, something we tend to forget… So this collection is his way of paying homage and celebrating both the past and the present by combining the three landmarks we are so proud of; our Baher (sea), Jabal (Mountain) and the capital Beirut, in a vintage pop art package designed by renowned graphic designer Rana Salam.

The Set

Beirut: My favorite thing about this Lipstick is that it’s one of the few times you get to wear a bold color without requiring a lip liner, because it basically combines the super creaminess of a lipstick with the precision of lip liner, just keep it sharpened. The color is a signature fiery red one which never fails to impress and although it is very matte it’s quite lively upon application.

Jabal: This one’s a bold carbon black eyeliner, with a very VERY highly pigmented formula. I recommend you use it for tracing and creating kohled eyes or a bold oriental cat eye more than blending for a smokey eye look. The color release is excellent and it will last and last without smudging or streaking, It’s uber matte too.

Baher: I confess, this is my first experience with a pencil concealer, and lately I’ve been quite frustrated with formulas that fade with blending, but the yellow-based formula on this one is thick and heavy enough to stay. It’s not as blendable as you would think but I don’t mind because it’s perfect for highlighting and contouring. My only suggestion is to apply lightly because a little really goes a long way.

Et Voila, a full makeup look using these three pencils.

If you’re fan of makeup and a fan of Lebanon then this is one limited edition set you don’t want to miss out on. You can order Nostalgie d’Orient online here

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The Clarins Spa Experience at City Centre Beirut

August 11, 2015 - Leave a Comment

You don’t have to be at a five star hotel to get the royal treatment, in fact you could be shopping at City Centre Beirut, only to make a stop at the Clarins store which to my surprise included a fully equipped institute. After a full morning of stocking up on baby supplies I was booked at Clarins for a treatment I had yet to experience, The “Neuf Mois en Beauté ” body massage.

Let me tell you, in my current condition and as I go through the many pregnancy symptoms most expectant mothers do, (heaviness, tiredness, muscle aches and spasms-only to name a few) a professional pre-natal massage with a trained therapist is godsend. In fact, you may not know this- but some of the most luxurious spa centers and hotels in Lebanon don’t offer this treatment to pregnant women, because it is very important that this session is handled by a certified expert.

It was also a chance to get to experience the different varieties of the new generation of treatment-specific CLARINSPRO professional products developed and used exclusively by Clarins beauty therapists for each personalized session.

The 60-minute massage was instrumental in awakening each of my five senses starting from my feet all the way up to my forehead, but mind you it wasn’t simply about relaxing though I must admit I dozed off a couple of times. It was also about reducing stress on my ligaments and encouraging blood circulation with the added benefits of most Clarins treatments which also work on getting skin toned, firmed and contoured.

My therapist was gentle yet confident in her techniques, which alleviated tension from every area she touched and coupled with the soothing background music, it had left me in a state of trance I haven’t been able to experience for many months now. Though after an hour I was sad it had to come to an end, I didn’t expect to feel as energized as I did. Needless to say, I slept like a baby that evening, with absolutely no nervous tension.

The Clarins spa also offers an extensive list of treatments facials and massages for both men and women which I will be trying out very soon. Just make sure you book in advance, cause they’re usually super busy.

Following my session, I also took the liberty of freshening up with some Clarins skin care and makeup, it really was too tempting to pass up.

The two new skin care products I’m currently using are the Shaping Facial Lift Total V Contouring Serum, which reduces the look of puffiness and double chin ( I’m in dire need of at the moment) while lifting and contouring the face. I also added some of Clarins Mission Perfection Serum, that works as a pigmentation corrector for dark spots, acne marks and dull complexions in general. I love how this combo left my skin looking radiant and moisturized, and is now an essential part of my daily beauty regimen.

And of course some Clarins Crayon Kohl eyeliner never hurt anyone, and I finally got to try out the Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact which I used to warm up and sculpt my face and cheekbones. Loved how matte yet luminous it settled on my face.

You can book your own massage or facial session at Clarins City Centre Beirut on 01 286 682

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Beauty Review: Make Up For Ever Pro Bronze Fusion

July 30, 2015 - 2 Comments

For years I used to expose my face to the sun just like I would the rest of my body and let’s just say those weren’t my brightest days (though I was very tanned.) So now as I layer my face with SPF 50 you can imagine how fair it looks compared to the rest of my body post-beach. That’s why I’m always up for discovering new bronzers which can give me a sun-kissed glow without the risk of premature wrinkles.

MAKE UP FOR EVER’s new Pro Bronze Fusion has done the trick this summer and here are a couple of reasons why it worked for me.

The Formula: First, it’s waterproof. That’s right, no melting, no streaking and creasing in the heat. Next, it’s super lightweight, to the point where I’m like wait a sec.. Am I even getting any product out? But that’s where the Kabuki Brush comes in (read below)

It’s also a gel powder bronzer, this means that it won’t leave your skin looking cakey, but rather blends in super smoothly, giving you a luminous healthy glow. It’s not as pigmented as a say a Guerlain or MAC bronzer if strong color-release is what you’re after, but I personally hate to see the obvious marks of bronzer application, so the second skin-like feel to it is a plus for me. However, this will not work if you’re looking to Insta-style contour and highlight so obviously.

The Finish: Although you would expect it to be shimmery, it only has very subtle hints, it’s more natural and matte, which I prefer, though I coupled it with some Armani Fluid Sheer highlighter for this look.

Color Release: It’s true if you don’t use the Make Up For Ever 136 Pro Bronze Kabuki Brush to apply it, you may feel like the you’re getting minimal product out so I totally recommend you give this dense and stout brush a go. My preferred technique is to first apply as you would usually (with medium pressure) and then blend backwards in a circular motion.

I tried both 30M Seinna and 35i Caramel and found that the first works better for me when I’m not so tanned and the latter works better with a tan.

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Beauty Review: Lancôme Miracle Cushion Foundation

March 25, 2015 - Leave a Comment

At first glance I thought surely Lancôme’s new Miracle Cushion foundation wasn’t for me, as compacts are usually mineral and don’t settle well on my more often than not dry skin. I was however delighted to find out that it’s actually a fluid foundation in a compact package. But here’s what sets the Miracle Cushion apart from the rest, it’s spongy compact that although has been wildly popular in Korea/Japan for some time now it actually has not been available in both the Middle East and Europe.

Until now. Lancôme introduced this to us at a private Mother’s Day event last week and also pampered me with a makeover. A couple of days later the Miracle Cushion arrived at my door and well you can pretty much know how this goes.

So before I blabber on here is my review

Coverage: Pretty light, but it’s quite buildable and your encouraged to do so. So layer it up if the lighter look is not your thing. But at the end of the day it’s a fluid foundation and its meant to look fresh , so don’t expect it to give you what your usual powder compact would. And don’t expect it to work for you if you’re the heavy full coverage foundation type.

Color release: Just a gentle press on the fluid cushion with a the built-in sponge is enough to get a good soak of product on the sponge. Want more? Press harder. Just fight the temptation to stick your entire finger in.

Formula: one of the most lightweight and weightless foundations, I have BB creams that feel heavier. It’s very moist but in a watery rather than a creamy way. It also comes with SPF 23 so this is definitely something you want to keep around this summer.

Finish: Dewy, sheer and natural. It has a sudden smoothing effect on the skin and is quite hydrating, Again perfect for the upcoming warm seasons and temperature in the Middle East.

Verdict: Innovative. Because I don’t carry my liquid foundation/ BB cream tubes out with me and I don’t use powder compacts. So Lancôme’s Miracle Cushion now means I can have my portable fluid compact with me for a quick use and touch up anywhere before meetings thanks to its built-in mirror. I’d categorize this as your day-appropriate foundation as I tend to go with heavier coverage for my evening looks.

I’m wearing 03 Beige Pêche, here’s how Miracle Cushion looks in natural light

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Le Royal Beirut Spa, A Piece of Paradise

January 8, 2015 - Leave a Comment

Lebanon is not the most stress-free of cities to live in- and that’s putting it mildly. So every month or two, I make it a point to treat my man and I to a spa day, where we both take a good hour or so out of our busy schedules to turn off our phones and brains and just surrender ourselves.

My next spa stop escape happened to be at Lebanon’s luxurious hotel; Le Royal Beirut, a five star mammoth complex perched on a towering hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean Sea just 15km from Beirut.

The award winning spa is not like many you’ll come across and an incredibly huge operation, stretching out over an astounding 3-floor complex covering 3.5000 m². It also boasts a magnificent indoor swimming pool that’s looks like something out of a Roman fable, fit for royalty with botanical vines twisted across grandiose pillars looking out at the sea, surrounded by relaxing area to unwind after a treatment or fitness session.

We were signed up for the duo Candle Massage, but first our lovely therapists escorted us to our changing rooms fully equipped with saunas and Jacuzzis intended to help us wind down before the treatment. Everything we needed was in our customized lockers waiting for us.

After getting comfortable in our Le Royal robes, we made our way to our private massage room where the candle oil that would be used in our massage was melting into a perfect pool of massage oil and the entire area smelled of a natural fragrance that engaged our senses to the point of ultimate relaxation.

The lights went off and the room was now only lightly dimmed by candle light, as our therapists administered a blend of soothing oils and warm waxes to deeply moisturize, nourish, soften and hydrate our skin. For the next 90 minutes we each drifted to our own thoughts and zen states, as our bodies released all the built-up tension and our therapists worked their magic.

Following our massages we were offered some herbal tea in a very stylishly-tiled oval shaped relaxation zone as we watched other guests about to embark on similar treatments before we headed out for some more down time in the Jacuzzi.

It comes as no surprise that Le Royal Hotel and Resorts Beirut was awarded with the title of 2014 Leading Spa Award as well as the certificate of Excellence from Travel Advisor. The place is nothing short of world class luxury and the staff leave a lasting impression with their attentiveness, professionalism, friendliness. This makes it on my top Must-Try Spa recommendations for 2015.

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The Set

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