Update: Change of Address



As you surely know I have changed the address for this blog and finally created the address acosmeticaffair.blogspot.com. My previous address for those who were followers was danceofthegods.blogspot.com, the inspiration for that name came from a book I love by the author Nora Roberts and it was part of a trilogy that I adored.


However this was before the beauty blog called “A Cosmetic Affair” was created. Its been some time now that I have been debating whether to change the name for this blog or keep it as was. After lot of thought I decided to change the name so that it better reflects the content of my blog and it will also be easier for people to find!


Thanks to all of you that read my blog and I hope to add more to this repository of posts and fun cosmetic information! 🙂 Please keep on reading!

Charlene xxxx

Product Review: Inglot Eyeshadow Duo

As you may have realized by now, I am getting obsessed with Inglot makeup. A few months ago, a dear friend of mine gave me this two shadow palette from Inglot with these gorgeous two shades 🙂 This was actually a Christmas present which came a little late. I love the Freedom palettes that Inlot offer, they are so unique and so original and modern and the size of the shadows is really amazing.

The classy box, the palette came in
Back of the box, 2.7g/0.10oz of product per shadow
Freedom System Palette
The palette comes in the classy black box with the Inglot logo on it. The palette itself is one from the Freedom System and you get 2.7g/0.10oz for each shadow. The palette makes use of magnets to hold the top lid to the bottom and the shadows are placed in their position through the use of magnets.

Top part slides to reveal the shadows

From Left to Right: 428, AMC18
As you can see the pans are quite large and you get a very decent amount of product in each pan. The shade number/name is found at the bottom of the pan for each shade. To get the pans out you can use the magnet found in the lid, put it slowly next to the pan and it will come up and out of the palette. You can then look and the number/name and put the pan gently back into the palette. This was a good tip for me, since I got this for a gift and my friend did not know the numbers/names of the shadows.

Bottom 428, Top AMC18
As yo can see from the swatches, the pigmentation of these shadows is really amazing and they are easy to blend and have a metallic sheen finish to them. They are both very vibrant and work amazingly for more dramatic looks or for a bright pop of color to a neutral eye makeup. With one swipe you get amazing pigmentation and color pay-off. I was really pleased with these shades as with all products from Inglot. For other Inglot reviews you can check HERE or you can check my Inglot haul.

Do you own any shadows from Inglot? What do you think about these shadows?


First Impressions: Constance Carroll Rouge à Lèvres – 20 Begonia

A few weeks ago I picked up this lipstick from the drugstore. It is from a brand that is not much mentioned, it is from the UK and it is called Constance Carroll. Not sure where you can find products from the brand, and here you find mostly lipsticks and blushers, although I know that the brand offers a whole variety of products. I got two lipsticks and I decided to do a first impressions post on this one as it has a very interesting shade, perfect for Spring/Summer.

Constance Carroll lipstick in 20 Begonia
The shade is a bright coral-peach shade that is very shiny and easy to apply on the lips. The packaging is nothing special but the price is very cheap, so that is to be expected.  The finish of this lipstick is Pearlescent, which is a very shiny finish, no lip gloss needed.

Shade 20 Begonia, Finish Pearlescent
Swatch of Begonia
It has no distinctive scent to it, which I find is best with lipsticks that are cheap as the alternative can be a very annoying and over-powering scent. I got this for about €1.20 from the drugstore.

Do you own any products from this brand? Do you like this shade?


First Impressions: Sigma E25 Blending Brush

As you may know from the banners that are on this blog, I am a Sigma Affiliate. This basically means that if you click on one of the banners that are on my blog it will take you to the Sigma website and if you make a purchase, I will receive a very small commission from it. I have become involved with this brand as I truly believe in their products and am proud to be a part, however small of a company which offers such amazing brushes and if you haven’t heard yet some new Sigma makeup is coming up soon.

Anyways this post is about a reward I got from the Sigma Affiliate Reward program, which gives rewards in the form of brushes to Bloggers or YouTubers that are affiliates. I was sent the Sigma E25 Blending Brush, which I have heard many good things about.

Sigma E25 Blending Brush
The Sigma E25 is very different from any other blending brush I own. It is rounded on top and it is chiseled on the sides. I find it is very good to apply product with the side and then turn it sideways and blend away the edges. This brush is also recommended as good to apply cream products or to lay out an eyeshadow primer. I find it great to apply color as it does not apply too much and keeps the look very soft and blended.

The brush head
The Sigma E25 travel size Blending brush is the same as the full sized one, except for the handle which is shorter and a silver shade. I find that there are other blending brushes which perform much better, but I do love it to apply color and color bases on the eyelid. Will definitely, recommend this brush for makeup lovers as it is a must have. The full size E25 retails for $9.00 on the Sigma website.

Do you have this brush? Would you recommend it?


Product Review: Elf Natural Radiance Blusher – Glow

The Elf Natural Radiance Blusher is in the Regular line from Elf at only £1.50/€1.70 per product which is a real bargain as the products are really very pigmented. I only have one blusher from this collection and it is the one called Glow. It is a coral-peach-pink shadow with lots of shimmer, so if you don’t like shimmer stay away from it. I find that the shimmer is much more evident in the pan than when applied.

Elf Natural Radiance Blusher in Glow
As you can see the packaging is very much more crude than the Studio line or the Mineral Line. However, the products themselves are just as good. The compact is a little tricky to open but once you know how to do it, it’s all right. You have to slide the top part backward and the bottom part downwards. I find this works amazingly as both a blusher and highlighter in one. You get 2g/0.07oz of product in this compact.

The compact opened, you get 2g/0.07oz of product
As you may tell from the funky look of my blusher, the powder is not very well pressed and even though I take good care of my makeup and I am careful to handle them gently, this blusher broke and turned to dust. Thus, I pressed it down myself and it has retained its form perfectly now 🙂

Glow swatched on my hand, you can apply this sheer or build it up especially in the Summer
I find this color to be really gorgeous and want to try many more of their blushers. I already own some from the Studio line and I love them, but I think the Regular line blushers should not be overlooked. For more products and information about this product you can look on the Elf website.

Do you own any of these blushers? What do you think about this product?


Haul: Almay and Rimmel

So sorry for being MIA for a couple of days but really busy at the moment with my dissertation. I’m going to make it up to you by trying to put up more posts this week. This is a haul that I did some weeks ago from The Cosmetic House, which if you have been following me for some time, you know I love to buy from the site. I didn’t get much items as I am hauling way too much lately. I got three items:
❤ Almay Pore Minimizer
❤ Almay intense i-color trio for Brown eyes in 021
❤ Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer in 030 Classic Beige

I am always on the lookout for products that are aimed to reduce pores, so when I saw the Almay Pore Minimizer, I had to try it. It contains 14.2g/0.5oz of product and it was for £3.25. It is an oil free formula and it is good for sensitive skin. I apply it on my moisturizer just down the T-zone of my face since I have large pores round my nose and chin. It is a very light and easy to spread consistency and I find it does help to refine them a little. This was the first time that I had bought any Almay products and I was really impressed, will have to try some more from this brand 🙂

Next I got the Almay Trio for Brown Eyes in 021 which contains a lilac shade, a brown with hints of violet and a light creamy shade for the highlight. The packet also contains an eyeliner twist up pencil in a vibrant purple shade in 001 Purple Amethyst. I got this for £5.25 which I thought was a good deal.

Lastly, I got another Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer and Highlighter in 030 Classic Beige. As you may know, in my previous haul from this site I had already gotten one of these, but the shade is not as light as I wished it to be. However, this works wonders under the eyes as it conceals and highlights the under eye area to give a much brighter and awake finish. You get 7ml/0.23oz of product for £3.99.

Almay Pore Minimizer,
Almay intense i-color Trio for Brown Eyes
Rimmel Match Perfection 2-in-1 Concealer and Highlighter
If you would like a more in-depth review for any of these products, please let me know. I was really pleased with my purchases and they got to me in less than three days which is quite amazing for me. For another haul from this online you site, you can look HERE.

If you want to get a DISCOUNT code from The Cosmetic House online website, read HERE.

Have you tried any Almay products? What do you think about this haul?


Product Review: Noxzema The Original Deep Cleansing Cream

I have combination/oily skin and it is very sensitive and acne prone. Thus, I use a variety of cleansers and product to control my acne, the oil in my skin and make sure that I don’t over dry my skin or cause any allergic reaction to products. As you can tell, its a lot of work and I found that changing products you use during the day and at what time and how frequently really helps to create a balance. I am no expert here, so all I can tell you and give you advice on is how my skin reacted to products and how they helped me and my particular skin. For someone else the products I use may work completely differently. All I can say is that I did go to a beautician who carried out a Face Map, that helps me know which areas to target and what kind of products are correct for which area of my face.

But, enough of the rambling! The product I am going to introduce to you is called Noxzema The Original Deep Cleansing Cream. I have a couple of Deep Cleansing Creams that I make use of that have varying powers, by which I mean they do not work the same way and do not deep clean the same.

What they claim:
❤ Deep cleans without over drying
❤ Removes dirt, oil and makeup
❤ Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and healthy-looking

The cream looks quite thick and firm in the tub,
once you get it in you hands it melts into a light cream.

The consistency of this product is really weird and when I first got it I was curious on how it would perform. You can apply this product on both a wet or dry face. I love applying mine on a dry face. I take a little bit of product, rub in my hands until it breaks down and then apply it all over the face except the eyes as I feel this is too powerful to apply on the eyes. I like to leave it on for a minute or so and then I rinse it off. The product has Eucalyptus Oil in it and you can smell it. I love this scent it relaxes me and my skin too. After you rinse it off you are left with clear skin, that feels free from any excess oils. If you touch it right after you rinse it, the skin feels really strange, the only way I can explain it is it is not soft. But after you pat your face dry, it goes back to normal.

This product has helped me with the reduction of blackheads and pimples and it really works to clear up my skin. I had heard this product being recommended by someone on YouTube and it immediately perked my interest into trying this out. I got mine from eBay for about €16, where I got three tubs of this product each containing 70g. I love using this before bed as part of my cleansing routine. As I said I use different cleansers in the morning and I sometimes change products during the week if I want a more intensive treatment or if my skin is extra sensitive I will use something less powerful. I believe the product has been repackaged now, but you can read up more on the Noxzema website, where they have various ranges of products. I also make use of the Clean & Clear Deep Action Cream Wash.

What do you think about this product? Have you ever tried anything similar?