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Review : The MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist & Fix spray is a light setting spray for makeup. Spray this 12-16″ from the face (eyes closed) over foundation or a completed makeup application.  I generally use this after all makeup applications, especially for weddings. It’s like hairspray for your face, which helps to prolong the wear of your makeup without stiffness or shellac-ing your face.  If you’ve applied too much powder on your face and don’t want to remove it, then spraying a bit of this on top will help to de-matte it.  You can spray some of this product onto a tissue or Q-Tip to help clean up the edges of your eye makeup as well.

Tip: For busy women who don’t have time for touch ups, spray mist and fix on a thick tissue and pat gently on the face to refresh your makeup. Then apply a veil of compact powder to give your complexion a velvety texture for later in the day.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Lise Watier : Shine Control Moisturizing Gel [$37 CAD 50 ml]
Stars : 4

Review : I originally bought this because I had a really oily T-zone.  Somehow my face is now really dry [probably due to the uber dry winter season!], so I used it in my makeup kit instead.  But whether my skin is dry or not, I usually look for products that are oil-free [since I'm prone to acne breakouts].  This product is great because it’s a gel, it feels very light and fresh, yet moisturizing. It’s geared more for people with skin in their 20′s, so I used it a lot on models for prepping their skin before photo shoots and such.   Shine Control Moisturizing Gel is rich in apple extract [Beta-Hydrumex Complex] – so it has all the benefits of the apple for the health of your skin and even smells like apples too! Yum!

This product is recommended to be used every morning on the face and neck, avoiding the eye contour area. This is definitely a great product used on its own or even under makeup as a base. Unfortunately it doesn’t have SPF, so you’ll have to use something separate for sun protection.  I think the best part about this product is the packaging design – it’s a locked air pump, so as you use the product, you can see through the packaging exactly how much is left and product is never wasted because it gets pushed up all the way to the top.  Brilliant! I say this because a lot of products that are in tubes – if you cut the tube open after you “think” it’s done, there’s actually a lot left that didn’t get squeezed out.

Makeup Review : Maggie Ng

Origins : Ginger Up Aromatic Shampoo [6.7 fl oz / 200 ml]
Beauty Stars : 4.2 / 5

Review : The Origins Ginger Up Aromatic Shampoo was referred to me by my friend Shelly.  She kept saying how amazing it was, so I decided to give it a try.  I found it at a cosmetic warehouse sale for $10 CAD. The bottle isn’t that big, so I ended up using it up quite quickly because I have to wash my hair everyday. But it didn’t dry my hair even though I used it everyday.

It is definitely aromatic and I love the scent.  The savoury scent of ginger is quite strong, invigorating and totally wakes you up.  This shampoo is great because it is free of many bad chemicals such as parabens, petroleum, parrafin, synthetic colour, synthetic fragrance and the list goes on.  Wheat protein and pathenol ingredients help to keep your hair nice, smooth and protected.

The only negative I found is that the aroma doesn’t linger in your hair that long after your hair is dry, but other than that, it does a great job cleaning my hair.  This shampoo is made for all hair types.  If I ever get another invite to one of those warehouse sales, I’ll definitely try to stock up on this product.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Shu Uemura : Mini Eyelash Curler [discontinued]

Review : The Shu Uemura Mini Eyelash Curler works great! It is able to get right to the corners of most eyes regardless of the shape.  Unfortunately I think the mini curler might be discontinued (at least that’s what I heard).  I had the regular sized SU curler in my kit for a while but always wanted the mini one too.  When I finally went to look for it at the stores, it was gone.  Then one random day, I walked past Holt Renfrew’s cosmetic section and they had this “Paramount Beauty Pouch” for $25 CAD that included the Shu Uemura Mini Eyelash Curler and a few other neat products.  I asked the cosmetic rep if they were carrying it again and she said “No, just happened to be included in this limited time beauty pouch.”  I was like OMG! THANK YOU!!!  So I bought one with no hesitation.

Tip : For the curler to work well, you should replace the silicone pads every 3 months with regular use.  Sometimes you can use a blow dryer on the curler for a few seconds to heat it up before using it to get a better curl.  Make sure it’s not too hot and doesn’t burn your skin though!  And lastly, curling your lashes from the base, center and tips of the lashes will give it a more natural curl, as opposed to just curling it in one spot and getting one very sharp angle.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Joico : Ice Hair Finisher Shaping Hair Spray [300 ml / 9 oz]

Review : The Joico Ice Hair Finisher Shaping Hair Spray was being sold at a local hair supply store. I got a 2 for 1 deal for it, so thought I’d try it out.  When I first used it, it came out kind of like a foamy mousse-like texture.  I thought it was kind of odd because it did say “hair spray” on the bottle.  But after you use it a few more times, the spray becomes finer and then it was ok.  I don’t really use it for styling or updos, as it makes the hair too hard once it dries.  I just save it for the end and use it as a finisher “hence the name”! It holds well and smells nice — sort of like a coconut smell. Yum!  A lot of my clients compliment it on the fragrance.

My only beef that I didn’t like about this was that the nozzle gets clogged easily, so you have to clean it every so often, otherwise if you try to use it, it could spray the product in all different directions.  I think it almost hit a photographer’s uber expensive lense once when I used it at a wedding gig.  Eek. Luckily it didn’t.  So before I use it, sometimes I spray it a few times aimed at the floor first, just in case to make sure the nozzle is working properly.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Review : The Lise Watier Bora Bora Fragrance is a blend of sensual, feminine notes of passion flower, jasmine and rose, with the warmth of an exotic fruit cocktail and sweet, hot traces of amber, vanilla and wood-scented musk.

I guess I have a bias towards any scent that has a bit of a sweet fruit smell.  I definitely like the exotic scent of the Bora Bora fragrance. Only one small spritz and the smell will linger most of the day.  The sweet fruit scent is most evident at the beginning of the spritz. As the fragrance has a chance to mix with the oils on your skin, you’ll smell the linger of vanilla for the rest of the day.  Love the nice elegant bottle design too. The tint of green visually sets the bottle of fragrance apart from the others.

Tip: Applying fragrance to what are known as the pulse points is recommended: the nape of the neck, behind the ears, back of the knees and inside the elbows and wrists (without rubbing). To leave a scented wake, mist your hair with fragrance.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

MAC : Paints
Beauty Stars : 4.6 / 5

Review : The MAC Paints are highly pigmented eyeshadow that goes on creamy and dries to a powdery finish. They used to come in a variety of colours but I believe MAC replaced them with Paint Pots. They’ve kept the neutral tones such as Bare Canvas, Sublime Nature, Untitled, etc since many makeup artists use them as a eyeshadow base. It helps to prevent creasing and really brings out the true colour of most eyeshadows with a punch.  Great product and a little goes a long way.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Boscia : Purifying Cleansing Gel
Beauty Stars : 4.5 / 5

Review : The Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel is a soap-free makeup remover and cleanser for the face. This product contains key ingredients that include : botanical amino acids, hydrangea leaf, green tea and geranium, which are all very high in anti-oxidants!

I love this product because it does not contain : parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, phthalates, GMOs, and Triclosan.  It is also 100% preservative free. Very good for your skin, especially for people with sensitive skin.

I think it does a great job cleansing the skin and getting dirt/grime out of pores, but doesn’t leave it feeling tight at the end.  A little squirt goes a long way. You just massage it gently on damp skin and it lathers up nicely.  It is a gel-based cleanser, so even though it says it’s fine for all skin types, it’s probably more suited for people with oily or oily to combination skin.

Scent is not overwhelming. Very refreshing actually.  I would definitely buy this again.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

Burt’s Bees : Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil [4.25g/0.15 oz]
Beauty Stars : 4.5

Review : The Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil is 100% natural and not tested on animals.  I love using this lip balm daily because it contains no petroleum or parabens like some other lip balms do.  We ingest a lot of lip product over years of application (as some of us use some form of lip product everyday) so it’s best not to use anything with harmful chemicals in them.  I like the scent and it gives a slight tint of colour to your lips too. Pomegranate oil is also a great anti-oxidant. This lip balm helps to keep your lips moisturized for most of the day. I even use it in my makeup kit sometimes.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com

MAC : Blot Powder [12g/0.42 oz]
Beauty Stars : 4.5

Review : The MAC Blot Powder is one of my makeup kit must-haves.  It’s a pressed powder that’s great for absorbing oil and mattifying the face without really adding extra layers or cakey-ness to the skin.  It typically does not add any noticeable texture or colour to the skin, even though it does currently come in 5 different shades.  I probably use “Medium” the most.  It’s great for touchups, especially in the summer and during bridal season.  It’s also great for setting foundation. It can be applied with a makeup brush or powder puff (which comes with it already).  I’d suggest to use a blot paper first to absorb the majority of the oil on your skin, then gently apply the blot powder for a beautiful finish.

Beauty Review : Maggie Ng
Note : For any beauty questions or product submissions, please email : maggie@maggieng.com