REVIEW: Rimmel Scandaleyes eyeliner

I don't know about you guys, but finding good eyeliners at the drugstore can be one of the most excruciating tasks. Thankfully, online reviews provide great input to narrow down the options. I usually go for the cheapest pencil eyeliners and most of them end up disappointing me. I decided to spend a couple more bucks and get the Rimmel Scandaleyes in the Black and Nude shade (I got mine at CVS for 4.99 each).

Some of Rimmel's claims are that this eyeliner

• is long lasting
• will give you shocking color intensity
• the formula is ultra smooth & creamy
• will glide on easily
• is waterproof, smudge-proof, sweat-proof, humidity-proof

And I would have to agree with these claims. I am currently on vacation in Puerto Rico, which has a very tropical/humid climate, and this eyeliner did not disappoint. 

Like any product, there is room for improvement. This eyeliner has to be sharpened, and it is not an easy task the first time you do it. There is some sort of coating you will have to sharpen first, before you actually start making the point finer, but after that first time it stops being a problem (I do wish it was a twist-up eyeliner). Also, it is very hard to remove this eyeliner from your waterline at the end of the night, which is annoying because it is not ideal to rub your waterline too much. In addition (and perhaps my biggest problem with this eyeliner), this product does not work on the upper lash line as well as it does on your bottom waterline. It gives you a fatter, sloppier line, which is great if you want to smudge it out, but it's not the one for polished looks or winged out looks.

Bottom line: I LOVE this eyeliner for my waterline and I will repurchase it. After trying this, I won't go back to my .99 cents pencil eyeliners... 

Rating: 8/10

REVIEW: Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser

Hello lovelies!
 I went on a little shopping trip to CVS and ended up buying the Olay Fresh Effects Shine, Shine Go Away! Shine Minimizing Cleanser. I was running out of my Philosophy Purity and for the summer that was not really working (and it's quite expensive). In addition, using my CVS ExtraCare card I got a 20% off my purchase and two additional coupons that applied to the beauty products I ended up buying. The original price was $7.99, but I only paid about five dollars for this thanks to the coupons. 

I was a bit skeptical about this product because I've tried cleansers to reduce oil and shine and they all make my face feel dry and rough. However, this product really surprised me. The texture is like a very thick cream and it has a slightly pearly appearance. It doesn't have any overpowering fragrance, but it smells really fresh.
 As I was applying, it felt really soft and creamy but my hands started to feel a bit dry as I was washing off the product. In terms of my face, it really got rid of all the oil and impurities (much better than Purity), but it didn't feel like it completely stripped off my face like some cleansers do. I've also tried it with the Clarisonic Mia 2 and it works just as well (although I prefer not to use the Clarisonic every morning). 

Now, let's get onto the verdict. The claims Olay makes about this product on their website are the following:

"Add this cleanser to your morning regimen for a fresh and deep clean:

• Removes 2x more dirt, oil and makeup vs. basic cleansing

• Kaolin clay lifts away impurities and helps minimize shine

• Deep cleansing action for a fresher feel" 

And I would have to agree. The difference in easily noticeable. This is a deep cleansing product, it has helped me minimize shine and I didn't have to use a lot of product to get these results. Since I've started using this every morning, I rarely have to retouch my makeup or use blotting sheets throughout the day. 

For my combination skin and the current hot weather this is the perfect item to help me not look like a ball of oil halfway throughout the day. However, I get some dry patches on my cheeks when the weather cools down so I am not sure this is suitable to use all-year round unless you have really oily skin. 

Bottom line: Yes, I would repurchase this product and recommend it to anyone who tends to get shiny or oily mid-day. Just make sure you still tone and use a light moisturizer before applying makeup.

Rating: 9/10

Hello world!

Maybe I should start by introducing myself and let you know who I am. *awkwardly says hi* Well, my name is Gabriela and I just recently turned 20 years old. I am studying at the University of Arizona, but I am originally from Puerto Rico. 

If you met me one year ago, you would've NEVER believed I had a passion for beauty and makeup. I was the most laid back, i-dont-care-about-that-crap person and i literally never allowed myself to embrace what I have and make it work. This past semester was a really rough one. I struggled with balancing work, study and sleep, keeping my motivation/focus and had major self-confidence issues. I will save the story of how exactly getting into makeup and beauty has helped me for later. For now, I just want to state that the main reasons for me being where I am today are Zoe (zoella) and Louise(sprinkleofglitter). But enough about that...

I have been thinking about starting a beauty blog for a long time but I just never had the time or courage to do it. I am constantly trying new products and reviewing them on Amazon and manufacturers’ websites, but I wanted something more. To me, reviewing products and being helpful to other people is really fun so even if no one reads this blog, I will do it because I truly enjoy it. 

You can expect to see anything from hauls, posts about my favorite products of the month, great beauty deals at the drugstore, and more importantly, detailed reviews about the products I have tried. I am still not sure how often I will update this blog. It might be every other day, once a week or twice a month. Let’s see how this goes.

Come join this adventure with me and let’s have fun!