DEINFLUENCE &
INFLUENCE
7 beauty products I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley… versus 7 beauty products worth your attention
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly
DEINFLUENCE
“De-influencing” is a revolution against overconsumption and overhyped beauty reviews. So, I’m here to “deinfluence” you with a few beauty products I wouldn't buy again... (this is my truth!!)
Erborian Skin Hero
A cream that works to enhance the appearance of bare skin in 7 days, using K-beauty technology. Sounds amazing right? Er nope, it was not heroic at all. The cream just sat on the skin with its unappealing peach colour (completely matte, not glowy at all).
Barbara Sturm glow drops
Not worth investing in. There are lots of other glow-enhancing products that would do equivalent/ better. For me, it didn't really fulfill the makeup or skincare criteria.
Hourglass vanish seamless finish stick foundation
Annoyingly, it looked amazing after application but had zero longevity - potentially did not suit my skin type!
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
No, no, no. Do not deviate from Batiste.
WOW Supernatural Spray
A TikTok cult product - you apply to wet hair before drying with heat to activate it... can't really say it lived up to the hype. This is possibly because I didn't use enough of it for the thickness of my hair - it says be extremely liberal. lol in this economy? Not cost effective in my opinion.
Rare Beauty matte liquid liner
I’m a fan of the brand, but this liquid eyeliner is not the one. The matte texture is chic, but that's if you can get any product out the pen. Spoiler: you can't, it's dry as a bone!
Kate Somerville Exfoliator
I didn't *hate* this product... but it was super thick, coarse, and therefore, very hard to squeeze out the tube - let alone spread over the skin. There are much better exfoliators out there! It's also green in colour - which is quite unforgiving when it comes to washing all the product off hehe.
INFLUENCE
Now… influencing you with some of my favourite beauty products. The non-negotiables.
Woods_Copenhagen Intense Peel Mask
A rejuvenating facial gel mask formulated with lactic and glycolic acids to exfoliate, dissolve dead skin cells, and trigger the production of new cells. Instant pep up for your skin. One tube lasts a surprisingly long time. Shop here.
L'Oréal Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oil
Seeking glossy, nourished hair with mirror-shine? The search ends here.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal
The best retinol product I’ve tried. Well technically it’s retinAL; a “next-generation” vitamin A which acts 11x faster than your standard retinol. It’s available in different strengths — I’d recommend starting out with the 6 (or 3 if you have extremely sensitive skin) then graduate to the 10 once you’ve got used to the formula. Shop here.
Wildsource Night Nectar Face Oil
A gorgeous, soothing oil with all natural ingredients - including Boabab and Prickly Pear. It’s also infused with Lavender and Frankincense - so it smells divine. Shop here.
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
Nothing compares to the colour selection — timeless, yet also reflective of the seasonal fashion trends. Chanel varnish is always a fail-safe. Shop here.
Rare Beauty Perfect Strokes Mascara
Finding the right mascara is tricky business. This one from Rare Beauty gives the perfect amount of volume with minimal smudge. Shop here.
Glossier Balm Dotcom
It’s cult for a reason. My preference is the coconut one, but choose your tipple here.