Korres "Smokey Eyes" Set Review

I recently came across the new Korres bags, in which you can find a number of products to create a certain look. Deciding to play it safe, I bought the Smokey eyes kit and gave it a try. Here is my experience and review of the products in the set. 

The “Smokey eyes” set comes with four products: 1) the Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara in Black 01, 2) the Eyeliner Pencil in black 1, 3) the Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eye shadow in graphite grey 58 and 4) the White Tea Eau du Toilette which is a perfume in a sample size. The price of this set was at 14 euro (at least that’s how much it cost at the store where I bought it from). 

 First impressions:

I was interested in these sets because as far as I know, Korres hasn’t done anything similar before. There were other sets as well, some containing nail polishes and lipsticks instead of eyeliners or perfumes and I thought that was really well put together. Another thing that I really appreciated after exploring the different “set” options was that the products were not in sample size (with the exception of the perfume), so you’re basically getting your moneys’ worth by purchasing the actual product size. In addition to that, Korres is known for using or drawing inspiration from ingredients found in nature such as flowers and plants and a lot of the sets were themed according to what ingredients matched together. 

Product Review:

Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara in Black 01

 I am a huge fan of this mascara and have been using it for years. I was actually running out of it when I came by the “Smokey Eyes” set and so I was able to stock up on my favorite mascara but also try out some new products ^^. 

What’s amazing with this mascara is that it makes the lashes look incredibly thick and full even without having to tight line your eyes to make the lashes look fuller. In addition to that, it elongates and nourishes the lashes, making it an overall great purchase for any type of lashes.

Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eye shadow in graphite grey 58

Even though the product description states that it’s a dark grey color, this eye shadow looks pretty much like a black one, however after blending, you can see the charcoal grey coming through. Having said that, you can create a multi-dimensional look by blending or adding more product while using the same eye shadow. Also, the Sunflower and Evening Primrose Eye shadow is very pigmented and very easy to blend so a thumbs up here as well! 

Eyeliner Pencil in black 1

 

This eyeliner pencil has a bit of a kajal feel to it, meaning that it’s a very dark black eyeliner with a very strong “wet”/shinny color. 

It’s great for lining the upper and lower rim and stays in place throughout the day; it’s also pretty easy to blend. This would make a great purchase on its own as well.

White Tea Eau de Toilette

Well… I can’t say much about the sample of perfume that came with the set, mostly because I couldn’t get the tiny bottle to work and when I finally busted it open, there was hardly any product to try out :S What I could gather from the smell is that this is a very subtle perfume, probably better for day use and it also had a bit of a "pastry" smell to it ^^ Either way, I’m not much of a perfume person myself, so I can safely say that I wasn't really disappointed by the malfunction/absence of the product. 

Overall, I can say that I’m very satisfied with the Korres “Smokey Eyes” set. The products included were very well made and I was very happy with the look I was able to create with them. The price was also very satisfying for me. Also, this would be a great starter kit for smokey eyes for someone who is just starting out with make up... I will definitely try out some of the other sets available and hopefully discover some new fun products in the process! 

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10 Tips to Make Your Eyes Look Bigger

1. Start with an eye shadow primer, one that is tacky so that it can hold the color. If your lids are dry, you can use a concealer but definitely opt for the primer if your eyelids are warm. 

2. Choose a dark eye pencil. When enhancing your eyes you need a dark liner; other options are navy, purple, charcoal etc. Dark color will contrast with the whites of your eyes.

3. When applying eyeliner, don’t apply all the way around your eyes. Stop half way along the lower lash line and don’t apply on the inner rim, just below the bottom lashes. 

4. Make your eye lashes look bigger: curl, nourish and apply a mascara that lengthens your lashes. Some tested mascaras are: Korres - Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara and L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting Mascara (this one has a primer on one end as well).

5. Add a white or light eye shadow on the inner corners of your eyes. This brings light into them and creates the illusion that they are larger. 

 

6. When applying eyeliner, extend it past your outer corners and give it an upwards direction, creating a cat eye to elongate the shape of your eyes.

7.  Did you know that the shape of your eyebrows affects the shape of your eyes? It’s like the frame of a picture; they frame your face! However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that the thinner your eyebrows the bigger your eyes will look; consult an aesthetician  and decide on the best shape that will bring out your eyes. 

8. Peach-color based concealers are better for erasing the blue tones of dark circles and can make your eyes look bigger.

 

9. When applying eye shadow, go for two different tones: one lighter on the center of the eye and the darker on the upper lid and above the lighter eye shadow. Also make sure they’re from the same color family to enhance the effect.

10. Use a liquid concealer instead of a cream based one to cover up the dark circles, since it has less chances of slipping into the natural lines of your eyes and making them look smaller. 

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Review: Boscia Pore Strips

Here is a quick review of Boscia’s Pore Purifying Black Strips

For people with blackheads, pore strips are a great solution and with the addition of a good cream/serum product, the size of your pores as well as the existence of blackheads can be seriously reduced. After having tried Boscia’s BB cream and having been very satisfied with the product, I decided to also try out the same company’s pore strips.

The pack contains 6 one-use strips in a black color; one side has an adhesive substance, which you must apply to a wet surface – otherwise it won’t stick. So basically, wash your face but leave your nose  very wet. The strip stays on for 15 minutes or until it has hardened. It promises to remove dirt and oil from pores while simultaneously minimizing pore size, leaving the skin “exceptionally cleansed”.  You are supposed to use this product once or twice a week, no more. 

Sadly, I was very disappointed by the performance of this product. Here’s what I experienced.

- No matter how wet the surface I attempt to apply the strip on is (in this case, my nose), it still doesn’t stick on well and it eventually ends up falling off from one side...

- It doesn’t remove anything… My skin is left the same, if not worse because it’s irritated by the sticky substance, and I am nowhere near cleaner or minimized pores.

- I wanted to give this product a chance, but it really doesn’t even remove the dirt or the oil from my nose. I at first thought that my pores are too deep for a strip to clean but the thing is, this product doesn’t seem to be doing anything but sitting there until it dries and fall off. 

Perhaps this product would be more suitable for someone with a small blackhead issue but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with visible blackheads.

Would I repurchase? Nah… I’m glad I bought the sample pack that contained only six strips. 

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How to: Wavy Hair with No Heat - in less than an hour!

Hi all!!! Here is a simple way to get stylish wavy hair – and the whole process takes less than an hour!!! 

Start with freshly washed hair that has been air dried or blow dried (it doesn’t really make a difference). Basically, start with what your hair would look like after you had taken a shower and dried them. Try not to use any products that weigh the hair in addition to what you’ll be using for this styling technique, because it will remove the volume from this look. 

You will need a mousse that will add volume and texture to your hair. A great product that I have personally fallen in love with is the Lorvenn Paris X-Style Super Curl Mousse  

It actually does what it promised to do: maintain the curls and the hair’s natural elasticity and texture without weighing on the hair. The problem with most of the other mousse products I had previously tried was that they would make the hair too stiff without actually holding the style.

One product is all you'll need! If your hair is very dry, you might want to add a moisturizing serum to the ends only. 

 

Equally spread the mousse all over your hair, making sure to not add too much on the roots, because it might make them oily. You can flip your hair upside down for better control.

 Separate your hair into sections. Depending on the length and thickness of your hair, you can choose to add or remove sections, but I think that separating them into at least four sections (two on the lower part of your hear and two on the top of your head) will add more style as the curls will form differently and your hairstyle will look more layered. 

 

 Start twisting each section around itself (like in the picture to the left); you can twist the lower sections whichever way you want (towards the face or away) but definitely twist the upper sections away from the face. Also, try to make the upper sections as high as you can (almost at the top of your head) so you can get more volume if you wish to.

After twisting each section, wrap it around itself and secure it in place with an elastic band or a bobby pin. By the end, you should have four little “meatballs” on your head :P

Spray some hairspray on if your hair doesn’t hold curls easily and let your hair sit like this for as long as you can afford, but 45 minutes to an hour is more than enough. The longer you leave it, the tighter the curls will be.

Your sections should look like this...

When ready, untangle each “meatball”, flip over and run your hands through your hair to “open” the curls and make them look more natural. Flip your hair again and style accordingly. I love splitting my hair on the side, because I feel it makes the curls look more elegant and stylish. 

 

That’s it! You get lovely wavy hair without the use of a heating tools or having to sleep uncomfortably because your hair is wrapped up in something weird :P In order to wear your hair the same way on the next day, simply split it again into the number of sections you had before, repeat the same twisting process and let it sit. Easy, fast and stylish! 

Enjoy ;)

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