Products the bd team tested (and loved) this week.
Once or twice a year I like to add an at home semi-gloss to my hair to give it a pick-me-up of richer colour and shine. That was until I stumbled across the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette range that has a similar effect without the need to colour the hair. The John Frieda Brilliant Brunette range has been formulated to add shine and illuminate the brunette tones in the hair. When I opened the shampoo bottle, I felt like the formula was salon quality. Its texture was quite thick and the colour of the shampoo was rich caramel with a pearlescent shine. The shampoo lathered easily and smelt amazing. The conditioner was the same and, once rinsed out, made my hair feel soft and smooth. I applied the Perfecting Glosser to my mid lengths and ends when my hair was still wet. The glosser did not leave my hair with any greasy residue, it felt smooth and soft with more shine. The products did not make the colour any richer or darker, however, they left the hair glossy, giving it a fresh, shiny finish. – Liz
ColorStay™ Gel Envy™ Longwear Nail Enamel
For someone who never used to wear nail polish, these days I’d never step out of the front door without some form of colour on my nails. My favourite enamel to wear this winter is the Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel that has 30 on-trend shades to choose from. Inspired by salon gel nails to provide a long-lasting colour and shine, two coats gives me great cover in the perfect glossiness. It’s super resilient to chipping and continues to provide a glossy coat for over a week. I’m also a huge fan of the applicator that makes the polish go on smoothly and without streaks. – Yelena
Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Concealer
I don't usually wear concealer, but I was looking a little dark under my eyes so went to the beauty cupboard to find something to help me look a little brighter. I picked out this Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eye Eraser Concealer mainly because I love the applicator tip - it's soft and spongey and blends the product into the skin without the need for an extra make-up brush. I used the 10 Fair Clair shade and was impressed at how easily it matched my skin tone and foundation. The concealer has a nice texture and consistency so you get coverage without it caking into any fine lines under the eye. As part of the Age Rewind range, this concealer contains antioxidants to treat puffiness and darkness under the eyes, which makes it great value at $18.95. – Michelle
The eyes are an area I have categorically avoided applying product to, however, since the wonderful Bree Pringle and her expert make-up tips joined the office, I have begun to explore this new territory. This week, L’Oréal Paris’ Infallible Eyeshadow came across my desk. The highly pigmented, rich warm colour pots (Burning Black and Eternal Black) were going to be my chance to show off my new skills. I first noticed that the colours, although rich, didn’t apply too thick or strong. In fact, I found that the colour was great to build on, making life easy for a heavy hand like mine. Due to its creamy consistency, it is really easy to use as an eyeliner too. The colour seems to have adhered to my skin well and I’m looking forward to sporting my smoky new look at dinner tonight. - Jess
