dark skin – sarah fynn

Kao – Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 2019 Edition

It’s been a while since I did a k beauty sunscreen review. I have picked up a few over the last months and started to put them to test.

Today will be a full review of Kao – Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 2019 Edition. This is a very popular k beauty SPF which my fellow skincare enthusiasts love.

What the brand says

This updated version of Biore’s most loved UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel SPF 50+ PA++++ is powered by the innovative Micro Defense formula to prevent uneven application. The colorless essence forms an invisible waterproof shield on skin without feeling sticky. Hyaluronic acid, royal jelly and other moisturizing ingredients keep skin comfortable and hydrated. Excellent as a primer!

Experience

Type of sunscreen– chemical

I have been using this sunscreen in the mornings as the last step of skincare before makeup. It’s lasted about 3 weeks. When I’m working from home I would also use it for reapplication.

I have not experienced any irritation

What I liked: this gel cream goes on so easily and spreads evenly on the skin. I feels so hydrating on the skin and absorbs to leave a dewy finish. It’s got new generation chemical filters which offer better protection. This has a high PA rating 4 so you are also getting excellent UVA protection. It’s got hydrating and antioxidant ingredients for hydrating and added protection against pollution. It layers so well over serums and creams and doesn’t pill when reapplied!

Is it invisible on dark skin? This sunscreen is 100% invisible on dark skin. No flashbacks

What I didn’t like: has a strong scent of alcohol but this doesn’t linger too long

Verdict

I can see why this SPF is so popular! I used the 2019 version and this formula is great. A very nice gel cram texture that feels hydrating on the skin. This sunscreen offers excellent protection against the sun plus the added hydration and antioxidant ingredient make it a well-rounded formula.

I will repurchase.

Kao – Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 2019 Edition is £7.26 on Yesstyle

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream SPF30 Review

Kiehl’s skincare is one of the best around. I fell in love with the brand after using the clearly correct dark spot serum a few years back. This post will be a full review of the Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30.

The Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30 is a version of their very popular and bestselling ULTRA Facial Cream, the only difference is the added sun protection. This cream promises to have all the benefits of the original (non-greasy hydration, comfortable and healthier-looking skin) plus sun protection

Experience

I have been using this close to 6 months now every morning. The texture is a lightweight lotion and goes on really well, layering over serums without pilling. The scent is a typical SPF moisturiser scent, I don’t think it’s remarkable.

I would say the cream does offer some hydration although I don’t think it’s continuous as they say. When I use the cream alone (i.e. without makeup) I tend to find my skin slightly dry towards the middle of the day. It doesn’t leave an oily finish. There is some dewiness but I like it and I think oiler skin types may also like it.

Is it invisible on dark skin? – YES. I slaughter this on in the mornings and there is no white cast, it does look like it will leave a cast when massaging it in but when it sinks into the skin there is no trace of a cast.

Verdict

I have never used the original facial cream but I really love this one. It feels lightweight, doesn’t clog pores and provides some hydration. It layers really well with other products and doesn’t pill too. Best of all its 100% on dark skin so we won’t have to worry about that! This is a chemical-based sunscreen and comes in two sizes

I was gifted this by a friend but this is something I would definitely purchase. This joins my list of best SPF moisturisers I have tried.

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment Review

Sun protection for dark skin is near and dear to my heart. Over the last few years, I have committed myself to find as many suitable SPFs as possible for dark skin. I have a Dark skin SPF edit and tested out a few Asian SPFs as well (Missha, OMI, Etude House etc). I am now going to the drugstore like Boots & Superdrug where products are easier to find to test their SPFs.

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment SPF 50 promises 0% white residue on the skin, high UVB UVA protection, anti-ageing properties from Q10 and a light texture and feeling on the skin.

Experience

After using the Moisture Mousse SPF 50, I was very interested in other sun protection Nivea had. The Q10 SPF is a lightweight lotion which feels very moisturising on the skin. I haven’t experienced any irritation or clogged pores with this.

This SPF has a very similar scent to the Moisture Mousse and any other Nivea sun product. It’s light, pleasant but lingers. The cream does leave a face a little shiny but not greasy or extremely oily looking. I use this as the last step in my skincare routine, on top of my moisturiser. I think if you had extremely oily skin you could probably skip moisture. It feels lightweight on the skin. It doesn’t sting my eyes.

Is it invisible on the skin? Yes. The initial application looks like it would leave a white cast but after this absorbs into the skin, it’s 100% clear on the skin. No flashback. The SPF doesn’t pill but I noticed when I use a lot of it I find pills after it dries down during the day. I/m not a huge fan of this because I do like like slaughter on SPF and use a lot of it. It doesn’t pill though when I use my yourGoodSkin SPF on top of it during the day.

Verdict

This is a very good find from the drugstore. Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment is 100% invisible on dark skin and affordable. It’s lightweight, moisturising and provides high sun protection. It also has Q10 as an added bonus. Q10 is an antioxidant and also helps to maintain healthy skin.

I will repurchase but I do prefer the Mousse more. There are a few more SPFs from Nivea I want to test before moving onto another brand.

So bummed I finished the tube without a picture but it is 100% invisible on dark skin: no blending etc needed

Nivea Face Q10 Anti Age and Anti Pigment is £8 in Superdrug

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer Review

The Fit Me line from Maybelline is probably one of Maybelline’s most successful lines! It has foundations in two finishes, powders and concealers. The Fit Me concealer has been hailed as a dupe for a top-selling high-end brand and it is also very hyped in the beauty community. I only tried this concealer last year because up until that point I was not a fan of any of the shades.

The Fit Me concealer promises flawless natural coverage that hides redness, flawless and blemishes. It is also oil and fragrance-free.

Experience

I have two shades in the concealer. I picked up shade 60 first, which is slightly darker and red on my skin tone. I picked this up because previously I could only find shade 50 in stores but this was too light for me. Much later on, I discovered shade 55 which has yellow undertones and is a good highlight shade for me.

The Fit Me concealers have medium coverage but are very easy to build to full coverage without looking cakey. These concealers are very much worth the hype. They are easy to blend and once set with powder, they do not crease on me. The finish is natural, it’s not matte and it’s not luminous but sits perfectly in between these two. The texture is lightweight, it doesn’t feel heavy under the eye even when I have built this up. They do not oxidise

Verdict

This concealer is usually called a dupe for the NARS Creamy radiant concealer, however, I won’t necessarily agree because the finishes are very different. NARS is more radiant whilst the Fit me is a natural finish. In terms of texture, they are quite similar but the NARS is slightly lighter. They both have medium coverage but I do not think they are dupes for each other, they are very closer though. If you prefer very full coverage, these can easily be built up without looking cakey. You also get some play time with the concealers as they do not dry down very fast so you can apply them and wait a while before blending if you want. I wish there was a shade in between 55 and 60.

I would 100% recommend the Fit me Concealers because they are very affordable and easy to access and they also come in a good range of shades( I think they have expanded the range since it first came out). it will definitely make my top 10 concealers from the drugstore and I would say its worth the hype.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer is £5.99 at Boots*

*affiliate link used. If you decide to make a purchase through my link, I will earn a small commission which goes towards the upkeep of the blog (and allows me to keep bringing you excellent content) but the price remains the same

More drugstore concealers

Makeup Revolution Define and Conceal

Nyx HD Concealer

OMI Solanoveil Protect Face Milk SPF 50 review

I have now tried 5 Asian sunscreens from YesStyle. 3 were amazing but the other 2 were not. Today’s post will be a full review and demo on the OMI Solanoveil Protect Face Milk SPF 50 PA+++. This is alcohol-free and has ‘beauty care’ ingredients like hyaluronic acid and arbutin.

Experience

The texture of this sunscreen is extremely lightweight and runny, I don’t think the ‘milk’ texture describes it well. Unfortunately, this sunscreen is not suitable for dark skin and it leaves a very tell-tale white cast on the skin. It doesn’t feel extremely matte on the skin. I got this after watching a review on YT and they commented on how invisible it was on the skin. The Youtuber was white however I do also watch her other videos as she has used quite a lot of Asian sunscreen reviews. I got some of the other SPF’s she has used and they were fine on my skintone. If you have white to light skin this sunscreen may be able to work for you. It’s one of the few Asian sunscreens I have come across that is alcohol-free.

Verdict

Not suitable for dark skin unless you cover it with makeup however it may have flashback. I wouldn’t recommend it as there are other SPFs that are 100% invisible. I am getting 4 more Asian sunscreens to test out before I start working on my Asian sunscreen edit. For now, you can check out the other Asian SPFs I have reviewed: Missha SPF 45, OMI Waterproof SPF 50

For western sunscreens, see my sunscreens for dark skin edit here

OMI Solanoveil SPF 50+ PA+++ Protect Face Milk is £7.39 on YesStyle*

Use my code SARAHF1 for ££ off your order.

*affiliate link

Shiseido Hada-Senka Mineral Water UV Protector SPF 50 Review

Summer is here and for many people, it means the start of SPF use (you should be using it all year around!). Earlier this year, I turned my attention to Asian sunscreens and I have 2 reviews on the blog: Missha, OMI and a further two coming soon! Today’s post will be a full review and demo of the Shiseido – Hada-Senka Mineral Water UV Protector SPF 50 PA+++ I purchased from YesStyle.

This sunscreen is very popular, it has over 200 reviews on YesStyle and 96% customer satisfaction rating. This little blue bottle is 40ml and promises superior protection against skin ageing and darkening whilst effectively blocking UVA and UVB rays. It has a watery texture and spreads easily without leaving the skin white.

Experience

I was really excited to try this because of the reviews and the videos I watched, plus it was a really low price. Shiseido is also a well-known J beauty brand. Out of all the Asian sunscreens I have tried, this one has the best texture, and it feels very soft and smooth and reminds me of a primer. This makes sense as looking at the ingredient list, the 1^st ingredient is a silicone, and in fact, there are a few silicones in this.

Shiseido – Hada-Senka Mineral Water UV Protector SPF 50 has a lightweight texture and does spread very easily, even with the silicones, it absorbed well into the skin although it takes a bit of patting. Initial application leaves the skin looking hydrated and dewy but not oily but this dries down throughout the day. The SPF leaves a soft powdery matte feel to the skin and whilst it doesn’t pill, I find around my eyebrows I can see a tiny bit of piling. The powdery finish makes my skin look dry so I tend to use another SPF at midday

This sunscreen is invisible on dark skin although there have been times where I felt like my skin looked a bit dull. I also found when I used this on my arms, there was a very very slight cast, something I can definitely get away with but they did look dry

Verdict

I find the texture of this SPF very pleasant and out of the others, I have tried this is my favourite. I haven’t used this as a primer but I imagine it would be an excellent one because if the silicones in it. If you are someone who doesn’t like silicones in their products I would stay away from this. It hasn’t clogged my pores or irritated my skin and there have been a few times in the past month I went to bed without double cleansing or washing my face( I know! In my defence I was sick!)

I think this will be great for oily skin because of the finish. In the summer, my skin usually becomes oilier however it hasn’t done that so far so I do not appreciate the finish as much at the moment. I will repurchase this.

It’s a small bottle which will make it perfect for reapplication on the go, 40ml lasted about a month, I use a lot of sunscreen!

Shiseido – Hada-Senka Mineral Water UV Protector SPF 50 PA+++ is £6.61 in YesStyle*.

Use my code SARAHF1 for ££ off your order

affiliate link

Birthday Get Ready with me: Hair Makeup Outfit

Hey guys, I hope all is well. It was my birthday on Monday, thank you to everyone who wished me well! I had an amazing day: the weather was beautiful, I had an amazing facial and got all glammed up! I absolutely fell in love with the finished look so I thought I would share everything I used! Let’s start

Skincare/Body prep

I treated myself to the Guinot Hydradermie facial at The Boutique Spa in Beckenham. This place came highly recommended but I never had the time to visit so I made it a point to go for my birthday. It’s a pricey facial but it absolutely worth it! The customer service was amazing, the place is sparkling clean and my therapist was very good. My skin was left smoother and glowing! I would highly recommend this place. I will go back and bring a full review soon.

For my body, I used the Scrubz of London Natural Body Scrub in Strawberry* this is a very gritty ‘dry’ scrub. I used it on dry skin with a very light hand and my skin was left so smooth ( still smooth!) and soft! I was surprised it didn’t leave my skin dry because it doesn’t have a lot of oil compared to other scrubs I have used. The scent is yummy too. I followed this up with the BodyShop Spa of the World Rhassoul Clay Body Mask( discontinued). I let it sit for 15 mins and washed off.

Makeup

I wanted a very luminous ‘natural’ makeup look with matte nude lips and glitter on the eyes. My inspiration came from Danessa Myricks who I have been following on Instagram for a while and have learnt a lot from! Here is the finished look.

Product breakdown

Complexion

Primer- Emani Perfect 10 Primer Serum* as a first primer then MUA Pro Base Primer Oil* layered on top after the primer serum sat for about 5 mins.

Colour corrector- LA girl Orange

Foundation & Concealer- Fenty Pro Filter Foundation in 430 and concealer in 400. I applied a tiny bit of concealer and blended first then I applied my foundation in layers. 1st pump blended over my face and neck. 2^nd pump mixed in with Sleek Highlighting Elixir in Sunset** and 3^rd pump all over. I used a duo fiber stippling brush

Under Eye setting Powder- Fenty Pro Filter Powder in Honey

Contour & Contour powder- Fenty Match stix in Expresso & MUA Pro Base Matte powder in192*

Blush- Mac Raizin

Highlighter- Fenty Killawatt foil- Hustla baby

Setting Spray- Makeup Obsession Prep Fix Glow ** 1^st then Mac Fix plus

Eyes

I’m not the greatest at eye makeup- I’m learning. I wanted something really simple with a bit of glitter.

I primed with the concealers & powder

I used Fenty Freestyle highlighter inPenny4uthots on the lid and Prima Pressed Glitter in Hot Chocolate. Transition colours were from the Makeup Revolution Flawless 4 palette* ( thank you hooded eyes for covering all the eye makeup! lol)

Glitter glue- Revolution (however I don’t recommend this my eyeshadow always creases with this (I have oily lids smh) so I really need to find something better)

Lashes – Kiss Naked Drama in Chiffon*

Lips

Fenty Stunna Lip Paint Unveil to line the lips and Too Face Melted Matte Lips in Sugar Cookie. The Too Faced lipstick was part of the limited edition Christmas gift set- I’m not sure if these are permanent colours. The formula of these lipsticks are amazing! They smell great (may just be this set) but they are super matte and the staying power is amazing yet so easy to remove with a cleansing balm! After eating, drinking & wiping it was still on!

Outfit

I found this dress on sale in January on Boohoo and I immediately had to get it. IT WAS £6!!!!!. I love velvet and I thought the colour would look amazing on my skin tone

Shoes- everything 5 pounds (but they are from the brand Truffle) I tell you guys about this discount shop! They literally sell other brands for so £5! Truffle shoes usually go from £30+ on ASOS. You cant see but the shoes have fringe detail on the heel.

Bag – Aldo (I actually got this 2 years ago in Aldo Rome for my birthday lol)

Earrings- Ebay

My hair was really simple- I did a slick bun (with EcoStyler gel) and used Afro Kinky braiding hair as a ponytail

I used Too Faced Royal Oil all over and Hi Glow Bronzer Stick on high points for extra glow on my body

And that was me guys! I am so excited for this New Year and everything it brings. I enjoyed every aspect of getting ready! If you are looking for product recommendations, I hope you also found this post useful and found some new products to get!

Catch you later

*- gifted product

** Affiliate link

L’Oréal True Match Concealer Review

L’Oréal’s True Match Collection is very popular and they claim to match 98% of UK skin tones (True Match Foundation) I never really liked the True Match Foundation, I found it too shimmery and red so I gave it away. I decided to try the True Match concealer because I liked the consistency of it and the luminous finish of it. I have had this concealer over 3 years at least so I know how this works.

The L’Oréal True Match The One Concealer is described as a lightweight medium to high buildable coverage to provide instant brightness to the eye area and fight dark circles over time. They also promise to conceal imperfections and hide signs of fatigue. It comes in 14 shades

Experience

Nyx Cosmetics HD Studio Photogenic Concealer Review

I have the shade 9D.W Mahogany which had red undertones and is a skin tone shade but very workable as an under eye highlight (sometimes I add a lighter concealer on top depending on my mood). I have shown shade comparisons with my other drugstore concealers in the above picture. I do agree with L’Oréal that the concealer feels lightweight, infact it’s extremely lightweight but the coverage is definitely not medium. It is more of a sheer coverage but it’s buildable. The finish of this is very dewy which I like and it does add some brightness to the eye area. It does have some slight shimmer in it but it is not very obvious compared to the foundation. As for fighting dark circles over time, that’s not true.

My biggest con with this concealer is that something in it makes my eyes water a lot when I apply and blend it. I have never experienced this is any of my concealers or foundations so it’s a shame really as I do like it. It also has a strong alcohol scent. I don’t use it under eye anymore but as a foundation when I want a quick no makeup makeup look but this isn’t very often, infact I haven’t reached for this concealer for a while. It looks so beautiful as a foundation and makes the skin look glowy and smooth. I would honestly like to try a lighter shade as a highlighting concealer but unless they have changed the formula, I have to stay away from it.

Verdict

A bittersweet experience: I really like the finish of this and even the sheer coverage but it makes my eyes water so much and the scent is a put-off. It must be an ingredient in it or maybe it’s the strong alcohol scent that is making my eyes water. I don’t have any allergies so I don’t think it’s that but who knows. People really like this concealer so it is obvious that this is a personal issue and it’s different for everyone. I can still recommend it because you may not experience this issue and it is a good concealer to have. Do not expect a lot of coverage from this but you can build up if you like.

L’Oréal True Match The One concealer is £7.99 available from Boots*

Fenty Pro Filtr Instant Retouch Concealer Swatches

Hey guys, I hope all is well! I got new Fenty Beauty! I picked up two shades of the new Instant Retouch Concealers and the new setting powder last week and I thought to do some swatches to help anyone who may need it! I didn’t get to swatch them so I went with the Fenty swatches they provided and videos I watched. They also make it very easy to pick your concealer shade as they are the same numbers as your foundation just a tad bit lighter. I am 430 in the foundation so I decided to go from there and pick a lighter shade to highlight with so I also got 400. I thought I did pretty well however 400 and 430 look VERY similar with only a slight difference in undertone so I think I could have gone with 390 even. I still really like these two shades.

I have swatched my concealers with 5 popular drugstore and high-end concealers to hopefully help guide your decision. If you have any of these concealers and in the same shades, hopefully, my swatches will help guide if you should go higher or lower or perhaps go with the shades I have too if you’re happy with them. If you’re still in doubt and can’t get to the store, you can always start from your foundation shade (if you have the foundation) and go up. The swatches from Fenty are pretty true to colour too. Now that I am looking back at my swatches, it looks like the Fenty concealers dry a little darker, hmm I will have a more in-depth review after I have a better handle on how they wear.

Drugstore swatches

The undertones of the shades are quite similar except for Fawn which is very yellow/golden and Revolution’s Conceal & Define in C13 which has more neutral in it.

High-end swatches

Again similar undertones except for the Bobbi Brown which is very golden.

I hope this helps guys. I have my foundation shades and comparisons below in case you also have any of these foundations. Catch you later.

Fenty Pro Filtr Foundation review

Makeup revolution Conceal & Define concealer review

Pro Filtr Instant Retouch Concealers are £19 and available in the UK in Harvey Nichols

Best Makeup Products of 2018

When I posted my best of skincare products of 2018 and I promised a makeup edit next! I’m here to deliver! These products are a mix of new releases and old faithful that work best on dark skin tones.

This year I saw so many makeup launches! A lot of diverse and inclusive shades than ever but there were still a few brands still coming out with them nonsense shades lol. This post isn’t about the new makeup launches but all the makeup products that I have loved this year and what works best for my skintone. These are a mix of new launches and old products I love!

Primers/setting sprays

I am a primer baby! I never start my makeup without a primer and this year I started multi priming (using 2-3 diff primers), I have loved Makeup Forever Radiant Caramel Primer. It helps to colour correct and adds a glow to the skin. I can use it alone or under makeup. It’s also the perfect primer for multi priming. It’s not the one for smoothing pores etc but if you want a subtle glow and colour correcting pick this up! The Estee Lauder Illuminating Primer & Finisher is another good illuminating primer! It pairs well with the Double Wear foundation and other foundations. It extends wear time of a foundation and helps to smooth the skin. I can’t get away with this alone but it great under makeup! From the drugstore, Makeup Revolution Amazing Primer is the best! It smoothes the skin, fills pores and extends foundation wear!

Pixi Glow mist is my bae! I really love this setting spray and repurchased it! if you want the ultimate dewy finish this is your pick!

Foundation

The pinnacle of makeup! This year I started my Foundation of the month series which allowed me to really put my foundations to the test! Check out my reviews of all the foundations I have used from Jan to November! December’s review will be coming soon! Out of the foundations I used, NARS Naturally Radiant was amazing. This was one of the new releases from NARS this year. Check out the review here. I also loved The Ordinary High Coverage Foundation, this £5 foundation honestly rivals the luxury brands. Becca’s Ultimate Coverage Complexion Crème was another favourite! I tried for the first time the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation and I was BLOWN AWAY! I stayed away from it for so long because its full coverage & matte but using illuminators allowed me to enjoy the foundation! I get the hype and I have purchased the full size, scheduled for wear next year!

Concealers & Colour Correctors

So I have tried a few concealers this year, the Sephora Bright Future Concealer stood out the most. I have been wanting it since I went to LA in 2016 and I missed the chance of getting it! I also tried the Maybelline Fit me concealer and it’s a good drugstore concealer! Makeup Revolution Define & Conceal concealer is another amazing full coverage matte concealer. For colour correctors I have only used the L.A Girl Orange colour corrector and it’s pretty amazing.

Liquid illuminators

This year I have really come to love liquid illuminators! They have allowed me to branch out and use matte foundations as well as allowing me to fall more in love with dewy makeup! I love the Gosh Lumi drops in Bronze which adds a lovely dewy finish to foundation without being too shimmery. I also love the new release from Sleek Makeup this year, the highlighting elixir drops in Sunlit. It is a dark gold and adds a beautiful illuminating finish to makeup! I have combined these with dewy foundations too and they don’t make it OTT but added to matte foundations really gives you the best of both worlds

Bronzer/Blush/highlighter

ColourPop Bits & Pieces Bronzer is the perfect warm shade for my skin tone. I have been on the hunt for a bronzer so I am very happy to have tried this. Juvia’s place Sahara Blush Vol I is the best blush palette for us brown beauties. They are so pigmented and blend so easily on the skin. The shades are so pretty on dark skin. I finally got my hands on Colourpop Avalon super shock highlighter– amazing! Fenty Hustla baby is another fav of mine this year!

Mascara

I love the L’Oréal False Lash X Fiber Mascara it adds length and volume and really gives a false lash effect. I also liked the Benefit they’re real primer. This has a brown tint and often times I would use this alone when I wanted a natural look to my lashes. I also loved this for my lower lashes. It’s honestly really good

So folks these are the makeup products I have been loving all year! let me know what your favourite makeup items are!