Noire Tropical Beauty

Beauty...Natural Hair...Vibes

Category: Reviews (page 5 of 25)

I finally tried Darcy’s Botanicals Vanilla Styling Crème. Did it give me the results I was looking for?

November 19, 2014 / / 0 Comments

[twitter-follow screen_name=’NoireTropicalB’]

 

I have a long, long list of products that I want to try. And that list is constantly growing as I learn about new brands that are popping up specifically geared to those with kinky, curly, coily hair. Once I find something, I tend to stick with it and use it over and over. I also don’t like buying something new until I have run out of the older products.

I finished with my recently discovered holy grail styler Oyin’s boing, and I promptly headed down to Ecodermis in Crown Heights (check this place out for all your natural hair needs) and I picked up the Darcy’s Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Crème Natural Hair Butter.

Upon opening the container, the product was filled to the brim! No air pockets so that you are definitely getting a good quantity!

The butter is vegan and 100% natural. It claims to be the best super rich moisturizing styling butter for natural twists, braids, locs and curls. The styling crème is off-white in colour and contains a bunch of great ingredients for adding and holding moisture including Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Jojoba Oil and Castor Seed Oil. This product is thick and has a very slight scent. Very thick! It has a consistency of a wax rather than a butter. It is probably because of the two waxes it also contains – emulsifying wax and candelilla wax. It reminds me of those loc butters than contains beeswax that some people use to re-twist their locs. I would recommend scooping out a small amount of the styling crème and emulsify it in your hands i.e. rub it between your palms to melt it a little and warm it up. It did not completely liquefy in my hands and remained as a thick cream. I applied this to my freshly washed hair after my leave-in conditioner. After twisting my hair, I was left with a slightly waxy texture to my strands. It definitely was not oily as some other heavier oil-based products would. I left my hair twisted for about a week and a half, only misting my hair with my Oyin Frank Juice and using some of the Styling Crème on my ends. After unravelling, I was left with an amazing twistout with an incredible hold!

My first twist out with Darcy’s! Look at the definition!

Continue reading

New Audacious lip colour by NARS Cosmetics for fall/autumn and LOTD

October 29, 2014 / / 4 Comments

[twitter-follow screen_name=’NoireTropicalB’]

.

 

NARS recently released a collection of 40 lipsticks in honour of its 20th Anniversary. New packaging and rich, creamy colour. The collection is currently available and I picked up one of them. I love deep shades for the colder months and Liv fits the bill! Smooth on the lips and lasts a good many hours.

 

NARS Audacious lipstick in Liv. The packaging is sleek and magnetic

Liv -special embossed lipstick bullet, rich colour!

Continue reading

My new favourite SheaMoisture collection! And buying it helps fight poverty!

October 28, 2014 / / 0 Comments

[twitter-follow screen_name=’NoireTropicalB’]

 

I was so excited when I saw the sneak peek of this new line on Instagram! (Btw, are you following me?) I loved the amber/maroon/burnished gold packaging. I have been using the same shampoo bars for the last year and a half and I was ready for something new. The newest member of the SheaMoisture Collection is The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Collection.

From PR:

The Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Collection is part of SheaMoisture Community Commerce program, which seeks to fight poverty and better the lives of women globally. Ten percent of Community Commerce sales go to women-led businesses, to support communities that supply ingredients for SheaMoisture’s products, or support The Sofi Tucker Foundation, a non-profit established by the brand.  Each product in the collection contains certified organic Shea Butter ethically sourced from women’s co-ops in Northern Ghana, Honey, Mafura and Baobab Oils, and African Rock Fig.

The collection contains both a hair care line and body care line.

Hair:

  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo– This sulfate-free shampoo cleanses, while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine-enhancing nutrients.  Softens and revitalizes hair, while protecting from environmental influences.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner– A rinse-out conditioner instantly softens and detangles, while infusing hair with intense moisture and shine-enhancing nutrients.  Leaves hair soft, shiny and more manageable.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Complex– This potent treatment absorbs quickly to encourage a healthy scalp and lustrous, beautiful hair.  Improves hair’s elasticity and promotes healthy growth.  SRP: $10.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque– An intensive, deep treatment conditioning masque that infuses hair with a powerful dose of moisture and nutrients.  Smoothes and fortifies follicles for stronger, healthier, frizz-free hair.  SRP: $12.99.

 

Body:

  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Wash– An all-purpose body wash that gently cleanses, while moisturizing dry, rough skin.  Provides a creamy lather and leaves skin soft and radiant. Can also be used to create a luxurious spa bath.  SRP: $9.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hand Cream– Rich in vitamins, this hand cream deeply moisturizes and provides immediate relief to dry, rough skin.  Apply to hands and cuticles as needed.  SRP: $5.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Butter– This comforting body butter delivers long-lasting hydration, while rejuvenating dry, rough skin.  Massage into rough, dry elbows, cuticles, knees and heels.  Gently enough to apply to dry lips.  SRP: $11.99;
  • Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Body Scrub– An invigorating scrub that gently exfoliates and nourishes with a rich blend of certified organic Shea Butter Honey, Mafura and Baobab to boost skin’s hydration.  African Rock Fig helps smooth and restore softness.  SRP: $10.99;

I picked up the Hydration Shampoo and the Intensive Hydration Masque from my local Target.

There is a distinct scent of honey that is not too overpowering. I actually love it. I was not thrilled at the last collection, the Manoi and Noni line, but this one is pretty.

Both products lived up the SheaMoisture standard and were quality items, but I loved the shampoo more than the masque.

Continue reading

Quite “Tickled” by this summer Zoya collection!

August 14, 2014 / / 1 Comment

[twitter-follow screen_name=’NoireTropicalB’]

 

 

I love shimmers and glitter polishes, but I appreciate a really vibrant, pigmented cream. Holding on to every bit of summer that I can, I have been loving these brights from Zoya’s Tickled Collection for summer 2014, especially as pedicure colours!

Tickled collection by Zoya

 

In general, I used two coats of polish for each shade. These are all very bright. I would even call them fluorescent or neon. I think they would look good on all skins tones, especially those with a deep tan or darker skin. They will really pop! The formula contains no shimmer, and it is a little thick but it’s not difficult to use. I also got good coverage on the nail for most of them. All Zoya polishes are Big 5 Free, and available for purchase at US$9 each.

Kitridge

Kitridge – a bright bubble gum pink. A light neon pink. It also was a little thicker than the others and applied a little streaky. I think one has to apply slightly thinner coats. It looks great against my skin tone but I am not a super fan of it. I think my issue is that there is pretty much a bubble gum pink in the last 3 Zoya summer collections. One may be a little brighter that the other, but pretty much the same colour. It’s nice, but eh…..

Continue reading

Milani Gel Powder Eyeshadow: a quick review!

July 31, 2014 / / 3 Comments

[twitter-follow screen_name=’NoireTropicalB’]

 

 

Hey! So I recently posted about the release of a new formula of eye shadow by Milani, the Gel Powder Eyeshadow. I was anxious about trying these out, so I picked up just one at my local drugstore.

This year, I have been all about that gorgeous skin and bright lips, more of a minimalistic, glowy look. I bought colour 04 Bella Caffé, which is a satin matte shade.

Milani Cosmetics Gel Powder Eyeshadow in Bella Caffé 04

The packaging is basic, sand-coloured plastic that feels quite sturdy.

 

The product itself is domed shaped and reminds me of baked eye shadows. There is the tiniest hint of a sheen, or shimmer, but the pieces are so small, they are barely visible. Bella Caffé is a beautiful medium taupey brown. The swatch on the Milani website is a lot darker that what it is in reality.

Swatch, Bella Caffé 04

It reminds me of a brighter, slightly lighter version of M.A.C.’s Wedge eye shadow. It is very smooth to the touch, it feels quite velvety and finely milled. This shade is pigmented but not intensely pigmented, and that might have to do with the fact that it is a lighter colour, but I did not have a problem building it up on my lid. It still did not look chalky or flaky and remained smooth. It also blended quite well. I will get a couple of the deeper and brighter shades to test how pigmented they are. Bella Caffé also got a little ‘dusty’ but not overly so. On my skin, this is just a couple of shades lighter, so it evens out the skin colour on my lids and it not shiny at all.  I got about 6 hours of wear without a primer on my lids before I saw a little bit of creasing.

I have been wearing this on my eyelid as my everyday, work-appropriate, neutral barely there makeup look. Just a little matte brown shadow to define the crease, gel liner and mascara. I also sometimes pair it with a bold lip and some facial oil (more about that soon!)

This is a really nice colour, and these shadows are definitely worth checking out. Really great quality for a drugstore brand and at about US$3.99, you cyah go wrong! There is about 1.4g of product, which is pretty standard for eye shadows. Find them at CVS or online at milanicosmetics.com

Overall Grade: A-

 

FTC Disclosure: Products were purchased by me, Noire Tropical Beauty.  All opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own. I have not been compensated for this review.  For more information, please see my Disclosure Policy.
Older posts Newer posts

Need brushes? Check out Sigma Beauty below!

Free US Shipping on Orders Over $50

© 2025 Noire Tropical Beauty

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑