Product Reviews

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HOW TO SELECT CLASSIC PEARLS FOR MODERN SENSIBILITIES: Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings

October 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Pearls are one of the most versatile of the gemstone jewels, they can dress up a little black dress or be worn to a wedding, and depending on the setting and other stones, metals or jewels that a pearl is paired with, they can even be incorporated into semi-casual outfits or office appropriate workwear. Despite being a classic, go-to wardrobe piece, Pearls can, however, look a bit old-fashioned, which is why we love The Pearl Source’s unique pearls designs, which also come at a more attractive price point than many pearl pieces seen in stores. A good example of this is The Pearl Source’s Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings, formal and classic enough for a traditional style bride, yet stylish enough for those with demure yet modern taste in jewelry.

The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings

JAPANESE AKOYA PEARL STARDUST EARRING DESIGN

Each earring is comprised of one classic round Akoya Pearl Classic pearl on a gold base, 925 Sterling Silver coated drop chain. The earring drop is about one inch in length. The Pearls are AA+ Quality, which is higher than that typically found in department stores and mall jewelry stores.

Akoya Pearl with two smaller stardust orbits. Gold with .925 Sterling Silver overlay makes them sturdy.

Above the pearl, there are two suspended small silver drop ball orb embellishments with a stardust pattern to add a bit of very subtle shimmer, not full-on bling, but they are eye-catching.

Stardust orbs of .925 Sterling Silver over gold are securely held in place

JAPANESE AKOYA PEARL STARDUST EARRING CONSTRUCTION

The thick nacre content of these pearls makes them durable despite being on a drop length dangle, they will not scratch even though they are exposed to other dangling embellishments. The chain is gold with a generous .925 Sterling Silver coating. The post is sturdy and does not readily bend.

The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings are well-made with .925 Sterling Silver overlaying a gold base

ABOUT JAPANESE AKOYA PEARL STARDUST EARRINGS: EVALUATING PRIMARY PEARL CHARACTERISTICS

When selecting a pearl jewelry piece, there are three notable characteristics to assess. These are the Pearl Luster, the Pearl Nacre, and the Pearl Overtone.

PEARL LUSTER

Pearls produce an intense shine, also known as luster. The luster of a pearl can be determined when a light is reflected off the many layers of nacre or tiny organic crystals that comprise the surface of the pearl.

The luster rating of this Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earring Set is considered “very high”.

Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings

These pearls have a high luster that is eye-catching. Note the sturdy .925 Sterling Silver posts and reinforcements

PEARL NACRE

Nacre is what gives pearls shine and resilience. Nacre is very similar in composition and appearance to the composite material inside of a mollusk shell. The iridescent nacre can be seen for example inside a nautilus shell and to some extent abalone.

Nacre is comprised of tiny organic crystals, which serve as reflectors of light. The larger a pearl is, the more reflectors it possesses. When shopping for a pearl, the larger the pearl, the more nacre it has and the greater the luster. The degree of nacre produced luster varies greatly between pearls.

Nacre builds the iridescent layers inside a shell and on Pearls to create luster as seen here

This Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earring Set has a very thick nacre, creating a high luster.

These Pearls are of thick nacre which yields a high luster

PEARL OVERTONE

A pearl’s color is called the body color. Pearls vary from white, cream, yellow, silver, pink or black. Pearls also have a glow of a secondary color, which can be seen when light reflects off of the pearls. This hint of color is known as its’ overtone.

The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings are a white body color that is available in four overtones. The set shown here is a White Overtone Pearl, but they also come in Rose and Ivory overtones as well as Black. These choices are ideal for matching the undertone of a bridal gown so the shade of white is not a mismatch.

The white body and white overtone of these pearls glow suit all-white bridal gowns and absolutely glow against bright colors and dark textures, making them highly versatile

WHAT IS AN AKOYA PEARL?

Akoya pearls are cultured in Akoya oysters primarily in Japan and China. They are renowned for their incredible luster and are generally considered the “classic” pearl. Akoya pearls range in size from about 6.0 – 8.5mm.

Akoya Pearls, such as these The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings are round and symmetrical and are renowned for their high luster

GIFT BOXED

The earrings come in a distinctive blue box with a grosgrain pattern crisp overlay, and an inner hinged style box with traditional satin and velvet lining. It is highly suitable for gift giving and storage.

Outer Gift Box with inner hinged box for gift giving and storage

ABOUT THE PEARL SOURCE

The Pearl Source only uses the highest quality grade of pearls from the Pinctada fucata oyster in Japan, and only uses pearls without defects. I found these pearls to be of better quality than that I have purchased at department stores. Because their pearls are imported direct, the cost is much less than other online and brick and mortar jewelry stores. The Pearl Source Pearls for gifts and bridal jewelry or just for your personal collection is higher quality and at a better price. They also offer free shipping on all orders.

The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings make for an excellent gift for brides, proms, special occasions.

CONCLUSION

The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings are an outstanding value for a bride, as a gift for a teen attending a formal event, or for anyone who would like a demure, ladylike piece that gives an updated look to a classic design. The pair of stardust dangle orbs brings some visual interest to the single statement pearl. The pearls themselves are of high luster, thick nacre and come in four overtones to best match one’s skin coloring or attire. The direct sourcing of the pearls makes The Pearl Source jewelry an excellent value on a highly versatile set of earrings that will last for years to come.

WHERE TO BUY

Find the Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings at The Pearl Source here: https://www.thepearlsource.com/Japanese-Akoya-Pearl-Stardust-Earrings-w.html

Style Chicks received The Pearl Source Japanese Akoya Pearl Stardust Earrings in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Sortly – The App to Organize Your Massive Makeup Collection

September 16, 2017 · 1 Comment

Each year, Urban Decay gives away a free eyeshadow single of your choice to UD Beauty Junkie Members. Each year, I obsess over what color to choose – and for the past two years in a row, I mistakenly selected the same color (Urban Decay “Laced”) because I didn’t realize in my massive makeup collection that I already owned it and was not using this shade that just looked OK, nothing special on me. So now there is TWO of them sitting in my makeup collection unused. And worse than that, I have several dupes of that shade from other brands laying around unused as well. When faced with a dizzying array of shades of lippies, liners, shadows, and polishes at Ulta, MAC or Sephora, what do you already own the exact match or a dupe of at home in your palettes and quads?

Are you attracted to the same basic lipstick or nail polish and repeatedly buy basically the same thing? What have you tried and felt meh about? What shadows in a palette sit unused while other shades have hit pan? Which lipstick is it that you always get compliments when you wear it? What looks amazing on you? Empower your color selection with the Sortly app.

HOW SORTLY CAN HELP
Sortly is a free iOS Organizing app that makes sense of your makeup collection. It is a highly intuitive app that is easy to use and makes organization easy and fun – no more wondering if you have the exact right lipstick color, you can just check the Sortly App to find the perfect pink gloss in your makeup stash. You can also access your data via the Sortly.com website.

Here is how easy it is to organize your makeup collection with Sortly:

1) I like to organize everything into very specific categories, like Eyeshadow Palettes or Red Lipsticks. Start by adding a Folder and naming it. Add tags to help you find items easier, such as eyes, eyeshadow, smokey eye, etc. Add whatever tags will make it easier for you to find an item from your collection.

Organize your makeup collection into easy to browse folders, like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes

2) Add images. You can take a picture of an item from the app or you can upload one from your library. Do you have a selfie wearing a specific shade? Add that to the pictures!

3) Add notes. Do you have any specific application techniques? Does the color match a certain outfit? Add information that will help you find the shade you are looking for.

4) Add a QR code to the item. Sortly gives you a QR code to be printed and applied to the item. So if you are looking for one specific shade within a shadow or lip palette or the lipstick you were wearing in a selfie, you can put a label on an item (or a box of items) and scan it to see if you found the right one. No more opening up every eyeshadow to find the right one!

Quickly find the item you are looking for with Sortly’s QR Code Labels

5) Add specific items. Add an individual item, and add details like the price, the best place to rebuy it, etc. Don’t forget pictures and individual QR codes!

Itemize each shade in your makeup collection with Sortly, a handy makeup organizing app

6) Add labels when packing items away. I just picked up eight of my favorite lip stain that has been discontinued (sniffle). I packed them away for safe keeping and added a label that Sortly generated for me. It let me add the info I needed to know what is in the box, it let me add a title, information and even let me pick a symbol to put on the label so it is easier to find.

You can easily add labels to boxes of makeup with the Sortly App

7) Add “throw-away” dates. I like adding the date I should throw away an individual item under “Warranty Expiring”. I used to put the date that an item should be tossed on a piece of tape on the item, but I often found that the ink wore off after a few weeks if I handled the item often (like mascara), so that wasn’t a great solution. Sortly clearly tells me when it is time to replace an item. I really enjoy this feature when I am headed to Sephora or Ulta and am looking to see what needs replacing soon, rather than just running out or realizing an item is expired. Then I can plan my shopping trips or online orders, and stock up on items so they are on hand when I need them!

I never really got into Makeup Apps for organization purposes until I tried Sortly. Sortly makes easy work of organizing a large makeup collection like mine and makes it easy to find the exact shade or look I am seeking. I love that I can access my collection via the app or my browser through the Sortly.com website and that I’m not forgetting makeup that looks great on me but that I forget that I own!

Sortly is free for everyone to use. Try a Free Trial of Sortly Plus for 14 days to get all the features for free. Find Sortly for iPhone and iPad at https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id529353551?mt=8

It is also available for Android at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sortly.mythings&hl=en

Style Chicks received compensation in exchange for our unbiased review and for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

MagiForet 400ML Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

August 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment

An essential oil diffuser is a wonderful way to enjoy aromatherapy in an office, spa, yoga studio or home. Diffusers can disperse invigorating essential oil scents to uplift a mood or energize you during a workout, they can provide calming aromas for sleep, or scents to improve mental clarity while working in a stale, dry office environment with forced air. Most diffusers are not very attractive or have a capacity large enough to use overnight, which is why we love the MagiForet Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser: it holds a whopping 400ml of water for 14 hours of continuous use, it has a unique 7 outlet misting mechanism and it’s an attractive piece that doesn’t have to be hidden away.

MagiForet Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser looks attractive with any decor

WHY USE AN AROMATHERAPY ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER

Aromatherapy has long been known to enhance many activities including better sleep, improving mental clarity, easing anxiety, and it can lift a mood to increase energy levels and productivity. When combined with the ultrasonic cool mist humidifier feature of the MagiForet diffuser, it adds moisture to the air making it easier to breathe in an overly-dry bedroom for better sleep or even regulate the air in your cubicle or office at work.

Diffuse the essential oil of your choice in the MagiForet diffuser. I like Rosemary for mental clarity while working, lemon in the kitchen, peppermint while working out, sweet orange to air out a stale room

DIFFUSE ENERGIZING OILS AT WORK OR IN A HOME OFFICE

Do you have an afternoon energy slump at the office? Mid-afternoon I feel so tired that I need yet another cup of coffee when I’ve already had too much coffee already that day. Diffusing an energizing essential oil discretely in my office space both adds some moisture to the forced-air dry office environment and can diffuse an energizing essential oil such as peppermint, lemon or Rosemary. I diffuse Peppermint for energy, lemon to lift a mood, and Rosemary to improve concentration and mental clarity while working on a project.

The same holds true for a yoga workout or even to motivate myself to do pilates, or use my treadmill or stationary bike at home: if I find myself lacking the energy or desire to workout, I try diffusing an essential oil that can energize me such as Peppermint or Eucalyptus.

WHAT MAKES FOR A QUALITY DIFFUSER?

There are many diffusers on the market, how do you find a good one? I like one that has a large capacity so it doesn’t need constant refills, I prefer the cool mist is distributed evenly without dribbling water onto the surface underneath it, I like it to have an auto-shut off feature so I can use it overnight without worrying about risk if it runs out of the water. I like one with an even steam output, a nice long cord, and preferably, that it’s attractive enough to just leave out as part of my decor. All of this criterion is met in the MagiForet Diffuser.

FAVORITE STANDOUT MAGIFORET FEATURE: SUPERIOR DIFFUSING WITH A MULTI OUTLET DESIGN

I like the design of multiple mist outlet holes across the top of the diffuser with seven strong streams of mist to disperse across a larger area at once.

Shark mouth Shape with 7 mist outlets diffuse more moisture in finer mists than one hole diffusers

It can cover a room up to 270-375 square feet (25-35 square meters), far superior to most diffusers, even ones larger in size. The mist evaporates into the air, improving the air quality in overly dry rooms, but the mist is a steady light mist, so that nearby objects to not become soaked with water, as can happen with some humidifiers.

Seven diffusing outlets provide an even, steady cool mist

Violet light as seen from top of the diffuser

blue colored light as seen from the top of the diffuser

FEATURE OVERVIEW AT A GLANCE

CAPACITY

Large 400ML capacity (over 13 1/2 ounces) suitable for home, yoga studios, spas, and offices. This is enough to last overnight and then some. When you are sick and congested and want to use this to diffuse moisture and congestion-clearing Eucalyptus into the air, this diffuser gives plenty of hours of use off of one fill. Despite the large size capacity, it doesn’t have a huge footprint on a nightstand or desk.

The diffuser comes with a measuring water cup for easy refill

AUTO SHUT OFF SAFETY FEATURE

The Auto-shut off feature is an important feature because if it runs out of water, it won’t stay on, so there is no risk of it overheating. making it safe to use the diffuser overnight or leaving it in a child’s room.

ULTRASONIC COOL MIST HUMIDIFIER

The Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier feature provides a consistent, even, drip-free steady and strong flow of cooling mist into the air.

MULTIPLE TIMER SETTINGS

There are four different timer settings for different purposes including for use during a workout session, to dissipate cooking odors for a few hours after dinner, for a soothing at home spa-night, or even for use overnight. They are one hour, three hours, six hours and continuous on mode.

Clear timer options of one, three, six hours or continuous mist and the colored light work independently

SOFT LED LIGHT COLOR CHOICES

There are seven LED soft light colors that display in a horizontal band, under the display buttons, and can be seen on aerial view through the steam outlets.

MagiForet Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser looks attractive with any decor. Press the light button on the left to display a series of seven soft LED colors

Blue color LED light option

The mist and light work independently: you can choose mist only with the LED light option off as seen here

QUIET

This diffuser is silent, so it does not disrupt sleep, and it is suitable for an office or a spa or massage therapy office.

ATTRACTIVE WOOD GRAIN

The wood grain on this is quite nice, it does NOT look like a thin veneer of wood over plastic, it’s a sturdy piece with a beautiful grain that fits the decor of a natural looking space such as a spa or yoga studio, it would look lovely in a kitchen to diffuse an essential oil to dissipate cooking odors, it fits in with a traditional or bedroom decor and it would look good in an office as it has an expensive look and feel to it.

Attractive wood grain design

MAKES FOR A GOOD GIFT

It comes boxed and is suitable for gift giving. It is sturdy construction with padded rubber feet on the base to protect both the diffuser and the surfaces it rests upon, so you can be assured the gift recipient will get years of use from this thoughtful gift.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE MAGIFORET DIFFUSER

It is easy to figure out how to plug it in and add water to the fill line. Add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, put the top back on, and select the timer setting of your choice. The easy to read buttons are back lit by the LED colored light.

The LED color display is attractive and soothing, it adds a soft glow to the room that is relaxing when used at night, providing a bit of light to a dark room without being disruptive to sleep. It is a thin band of a gradient of color as it changes from shade to shade as a soft glow. It is not bright enough to be a true night light, but enough light to orient you in a dark room if you awake during the night.

I really like the design of how it disperses the cool mist through multiple outlets, not only is it functional in that it distributes steam into the air more evenly and quickly, it’s pretty to watch the swirling tendrils of steam dissipate into the air!

Swirly tendrils of mist fill the air with cool moisturizing mist and essential oils

There is absolutely no water spurting out or wet spots when using this diffuser. The essential oil aroma dispersion is even, and it is not overly strong or pungent yet the scent can still be detected.

CONCLUSION

Sturdy, attractive, and functional, the MagiForet 400ML Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser provides an even, steady stream of cool mist to add moisture to an overly dry room or office with the option of LED soft colored light to add a soothing glow to the ambiance. I find this ideal for using in a bedroom, or to diffuse lemon oil in a kitchen after cooking or just to freshen the house if the home smells stale. If you are going to give a diffuser as a gift to an essential oil loving friend, this makes for a great one because it is so attractive, sturdy and versatile.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the MagiForet 400ML Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/Bo74148c3H

Style Chicks received the MagiForet 400ML Wood Grain Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT CLICK BRUSH FOUNDATION is NEW + IMPROVED

March 16, 2017 · 8 Comments

2025 Update: This article is a product review of the improved redesign of the By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation. We cover 4 ways the resigned Light-Expert is better, and one potential caveat. Read on for details.

By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation isn’t new, but a recent re-design & formulation tweak gave a smoother consistency & easier application. How does it compare to YSL Touche Eclat now? Does Light-Expert belong in your beauty arsenal?

New & improved: By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation

ABOUT THE BY TERRY BRAND

Some time ago, devoted YSL Touche Eclat fans heard that Terry de Gunzburg, the creative director behind the iconic Touche Eclat, took her creative genius self and developed an improved version of the popular product, under her own haute couture quality line, aptly named By Terry.

So of course, we bought it immediately.

Some of us liked, but we didn’t love.

We did, however, very much like the foundation click pen named Light-Expert.

Then BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT CLICK BRUSH FOUNDATION got an overhaul that we DO love.

ABOUT The Improved BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT FOUNDATION

By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation is intended as an overall foundation but is pigmented enough to work as a concealer for a dark undereye.

BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT FOUNDATION Swatch in Apricot Light

I selected the shade Apricot Light to warm up my pale skin. It gives a hint of color without making me unnaturally orange or fake looking. Because it blends so well, the extra color looks natural.

There are rosy shades, golden shades, and neutral shades.

Swatch of By Terry Click-Expert Foundation in shade Apricot Light

By Terry Click-Expert Foundation Apricot Light swatch

COMPARING BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT CLICK BRUSH FOUNDATION + YSL Touche Eclat

Of the By Terry line, we evaluated the three products we considered the closest match to the iconic Touche Eclat. We liked the Light-Expert more than the products that are considered counterparts or replacements for the Touche Eclat for two reasons:

Light-Expert is versatile with fuller coverage when applied directly, but it can be buffed and blended to a very sheer, almost undetectable finish.
Light-Expert is a better color match/dupe (see photo above) for the youthifying brightening we get from the iconic YSL Touche Eclat than the smaller click-pen Touch Expert Advanced Multi Corrective Concealer Brush ($47 at Barneys) or the By Terry Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer (about $58).

4 Ways How the BY TERRY LIGHT-EXPERT CLICK BRUSH FOUNDATION is Better

IMPROVEMENT ONE: SUPERIOR INGREDIENTS

If you are a regular StyleChicks reader, you know of our love of Hyaluronic Acid.

It pulls moisture from the air into the skin resulting in plumping out wrinkles and fine lines, enlarged pores practically disappear, and skin becomes a smooth surface to apply makeup.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR WHEN USING FOUNDATIONS CONTAINING HYALURONIC ACID

Make sure to use a good moisturizer underneath the foundation to hydrate/feed the Hyaluronic Acid.
If you’re in a dry-air environment such as an office, library, museum, or other places with dry, forced air, consider misting your face with a water spray, or an infused hydrating product such as MAC Prep & Prime Spray, or just dab your face with a damp Beauty Blender during the day to keep the makeup supple and dewy. Otherwise, it might be subject to a bit of cracking as the Hyaluronic works to pull more moisture into the skin.

IMPROVEMENT TWO: ABILITY TO SEE HOW MUCH PRODUCT IS LEFT

By Terry Light-Expert is constructed similarly to a refillable ink pen, as seen in the photo below.

With the new By Terry Light-Expert, you can screw off the top above the brush head and pull out the see-through cartridge see how much product is left so you know if it is time buy a new one.

Many of my click pen style cosmetics are a mystery in that regard, and I’ve had times that I do the concealer on one eye and then when I click again, it suddenly ran out of product mid-face.

I hate that.

It is one of my biggest pet peeves that I have no way of knowing how much product is left in a liquid eyeliner or click pen, but that is not a problem with the By Terry Light-Expert.

Nice touch, By Terry, classy and sturdy construction to boot!

Not sure how much product is left? The By Terry top unscrews to see the contents

IMPROVEMENT THREE: BETTER BRUSH

The original brush was shaped like a traditional foundation brush, but it was more of a sloppy paint brush head that clumped together. Also you couldn’t see the product click out until it was over-pumped and overflowing.

The new brush is a round flat top cut at an angle, and the product is atop the surface when clicked, so you can see how much product has been dispersed.

With the new design, I rarely “overpump” and waste product. The brush also does not clump together like the old version.

I also like that the brush itself is angled nicely for direct application especially on facial contours, and it is a solid brush with dense bristles comparable or better to many foundation brushes. Or you can use your Beauty Blender or other brush.

New round flat head angled Brush for smoother application on facial contours

Improvement Four: DARK CIRCLE COVERAGE CONCERNS

If you’re searching for the peachy undertone that conceals dark circles so well:

YSL has come out with the YSL Touche Eclat Neutralizer in Bisque
By Terry has the Light-Expert Perfecting Foundation Brush in Apricot Light (peach) and Rosy Light (pink).

POSSIBLE CONS DRAWBACK

Some Light-Expert shades were discontinued in this overhaul.

If you prefer the original formulation of the By Terry Light-Expert, some one-off vendors (read *not* Barneys, NM, or SpaceNK) have limited quantities of these discontinued colors.

WHERE TO FIND Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation

By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation is found at Barneys, DermStore, Nordstrom and SpaceNK for $65 for .65 fluid ounces, well in excess of other foundation and concealer click brush pens

By Terry Light-Expert Click Brush Foundation