Treatments -Biosilk - Silk Therapy
jootje 5/2/2009 7:09:00 PM
I have been using this for a few years now. I like it a lot. It makes my hair really shiney and smoooooth. Plus it smells GREAT. It's kind of expensive but a little goes a looooong way, which makes it not so expensive after all. I only need like two drops for all of my hair (mid back). Definitely a keeper. Edit: I think most people who are complaining about this stuff making their hair geasy are probably just using too much. Anything that you use too much of would make your hair greasy. The fact that you only need so little is a good thing in my opinion.
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Treatments -LUSH - Henna-Caca Brun
jootje 4/5/2009 7:55:00 AM
I started using this because I noticed that my hair was visibly getting damaged by all the chemical hair dye products. I wanted to stop dying it all together because my natural hair color is quite nice anyway, but growing it out takes a long while and every time the sun started to shine the parts of my hair that had been treated with chemical stuff bleached a lot faster than the rest, leaving me with horrid looking hair. To get rid of that I had to dye it again in a color as close to my natural hair color as possible, but of course next time the sun started to shine I could start right over. So when I read about this all-natural-not-bad-for-your-hair-solution I decided to give it a try. I'm a brunette and I just want to keep it that way so I chose the caca brun. After reading all the stories about the smell and the mess I was prepared for the worst - leaving me pleasantly surprised that it wasn't nearly as bad as I had expected. My hair is almost bra strap length and I used 2 blocks, which was -exactly- enough (my hair is very fine though). I don't think the smell is that bad, it just smells and looks like spinage. I put vaseline all over my face and neck, which was a really smart move as after applying it I had quite some henna on my face. Applying it is a little more of a hassle than applying normal hair dye, but not that much really. You just -really- have to start with the roots first because if you don't it's a lot harder to get them done. You can't comb your hair once you've put it in. After applying I put my hair up with a clip and I left it on for 6 hours because my hair is mid-brown already and I did want to see a least a slight difference. I didn't have a problem with that, the smell didn't bother me at all. While rinsing it out my bath turned into a swamp but it's easy to cleanse it off if you do it right away. I find that it's easier to remove this with a shitload of (cheap) conditioner than with shampoo. The color is perfect - a little darker than my natural hair color (mid-brown), it covered all the color differences in my hair and it has a LOVELY golden shine. It also looks remarkably natural! I love how it allows my 'natural' highlights (from the sun) to shine through. My hair continued to darken a little over the next few days. Here is a before-and-after picture of my hair after I left it in for 6 hours: http://img.makeupalley.com/5/9/3/3/2413045.JPG (This was the first time. The times I applied it afterwards it got darker so I switched to leaving it in for 2 hours. So the color is buildable). I have used it three times so far (had to re-dye after 4 weeks) and I'm still loving it. I have however switched to letting it stay in for 2 hours as it was getting reallllly dark. Overall it is a little more work than normal hair dye, but not that much, and it's totally worth it. The color is the best I've seen so far, it makes my hair feel stronger and adds shine. And best of all, it doesn't damage my hair! On top of all that, it's also really cheap. Using two blocks a time means dying my hair once will only cost me 5 euros. I will definitely keep repurchasing this. Even if I don't need it anymore for the color differences in my hair I will just repurchase for the body and shine it adds. Update: I've also tried different brands of henna now (in powder form) and I keep coming back to this one. Applying this is much easier than with powder forms, I think because of the butters that are in this. I also like the color better. The shine is more golden while with the other brands (also brown mix) I've tried the shine was more reddish. Lastly this color lasts a lot longer. Update 2: years later I'm still using this. :)
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Moisturizers -LUSH - Vanishing Cream
jootje 1/24/2009 6:07:00 PM
I am totally in LOVE with this cream. I never used to wear any moisturizer at all because so far every moisturizer I tried made my skin feel greasy, even the ones that are specially designed for oily skin, and my skin isn't even that oily (combo skin). I never believed that I would ever find a moisturizer that would not make my skin greasy. This cream totally changed that. It -really- does what the name says, it vanishes right after you apply it leaving nothing but silky smooth skin. I was so amazed. That's pretty much all I was looking for so I was really happy with just that. But then it did more. It actually toned up my skin visibly and my skin has never ever been this soft before (probably because I wasn't wearing any moisturizer before). At first I couldn't stop touching my face, so soft! I must add that this did not make my face any less oily. It just moisturizes without making it MORE greasy. I did not expect it to mattify my face however, I just wanted something to moisturize without making it worse. And that it sure does. For reference, I have also used Imperialis (nice but still made my skin oily), Enzymion (fresh but made my skin burn) and Gorgeous (smells pretty but still too oily for me). Vanishing cream is BY FAR the best out of those for me. This cream is a god-send for me. I will definately keep repurchasing. It's kind of pricey but a little goes a long way. I use it twice a day and a jar lasts me over 4 months. Edit: I've repurchased this cream several times now, I'm still madly in love with it and I will continue to buy! Edit2: It's been over a year and this is still the only cream I let near my face. (: Edit3: I've used up 5 jars of this (yay free fresh face mask!). Also, I thought I'd add that my skin is clog-prone and this doesn't clog my pores at all. After an experiment where I didn't wear anything on my face for a week my skin looked a lot smoother, so I tested the products I was using. I am happy to say that after 2 weeks of applying this to only one side of my face I am now sure that this does not clog my pores at all. (My powder foundation was the culprit). Edit 4: I've stopped using this. After 6 jars it has started to irritate my face. I thought I'd use this as a face mask for a change so slapped on a nice thick layer and my skin started to burn so much. I looked at the ingredients and saw that it has some irritating essential oils in it. I guess with the small amount of product that I used as daycream, I didn't notice it. But in a larger amount it really irritated my skin and even as a day cream I now notice it is slightly irritating. I also found out that what my skin really needs is moisture and a hyaluronic acid serum is pretty much all I need and it works much better. Lastly, it bothers me that this product does not contain SPF. So I'm retracting my HG status for this product. I will not be repurchasing it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Max Factor - Masterpiece Mascara
jootje 11/7/2008 7:09:00 AM
I love this stuff. I'm very picky when it comes to mascara and I've tried lots of them. I used to pick a different one everytime I ran out, but since I tried this I find myself re-purchasing this one. I've also bought other mascara's since because I like change, but this is still the one I always grab. I love how it seperates the lashes, doesn't clumb and stays on all day without smudging. I do naturally have long and curly lashes though, so all I need is a mascara that does not clumb and blackens my lashes. Some extra volume would be nice though, and that is why I keep getting this one. I can add multiple layers which creates more volume and it still won't clumb. The last good thing about this stuff is the price. Sure other mascaras I've used like Lancome or Dior do a good job, but they are much more expensive than this one. I don't see why I would spend more on a mascara if this one does the job just as nice, probably even nicer.
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Eye Shadow -BeneFit Cosmetics - Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - Towne Car [DISCONTINUED]
jootje 11/7/2008 6:43:00 AM
I have never used any other cream eyeliner so I cannot compare, but I am very satisfied with this stuff. I definately prefer it to pencil and liquid eyeliner. I love how easy this is to apply, it goes on very smoothly and easy. Some people have complained about having to add multiple layers, I find that one layer is enough. I guess the line could be a little black-er, but it's still is nice and black enough. I really like it. I don't want too harsh a line. And if I for whatever reason -do- want a harsher line I can just add an extra layer, no need for two different liners. It stays on all day and my eyeliner has never looked this good. I have never been able to make a defined line like this before. The only downer about it is that it's a tad bit expensive, but it's worth it and it lasts an enormous amount of time. I've been using it daily for over a year and the jar is still half full. I really can't believe it. Edit: I am using the sephora eyeliner brush with it. I have never used any other so again I can't compare, but it works just great for me. Edit 2: I've had mine for about 2 years now and with daily use (as eyeliner) the jar STILL isn't nearly empty. It did dry out however, but I've found a trick for that. Just add 2-3 drops of eye drops (regular ones, or if you have contact lenses you can use those eyedrops aswell) and then stirr it with a q-tip or something similar. Mine is as good as new now. I think this works for every cream eyeliner.
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Sunscreen -Lancome - Soleil DNA Guard SPF 50
jootje 5/9/2008 5:40:00 AM
I love this stuff! I have some scars on my face from an accident, they are hardly visible normally but I have to make sure they don't burn or else they will be. That's why I've been trying all sorts of facial sunscreen with a high SPF and this one is by far my favourite. All the others I tried left a white residue on my face and made it look greasy. This one has a very light formula that is absolutely invisible on my skin. It doesn't make my face shiney at all and I haven't had any breakouts from it. It works great under make-up aswell, although I do find myself skipping my moisturizer when I use this. I haven't burnt my face once since I used it, even when I applied it only in the morning under my make-up and then spent the whole day in the hot Caribbean sun. I am impressed. It is a little expensive but definately worth it. I will repurchase. Edit: ARGH I can't find it anymore! ):
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Cleansers -LUSH - Aqua Marina Cleansing Roll
jootje 10/17/2007 5:20:00 PM
I had used this before, but I didn't use it regularly, just sometimes here and there. I didn't think it did much for my skin, so I didn't repurchase. However, when my mom started using it I really noticed that her skin got nicer. Her skin was glowing a lot more and it had an overal better tone. That's why I decided to give it another try and use it regularly, like my mom did. I use it every morning and every night. For reference, I have combination skin with small impurities from time to time. I do use another cleanser before using this because I am not sure if aquamarina will actually get rid off all the excess oil by itself. I use those cleansers with warm water and when I rinse them off and my face is still moist, I use aquamarina and wash it off with cold water. Update: I'm no longer using this product. It's hard to use and didn't really make a difference in my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Shiseido - The Makeup Pre-Makeup Cream SPF 15
jootje 6/29/2007 7:45:00 AM
I never used a pre make up cream before but after hearing lots of good things about this one, I decided to give it a try. I bought it mostly because I wanted something to control oil. I don't have a very oily t-zone but enough to want to do someting about it. With this cream I don't have to blot all day. It keeps my face perfectly matte (even when I go clubbing all night) and it makes it look more even. I love it. I wouldn't know if it makes my foundation go on more smoothly, as I use a powder foundation which I apply with a brush. It is a tad expensive so I don't use it daily, just on special occasions. This product has never caused me to break out.
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Cleansers -LUSH - Baby Face ] [DISCONTINUED]
jootje 6/17/2007 7:40:00 AM
This stuff works absolutely great for removing all kinds of make up in a very gentle way. The oily residue kind of bothers me though, so I won't be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -LUSH - Mask of Magnaminty
jootje 6/17/2007 7:07:00 AM
I have combination skin with a bit of an oily t-zone but my skin is also sensitive, and the fact that it has mint in it worried me a bit. Then one day while purchasing all of my favourite lush products I received a sample of this mask. I figured I could at least give it a try, and so I did. It did give me a very refreshing tingling sensation when I put it on (the mint I suppose) but it didn't hurt or anything. Once I rinsed it off it left my skin feeling very clean, fresh, smooth and soft. Not dry at all. I love this mask and I will be buying me a full size package next time I'm at a Lush store. Edit: It's been years and I'm still using this on a weekly basis. I love it. Edit2: No longer using this. My skin no longer needs such deep cleansing masks.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -LUSH - Dream Cream
jootje 6/16/2007 3:26:00 PM
I think Dream Cream is a very appropriate name for this stuff. I absolutely love it. It smells dreamy, sinks right in and makes my skin feel velvelty soft. Other than that I also use it for all sorts of skin problems on my face. I found out it works especially well for cystic acne. Whenever I still used to get that I would just put this on and sometimes it would have cleared up the same day (!). I think it's too pricey to use this as a standard body lotion. I only use this when my skin is in extra need off attention, but I always save some in a little jar for emergencies.
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Powder -Chanel - Double Perfection Compact
jootje 12/27/2006 7:27:00 PM
I had been looking for a good foundation for ages, getting samples at every possible store and trying all of them. I'm very picky when it comes to foundation, I want it perfect. And perfect it is. I absolutely love this foundation! I love how it's a powder so you can decide how much coverage you want. My face tends to become a little oily near the and of the day, but with this stuff on I don't have to worry about that. The most imporant thing to me is that it looks very natural. No one can ever tell I am wearing it. Chanel is the only brand that has a perfect color match for my skin (I use the 80 in summer and 70 in winter). I love the packaging, it's really usefull and pretty. I usually don't use the spunge for applying though, unless I want full coverage. Most of the time I just apply a little with a kabuki brush, which is enough for my skin to look fabulous and matte all day. It also makes my pores less visible. It is kind of pricey but it lasts a very long time and I'm so glad I finally found something I like, I really don't give a damn about the price! This is the only foundation I let near my skin. Edit: I have been using it for nearly 2 years now and I still absolutely love it! Edit2: Since they changed the formula I thought I'd update again. I don't really notice a difference, it might feel a little lighter on the skin but that's about it. I still love it to death! I love how they improved the package, it's much easier to refill now. Edit 3: Three years later, still using it daily, still loving it. Edit 4: Nearly 4 years later. Still using and loving it. Edit 5: Lala, another year later and still using it everyday. (: Edit 6: After 5 years of everyday use I realized that this is mildly clogging my pores... It doesn't break me out, just clogged pores and only on my cheeks. I started wearing this when I still had acne and that has cleared up since then so I thought this couldn't be clogging my pores. I realized it was when I didn't wear anything on my face for a week. My skin looked a lot smoother and all my clogged pores were gone or going away. I'm sure it's this as I was only wearing two things on my face before: moisturizer and this. I've tested my moisturizer by applying it just to one side of my face for weeks and it definitely doesn't clog my pores. I now only use this on special occassions and otherwise I wear nothing on my face. So unfortunately I will have to take off a lippy for this. All powders I've tried clog my pores btw. I still love this because of it's perfect color match, natural look and oil fighting properties.
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Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Happyderm [DISCONTINUED]
jootje 12/27/2006 7:07:00 PM
I don't like it at all. My skin isn't even sensitive and this made my skin go all red after applying. The redness cleared up after a while though, and it did leave my skin feeling very smooth. So I was kind of happy with it at first. Until after a few days it gave me huge cystes. It also made the oiliness off my t-zone worse. The only thing I like about it are the package and the smell. But those are just about the least important things. I can imagine the redness and cystes might just be an allergic reaction of my skin to this product though, so maybe for other people it might work fine.
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