Mascara -Yves Rocher - Couleurs Nature Extra Volume Mascara
Sashayy 4/6/2004 9:57:00 AM
I adore this mascara! Love it, love it! I tried it on a lark when I got a "get anything free" offer from Yves Rocher for my birthday. This mascara comes in cool-looking clear lucite tube with a green insert that actually holds the mascara. It has a long wand with a thick caterpillar brush. The mascara itself is rather liquid which I happen to love -- it means that it _never_ clumps in the tube and it gives you time to properly coat your lashes completely, with buildable coverage. One coat gives natural-looking defined lashes. Add a few coats for thicker, more dramatic lashes. The only caveat about this mascara is that you have to be careful with it -- because it is a bit liquidy it takes a few moments longer to dry than others. This can mean you might accidentally get some on your browbone, for example, while doing the inner lashes. I can't comment about how well it does on short or straight lashes, as mine are naturally curly and somewhat long. I use the waterproof formula version of this, which only comes in black. This regular formulation comes in black , a very natural looking brown (which is my fave), navy and purple. Try it! And the $10US/$14CDN price tag?! Wow! I've tried tons of others, including the much-vaunted Lancome varities, but I keep coming back to this one. I have sensitive watery eyes that get irritated by many other mascaras or else I find the small outer lashes on top and bottom glue together with other mascaras but not this one. Beautiful lashes, comfortable wear, doesn't smudge, no racoon eyes. Perfection for me! I've been through about 7 tubes so far and I keep buying it. Get it! LOL! Americans/Europeans can order it from yvesrocher.com. Canadians can get it in-store at the Yves Rocher stand-alone stores or through mail-order (website is apparently coming soon for us Canucks!)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Smashbox - Wet/Dry Foundation
Sashayy 3/29/2004 10:49:00 AM
I am an LLL NC/NW 15 with ruddy reactive sensitive skin. Many many powders and foundations give me skin reactions like cystic acne so I'm constantly searching for my HG. I bought this one on eBay in one of the lightest colours, Smashing Ivory 01.The packaging is thin, elongated, sleek and matte black with the Smashbox logo discreetly embossed on the top. Unlike other similar products in other lines, you don't have to fiddle with a fat dual layered oval compact -- this one puts the makeup and black latex sponge side-by-side with the added bonus that this increases the mirror size. I was surprised how much a light swipe with the sponge on the powder actually picked up -- this seems to be very finely milled powder. The control is easy with the sponge to apply either heavy or light -- it goes on opaque but sheers down nicely. And wonder of wonders! Even on my dryish skin with medium sized pores, it didn't show up -- it just evened out my tone, neutralized the slight shine my noses often gets and looked great all in all. This one is in danger of becoming my HG! I'll have to see how it applies wet and I'll have to wear it for at least a week before I'm sure. I'll edit this review after a few more wearings. ~~~EDIT~~~ After wearing this foundation for a week, I'm not so sure of it. It leaves my face feeling dry and tight, especially my forehead and I find it looks a bit tired at the end of the day, leaving me a little sallow looking. It doesn't matter if I apply it wet or dry. I'm going to see how it works in hot summer weather before I absoltutely decide to give up on it and swap it away.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Redken - All Soft Shampoo
Sashayy 3/23/2004 2:22:00 PM
I have naturally curly fine red-blonde hair but lots of it. My hair tangles easily and has a tendency to dry out too (like most of us curlyheads?). I started using this on a whim when the old packaging went on sale for half-price at Trade Secrets. I love it! My hair feels like silk afterwards. I use it every two days with the matching conditioner and my hair soft, velvety and bouncey. It doesn't seem to weigh my curls down and I adore the scent! I buy it in the litre bottles so that its much cheaper but I can't give it five lippies because of the price per 100ml if not bought by the litre and the fact that its tough to get every last drop of it out of the bottle, given its thick consistency.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Yon-Ka - Creme 83
Sashayy 3/22/2004 10:22:00 PM
This product is great on my super-sensitive, reactive, pale thin skin. I admit that I love all Yon-Ka products -- work best on my skin. It leaves my skin dewy and refreshed, relieves flakies and doesn't make foundation or makeup slip. I've also found that regular use has reduced the redness/ruddiness in my skin. A little goes a long way. It is my HG of moisturizers for daytime use.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Yon-Ka - Gommage 305
Sashayy 3/22/2004 10:13:00 PM
I have very fair, thin reactive sensitive skin. I use all the Yon-ka products and the quality and effects of the Gommage are no exception. As other reviews for this product have stated, this is a different type of exfoliant -- gel-based and is meant to be used as a masque then rubbed off (hence the french term "gommage"). You put it on after cleansing and toning. The secret to using it efficiently is to let it dry on your skin and then when you are ready to remove it, either spray it with your Yon-Ka lotion (if you use it) or jsut repeatedly wet your fingertips. I find it makes my skin just glow and look amazing. Moisturizer or treatment cream goes on after the Gommage and absorbs very well. I like the smell actually -- Yon-Ka doesn't put artificial smells in their stuff so the smells of their products are pure and organic. The only reason I'm not giving it five lippies overall is that I wish it were a bit quicker to use and I would prefer a pump applicator.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Cheek Hue in Balthusphere
Sashayy 3/22/2004 4:02:00 PM
Love it love it love it! This is my absolute fave of the fabulous Mac Cheekhues. It doesn't cause me to break out like 99% of the powder blushes (including Mac's powder blush too, alas!) and I love the fact that I can squeeze it out in tiny drops to place wherever I want on my cheeks. A tip for those of you who say that only a PPP can wear it? Try applying it with a brush (like Mac #192) rather than your fingers or sponge. You'll find that a little will still show up more than the sheer wash you get with fingers/sponge.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -MAC - Holiday 2003 7 Eyes Neutral palette
Sashayy 3/18/2004 3:43:00 PM
I agree with some of the so-so reviews. I'm a very fair (NC15) redhead with brown eyes, freckles and lots of ruddiness to my skin. I bought this palette on eBay, thinking it would be an easy one to leave at the office for those mornings that I've rushed so much that I've not been able to put on my makeup before I leave the house. Unfortunately, though, there are too many really deep dark colours or sparkly/glittery colours in here for someone with my skin tone. The pale orangey-colour (Samoa silk? ) works fine on the outer half of my eyelid - makes the green flecks in my eyes pop. The pale tan colour (Honesty?) is nice too but bascially acts as a colourless base coat. The sparkly glittery ones either have no colour or way too much colour for me for 98% of the time I'd want to wear makeup. IF I were a clubber or a younger woman, perhaps I'd love it. I'm giving it three lippies anyway cause the case and brush are gorgeous and the quality, despite my dislike of the colours, is very high, as usual for MAC.
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