Powder -Laura Mercier - Mineral Powder SPF 15
wonderbuy 3/15/2009 4:50:00 AM
This is one of the best mineral foundations I have tried. Does not have a dry finish and it takes a lot to look over done - very subtle finish and this is best to try if you have not used mineral foundation before or have drier skin. It is also very long lasting and does not streak during the day or by sweating like BE. The finish is not very sensitive to the amount of product you use or to technique, so great to use if you routine is very quick. Finish is slightly more matte than other mineral powders and blends easily to give a very natural look. Highly recommended. The powder is more finely milled than BE. The shade Golden Sand is slightly darker than Prescriptives Vellum and is the perfect summer version of the Prescriptives.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Peter Thomas Roth - Sulfur Cooling Masque
wonderbuy 2/15/2009 7:09:00 PM
After trying both this one and the DDF Sulphur mask, I have come to believe that sulphur based products are the best for acne prevention. They are also gentler than acid or alcohol based products. Both this and the DDF have the same level of the active ingredient: 10% sulphur and are of similar texture and consistency. There is however a difference in the way it dries; DDF dries more rock hard and cracks within 15min whereas the PTR does not dry hard due to the essential oils. The DDF one must be washed off when it first starts to crack, otherwise the skin is left red and irritated. The PTR isn’t as aggressive and develops soft cracks across the face and moulds to the shape of the face more, it can also be left on for longer without irritation. The one thing which some people may object to is the eucalyptus oil which is quite pungent (but cooling) and may sting a little at the 5min mark, but eventually subsides. Overall, both work well, it simply depends on how hard you like your clay masks to dry and whether you like the cooling eucalyptus sensation.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Biore - Revitalize 4-in-1 Self-Foaming Cleanser
wonderbuy 1/19/2009 2:27:00 AM
This product performs beyond expectations for the price. It is a basic cleanser that cleans thoroughly and is designed for combination skins. It removes sunscreen and makeup effectively.The foam pump dispenses the perfect amount and it rinses easily. The fragrance is pleasant and mild but don’t expect it to do anything for your skin except to clean it. No post benefits but is the best I have tried for around the $10 mark. 3 lippies cos at the end of the day, its a very basic cleanser.
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Scrubs -Pangea Organics - Facial Scrub Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry
wonderbuy 12/26/2008 1:21:00 AM
This is the best natural scrub I have tried. It truly exfoliates unlike walnut/apricot shell, which is far too harsh, and scratches. The best part about it is that the particles are uniform and do not hurt. You can really work this in and get a nice facial massage. The qualities of the ingredients are high, as is most products from this brand. The smell is a slight cranberry smell, very non-offensive. I suggest that this is a shower scrub since the particles are difficult to get out of the hairline at the sink. This is an effective product suitable for all skin types. There is no cleanser element to this, so wash your face first.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Prescriptives - All Skins Mineral Foundation spf 15
wonderbuy 11/18/2008 2:58:00 PM
If you are still using BE or are considering getting into mineral makeup ,this is the best out there, you will never go back. This however isn’t for everyone and those with combination-oily skin already with smooth texture and very little/light pigmentation will get the best results. There is a very fine line with all mineral powders and can easily look cakey and dry, this is no exception and I don’t recommend it for those with dry tendencies as it is just too much, despite what they say. This is not so much a foundation as it is a finishing product. Coverage is low but it gives a great satin finish. The colour stays true all day and effectively absorbs oil. Only a small amount is needed so be sure not to pack it on. Feels much lighter than talc or corn starch based powders. The colour range is extensive and uses the same Prescriptives colour wheel. You will look polished and brighter, and remain looking like that all day. If you pack it on, it will accentuate any roughness / dryness on the skin. The jar is the best I have seen for mineral powders; its wide and shallow thereby allowing lots of swirling and a lot less mess. I find it much easier to use this than BE due to its much larger size.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Shu Uemura - White Recovery EX+ Brightening Cleansing Oil
wonderbuy 11/18/2008 4:46:00 AM
This product is mostly hype and the high price tag makes it appear good. I wish I had read a decent review about this from an educated consumer before I purchased this. At most, this is an average product with fantastic packaging. Firstly, I don’t recommend this for combination to oily skins, it leaves a residue and you definitely need cleanser after this, otherwise there will be breakouts. The product is mineral oil and paraffin wax i.e. liquid Vaseline and candle wax and most people confuse this for a sophisticated product when it is filled with low grade ingredients. It dissolves other oil based products in the same way that like dissolves like. It did not completely remove my make up and requires a lot of rubbing. It could not even take off my colourstay concealer without leaving streaks and don’t even mention mascara. I tried olive oil as a comparison and it performs better. The texture is nice and the smell is mild and pleasant and it comes in a great pump (which you should keep). This product will not last a long time as I finished a third of the product within 1.5 weeks and the suggested 2 pumps is definitely needed. People often claim that it doesn’t leave them dry afterwards, but if you coated your face in Vaseline afterwards, of course it would not leave you dry. I recommend this product if you wear light makeup and virtually no eye makeup and have enough money to throw at something just so that you know what fuss is about, but don’t have that a high expectation. There is no brightening effect either. L'Occitane apple and almond cleansing oil is much better as it takes off all my make up and leaves no residue. It also contains mostly plant oils which nourishing and much better for the skin.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals in 1.2, fairly light
wonderbuy 11/18/2008 4:24:00 AM
In comparison to liquid foundations, this is a much better product, especially for combination-oily skins. This is a product which has created its own hype and has been subject to great marketing. In comparison to Prescriptives Mineral foundation, this does not even rate. This powder tends to dull the skin, unlike the Prescriptives but does look better and better throughout the day. It effectively soaks up oil and has good lasting power. It provides a matt finish but can easily look too cakey if you have a heavy hand. Since packaging is so important in powder foundations, I found that the jar is a little small and a shallower wider jar would allow greater swirling of the brush, as a result, sometimes, you are left with too much product on the brush. The colour range could be better. I highly recommend that you try the Prescriptives one in the warm colours, it has virtually every shade. Dry skins will find this too drying.
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Treatments -Clinique - Turnaround Concentrate [DISCONTINUED]
wonderbuy 11/18/2008 4:14:00 AM
This is a refined acid peel product which decreases in performance over time. The more you use this product, the less effective it becomes. It is rather gentle and can be used every other day. The texture is thick and is pumped up with a lot of silicones, so it feels heavy on the skin. I found this to be too much to wear under moisturiser and due to the silicone content, it also slides too much if you attempt to layer anything else over this. This provides little moisture, so it can’t be worn on its own either, so I fount this product to be in no mans land. The pump is great. If you have been using acid based products before, this probably won’t show the results you are after. For the price, it doesn’t really perform; Alpha Hydrox is much better and much cheaper.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Prescriptives - Buff
wonderbuy 11/18/2008 4:01:00 AM
This brush is essentially a kabuki brush with a long handle. It is by far the best brush for mineral makeup. It is soft, dense and doesn’t shed. When I first washed it, the water ran clear and there is no chemical smell to it. The shape is full and the hair length provides a good balance between control and coverage. It is far superior to MAC and BE brushes. I have looked at over 20 buffer brushes and this is far better than them all. It goes perfectly with the Prescriptives mineral makeup. It provides a smooth, flawless finish and the longer handle is much more convenient. You will not regret buying this brush.
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Treatments -Decleor - Aromessence Ylang Ylang
wonderbuy 11/14/2008 9:21:00 PM
This is a great face oil for those with combination-oily skin. It is on the thicker side (although thinner than the other decleor oils) but absorbs best if you use only a few drops on damp skin. It provides essential moisture without being oily and provides a radiant look in the morning. This nourishes the skin and only a tiny bit is needed. Those with excessively oily skin will find that this is great as a night cream as nothing else is needed afterwards. It puts back what the usual skincare that is designed for oily skin takes out. Definitely anti-ageing due to the omega content in the oils. Also great under make up, will give you a glow. This differs from the Ren oil as it is thicker with a stronger scent, but both are great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in clear
wonderbuy 11/14/2008 9:12:00 PM
This is a product which is great as a lip sealant which will provide a hi-shine glass finish. This is good for sealing colour or by itself. It will NOT moisturise but is the only thing I have found to really seal in the moisture, hence good over moisturised lips. It is long lasting and doesn’t budge if you drink. After a few hours, it will cause some build up at the edge of your lips. Wears evenly and is not tacky. I don’t find this to be an everyday product and it will last forever as only a tiny bit gives big shine.
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Scrubs -Chanel - Deep Purifying Exfoliating Mousse
wonderbuy 11/11/2008 8:45:00 AM
Firstly, this is not a mousse i.e. a light, whipped texture. The texture is like any other scrub. There is nothing to fault about this product, but it is just a basic scrub. The product is concentrated, with no cleanser element and particles are uniform in shape. The level of exfoliation is low-medium and is slightly more than those round beads in cheaper scrubs. You can really work it into the skin and only a tiny amount is needed. This product would appeal and work for almost anyone with any skin type. The only reason it is rated a 4 is due to the price, which is far too exorbitant for a basic scrub and this is the only reason I wouldn’t purchase it again. If you like something which provides a higher level of exfoliation, Clinique exfoliating scrub is the one for you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear 
wonderbuy 11/11/2008 8:21:00 AM
This sure does last all day, but not in the way you expect it to. It is still on your face at the end of the day but it seeps into your lines and is patchy. This product feels cheap and like all EL foundations, gives you the visible foundation look. For this to look OK, your skin needs to be near perfect. Colour range is good but I needed to mix two colours together to find the right one. This feels as if its from the 80s. Prescriptives colours and foundations are much better. Those with combination-oily skins may find that the oil eats up this foundation, leaving only coverage in certain areas. I used to get a fright when I would look at my face in the afternoon, I wanted to look polished not like Bozo the clown. Also, the open neck, screw bottle is impractical, unhygienic and outdated.
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Lip Liners -MAC - Lipliner in Spice
wonderbuy 11/11/2008 8:05:00 AM
This liner is still partying from 1991. This product has created its own rave but there is nothing special about it. It is just a basic nude liner with a bad formulation and no lasting power. The formula is heavy and gritty, slightly oily without being totally matte. It is also quite dry so lip balm is necessary for a smooth glide. It will last at most 2 hours if you don't eat or drink. Any nude colour from any other brand is better than this as formulations have improved in the last 15 years or so. If you are an experienced beauty junkie, you will think little of this, but if you have not dabbled much in makeup, you will probably think this is great. The packaging is terrible, I have wasted a lot of product due to the wood not wearing down evenly when its sharpened and the leads break easily and are not bound to the wood, like good lipliners should.
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Bronzers -Yves Saint Laurent - Poudre de Soleil #1
wonderbuy 11/11/2008 7:57:00 AM
The thing with bronzers is that the colour has to be right first and foremost, even if there are better formulations out there. This colour is designed for those with yellow undertones, either light Asians or olive complexions. Those with yellow undertones should avoid bronzers that have too much yellow and this is the perfect bronzer as it is actually pink based. This works great as a blush and gives the perfect bronze-pink look. It brightens the complexions and has good lasting power. There are however, only 3 colours in the range, so if the colour is right for you, this is a real winner. As for the formulation, this is superior to Guerlain's bronzer for a number of reasons: - it is more finely milled and more refined. You can tell by just looking at the way the testers wear down. This one is even and smooth whereas Guerlain's is rougher. This makes a huge difference on complexions that are already smooth. - the light reflective particles are smaller. Guerlain's is definitely more noticeable. Not much can be said for the packaging. The palette is too small and the hinge breaks off easily. Guerlain's packaging is a lot more durable and more practical.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No