Lip Treatments -Biotherm - Beurre de Levres
Emma13 12/16/2011 6:38:00 AM
This is an excellent lip balm. I'm very picky about balms because I have chronically dry lips. I don't generally do well with stick lip balms. I ran out of my favourites (Blistex in a pot and a lip treatment from a Scandinavian brand called Favora), so I bought a tube of Aloe lip treatment from The Body Shop - it was absolutely terrible and made my lips flake even worse! So in desperation I grabbed this at the airport duty free shop. I'm pleased with it, it does the job very well, soothes and has eliminated the dry bits on my lips. What more do I need? The price was actually not bad, 7 euros for a reasonably big tube at the airport shop, so I reckon it's either the same price or even cheaper than TBS. I would definitely buy this again.
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Fragrances -Cartier - Baiser Volé
Emma13 12/7/2011 7:58:00 AM
I have a spray sample I've worn for two days. I can see how people compare this to Love, Chloe - it does fall into the same category in my opinion: a light "veil" scent with floral and powdery notes. But I don't like LC, whereas I do like this. There is something strident in LC, and too much powder, whereas Baiser Volé is soft and creamy. The beginning is very green/floral, too much for my particular taste as I find straight-up lily note too reminiscent of funeral parlours... but once it dries down it's very lovely indeed. I don't get cinnamon or spices, unfortunately, but I do get a hint of vanilla. It's a diffuse aura of femininity on me, a little bit sophisticated, not very warm, and IMO not very sexy. An expensive soap could smell like this, though it's not soapy exactly. I find it a grown-up scent, and perfectly appropriate for the office if not worn by the bucketload. It's not my "type" of scent at all (I go for less floral, warmer, spicier scents) but it's very well done, and like I said, I like it. I would not buy this, but I would happily wear it if someone gave it to me as a gift. The bottle is lovely.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -The Body Shop - Aloe Lip Treatment
Emma13 12/5/2011 12:34:00 PM
Holy moley this is terrible! I would give this 0 lippies if I could. I was desperate for a new lip balm and picked this up based on good reviews, and because I don't generally like lip balms that come in a stick formula. I'm having especially dry lips for some reason, with these horrible 'bits' that make me pick on them and then they bleed.... The only lip treatments I like are Blistex, Carmex (both in a pot) and a fabulous balm "Favora' that I get from Finland. Recently I finally ran out of everything... So on to this product. At 9 euros and something it is expensive, but you do get a rather big tube at least. The product is more like a gloss in consistency, and it shines like a gloss, too. This would be okay. but unfortunately it has done absolutely nothing to alleviate my dry lips - and I've used it for several days running. If anything, the dry bits are accentuated. It does not seem to hydrate, nor does it provide a protecting coat as it wears off in a nanosecond. Very poor. UPDATE: I tried TBS Vitamin E lip balm stick which my husband likes, that did not work well either. Finally I got the "beurre de levres" from Biotherm (same kind of tube as TBS) and it's great. Hurrah.
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Fragrances -Balenciaga - Balenciaga Paris
Emma13 12/2/2011 2:46:00 PM
I haven't bought this yet - only tested it a couple of times. But I'm pretty sure I will end up buying it. This, in essence, is the fragrance I have been looking for: something that is different from most, chic in a totally grown-up way, understated enough to wear to the office yet not bland and boring. I dislike overly sweet florals, and this is not too sweet. I think it is the woody notes that ground it - but it is still quite fresh, not heavy. And not really sexy in an obvious way. I probably wouldn't wear this on a date or in the evening. I can see it working both in warmer and cooler weather, as it is a bit cooler in feeling than my beloved Prada L'eau ambree, which I only wear in autumn and winter. I tend to prefer soft-edged perfumes that envelope you like a cashmere blanket. This is, if not dense cashmere, then an airy-soft angora blanket. In a muted, sophisticated colour - maybe eau de nil. As for that date... I'm desiring Tiempe Passate (sooo expensive!).... (One final note: I read somewhere that Love, Chloe falls into a similar category - personally I found LC much more overtly feminine, floral and sweetly powdery.)
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -L'anza - leave-in protector
Emma13 11/5/2011 11:09:00 AM
I haven't used up my tube of this product yet, but it is an excellent leave-in product, without a doubt. I have fine, curly-wavy hair and it does not weigh my waves down. It does contain quite a bit of protein, so those who have not had such a good experience may have an issue with the protein. That does not mean this isn't a good product, it's just not the right product for you. I'm really liking this and will probably repurchase when I run out. It's quite difficult to find a really good quality leave-in product. (Sometimes I use my GF triple nutrition as leave-in, that one is more moisturising and doesn't contain protein to my knowledge. Works nicely too.)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -L'anza - Healing Strength Manuka Honey Conditioner
Emma13 11/5/2011 11:05:00 AM
I have used this together with the matching shampoo, which is really top notch. This conditioner is good too, but not quite as fantastic. It has very good ingredients, including protein - which my hair needs. For those who need more moisture this conditioner would not be the best choice. I alternate this with Garnier Fructis triple nutrition, which is more moisturising, and I use the L'Anza hair repare protector as leave-in. Good stuff, even if it is expensive.
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Shampoo -L'anza - Healing Strength White Tea Shampoo
Emma13 11/5/2011 11:02:00 AM
I'm sensitive to most shampoos, they tend to give me scalp problems. The only shampoos I've been able to use regularly without problems have been Weleda rosemary (though it was a little drying), Joico K-pak, and this one. This is honestly one of the best shampoos I've ever used, and it is very gentle on hair too (contains no sls/als, but does contain a lot of conditioning, hydrating ingredients as well as some protein). I don't believe that natural is necessarily better when it comes to hair care, it's the result that counts. I'm very happy with this but I might go back to K-Pak next time just to alternate. So as long as your hair is not protein-sensitive I'd highly recommend trying this.
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Conditioner -Garnier - Triple Nutrition Conditioner
Emma13 11/5/2011 10:56:00 AM
I am a product snob, and yet this conditioner earns 5 lippies. Why? Because it works. In fact it works better than some conditioners that cost three times this much. This stuff has no silicone in it, yet I find it very moisturising and it leaves my hair baby-soft, smooth and frizz-free. It doesn't weigh down my fine hair, and though it's rich it isn't greasy. So the packaging is tacky and cheap, and the smell is awful (in my opinion) and too strong. But I can live with that. I've used this as a rinse-out, as a deep treatment (just leave it overnight or for an hour or two), and as leave-in. Works every which way. Top product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere Aqua
Emma13 10/19/2011 11:08:00 AM
UPDATED REVIEW* This is an epic fail. The more I used this, the less I liked it. I get a much more beautiful and natural look using a heavier, creamier foundaiton (or concealer) sparingly and topping up with Chanel powder. B20 was not yellow enough for me, though it is an acceptable match. The foundation is even sheerer than I expected, seriously more like a tinted moisturiser. Only the finish is more matte than the average TM. The effect is like a soft-focus filter: the skin (and its imperfections, freckles etc.) still show, but less so. It does however still look like makeup - no holy grail there. This would work for a no-makeup look for people who have nothing to cover. However it also demands a perfectly soft and smooth skin because is highlights dry areas. Finally it’s supposed to be buildable, but when I tried to apply a second (thin) layer I lose the natural look and it starts to look cakey. A more pigmented product, applied thinly, is much more effective. What really kills it for me is that it simply does not last. I’m not even oily, more combination skin. By noon I *really look like I’m not wearing anything. And not in a good way! Simply infuriating, given how expensive this stuff was. (Note: another foundation that disappeared off my face was Lancome Photogenic Lumessence. I loved the finish - at least as pretty as Vitalumiere Aqua! - but it did not stick around.) I am also concerned about the alcohol content, given that alcohol (the denatured kind) is a seriously bad ingredient for skin. It seems to be in a lot of the new foundations! Why…. Finally I’m also not in love with the price. A note on the packaging. It is plastic, and tiny, so very travel friendly unlike the heavier glass bottles. I had to double-check that the glass bottle and the tiny plastic one actually contain the same amount of product! (Just goes to show how deceiving the glass bottle is.) However, bonus points for practicality. So: given the extreme lack of coverage while not having a perfect finish; lack of lasting power; and very expensive price - I will not buy this again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Serum
Emma13 9/14/2011 6:20:00 AM
I just purchased this and have only used it a couple of times, but a first impression is that it's a very nice serum. I think silicone serums are mostly pretty similar, but this is first of all fairly liquid which makes it easy to distribute through hair, and it smells good (the smell does not linger though). It does add shine and frizz control, but it's not a miracle - nothing is. I used it on top of my leave-in (L'Anza- before blow drying and ceramic ironing, and the results were good. The first time I put on too much and my hair got greasy, so a little does go a long way. I would buy this again, but the bottle is so huge and you use so little, that I won't need to anytime soon. Note: Just be aware that a silicone serum is not enough of a heat protectant on its own. You need a combination of conditioning ingredients combined with barrier ingredients. (According to thebeautybrains.com, glycerin, propylene glycol and hydrolyzed wheat protein polysiloxane copolymer are ingredients that protect hair from blow-drying, while iron damage can be reduced by using conditioners with low-molecular weight conditioners, e.g. cetrimonium chloride.)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kerastase - Oleo-Relax Serum
Emma13 9/12/2011 7:51:00 AM
This did not work for me. I was so disappointed. My hair is fine, and curly/wavy, easily straightened using irons but a pain to blow-dry. This was very heavy and greasy, but that would be okay if it actually helped to make my hair smooth. It did not perform well at all. Not worth the money for me: I much prefer Redken smooth down heat glide. I find Kerastase products vary a lot - some I really liked, others were terrible. And it's extremely expensive.
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Scrubs -Dermalogica - Skin Prep Scrub
Emma13 9/11/2011 5:13:00 AM
This is a pretty good scrub, as they go. I don't normally use scrubs since I prefer BHA/AHA products which I find more effective than abrasive scrubs. I received two samples of this so I used it twice. If you like using scrubs, this is not a bad choice. It's creamy, massages on nicely and the particles are quite fine so it does not feel like you're scratching the skin. (Hello Korres, I'm talking to you.....!) It rinses off pretty easily. So: a good scrub. It smells bad, but I'd still consider buying this if I wanted a scrub. Dermalogica is expensive though.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Dermalogica - Active Moist
Emma13 9/11/2011 5:08:00 AM
I have combination skin with surface dryness and clogged pores. I normally use Paula's Choice products. I used this moisturizer a few times having received a sample. For my skin it is definitely not moisturising enough, I was left with a dry feeling despite using loads. It's actually even thinner and less moisturising than Paula's lightest choice (I forget what that is called now). which also has better ingredients IMO. Dermalogica Active Moist could work for someone with truly oily skin that is not dry on the surface. Finally, the lemony scent is quite strong, and it is very basic for what it is (it certainly doesn't "actively" do anything!). So: could be a good product if you're very oily, but for me too drying and I prefer PC ingredients.
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Moisturizers -Korres - Wild Rose 24-Hour Cream
Emma13 8/5/2011 9:45:00 AM
(Caveat: This is a first review, and I will update once I have used it a bit more. I have a large sample, though, so I won't be able to comment on long-term use.) First of all, a major irritant: the SPF6. There is no point whatsoever to an SPF6. Why bother!? It’s totally inadequate for UV protection during day-time, whilst for night-time use it just adds unnecessary chemicals. Other than that, this is quite an emollient - dare I say "greasy" moisturiser, the smell is earthy but not unpleasant to my nose. It's not a rose smell. I hoped this would help me eliminate flakes from my combo skin with surface dryness. This it has done, though it is so rich I'm not sure if it would block my pores in the longer run. I would use it only at night on my skin type. The jar packaging is not very hygienic, plus it accelerates deterioration of active ingredients (if any). Expensive, too. I'd also like to point out that Korres products are not actually "natural" in any sense - that's just a nice, cuddly "brand story". Here are the ingredients: they should be perfectly safe for cosmetic use (though I have concerns about the aluminum oxide), but natural they are not. Water, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Glycerin, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Pentylene Glycol, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Myristyl Olive Esters, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Olive Oil (0lea Europea) Unsaponifiables, Alcohol, Aluminum Oxide, Aluminum Stearate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bezoic Acid, Citric Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Isodecyl Salicylate, Fragrance, PEG-8, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethanolamine, Xanthum Gum
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Scrubs -Korres - Olive Stones Scrub
Emma13 8/5/2011 9:30:00 AM
This is a really old fashioned and basic product. The scrub particles may be natural, but they are also large and scratchy! Not good for the skin at all. I received a large sample of this product along with some other Korres stuff. Used it once, and was really worried I might be hurting my skin no matter how gently I massaged, it is so rough. (I don't know why people still use scrubs anyway, now that there are so many better, non-abrasive options available involving AHAs, BHAs, enzymes etc.) In any case this is not a "natural" product by any definition, as you can easily see from the ingredients listing. Moreover, Isopropyl Myristate is a highly comedogenic ingredient so definitely not for those with acne issues. Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Olea Europaea, C12-20 Acid PEG-8 Ester, Isodecyl Laurate, Hexyldecanol, Hexyldecyl Laurate, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Octyldodecanol, Polyisoprene, Butylene Glycol, Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Extract, Wheat Germ (Triticum Vulgare) Oil, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Arginine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-8, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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