Liquid -Chanel - Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup SPF 15 
Illuminous 7/25/2009 11:14:00 PM
i used to like this, but i don't anymore. it contains talc (which is carcinogenic & can be pore-clogging), & it's not oil-free. the idea of matte luminosity is a lovely oxymoron, but i like general luminosity on it's own much more. on my face, this foundation dries up in funny spots. it has no hydrating properties. it does have an spf though. & the packaging is beautifully classic. it has a convenient pump too, for easy dispensing. i think this foundation is best for normal skin, because there's a lot of factors in it that i believe won't agree with other skin types.
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Highlighters -Revlon - Skinlights Face Illuminator Lotion [DISCONTINUED]
Illuminous 7/25/2009 11:06:00 PM
i wish i had better skin because this product is so beautiful, & works best on perfect skin of course. it smells beautiful, it's light & luminous, & it glides on smoothly. it's just wonderful. just be careful if you have visible pores because it can sit in the pores/make them look enlarged. i like to put it on my cheekbones to highlight. you can mix it with foundation for beautiful luminosity. versatile. i THINK it's oil-free, & i don't believe i've really had any breakout issues with this product. it is discontinued unfortunately, which makes things difficult, but a little goes a long way, plus you can still find it floating around (i got mine at paddy's markets in sydney city for $10, & i think you can buy online). thumbs down at revlon though for animal testing, -1 lipstick.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
Illuminous 7/25/2009 10:54:00 PM
the problem with proactiv is that the company & customers, get it wrong a lot. the customers don't listen, & the company doesn't explain. of course proactiv simply just doesn't work for some people. but a lot of the time, people are ignorant about using it, & the company doesn't explain the usage very well. the 3-step that they promote in the media is the wrong pack to go with, as it contains no moisturiser. but people see this on tv, & think it's the correct way to go. but it isn't. if you use proactiv, you need the cleanser, toner & lotion, AS WELL AS THE OIL-FREE MOISTURISER! the problem is, a lot of people buy the 3-step, & don't use a moisturiser, resulting dehydration of the skin, so therefore more oil production, & more breakouts. they also think the repairing lotion is a moisturiser. also, even though some people do use a moisturiser, they use their own personal moisturiser from another brand. the proactiv moisturiser is formulated to work with the 3-step, & it's oil & fragrance-free, whereas people using their own moisturiser is a recipe for disaster considering it may contain oil, fragrance, mattifiers & general chemicals that simply do not mix with the 3-step. another key factor is product usage. a lot of people don't use the correct amount of product, which results in wastage, & dryness; the latter especially spawning from the repairing lotion, which is the most drying step in the routine. if you try the proactiv 3-step, make sure you use it along with the proactiv moisturiser, & the correct amount of product. nevertheless, i used to use proactiv, & when i was using it, it worked beautifully for me. i still got the occasional breakout, but nothing compared to my previous skin. my skin was beautiful, balanced, clear & hydrated. but then i stopped using it (fool), & then my skin changed & become sensitive. i can't use it anymore. it burns. overall, proactiv are on the right track with the 3-step kit. there are SOME flaws in it, but they are on the right track. even though i can't use it anymore, i still recommend it. just only go for it if you have an acne problem in the first place. ;) & avoid it if you're sensitive.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Pro Activ - Pro Activ Spf 15 oil free moisturizer
Illuminous 7/25/2009 10:31:00 PM
i have repurchased this many-a-time & i quite enjoy it. it's light & fresh & has an spf, plus it's oil-free, & fragrance-free. thus, at this particular point in time, my skin is ridiculously dry, & this does not help at all with that. in my opinion this is only suitable for oily/combination skin, & only when your skin's not dry/flaky. but then again, it's aimed at acne-prone skin, which is usually very oily, so the fact that it's not an intensive moisturiser is understandable, & it doesn't claim to be, & it's not designed for that.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
Illuminous 7/25/2009 10:22:00 PM
around the same time that i started using this, my skin cleared up (temporarily -_-). i don't know if it was a coincidence or not, but regardless i have stuck to this make-up. upon first application it sits on the skin quite nicely, but later on in the day, my skin goes all greasy & it cakes & flakes up. it looks really gross. it doesn't stay flat & smooth, it just turns really odd. maybe it's just my skin routine that allows for this lousy turn-out, but i am not as enthused as i was when i was first educated about this product while doing my make-up artistry course. i give it 4 lipsticks, because yes it is a REAL mineral make-up, & i do use it all the time, & would repurchase, but if something better came along i would not hesitate to drop this. i don't like the matte, powdery look either, i prefer a dewy, fresh, luminous look, but i can only really achieve the latter with a beautiful - but evil-filled-with-chemicals - liquid foundation. *sigh* i'm stuck... p.s. i see no visible signs of the product breaking me out, so 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up in that aspect.
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Moisturizers -Pro Activ - Green Tea Moisturizer
Illuminous 7/25/2009 10:09:00 PM
my boyfriend bought me this the other day, due to the fact that my skin is ridiculously dry at the moment, but i used it & it burnt my face. this product contains straight-out alcohol, so beware. i told him to take this home for himself & use it, & he said it worked fine for him & it made his skin feel lovely, moisturised & refreshed. it's all up to the individual, but for myself having sensitive, oily skin (could there be a worse skin type?), it didn't agree. on the (sort of) plus side it's supposedly "non-comedogenic", but that claim is pretty empty considering the actual comedogenicity of a product can not be predicted from its contents. it's all up to the individual & their skin. this product is quite expensive for its size, & it is not oil-free.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Pro Activ - Revitalizing Toner
Illuminous 7/25/2009 9:58:00 PM
this used to work for me fine a long time ago, but then i stopped using the proactiv system, & i had a change in my skin & it went sensitive. as time passed, i returned to use the system, but this toner seemed to burn my skin. it went all hot & red, it was a horrible, dirty, uncomfortable feeling. not a fan. i don't really like toners. i find them to be unnecessary, regardless of what people may promote. thus, if it works for you of course, then that's fabulous.
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Cleansers -Clarins - Cleansing Milk with Gentian
Illuminous 7/25/2009 9:51:00 PM
i know i should be patient, but i've used this twice since my boyfriend purchased it for me 2 days ago, along with the alcohol-free toner, but i woke up this morning with 3 huge whiteheads. ugh. i have oily, acne-prone skin but i don't like products that feel stripping. i like moist skin. but this cleansing milk is weird, it feels greasy & not light (decleor's cleansing milk wasn't greasy, i really liked that). i don't really know if i like it. & i don't know if i should continue to use it. i think i need something more specifically acne-fighting. i like the luxurious cream texture & classic packaging, but maybe it just isn't right for my skin, even if i want it to be. this product is aimed at oily/combination skin, but for that it just seems unsuitable.
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Masks -Pro Activ - Refining Mask
Illuminous 7/25/2009 9:32:00 PM
this mask is simply ok. when i rinse it off, my skin looks more glowing than it did prior, & it sort of does help to dry out existing blemishes, but overall it can be a bit drying to parts of the skin you DON'T want dried out. you will need a good, intensive moisturiser after application. i think it's fine, i've never really had a problem with it, but i'd say it's simply mediocre, & perhaps there are more effective clay masks out there. it can be used as a spot treatment too, but eh, my personal results for that method were also pretty average. i was annoyed that it doesn't do anything at all to draw out blackheads, because that's what clay is supposed to do - help draw out impurities. overall averageness, but would repurchase, because it's hard for me to find products that are even effective in the slightest.
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