Fragrances -Yves Saint Laurent - Parisienne
cadbury 12/26/2011 7:00:00 PM
I received this as a gift along with the scented body lotion. It's not something I would have bought, at least at retail price. The packaging is pretty and classic. As for the scent, it is a very light scent, not overpowering at all. I'm not a big fan of florals, but this has a delicate rose touch to it, that combines with other elements (vinyl accord, cranberry, blackberry, violet, peony, patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood and musk) really nicely. This scent is neither overtly floral, or fruity. It is subtle and understated, not teenage or cheap smelling at all. I was pleasantly surprised to find I really like it! As for the lasting power - it doesn't last on me at all, for even a few hours (I have the eau de parfum), even if layered with the body lotion. This can be seen as either a positive or a negative. It makes it almost impossible to over apply it, but it means you will use more, and never quite achieve the level of scent you want. I have not encountered this problem with other perfumes, except for one that was a few years old and had past its shelf life. For other perfumes, usually one spray on my wrists can be dabbed on my neck and is more than sufficient. At least a light scent remains on clothing the day after spraying, which is a plus. Given that a few other reviewers have noted the same problem, I am not sure if we got a bad batch or this just doesn't work with our body chemistry. Generally I like fragrances that are a balance of sweet and fresh - I don't like anything sickly sweet or overpowering. YSl Paris very much fits these requirements. Other scents I like - Chanel Chance (fresh, sweet); L'Eau D'Issey / Davidoff Cool Water (fresh, light); and YSL Baby Doll (sweet, powdery). I chose 'yes' for purchasing again, but this is dependent on finishing a perfume, which I find very hard to do!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous in Coral Reef
cadbury 10/30/2011 11:53:00 PM
I received this product as a gift and it wasn't until much later I saw all the love and hype this gets here on MUA. On my lips it looks exactly as it does in the tube, an opaque, creamy yet clear pink coral. On me it is definitely pink; the orange tones don't show up on me -It has no scent or taste -The bottle is sealed quite tight and only allows one use of gloss on the doe foot applicator, so there is never any mess, and nothing is wasted. Aside from that the look of the packaging is simple, not cheap or expensive. -It is long lasting -It brightens up my face and is such a pretty color particularly for the perfect fresh spring look I love the color and effect so much I have been looking for a lipstick just like it! I hate eating or drinking with gloss on, and hair can get stuck to it, etc This is the only product I own that I want to buy a back up for, because I never want to run out!
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Lip Treatments -Dr. Bronner's - Magic All-One! Organic Lip Balm - Naked
cadbury 10/20/2011 7:21:00 PM
I was looking for a non petrolatum based lipbalm, as after using years of vaseline my lips were always dry and cracking. I was thinking of trying the weleda, but this one looked interesting and was a bit cheaper. Simple packaging and small, organic ingredients list. When I bought this, my lips were cracked, peeling and bleeding. After one day's use, they were mostly healed. The con for me is that this has a very strong herbal scent - I don't understand all the reviews saying this has no scent at all. 'Unscented' can simply mean no added fragrance, which leaves me smelling the hemp seed oil. I do know that through using a scented lipbalm daily, you forget that it has any scent, so I am hoping to get to that stage. Next time I might try the orange if it smells better, but at this stage will definitely repurchase a dr. bronner's balm. Edited to add - no problems with this balm, and one tube lasted me four months, applying regularly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Color Riche Magnetic Coral 373
cadbury 9/29/2011 6:05:00 AM
I saw a swatch of this on a beauty blog before buying, and it looked like a strong red/orange based coral. In the ad it looks 100% orange on doutzen kroes. Neither of these showed any shimmer in the lipstick. On my hand, the swatch came up the same as what I saw online, a red coral. On my lips, it was a glittery pink coral that deepened with another coat, making it closer to the swatch. There is so much glitter that it applies really gritty and not smooth on my lips. I say 'glitter' and not 'shimmer' because it is really big particles that remain when I wipe off the lipstick. I don't go for shimmery lip products (I have in the past, particularly as a teen) because I favor clear or opaque colors atm; think they look better on me; and with a lot of them the shimmer does migrate. If I had known this had shimmer, I would have skipped it, but I haven't taken points off for it. I seem to be in the minority, but I usually have no problem with the scent of L'oreal lipsticks. I own several and I actually like the smell! But with this one, the scent is actually particularly strong and I now understand why a lot of people don't like it. It doesn't linger while on your lips at least. Overall, I don't like the texture of this lipstick, which is what brings down my rating and why I won't repurchase. I rated it a 3 for price, although L'Oreal lipsticks are expensive in Aus/Nz as I bought it cheaper online. The color is pretty and summery. I am going to try wearing it a few more times and may update my review then.
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Eyeliner -Kiss Me - heroine make smooth liquid eyeliner BK 01
cadbury 9/14/2011 6:47:00 PM
I tend to use pencil liner more than liquid, because i like a smudgier less precise line. However since buying this I wear it all the time because: -the brush is super thin, so you do a very thin line, but it's also easy to do a cat eye or thicker line. (it's nicer than the majolica neo automatic liners that were so popular a few years back) -this is not a click-pen. i don't like click pen products because they always dispense too much product. This is great because if the pen is dry, just lightly shake it and you have plenty of liner to use without it being too much -the tube clicks shut very securely and you know it won't dry out -the liner itself is easy to apply, dries quickly and stays put and it also is very easy to remove -the price is reasonable, even if you have to order it online I have no complaints about this product at all and will be repurchasing when I run out! update- just wanted to add I use this all the time and it's still my favorite. one pen lasts a long time too, even with regular use. It really completely changed me from using a smudgy pencil liner daily to using this, which is quite an accomplishment only a great product can achieve!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion
cadbury 6/4/2011 3:13:00 AM
I bought this to try since I liked the regular version. The whitening version is much thinner, and absorbs a lot faster without the sticky feeling of the regular hyaluron version. However, I find that it is less moisturising, and also seemed to give my skin small bumps (not in large sections, just here and there). Once I stopped my trial use of this, those bumps went away, and I don't get them with the regular version. I even tried just using it on my neck, but got worse bumps there! Perhaps my skin doesn't like arbutin or one of the other ingredients. Anyway, I think it does help to brighten the skin in a temporary way, sort of like how your face is brighter after exfoliating. I can't comment on the long term usage of it as I had to stop due to my skin's reaction.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Joico - K-Pak Color Restorative Styling Oil
cadbury 6/4/2011 12:58:00 AM
I use this in conjuction with k-pak intense hydrator. On damp hair, I apply a couple pumps (my hair is long) and let it dry. I feel that it helps maintain the condition of my hair, particularly after bleaching. I haven't used it as a styling serum so I can't comment on that (yet). I like that the pump doesn't dispense too much product, and that it can be locked. I also like that the scent doesn't stay when my hair dries I would definitely buy again, and will update this review when and if I find more good things to say about it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Joico - K-Pak Intense Hydrator
cadbury 6/4/2011 12:44:00 AM
I bought this because I was planning to bleach my hair and knew I would need a good deep conditioner. I used it before I bleached, and noticed my hair was softer as soon as I rinsed it out. Now my hair has been lightened, I use this and my hair texture feels the same - soft and silky. Another thing I like, aside from the performance, is that although it has a scent when you put it on, when your hair is dry there is no overpowering smell, or strong smell of any kind. I would definitely buy again. I also use the color therapy hair oil, which I have reviewed separately.
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Treatments -Garden of Wisdom - Mandelic Acid Serum
cadbury 3/12/2011 2:42:00 AM
I have sensitive combination skin with rosacea on my cheeks, and pigmentation (mainly freckles) which is concentrated mainly on my cheekbones. I'm also prone to clogs, blackheads and whiteheads. I bought the 5% no seaweed or alcohol sample after reading about mandelic acid being great for removing pigmentation, redness and acne without irritation. I was mainly interested in it for pigmentation, based on rave reviews. I made sure to wear sunscreen and avoid the sun more than usual so that I didn't damage my skin. I introduced it into my routine slowly, using it over hyaluronic acid toner twice, a week. After the first uses the acid brought what was in my pores to the surface, and I got some whitehead type pimples. Nothing major, and I was glad that my skin was being cleared out. My nose got a little flaky, but quite minor, and it gets flaky from any kind of exfoliation. By the end of the second week I used the mandelic without the toner 3x and had no visible irritation. The mandelic made my skin very smooth, and it brought sebum etc to the surface of my skin with ease. It made my blackheads harder to remove though. The third week I used it only twice as I didn't want to over exfoliate. I used it over the toner because my skin seemed fragile. By the end of third week I noticed that both the texture and tone of my skin looked much worse. Usually I can just put hyaluronic toner and oil free moisture and my skin looks healthy and clear, but now my skin constantly had a red blotchy undertone. I didn't understand this as my skin wasn't irritated in terms of severe redness, rashes or breakouts. Currently, my skin looks quite awful - my cheeks, which are normally clear of pimples, are somewhat bumpy under the skin, and the tone is equally poor. I have learned the difference between purging and a bad reaction over the years. Purging is what I initially experienced as the bad stuff was brought (quite easily) to the surface. Now what I am experiencing is my skin disliking this product. I have used an AHA a long time ago (Neutrogena healthy skin) and my skin didn't like that either, so perhaps AHAs are not for me. To remedy this, I am just going to have to wait it out and hope my skin goes back to normal. The one place I am going to continue using the mandelic is on my chin, as I haven't had any adverse effects there aside from a couple of whiteheads and I want to see if I can get any of the benefits that the rest of my face will not. If I end up with a bad reaction there too, I will stop the mandelic completely. I have all the conditions that mandelic is purported to help with, but maybe my skin is just too sensitive or not suited to these kind of products. It's a shame that this didn't work for me, but I am glad I bought a sample to try. It seems to be fantastic for other people, so the only way to know if it will suit you is to try it for yourself.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Cure - Natural Aqua Gel
cadbury 8/4/2010 11:46:00 PM
I'm surprised there are no reviews for this! One bottle is sold every 20 seconds in Japan. There is lots of info on the internet about it, which is how I stumbled upon it myself. Cure is an exfoliant with no grains or ahas. It is made up of 90% water, applies on your face as a clear gel and as you (gently) rub your skin in circular motions, the dead skin is turned into what looks like eraser rubbings. They recommend to use it as regularly as any other exfoliant, 1-3 times a week depending on your skin type. Used every day it will probably dry out your skin. Now, how can something made up of 90% water do anything at all? The benefits of Cure for me are - it can be used on sensitive skin, you don't have to worry about it aggravating acne because there are no grains or acids, it makes skin really smooth and preps it for your skincare (most exfoliants should do this) This would suit you if your skin doesn't like other types of exfoliants. There are other products of this kind, mostly popular in Asia, called 'peeling gels'. I have tried two others, one is the Ginvera Green Tea one, and the other is an organic brand I forget the name of (could be 'Attitude'). The ginvera was targeted at removing blackheads (no effect for me) but it was more of a gooey gel, not a liquid, and I didn't see any positive effects on my skin. The other was a more solid gel, and when I washed it off, my skin was hot and burning a little from the fruit extracts. Usually I only exfoliate my t-zone, which really needs it, as my cheeks are normal and don't need any extra work. Also, they get aggravated easily by products so I just leave them alone. With Cure, I can use it all over my face, and my cheeks only turn pink while I rub the dead skin off, then go back to normal without irritation. With the other peeling gels I tried, I wasn't convinced there was dead skin piling up, more than just the product itself, but with Cure I can actually feel and see the difference before and after. Also, if you apply on a place that doesn't really need exfoliating, you won't get a lot of eraser rubbings. There are videos online that test this. The downside of Cure for me - not easily available outside a few Asian countries, a bit pricy to order when factoring in shipping etc. I recommend you try a sample first (which is what I did) to see if it works for you, before buying the full size. The only reason I bought the full size is because I saw the effects and was impressed. I have been using Cure for a few weeks, and I am happy with the results. Will update this review later if anything changes.
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Treatments -Juju Aquamoist - juju cosmetics aquamoist essence
cadbury 8/1/2010 7:15:00 PM
After using other hyaluronic products, I decided to give this a try as it had no alcohol, mineral oil, coloring or fragrance. It is a gel that turns to liquid and absorbs very quickly. It is recommended for night use, but I see no problem with using it in the day provided it plays nicely with your sunscreen/makeup. I started using Hada Labo's hyaluronic lotion (toner) and noticed my skin was retaining more moisture. I use one drop of this essence after Hada Labo, then follow with my regular moisturizer (neutrogena oil-free for combination skin). The essence creates a barrier to keep moisture in, and helps skin absorb whatever you put on top. My skin feels super smooth and soft with this combination, and I feel that my skin texture has improved. I have had no breakouts caused by these products on my sensitive skin as they don't contain any ingredients that irritate me. Note that I also exfoliate regularly, as well exfoliated skin absorbs serums etc better. While I do think this helps, I don't know if the extra step is absolutely necessary. I will finish up the bottle and update this review as needed. For now I am saying I will buy again. Edit- Just wanted to add that I do not use this in summer or high humidity as it's too much moisture for my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Unlisted Brand - Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid
cadbury 7/18/2010 8:17:00 PM
I'm surprised there aren't more reviews of this! One bottle is sold every 4 seconds in Japan. Note - in Japan this is called "lotion",which is equivalent to toner. It is fragrance free, mineral oil free, colorant free and alcohol free. I have sensitive skin that can't tolerate many ingredients including mineral oil and alcohol, but I have no negative reactions from this. The product comes in a 170ml bottle and looks and feels like water. The nozzle is designed so that one drop will spill out at a time - and you only need two drops for your whole face. Used morning and night, this will last forever! There is a particular way to apply it - you are meant to pat it into your skin with your palms until your skin feels smooth (ie not sticky). There are videos online of this if you need a demonstration :P Then put your own moisturiser or serum on top. The lotion acts as a barrier to prevent any moisture loss, and locks in whatever you put on top. I have combination sensitive skin, prone to clogged pores and breakouts but nothing major. While this product has no effect on treating pimples, it does not aggravate them either. I have not been using my usual azelaic acid products for the past few weeks, and I have notice that having more hydrated skin has made my face a lot clearer, because it is more balanced. I can't see this product causing irritation to anyone, unless they are unable to use hyaluronic acid. Hada Labo has brought the range out in other Asian countries besides Japan- the malaysian website is in english if you are curious about the brand/products. I don't have ingredients with me, but they are available online.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Lipstick #144 Silky Apricot
cadbury 6/24/2010 4:58:00 AM
I love YSL's rouge pur's. Silky apricot is the perfect peach-nude that previously I have had to mix a couple different lippies to get. I do like the colour - it's what you have seen in the magazines over and over, and its a fresh, sweet shade that looks especially good in summer. The downside - The formula, being opaque and matte, does bring out any wrinkles or chapping on your lips. So it's not something you can just slick on daily. Most nudes or orangy lipsticks make my teeth look yellow (but if you have Hollywood white teeth this will not be an issue) The packaging is signature gold YSL. I don't go for scented products, but I am in the minority who likes the smell of L'Oreal's lipsticks (and Lancomes) so I have to say I love the smell of these too. I'm not sure if I would buy this colour again - for the time being I am going to choose No, but will come back and update this if it changes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Chance
cadbury 6/23/2010 11:23:00 PM
I like fragrances that are a mix of fresh and sweet. Chanel Chance is just that, and smells divine! It's hard to write reviews for perfume, because you have to actually smell it in real life to decide whether you like it. Price is average for branded perfume, and you can always get discounts buying duty free or online. My other favs - YSL Baby Doll, Lancome Miracle so magic
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Sunscreen -EltaMD - UV Clear SPF 46
cadbury 6/23/2010 7:36:00 AM
I am always on the look out for a sunscreen that will not break me out, and that will protect me from the sun. Sounds simple right? If only! I need something oil-free with no titanium dioxide. I previously tried skinceuticals, which had similar ingredients but was very thick, had a whitish cast, and would give me whiteheads if i wore it daily (which i was willing to put up with since it was the best i had found) I was doing my periodical sunscreen search and read all the good reviews of this on the boards. Although other's positive reviews of products don't necessarily work for me, I ordered UV Clear online. As I don't live in the States, shipping was a killer, so overall this stuff is not cheap for me, nor easily accessible. I wore it daily on my vacation in Europe and Asia. The texture is so thin, like moisturiser. You can just apply it normally, and I had no issues with putting on makeup afterwards. It didn't cause me any breakouts either - I removed it with oil cleanser (mineral oil free) then my regular facewash, as I would do for any sunscreen. Now - every day I wore a wide brimmed hat in addition to this sunscreen, and I tend to avoid the sun as well. I don't think I got any new freckles, but I do think my existing ones are slighter darker (not 100% sure, though they look it in photos) and I have a patch of brown on my cheekbone that definitely wasn't there before I left. I know to avoid these issues I need a high ppd sunscreen. Since I haven't found a high ppd sunscreen I can tolerate, I would definitely repurchase this because it doesn't cause me any adverse reactions. I do hope in the future I can find a sunscreen with better protection that doesn't break me out (or something is invented!) EDIT- I have lowered my rating from 4/5 to 3/5. It doesn't wear well under makeup for me (it pills) and it does give me clogs/break outs (but nothing too major). After less than a year it has a slight smell to it, as if it is starting to go off - there are no parabens in it so perhaps it doesn't preserve itself well. Generally sunscreens are said to expire after a year anyway, so I guess it's close enough. However, Elta is still the best thing I have found, and it is the closest my skin has come to tolerating a sunscreen, so I would buy it again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No