Self Tanners -Natio - Sun-Kissed Glow Gradual Tan Lotion
clarabella66 10/13/2008 7:06:00 AM
oh maaaaaaaaan. this is great. apart from the fact that i broke out in a rash that i've never even seen before. i was itchy, and irritated, right before my birthday party :( this stuff smells better than other ones i've tried - and it has the best colour i've seen, especially on my pale pale skin. but this rash was unbearable....knowing me i'll probably buy it again down the track hoping it wasn't this that gave me the rash. but considering it was ALL over my body, i think this was the culprit. really big shame, especially because natio products are usually great!
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Masks -Natio - Face Mask Purifier
clarabella66 9/21/2008 3:14:00 AM
Got this after reading reviews here, and also because I hadn't bought anything from Natio in a while, and I usually like to buy something as a treat!! I was please with the results - any clay-based mask always dries a bit tautly, but that's kind of expected. I used the Gentle Facial Scrub before this and the put a thin layer of this on. Sat there for a while and rinsed it off. My skin looked slightly better and it was definitely softer and smoother. My breakouts have reduced to little red dots, hardly even noticeable, so I'm hoping that this is what is calming my skin. Did sting a little bit the first time I used it, but that was because I used this after a harsh scrub. So far, really liking it, and I look forward to using it every couple of days! A def. recommendation.
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Scrubs -Natio - Gentle Facial Scrub
clarabella66 9/16/2008 8:04:00 AM
This is pretty much all you can expect from a scrub. Thought it was a little too harsh the first time I used it, but I cut down to just every second or third day, so maybe 3 times a week, and I'm pretty happy with it. The little scrubby bits are good at making my skin really soft and definitely has not made me break out at all. It smells really nice - typical of Natio, and I'm pretty sure I'll stick with this one.
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Foundations -Almay - TLC Truly Lasting Color
clarabella66 9/16/2008 7:54:00 AM
This is actually pretty good. I wanted to get something that I could wear during the humid summers here and that wouldn't disappear off my face. The coverage is probably medium or so, but it's kind of buildable. The pump is convenient and the consistency is thicker than what I'm used to, but it's really nice to work with, especially after warming it on the back of my hand. The colour stays on pretty much all day it seems - I'm used to my foundation disappearing after any sort of activity, but I'll look in the mirror and this will still be there and my face will look nicely even. but when I wash my face, I'm not actually sure if I've washed it all off, but I give my face a good cleanse, just to make sure. Overall, pretty happy that I've tried this - it's a great backup foundation and it's got minerals and other good stuff like green tea and lemon extract and it's oil free, so I really don't feel bad at all that I'm wearing it! I've got the 'naked' shade and it seems to be a good match. Would def recommend it for an everyday makeup that's longlasting and trustworthy.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Innoxa - Radiant Revitalizing Moisturizer
clarabella66 9/1/2008 3:00:00 AM
If this didn't ball up with my foundation, I'd be using this all the time. Real shame as I love everything that it does. Maybe it's my foundation that is the problem, maybe it's my face. Who knows, but it's definitely a problem that always occurs for me :( EDIT: WELL!! I'd lost my docket for this, so I couldn't return it! But thank goodness I kept it, because I (although my Clinique Soft Finish was not finished by far) decided to try the Almay TLC foundation - really really really glad I did. I've bought things, used them once and then ignored them for a while until I rediscover them in my cupboard. But I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping the TLC in my makeup bag all the time. Reason why? With this Innoxa moisturiser, IT DOESN'T BALL UP!!!!! GODSEND! so, now that I've realised what was making my moisturisers act funny, I can go back and use what I have in my drawer! PHEW! So.... at the moment, I'm pretty pleased with this moisturiser - it's a nice consistentcy, love the shimmery look it's got, and my foundation slides so well over it! Will def repurchase now!
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Toners -Clinique - Clarifying Moisturing Lotion #2
clarabella66 9/1/2008 2:56:00 AM
Only a few reviews - that's a bit weird! I think I began the Clinique 3 step when I tried a GWP that my sister had gotten with her Clinique products. I liked the idea of having a skin routine, but noticed that the normal #2 Clarifying Lotion really really dried out my skin and I didn't stick with it long enough to see if my breakouts subsided. So I eventually tried this one and I'm really happy with it. But, as per normal, I stray from good things and thought I'd try out the Clarifying Lotion #1. For some reason that one just didn't do it for me. The Moisture Clarifying Lotion has proved to be the best because it soothes my skin after I was it, and it minimises the redness in pimples or on my face. It also helps with keeping breakouts under control. I find that if i pair this up with Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, I usually don't get pimples! So although I still have a bottle of the #2 normal lotion, I'm going to stick with this one as it doesn't make me break out, but keeps everything under control. It definitely makes my skin look fresher and more radiant than any other ones I've tried, plus I only seem to need a tiny bit for it to work! Pretty sure this is my HG.
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Liquid -Clinique - Soft Finish Makeup [DISCONTINUED]
clarabella66 8/25/2008 2:26:00 AM
Well after much consideration, I think I'm ready to write a review! I've been trying to find a foundation that won't show dry spots, has a decent coverage and won't irritate my skin. I've been using Superbalanced for quite a while after finding Superfit a bit too drying for me. I was relatively happy with Superbalanced, but thought that the colour I was using was a bit too pink for my liking, and I wanted something with a bit more coverage that would cover the random red spots that appear. I asked the Clinique Sales Assistant and she pointed me towards Soft Finish, which essentially is for dry skin and has a fuller coverage compared to Superbalanced. So far, I think I'm pretty happy with it. I love Clinique foundations because they blend really well and don't clump up around my mouth or into fine lines like other foundations I've tried. I have found that I need to wait a bit longer after applying moisturiser before using this foundation because it doesn't blend as easily, but if I wait enough, it works really well. I usually mix Cetaphil Lotion with my Olay Moisturising Lotion and it keeps my skin hydrated, but lately I've found I don't really need the Cetaphil to keep my skin moisturised when I use Soft Finish, which is great!! So I think I'm going to be sticking with this one for a bit!! Perhaps an HG, but who knows... EDIT: i've decided that i LOVE the body shop's moisture face base WAY better. this clinique one has oil in it, and made my pores clog up - plus i'm pretty sure that clinique puts something in their products that makes them incompatible with other brands' things.... but the body shop's foundation is AWESOME - better coverage, and SO much happier with it.
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Moisturizers -Dove - Essential Nutrients Day Lotion SPF 15
clarabella66 8/14/2008 9:15:00 AM
i'm so confused!!!! i've bought so many moisturisers lately trying to find one that is moisturising enough for my skin, has an SPF and goes well with my foundation. but for some reason i can't find a single one. it's awful. i bought this on recommendation from a sales assistant who claimed she'd been using this for years and had no problems with her foundation balling up on her skin. as soon as i got home, i tried it and really liked the texture and smell, but as soon as i put my foundation on, it clumped up like no tomorrow, like it just didn't want to let my foundation settle. i use clinique soft finish or superbalanced and both just don't want to sit on top of this moisturiser. i don't know if it's my skin, if it's my foundation or my moisturisers. if anyone can help - please do! :(
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Powder -Prestige - Skin Loving Minerals Gentle Finish Mineral Powder Foundation
clarabella66 6/20/2008 5:42:00 AM
HOLY MOLEY!!!! i've been using liquid foundation for ever, and a girl a work with was talking about mineral foundation with someone else and it got me thinking....but i didnt want to spend $80 or more to get me started with bare escentuals etc etc. so I went to the local cosmetics store, and came across this product and asked the SA what she thought of it. She said it had only come in the day before so she didn't know. Just came home from work, and tried this stuff. one sweep across my face, and wow - better cover than what i'd been getting from built up liquid foundation. and my redness is gone, imperfections barely noticeable at all! i'm really amazing and i can't help loving the fact that it's all good for me! what's really good is that it also means i dont have to worry about moisturiser clumping or balling like it did with my liquid foundation when i rubbed it on my face! and that means i can go back and use up all my moisturiser that i'd given up on too!!! i'm really hoping that this is going to be my HG. I'm going travelling and didnt want to put on foundation every day, so one sweep of this, and I'll be set and I won't look heavily made up either! hooray!! definitely recommend this stuff. it's fantastic!!! EDIT: ok guys if you've found that this stuff is too orange or it applies unevenly - you HAVE to try using much much less and with a good brush (the body shop mineral kabuki brush is awesome), only sprinkle a tiny little bit into the lid, then really work it into the brush until you really can't even see it anymore, tap it or brush the top of the brush on the side of the lid to get the excess off, then work it in circles in to your skin and gradually build up the coverage. if you have had problems, try it again - cos most of the time, the problem is that you use too much, you dont take the excess off, and you dont work it properly into your skin. hope this helps.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -The Body Shop - Tea Tree Oil Blemish Stick
clarabella66 6/10/2008 3:32:00 AM
I''m surprised at how many people dont like this. Maybe the Aus formula is slightly different??? I received a sample of a Clinique blemish gel thing and that worked very well, but I didnt want to have to repurchase something very very expensive especially if blemishes fade for me as I grow older. So I tried this, and while it is no miracle solution where the pimple disappears immediately ( you can't really expect that) I have found that the blemishes never ever seem to get worse as soon as I put it on. It definitely helps heal the skin and kills whatever bacteria is there to stop it from growing. I tried straight tea tree oil, but that seems to make the blemish go a bit more red and it sits on the skin for a while. Only thing is - the same stick is used on every blemish, so it might not be very hygenic. Cleaning is most likely recommended. But I'm happy using this for my blemishes when they appear. If I feel something coming on, I put this on, and they don't really form at all or get any worse if there is an existent spot. Maybe something a bit more strong is needed for bad acne, but I'm really quite happy with this. EDIT: ok i think i've figured something out. i reckon if you put too much on, it doesn't do anything - you have to let the pimple breathe a bit to let it heal. put a small dab on the problem spot at night time, and there's a definite reduction in the pimple the next day. little red pimples are gone in one night using this stuff.
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Scrubs -St. Ives - Invigorating Apricot Scrub
clarabella66 6/4/2008 10:15:00 PM
It's funny how not knowing how to use a product can really change how it works for you. I originally bought the blemish-fighting scrub, hoping to clear up the pimples I sometimes get, but it only broke me out more. Plus I was using it every day on sensitive and dry skin. I've now realised that it's better to use a scrub every few days as well as your daily cleanser, and since realising this, my skin has been so much smoother! Although I am getting a few pimples recently (I think it's because I keep changing products) I think I've settled back in to a routine. Start with Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub (so good for everyday use, even on my skin), then use the Clinique facial soap if i feel like it, or I'll use this scrub, then follow with the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2, and finish with Simple Rich Moisturiser (great under makeup) and a bit of Cetaphil Lotion if my skin's feeling dry (I'm not sure if it's supposed to be used for the face, but it's the only thing that works for me that doesn't break me out or clump up under my foundation). After abandoning this tube for a while, and rediscovering it under my sink, I thought I'd give it a go after reading the reviews on here. My skin is amazingly soft and supple - it's a great feeling, and the foundation goes on sooo much more easily. I think I'll keep experimenting with this to make sure that it wont break me out, but it's much more gentle than the blemish-fighting version. Prob the lack of salicylic acid!!
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Moisturizers -St. Ives - Night Cream
clarabella66 6/4/2008 9:29:00 PM
I'd heard so much about St Ives and how it works wonders for skin, so I originally bought one of the scrubs. My face has always been a little dry, and I thought I should use a different moisturiser for night time. I bought this and love the smell! I've probably bought about 4 tubes since I first started....even my boyfriend likes it and its smell and steals a little :) I love how thick it is, and when I wake up in the morning, my face looks so much more rested. The day moisturiser (really don't like the smell of this one) is good if you wear powder or no makeup, but I tried to put foundation over the top, and because it was so thick, it started balling and clumping on my face. I've given the packaging only 3, cos in Australia, you only get 75ml, which doesn't last me that long at all, especially cos I love it so much!! And it's cheap, so you don't have to go and waste your money on expensive night creams.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Neutrogena - Deep Clean Gentle Scrub
clarabella66 6/3/2008 10:06:00 PM
No matter what I buy, I keep coming back to this. It's the only thing that actually helps prevent my skin from breaking out. I've tried St Ives, Simple, L'Oreal, Nivea, J&J, Garnier and a whole lot more that I've forgotten, but whenever I start breaking out from these, I always run back to Neutrogena. Nothing else seems to clean my skin as much as this - it does dry out my skin a bit and I think this is the salicylic acid, but I've found a moisturiser that counteracts that. If i feel it's being too rough, I'll just use it an night time, and use the Clinique facial soap in the morning. I had a friend who had acne, and her dermatologist suggested she use Neutrogena and her skin cleared right up. No matter what I do, I think I'll always keep a bottle of this by my sink. EDIT: YES! definitely my HG daily cleanser/scrub thingy. if i wake up and my skin's looking a little dull or if a spot has appeared, i'll wash my face with this, and the redness will be reduced instantly and my face will look clearer. i'm a sucker for new products, so i keep buying new stuff, but i dont think i could ever let go of this beauty.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Clinique - Superpowder Double Face Makeup
clarabella66 6/3/2008 10:00:00 PM
I have a love/hate relationship with this powder. It says it's a double makeup, but I'm never too sure how I'm supposed to use it as just foundation by itself. I usually use it with a brush and try to dust it over my foundation if I want my foundation to last, but this seems to brush off any concealer that I've put on....maybe I'm not applying it correctly!??! Other than that though, I guess it's a good powder - really haven't had much experiences with them... I prefer to wear liquid foundation all the time and prefer the dewy look rather than matte. So this has lasted me quite a while. However, I find that if I wear it by itself, or if I try to put too much on over my foundation, I get little pimples which doesn't make me happy at all. Maybe I'll go ask the Clinique SA next time for an alternative.
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Fragrances -Coty - Princess
clarabella66 6/3/2008 9:55:00 PM
I adore the fragrance!!! It's become my signature scent, and I always have people coming up and asking me what smells so good! I got given this as a present, and would probably not usually consider myself as using such a sweet scent and I'd usually go for something fruitier, but I've really taken a fancy to this one, and my boyfriend loves it too!! I've got 3 drops left in my bottle, and I've just ordered a 100ml bottle from Ebay - cannot wait!! I think the best way to describe it is a real 'sex kitten' scent :) it's cute, playful, seductive, sexy and the fact that it has chocolate undertones must explain why I love it so much!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No