Lipstick -Clinique - Almost Lipstick - Black Honey
esque 5/2/2009 9:56:00 AM
Such a lovely, sheer reddish plum. Perfect colour, a seeming slightly intense version of the natural lip tone. Halfway between a gloss and lipstick in intensity. Great for lipstick phobics like me. Goes on so smoothly. Lasts for ages. The colour is a divine mid-glossy red berry that can be built up. A HG, I turn to this when I can't decide what to get as it is so natural looking, and have to stop myself using it so often. Gripes: Packaging: I have the old version - the plastic light green tube. A bit tacky and the lid broke! I keep losing it because it won't fit anymore (but miraculously hasn't affected the consistency of the product) Discontinued? : I've heard rumours that this has been d/c-ed in Australia at lease. I asked a counter if she had anymore Almost Lipsticks and she said only a few shades - not sure if it's because it was discontinued/sold out/culled the shades, I didn't check. What is good about Clinique is that they are modestly priced for a mid-tier brand and there seemingly endless GWPs! Try this next time there is an offer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clinique - Facial Soap for Oily Skin
esque 5/2/2009 9:45:00 AM
Oh harsh. Indeed it gets rid of oil well and make-up alright, but it parctically strips everything off. My normally resilient skin went flaky and tight. It controls oiliness well but I think the skin my produce more sebum to compensate it. I'm not sure if it has been causing extra white heads. Didn't do too well with WP mascara, considering how well it takes off everything else. Didn't like the chemical-y scent. I have a gripe with the packaging. The soap, especially when you just start using it and is still big, will stick to the lip of the container when it gets wet and dried. This has happened a few times. What appealed to me was the bar - different from all the tubes you see. But as with all soaps, it leaves gloopy residue in the container. The price is a little but more expensive if you compare to drug store cleansers, but very cheap considering how much you get and how long it lasts. But for a mid tier brand it is inexpensive, even if it wasn't in bar form and thus not so long lasting. And it comes with the container, which you can reuse for other things. This might be a little too harsh and perhaps the milder/normal forms are better. EDIT: looking at the other reviews, I've stupidly never thought to use it as a body soap. Hmm!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Jurlique - Silk Dust
esque 5/2/2009 9:33:00 AM
HG alert! Am never switching to any other powder for touch up or finishing again (unless it's to try this in citrus or lavender) I'm reviewing the new compact version - the one with the brown lid, sponge and mirror. I bought this because of the word on the street reviews and because of the rose. Was a bit eh? when I first got it. I put this on after foundation and coloured loose/pressed powder to set it and to touch up during the day. Setting foundation : I dust this on using a powder brush (or use the sponge) after applying foundation and coloured powder. It tones down any uneveness/glitz/tide marks from makeup. Touch ups: I don't use pressed tinted powder compacts anymore, this is all I use besides blot sheets. My problem with pressed powder was that firstly it could go on unevenly, what with the grime and sweat from the day, and secondly it might not match tone perfectly, especially with sweat tending to make more powder stick. Silk dust is light enough, and sheer enough (being white) to dab up oil and sweat and blur lines and demarcations from makeup. I've had this for a year and have been using this intensively for six months. There's still half the tub left. Be careful with the sponge - I took it out to wash it and found that it acts as a plug perfectly due to it's size and weight. Putting in a smaller (normal sized) one as a replacement wasn't enough to cover the holes and some could leak out into the sponge bay so when you opened it a cloud would come out and stuff would spill on you. A gripe is the price. It is probably more effective than the old version, but why the price disparity? However I don't use this much so it is worth it. It might be good to get this when Jurlique has it's rare GWP offers.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -L'Occitane - Fondant Vanille Vanilla Lip Gloss
esque 5/2/2009 8:52:00 AM
Oh goodness. I could eat this. A lovely, shimmery but not overly so gloss with a brown tint. Does not feel gloopy and goes on fantastically. Love the texture - so smooth. And the smell, and the taste! The jar is glass with a lovely vintage cover. The only issue with this is the staying power - and that's only cos I end up eating it. It stays quite well otherwise. I have this in the Rose Bonbon which is fantastic too. Both are HGs, but unfortunately I think it's been d/c in Australia.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Freeman - Apple and Pear Hydroxy Renewal Wash
esque 6/29/2008 8:40:00 AM
Excellent stuff. It looks vey unassuming and I initially doubted whether it would work but it cleaned oil and make-up marvellously and didn't make skin dry. Smells delicious - just like apple and pear. However, like the previous reviewer mentioned I think they are discontinuing this range of Freemans.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Nivea - Gentle Cleansing Gel
esque 6/26/2008 7:09:00 AM
This product is too gentle to do anything. For me it couldn't remove even slight oiliness let alone makeup. I used it up in two weeks because I had to use it multiple times in order to get the bulk of stuff of my face and it still left traces. Either that or I had to use a different cleanser after that. It left my face feeling oily and then dry. Grrr. It is cheap, but for the fact it does not work makes it hardly any value for money. Perhaps its just my skin type but this did absolutely nothing for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Stila - forget me not convertible color
esque 6/25/2008 11:43:00 PM
Beautiful rosey-brown shade. Very dense colour payoff, and goes quite well with most colours, especially neutrals, browns, darker pinks. Excellent staying power, good consistency and shouldn't fade during the day. Must set with powder however unless you want your cheeks to look sticky. Lovely packaging as with all CCs, terracotta rose tin with embossed flowers and mirror inside. Bit pricey, but this is Stila. $45 AUD, but it is worth it. I wouldn't say this is a universal shade or a staple/one colour you need to get of the CCs. Try Peony or Lilium for both counts. However, if you like your browns and roses this is indispensible.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Stila - Poppy Convertible Color
esque 6/25/2008 11:36:00 PM
I have four CCs (Poppy, Peony, Gerbera and Forget-Me-Not) and found this the hardest to work and having a different consistency. Of course the fact that it is very, very red is possibly why it is hard to match and overdo. Should only use a smidge, and less than you would than the other Convertible Colours. It can look beautifully if done subtlely, but I'm very heavy handed. It seems harder to get out of than the others - the consistency is harder and you have to swirl your finger around a bit to warm it up sufficiently so you can get enough. As some reviewers said, this is the ultimate Snow White blush. Excellent with simple eyes and lips. Also works alright as a lipstick. Colour goes on lighter than in the pan (darker red as opposed to your fire engine crimson). A very 30/40's shade of red. Bit pricey, but with all the Stilla CC's it is worth it in terms of colour pay off, staying power and quality (this amount can take a while to finish!) Casing is an adorable tin embossed with a flower motif that covers most of the front. The tin tries to match the shade inside and does so quite well. However I think there is a newer version silver version of the tins for all the CCs. I wouldn't repurchase as there is a of it lot to keep me going for a while and the fact that it is a hard shade to match. However, great if you want a very crimson blush. Probably best as a blush rather than a lip colour, but works sufficiently. Can be quiet a staple if you like the flushed look and are good at application.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clean & Clear - Oil Absorbing Sheets
esque 6/25/2008 11:22:00 PM
Is there anything not to like about this. Oil comes off instantly, and oil you didn't even know was there gets on this sheet. Just don't try using one piece if you happen to be exceptionally sweaty or oily that day - it may take a few pieces or be better to sponge off some with a tissue first. Simple cardboard packaging. Pricing is very reasonable - about $5 in Singapore. My only complaint is that you cannot get this in Australia and I'm not sure about other countries.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Philosophy - Pure Grace
esque 6/25/2008 11:14:00 PM
I love this perfume and it's a HG. Such a subtle, clean, comforting and refreshing fragrance. This is probably more a scent than a perfume; in my opinion women would wear it more because it reminds them of something or summons a particular feeling or state of mind than, or in addition to, purely liking the smell of it like a normal perfume. Sort of like Demeter perfumes vs your departmental ones : you already like cookie dough or cut grass and possibly the feelings they conjure so you buy the corresponding Demeter, but with a perfume, say J'Adore; it probably doesn't remind you of anything in particular - you just like the smell of it. Sorry for this round-about way of describing things but simply Pure Grace is a simple, almost one-note perfume than reminds me, for one, of a lot of different things. It can't be described in component parts like having roses, irises and lily. This is the boxes description of it : "pure grace is the clean smell of soap and water, the memory of fresh air woven into a set of crisp, white cotton sheets, a cold deep breath on a snowy winter night, the best summer morning you have ever known, the one white t-shirt that feels better than all the rest." I feel the same - you have to refer to other things when describing it. (though I was probably influenced by the form of the description itself). IMHO, it: smells like - soap, laundry detergent, water, clean fresh linen, liquid Vicks that you dab on your clothes when you have the flu, slightly chemical, slightly sweet adjectives - fresh, clean, cold, refreshing, comfort, innocence, purity It is so versatile and because it reminds one so much of something I can see a woman wearing this throughout her life. A child could wear it for comfort and because of it's innocence, a young mother because of it reminds her of the smell of her babys' head or after bathing him, an older mum because she might like the linen-y scent and as a reminder of the children, and an elderly woman because it is such an inobtrusive scent and the memories it conjures. Also because it is so subtle and very simple you aren't likely to have people completely hate it, unlike some perfumes which are very distinct. I wear it mostly because it is at the same time comforting and refreshing. It reminds me of the linen of my bed and sleeping, but has that refreshing hint that perks me up like morning air. I even spray it on my pillow to make it smell more like a pillow! It just makes me calm and happy. These are all just interpretations so it's best to try it on for yourself and read some other reviews. For me this is more or less a one-note fragrance. Staying power : spraying straight onto skin or fabric it smells exactly like it did in the bottle. Mellows fast and smells less sharp and chemical-like over time. Average staying power for an EDT on skin. When I feel it dying down it gets splashed with a little water and the scent rises again. On fabric a different matter. I find it stays stronger on certain types but on others it vanishes in 2 or so hours. Packaging : typical philosophy box and abstract wording. Box is simple carboard with the wording stated above, bottle has same but shorter version. Love these cute philosophy 'sayings.' The bottle is plain rectangular clear glass. The cap scratches the sprayer when taken off. Simple scent; simple bottle. What makes me really grateful is the fact it has an expiry date! Unlike a lot of fragrances. Price : Urgh - AUD70 for 59ml, might as well get a EDP. Expensive but not overly so. I would definitely repurchase and would order a few bottles should they ever cease production! As you can see from this very subjective review I love this fragrance and its fresh, comforting scent and the fact it reminds me of a few things, like sleeping, lovely clear days and fresh clean linen (dammit if I can't trot around with my pillow at Uni and fall asleep at least I can smell like I can). I can see why this perfume has issues (yeah, it smells like soap and laundry powder) and that just might be why it turns people off and others on. As with all perfumes, its best to spray on and check the scent and staying power. Oh, as the sister perfumes (Amazing and something else) smell heavenly too.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Stila - Major Lash Mascara
esque 6/25/2008 10:18:00 PM
Nothing special. It lengthens and defines, but not by much. Longer, delicate lashes. Wouldn't spend so much when a drug store brand would suffice and I would expect more from Stila. All right but not spectacular.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Maybelline - Salon Expert in Unforgettable Red
esque 6/23/2008 2:28:00 AM
Quite a Christmasy-red for lack of better description, or a bit darker than your red-red, with a hint of blue undertone with shimmer. Goes on very smoothly. Couldn't make out the new-fangled curved brush though, I just used the side that seemed to apply better and it was pretty good - slightly better than a normal brush. Not as dark as in the bottle but then again which polish is. Stayed chip free for a few days and I think it best to reapply top coat every two or three days. A very festive colour (which can be a good or bad thing!) and fun.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -MAC - Brush Cleanser
esque 5/29/2008 7:38:00 AM
Excellent stuff. Cleans very well - I find it better if you pour directly on the brush rather than a tissue. Drys relatively quickly though takes a few minutes on the denser brushes. I have a beef with the packaging though - MAC likes to sell sprays separately and you risk with this pour cap excess spillage. How quickly you go through it depends on how much you use - I clean my shadow brushes daily and my foundation/powder brushes thrice weekly and have used about a quarter in three months, but quite a lot of that was spilt or having less control over the amount without a spray. Price was AUD $20 (beloq $25 USD I think) - which was reasonable for MAC here and I don't know of any other brush cleansers. In short, cleans admirably and in a short time, price is ok. Packaging would be better and to get more usage, use a spray and directly onto the brushes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Fall in Love Eyeshadow Trio in Cedar Grove
esque 4/21/2008 9:07:00 AM
Love this - a shimmery twist on the brown neutral staples. The colours are a cream, bronze and dark brown and are very dense with large shimmer particles. Put on however, they tone down and settle into something a bit less glittery. The cream : tad light, and looks even more glitzy because of this. The bronze : beautiful with copper tones. Dark brown : very pigmented, dark. Quite vivid, but I noticed they tend to slide off during the day and the glitter fall off can look oily. I try to minimise this with a primer, like Shadow Insurance by Too Faced. The colour does last though. Being brown they work with almost anything and anyone. Being so sparkly and dark however I pair this with a coral/pink blush on midcheek or a tiny bit red/brown far back on the cheekbones (for a more classic autumn look) and a light brown/brown pink lip colour. For night I just layer more shadow on with liner and more mascara. I prefer to use this trio to emphasize the eyes but they can be used lightly to pare down. Comes in a faux copper leather case with mirror, very pretty and unique. But there's no closure - might spill. This was a LE I believe and Stila is usually expensive (I ebayed this though) so it should have been pretty costly, but it's worth it. Pros: fantastic colour payoff, shimmery, lovely packaging Cons: glitz particles tend to go everywhere, tendency to slide off, packaging insecure But I'd recommend every brown e/s addict to have this. Divine.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Too Faced - Lash Injection
esque 4/21/2008 8:51:00 AM
Slightly better than average, but considering the price I gave it three stars. It fattens mostly, holds curl so-so and length is alright. Despite the fat brush it goes on smooth and might need a few applications if you want length. Doesn't flake or smudge much. The smell? A bit plasticky, I personally don't mind it. It really does come off in 'tubes,' but not like 1 cone per eyelash, but lots of little ones which are more novel and easier to remove than your usual specks. Packaging is one I would keep if I could, as with all Too Faced stuff. It's a normal fat black cylindrical tube, with a bright pink injection on it. Same thing with the box - its embossed too and is so cute and the name alone makes me want to make it into a bookmark or something (hah!). But the price...being in Australia it's a scarce brand so we have to pay more- $35 AUD which is about $30 US I think. I wouldn't repurchase. So if you want fat, rather dense lashes, go for it. Otherwise...it's not worth the hype.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No