Cleansers -L'Oreal - Demaq expert Foaming gel cream intensive make-up remover
kate_rose 9/4/2008 10:41:00 AM
Although this is under suspicion of being complicit in the Great Contact Lens Ruination plot (see my other reviews for products not suitable to soft contact lens wearers), I like this. It does a good job as a cleanser and is quite nice to use, athough I agree with the reviewer who mentioned the aftertaste (how the hell does it get in my mouth??) and it stinks, as all the De'Maq products seem to. But I'll carry on using it for now, to see if it definitely ruins my lenses. I'm not sure if I'll buy again, I'll try something else first and see if I come back to it. Works, but I'm sure there's something better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -L'Oreal - De-maq'Expert Elixir Concentrate
kate_rose 9/4/2008 9:53:00 AM
I've been hunting for the last 11 years for an eye-makeup remover that actually removes all, *all* of my makeup, not just the stuff that isn't at the base of my eyelashes, which I have never been able to budge. I don't much like the watery ones either, not that these tend to be much cop anyway. The closest I got was a cheap Boots own brand remover, which did an excellent, though not perfect job, especially for the price. Then they released this stuff. Admittedly it smells, in a terribly artificial way that I categorically do not like. It has a gel texture, which is tolerable, but a little on the greasy side, and I *have* to wash my skin after I've used it. But it actually works, gets every last scrap of makeup off, and this is the most important part. If you look in the right places it is reasonably priced as well. I've taken a lippie off for the texture and smell, as well as the fact that I have recently discovered, it is not suitable for soft contact lens wearers and contributes somehow (even though I use it after I've taken the lenses out, and don't put them back in for at least 7 hours after using the product) to lipid deposits on my lenses which basically renders them useless to wear as they are so uncomfortable.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Boots - No7 Perfect Light Loose Powder
kate_rose 9/4/2008 9:19:00 AM
This is the best powder I've had the pleasure to use so far. It only gets 4 lippies as I've not used many powders, owing in part to the fact that this seems to last forever, and I suspect there may be something better out there, I just haven't tried it yet. I've had it a good three years now, there's still tons left, and I'm off to buy a new one in a bit as I'm replacing all my makeup due to allergies owing to a newly-acquired contact lens problem. I use the lightest shade, Translucent, which is almost invisible and gives a lovely, light, even, not-too-matte coverage. The puff bit that comes with it isn't great, and the sifter jar suffers with the normal issues of leakage and spillage whilst applying, but this powder is so good that so long as you don't intend to use it on the go (for which I'd recommend the pressed version No7 do) then give it a go, it's well worth it. My only other gripe is that it's a little pricey for powder for me, but again, it lasts so long and is so good that it doesn't detract from it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Aussie - Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner
kate_rose 7/26/2007 6:15:00 PM
As mentioned by other reviewers, this simply isn't enough by itself as a conditioner unless you have very fine, undamaged, unprocessed virgin hair that just needs a little moisture and detangling. I do rate it very highly for its detangling effect though, and do use it as 'insurance' when I use straighteners or have a posh do ahead, as it boosts the effect of the 3 Minute Miracle I use as a conditioner. This product smells lovely and I have bought four or five bottles of it so far, it's brilliant for after swimming and on holiday. Like the spray application, although it makes my damp hair drip a bit.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Sudocrem
kate_rose 7/25/2007 4:52:00 PM
Well, for the life of me I cannot find a review for this stuff at all, so I thought I'd better add one! This stuff is SUPERB. I've had a spot on my chin for the last two weeks, that I have been utterly incapable of budging, even with TLC and needle surgery. It even bred a little friend, it was that bad. This stuff has cleared it in about 36 hours - and I'm sure it's less than that actually, I bought it about 7pm Tuesday and it's now 10pm Wednesday - whatever was stuck in the spot has been totally shifted and I now have a little flat scab where a great raging beast of a pimple was. I am totally serious, this was a veritable giant of a spot ... I am prone to breakouts and shall now be applying a good slathering of this whenever one rears it's ugly little head. It's non-greasy and doesn't upset my skin, and comes in the most hilariously ugly retro grey 70's pot. But I couldn't care less about that - because it actually works, and it's a bargain to boot. I bought a wee 60ml tub and you will only need a little of it, but I'll be fetching a big pot for my bathroom shelf when I'm in Boots next. Oh, it goes on really white due to the zinc oxide, so it needs to be rubbed in properly or only used away from the public eye. Absolutely super.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Agent Provocateur - Agent Provocateur EDP
kate_rose 7/20/2007 7:19:00 PM
I was standing around at work, just another day in the department store I was slaving at at the time. "What is that smell? Have I stood in turkish delight or something?" I thought to myself. I checked my shoes. Nope, no turkish delight, but I felt like someone had jammed some up my nose or something. I wandered round the department, and it got stronger, this beautiful smell of turkish delight with lemon and flowers. Three days later, the smell of turkish delight was driving me mad, so I sent one of the girls to investigate around the shopfloor. No luck. Several hours later, one of my other girls, who used to work on the makeup counters started her shift, and said, 'Oh, it's that perfume they're dishing out at the door - Agent Provocasomething. I'll go get a sample!". What a great smell - turkish delight in perfume form. I'm yet to pick up a bottle, as the rose is so so dominant, and it's a little too sweet. But it's much in the same vein as Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique, and definitely one I'll pick up one day. My bloke liked it too. I'm happy with my tester size for now.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Green Tea
kate_rose 7/20/2007 7:08:00 PM
This is lovely, happy and fresh, but it's what I want my bed linen to smell of, not what I want in a perfume. I enjoy wearing it though, it's nice for a hot sunny holiday abroad when you don't want to overpower yourself.
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Fragrances -Issey Miyake - L'Eau d'Issey
kate_rose 7/20/2007 7:05:00 PM
A great scent for the right person - I am not the cool-headed sophisticat it requires to make this work. It is still a beautiful, clean fragrance, with just the right hint of the ocean and clear skies. I can wear it and enjoy it, it's light and refreshing, but ultimately it's just too barely-there for me (whose signature scent is Mitsouko, go figure). Do try it if you can though.
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Fragrances -Lolita Lempicka - Lolita Lempicka
kate_rose 7/20/2007 6:57:00 PM
Ohh, my lovely Loli, this is a beautiful fragrance that both works well on my skin and is liked by my man! It powers its way out of its pretty little bottle, but once it's calmed down a bit the fresh but floral-chocolatey-dewy scent comes into its own. It's a day scent though - I like a much darker fragrance for evening, but this is a great combination of unusual, relatively inoffensive (so wearable to work) and fun. I think it's a really 'happy' smell. I could never get tired of wearing it. I love it!
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Raisin Glaze [DISCONTINUED]
kate_rose 7/20/2007 2:31:00 PM
This looks horrific in the tube. It appears to be a shimmery brick/brown/gold colour. I tried a little though, and thought it might look quite good on, so I bought a tube. It's lovely on, but I like it best used right in the centre of my lips only over plain lipbalm just to highlight my pout, which looks great. It gives a little shimmer and oomph to your own lip colour. It would look even better as a full-on application on darker skin tones than mine though. Highly recommended.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Feria Haircolor
kate_rose 7/18/2007 1:42:00 PM
I have dark brown hair. I've tried loads of home colourants, and this is among the great hoard which just make my hair go ginger. I'd recommend it if you want red highlights, but otherwise don't bother.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Rimmel - Soft Kohl - Jungle Green
kate_rose 7/18/2007 1:29:00 PM
I really thought I'd like this - the colour in the pencil is lovely and I've used Rimmel liners before to good effect but this was washy and a bit waxy, so hard to put on. Cheap and cheerful but disappointing.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - Contour Resist
kate_rose 7/18/2007 1:05:00 PM
I kept getting this confused for ages with Almay Amazing Lasting eyeliner, which they discontinued after I discovered it (as with all HG's ....) and kept thinking I'd bought the same one, but it wasn't nearly as good as the Almay one, without realising what the problem was - their packaging is almost identical. It's an automatic liner, which is great (no bits of sharpening in your eyes), but sadly not good for staying power, and unfortunately, it's just not the Almay one. In the same price point I'd recommend Revlon Colorstay eyeliner instead. p.s. I only eyer buy black eyeliner so I can't comment on other colours.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Max Factor - Silk Gloss - Creme Caramel
kate_rose 7/18/2007 12:35:00 PM
What makes this lip gloss special is the cute smell and the actual moisturising it pulls off - you don't have to bother using lip balm underneath this! It's also a lovely shimmery glossy choc/caramel colour, like smearing a melted Galaxy Caramel bar on your lips with gold glitter. The brush applicator is nice too. I've had a couple of tubes of the silk gloss, but again my personal problem is hair and stickiness = hair stuck to stickiness, so I'm not a gloss person. Would recommend it to those who are though.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara
kate_rose 7/17/2007 6:11:00 PM
**EDIT** I have to take back everything I said about this mascara. Yes, it's no great shakes, yes its bit cheap and cheerful. But its number one selling point? It doesn't bugger up my soft contact lenses, and you can actually see it (unlike some 'sensitive' mascaras). Yes, it does run, yes, it doesn't lengthen. But I have to say, thankyou Maybelline, for making a cheap, useful mascara that isn't full of the flakiness and fibres that make me want to tear my own eyes out. **Original review** Why on earth does anyone over the age of 15 think this stuff is any good? Ok, granted, it's cheap, it's black and it's on a mascara wand, but this does not mean it's mascara. It has the same smell and consistency as playschool paint. I can understand buying it when you can't afford anything else, but it's worth waiting and buying something like Maxfactor, or even hopping on eBay if you can and getting Illegal Lengths (which is Maybelline and my HG mascara), which is dirt cheap AND brilliant. It runs like a bugger, it doesn't lengthen or thicken (which surely is the point of mascara) and it's crap.
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