Polishes -Chanel - Le Vernis Nail Colour in Vendetta #483
kattymat 2/28/2009 5:10:00 AM
I finally caved and shelled out the big bucks for this nail polish. It is gorgeous. BUT: Cons: - the shimmer is mainly in the bottle - two coats is a VERY dark, blackish purple - takes a while to dry - isn't as shiny as other chanel polishes and needs a top coat if you want it glossy. - very expensive Pros: - Interesting colour. I have Lincoln Park After Dark and this has more interest and shimmer in bright lighting - good staying power. I don't find Chanel chiptastic on me. - THE BEST BIT: One coat shows less black, is more purple and shows the shimmer. I did basecoat, 1 coat Vendetta, topcoat and the colour was opaque and the colour more true purple WITH shimmer! It dried fast too. If you want a quick mani in a vampish purple you can do it with Vendetta.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - beige guitare glossimer
kattymat 2/22/2009 11:09:00 PM
This has a very different texture to other glossimers. Creamier, thicker - not sticky just thick. I found the shimmer really lovely - a pink and peach shimmer through a beige base. It makes my lips look full and glossy but is almost verging on washing me out since I have VERY pigmented lips. I think this would be a good gloss to go over lipstick. The 2 lippies off was for the texture. It's just not quite right...feels like silicon. Hard to explain. No smell, just a thick, heavy feel. If you are looking for something similar, I believe Prescriptives Moonbeam in Cosmic 12 is a dupe and NARS Greek Holiday is quite similar (but sheerer).
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Blush -Chanel - Fandango 57
kattymat 2/22/2009 11:04:00 PM
I bought this today after getting the Chanel SA to put this on me a couple of days ago. It is a beautiful, natural, bronzy, pinky, peachy colour on my skin. I must apply it VERY lightly or it's too much for my skintone, but I applied it like a bronzer and it looks gorgeous - natural. My boyfriend commented on how great I look but couldn't figure out what it was. Huge rave - I don't do bronzer but this can be both (if you know what I mean). It's not hugely shimmery either - so no disco ball effect. I am impressed.
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Lip Gloss -Stila - Gumdrop Lip Glaze
kattymat 1/29/2009 10:22:00 PM
I actually really like this. It reminds me of fruit punch but with a hint more vibrancy and maybe a hint of coral in it if that makes sense? I find that it can be quite pigmented if you make it a little thicker in application. The smell is quite sweet, and a little overpowering at first but otherwise I really like it and am going through it quite fast as it is the perfect color for me (I find pinks a bit hard to pull off if they are barbie-ish). Perfect for summer as a pop of pink on my lips.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -By Terry - Laque de Rose
kattymat 1/28/2009 9:23:00 PM
I found this the color nothing special (I had infernal rose - identical to Tender Peach lip balm from Estee Lauder and similar to Frisky Summer from NARS) and found it to be very slippery, not long lasting and less than 24 hours after purchase, the packaging split and leaked throughout my handbag (and we aren't talking about rough use - it was in the inner zipped pocket). Huge mess that made me swap handbags while I wait for the washed lining to dry. This was EXPENSIVE and I feel ripped off for not even getting 24 hours out of it and will NEVER purchase this again....NEVER! Really disappointed. Couldn't understand the hype and can't justify the purchase as the smell is off-putting (don't like the rose smell), the color is not unique and the packaging is craptastic.
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Cleansers -Dermalogica - PreCleanse
kattymat 1/26/2009 4:43:00 AM
I was talked into buying this the other day when trying dermalogica products (see my Active Moist review). I was skeptical at first but gave it a go and am glad I did. I have combination / oily skin and was worried about the oil but I have never found anything that did such a thorough job at removing makeup and cleansing skin without stripping. I was double-cleansing anyway, so putting this in as first step and then cleansing wasn't a big deal but it does make your skin look all glowy and feel really clean.
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Moisturizers -Dermalogica - Active Moist
kattymat 1/26/2009 4:18:00 AM
Let me just say that I am HUGELY IMPRESSED by this. I tried this out on Saturday at a 'skinbar' where they get you to wash your face, tone, moisturize, etc in store. This was about 10am in the morning on a very hot day (Aussie summers in Melbourne). At 10pm my skin felt smooth, soft and moisturized and I had NO SHINE! NO OIL! OMG. I didn't believe it so I went back on Sunday (and did it all again) - no shine, no oil, no nothing. I took a million samples home with me and today is Monday and It is 12 hours after I washed my face and I am oil free! This is HG. This is the poo. This is the bomb. And that is a tall order for someone with combo/oily skin in the middle of a hot summer. Go and try this out. I'm not kidding here. I am saving my pennies to go and buy this. I have been looking for a moisturizer that doesn't make me break-out, cause redness or make me oily and this ticks all the boxes. Huge rave.
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Mascara -Givenchy - Phenomen'eyes Mascara
kattymat 1/16/2009 4:36:00 PM
OMG! I have very long, thick, curly lashes. I know I'm lucky but to work with these babies can be a bit difficult because they are so long and everything else I've tried (bar Stila Lash Visor) has made them look very fake, clumpy and weird, or look like nothing (do you hear me Clinique Naturally Glossy?).
I bought this because of the curiosity factor and I was totally blown away. The brush takes a bit of getting used to but the outcome is thick, fully coated, voluminous lashes. IT IS EXPENSIVE but if nothing else it is worth trying just once.
I've tried to add some pics (not the best):
Before:
After:
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Liquid -Prescriptives - Traceless
kattymat 1/16/2009 4:15:00 PM
What I was looking for when I tried Traceless was a tinted moisturiser that provided sheer coverage to even out skin tone and still look like 'me'. I have tried others, but the problem I find is that a number of products feel the need to 'illuminate' and that can make combination / oily skins look greasy (eg Stila oil-free illuminating tinted moisturiser - good spf but makes me look shiny). I tried Traceless out in Level 2 (I'm a Stila 20 Watts, NARS Deauville) and it is INVISIBLE on my skin. It melts in and removes any redness and leaves a flawless, natural finish and my skin is so soft and velvetty to the touch. I don't have to work to blend it (like with other tinted moisturisers that are thick or where the colour match isn't spot on) and it is very slippery and smooth - a little goes a long way. The only downside for me is the low spf. There is a slight fragrance to this product which disappears once it is on your face, so those who can't handle fragrances, try it out first. I will definitely continue to use this!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -NARS - Gimme Shelter
kattymat 11/20/2008 5:47:00 AM
This is a deep, gorgeous berry - quite shimmery but not so shimmery that you see brush-strokes. 
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Skincare - Face -Dr. Brandt - Poreless Tone
kattymat 11/7/2008 5:46:00 AM
It's ok, but way to expensive for what it is.
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Treatments -Dr. Brandt - Pores No More
kattymat 11/7/2008 5:44:00 AM
I find this works if I cleanse then put this on and nothing else. I will stay matte for a whole day. The downside is if I put moisturiser on, sunscreen, foundation, it doesn't last and it is like I never put it on! Frustrating. Maybe it's my application, dunno.
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Moisturizers -Dr. Brandt - Poreless Gel
kattymat 11/7/2008 5:42:00 AM
I have only used this a couple of times, but this isn't too bad. I found that my skin felt moisturised without feeling oily. It does keep the t-zone oiliness at bay longer, but I'm yet to find something that keeps that away for 6-8 hours. Haven't noticed a difference in my pore size either, I'm more worried about the oiliness anyway.
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Skincare - Face -Dr. Brandt - Poreless Moisture
kattymat 11/7/2008 5:39:00 AM
Crap. I see no point in marketing a moisturiser that makes you oilier. I hate this. I am thinking of using it on my legs after shaving just to use it. I find that even as a night cream it makes me look like I dipped my face in oil the next morning. Really don't like this and it's so expensive. Not worth it.
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Cleansers -Dr. Brandt - Poreless Cleanser
kattymat 11/7/2008 5:38:00 AM
I love the dispenser and how a tiny amount produces a great lather that leaves my skin clean. It does leave it tight though. I won't say that it prevents oiliness, but I haven't broken out or anything using this. I'm a bit 'meh' on this.
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