Shampoo -Clairol - Herbal Essences Uplifing Volume
lilypink 3/11/2009 8:48:00 AM
I have now got to the stage where I will try any shampoo to try and find one which works for my hair. This doesn't. Ironically given it's name (it's the new version of HE just launched in the UK btw), this actually makes my thick hair more limp - creating extra greasiness at the roots and making the midlengths and ends appear dry and matted and bedraggled: just the opposite of what I actually want :(
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Blush -Clinique - Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Aglow
lilypink 3/7/2009 7:40:00 AM
I recieved a very well-sized GWP sample of this a few weeks ago and thought it looked gorgeous in the compact, but try as I might, in every possible way, I cannot get this to work on me. I'm PPP, and usually a rosy blush with a peach undertone is just right for me, but this is both too bright, too orangey/red and too dark. It makes me look older and ruddy - in fact I end up looking either embarrased or as if I've spent too long in front of a sun lamp - and that's with the merest film of the stuff applied. It looks so pretty in the compact, it also looks much paler in the compact - but wow! it has impact - just the wrong sort. Also the product isn't as finely milled as it might be; this together with the shimmer being just too harsh makes my fine lines around the eye area/top of cheek stand out far more and is very aging from that point of view too. I can see this would work a dream on much darker skins - but beware if you are pale, and do sample it before buying.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair - Protective Recovery Complex
lilypink 2/3/2009 1:41:00 PM
I really was hoping for great results from this given the reviews but have been trialling this for over 4 months now and am very dissapointed indeed. I have combi skin which is getting drier as I near that horrible half century but it can still break out if it wants to - and seems to find this product the ideal conditions in which to do so. This is light and doesn't really do anything for my skin at all, if anything it may even make it look crepier. After a great deal of personal 'research' ;) I've come to the conclusion that the best of all the serums is the very cheapest I've tried - Boots Protect and Perfect. It doesn't make a huge difference but I do notice A difference and at least I'm not shelling out loads of dosh! EDIT April 2009: This was formerly just one lippie having trialled this on my face with very poor results. I have upped that to two lippies having found that using it on my much drier skin on my neck and decollete confers much better results. It doesn't break me out here either - which has often been a problem with more emollint neck creams. My skin looks quite clear and quite smooth. I don't think I would buy this just for my neck though so I haven't raised the lippie quota higher - if I change my mind I'll edit this again :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Nice 'n Easy Perfect 10
lilypink 1/17/2009 5:20:00 AM
BEWARE this product - it is terrible! I had a free pack of this to trial in the UK, but interestingly, even though I had used it well within the trial time, the online facility to report back had already dissappeared within that time - if I were a teeny bit paranoid I might wonder if they didn't want to hear any more bad things about it ;) I have a small number of resistant greys so tried this a little longer than the 10 minutes the box promises, but not too long having read the reviews here. Total leave on time was about 15 mins. I didn't notice any stinging tbh, but it does smell dreadful. Initially the colour was nice and the effect that day springy and full and shiny - but Oh dear!!! One wash later and my hair was like straw, and two washes and any apparent grey coverage had worn right off. This has masacred my hair and I'm now off to peruse the John Masters website to try to find some nice gentle products that might rectify the damage. If I do I'll keep you all posted!
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Liquid -Prescriptives - Traceless 
lilypink 1/12/2009 7:54:00 AM
I've just been sampling this as I'm desperate to find a good base to take over when I run out of my preferred and discontinued Clinique one. I still have combi skin, am very (neutrally) pale, and am 48 - so I do have issues with wrinkles etc., and tried Level 2. This applies nicely, but very lightly - not enough coverage for my slightly hyper-pigmented skin. Even though the colour is initally very good for my neutral requirements this does look a bit grey and a bit 'dirty' after a few hours. It's not really good for the oily areas, does seem to settle in fine lines unfortunately and takes my eye make-up on a journey down onto my cheeks if I get any base too near the eye area. I can see this is a very nice product for very even, dry complexions, but doesn't work for me.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - Richard Ward Balance Control Shampoo
lilypink 12/7/2008 6:06:00 AM
I just had to review this very new to the (British) market shampoo as I have spent the last 3 years and upteen hours and pounds trying to find a shampoo which can replace my favourite discontinued one and cope with my oily roots and damaged midlengths and ends, and not feel so disgusting that I have to re-wash my hair as soon as I've dried it! Now I know there are supposed to be a whole load of such shampoos out there - that's what they say on the bottle anyway, but believe me: they all suck! Until now! This shampoo has a truly shocking smell (like cheap mens deodorant) which fortunately dissipates very quickly, but I can put up with that on the grounds that it actually cleans my hair and produces very good results with the crown feeling clean and not 'claggy', with silky, swingy, conditioned lengths and no frizzies and actually making it easier to achieve the style I want and maintain the style I want. It isn't perhaps quite so silky as my old preferred one which is why I have only given it 4 lippies instead of 5 (and of course there is the smell issue ; ( ), but I can't believe after all this trying there IS a shampoo out there which works for me, and that's after trying nearly 100 different shampoos at every price point imaginable. The great bonus is this is only about £3 - so 'cheap as chips' as they say! EDIT: Ok so 4 lippies have gone to one! I thought this was brilliant first wash, but subsequnet washes left my hair limp, greasy, dirty and unmanageable - the hunt goes on!
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Shampoo -Toni & Guy - Detox It Shampoo
lilypink 8/13/2008 1:59:00 PM
This shampoo is truly terrible. Fortunately I only purchased the trial size, but it made my thick hair limp like candy floss and so unmanageable as if to appear that I hadn't seen a hairdresser in years. Indeed my daughter asked: 'Mum, what on earth have you done to your hair?' and the only thing I had done differently was use this. It was completely unstylable and unfortunately the bad effects aren't easily remedied by just one shampoo of a better brand. I think this may take quite a while to get back in some sort of balance :( I would have given this zero lippies if I had the option, so that one lippie you see is there under very false pretences!
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Shampoo -Frederic Fekkai - Protein Rx Reparative Shampoo
lilypink 6/4/2008 4:07:00 AM
Useable but absolutely nothing special. Makes my thick hair a bit limp and fly away, and damaged ends are not treated well; indeed John Frieda at a third the price is a much beter bet imho. More difficult to manage / little shine. I can use it up on the basis that it doesn't make my scalp itch particularly or make it feel horribly greasy, but I certainly won't be using it if I have to go anywhere special. This is supposed to be the choice of the 'A Listers'. It certainly doesn't make my A List!!
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Shampoo -TRESemme - COLOR THRIVE
lilypink 5/27/2008 4:40:00 AM
I think in my quest for the perfect shampoo, instead of reading the 'best' reviews I need to read the 'worst' in that for some reason the 'poos which come out best generally are apalling for my hair and those that everybody hates aren't so bad ;) Anyway I have only tried a sachet of this (the brunette version) and whereas it is a bit drying, it isn't anywhere near as horrible as most other shampoos I have tried in my quest (most big names and some very expensive ones too) and I think I may re-purchase the full size and see how I get on with it. I have oily roots, but damaged ends: so this will need alot of care in the damaged area, but at least this leaves the scalp feeling clean and does not weigh the hair down at all. I have given 3 lippies - that's pretty generous for me - but this is not a HG! I noticed someone else has found this good for them and also likes the Frederic Fekkai range - which may be my next port of call - if they have a similar result that would be good - especially if the FF is kinder to the damaged bits.
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Shampoo -Unlisted Brand - The Natural Source hi-shine colour hold shampoo
lilypink 5/27/2008 4:32:00 AM
I had 'Hi' hopes for this, and have so far tried the Extra Body shampoo and unfortunately, even though i have thick hair it made it limp and rather stringy. It does impart a shine - but more one that seems to lie on the surface of the hair shaft as a residue, which isn't very nice: it doesn't look as though the hair is clean and shiny and healthy. I felt residue over most of my hair, though the scalp didn't suffer as much as with other shampoos. I intend to try the Extra Care version and will report back. Fortunately I had these very cheaply from a website so I didn't waste too much money, but I won't be repurchasing and I may not use it again either :(
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Blush -Chanel - Joues Contraste in Rose Petale 99
lilypink 4/29/2008 8:41:00 AM
I have just this morning started using this blush and I think I may already be hooked :) Hubby brought it back for me from a trip to Milan (I had given very strict instructions for my duty free purchases having read the reviews here,) and it has already earned a place in my permanent kit. I've a very pale celtic colouring and the Rose Petale is a true 'English Rose' on me, though I notice a little goes a long way so care is needed to prevent it looking too bright. It's a great 'pick-me-up colour' - adding warmth and healthy radiance. I'm so entralled I think I will immediately purchase the Orchid Rose so that I have a softer, peachier option too. I agree about the brush - useless, but the only real negative is the rose perfume. I really am not keen on scented make-up. The smell is quite strong, and not that lovely :( but it does disappear almost instantly fortunately.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Nice n' Easy -new formula
lilypink 4/21/2008 8:38:00 AM
I WAS a devotee of N&E in Light Auburn before they changed the formula. The new version gives my hair a 'purple haze' and subseqent washes leave it purple in patches. The colour WAS flattering and silky, but the new version is just truly horrible and the condition is definitely coarser. I tried other colours in the range and I had the same results from all of them. I rang Clairol and they said I was the first person to complain about it - so if you know different...well????????? (I believe in complaining btw ;) ). I so wish they would just dump this stuff and return to their orignial formula, though I must say they advised me to try Herbal Essences (which I have - see my review) having given me a voucher to get a free one, and it is pretty good. Just annoying that my hair had to suffer in the interim! BTW: I tried to give this zero lippies but it seems I can't - so that one lippie is a bit of an imposter!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Bumble & Bumble - Seaweed Shampoo
lilypink 4/21/2008 7:57:00 AM
I have tried the Gentle Shampo and found it severly lacking for my combi hair, so have now tried a sample of the Seaweed Shampoo. This seems to be alot better. My 3 lippies may not seem great, but I'm very frugal with lippies generally, and especially for hair products, as I find so many fall so far below my expectations and practically none can be given a 4 or 5 star rating - so '3' is actually quite good from me! :) This is a much better shampoo if you are inclined toward an oily scalp, and didn't leave my hair frizzy and unmanagelable in the way that the Gentle Shampoo did. It is however quite drying for damaged ends - so you do need to increase the level of moisturisation on midlengths etc. I'm still hunting for a perfect shampoo..but I may well purchase the full size of this. It would be quite a good staple for every day use when it doesn't matter quite so much how perfect the coiffure is! But it may not be a 'high days and holidays' sort of product! If I ever find that I'll certainly report back here ;)
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Eye Shadow -Laura Mercier - Eye Colour- Twilight Grey
lilypink 4/20/2008 6:16:00 AM
Beautiful quality and a beautiful colour, but it has just an edge of purple for me which doesn't work with the blue of my eyes and my very pale skin. The colour seems to be a bit draining on me - making my eyes look a bit red and tired. Sadly relegated to my swap list :(
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dr Feelgood
lilypink 4/17/2008 3:43:00 PM
Pointless - utterly pointless! If you have oily skin the last thing you want is to make it both feel and look more oily. I know this is SUPPOSED to be mattifying, but it just isn't. I agree with all those other poor reviews - you just want to scrape this off you face as soon as you've applied it. Surprise, surprise my sample sized tin has made it's way to my swap list ;) !!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No