Foundations -Yves Saint Laurent - Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation
star_blueanise 12/29/2008 2:46:00 PM
This foundation was sort of an impulse buy at sephora when I was at vegas. My local sephoras don't carry YSL so when I hit the sephora in vegas, I brought this with the extra bill in my wallet, it was prolly either this or I'd would have went to a casino and lost it lol. Now, the foundation itself I'm quite pleased. The colour match is prolly a bit too light for me, (like i said it was an impulse buy so I didn't have much colour in mind) I brought the 6 golden beige. It leaves your skin very soft, have a very nice soft smell to it, and leaves your skin quite matte, so a little dusting of powder to set is all you need. But the packaging, omg. horrible. I know the brush is suspose to be convenient, but it leaks, and you waste so much product using the brush. besides you can't wash the brush, so it's really unsanitary to use it (even if you dont apply the brush directly on your face but on your hands as suggested) the foundation will stay on the brush and then dry out so it's a complete waste. I was going to use it by taking out the brush head everytime, but that thing is impossible to twist open, and once you do, yo'ull end up spilling it on yourself and waste again. So i got fed up and depotted the entire foundation on to an empty dispenser I had lying around. It was messy transferring all the product to another tube, and I wasted a bit while doing so, but you'll end up wasting less than if you used the brush. I'd prolly buy this again, but please for 53$+? it deserves a better packaging.
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Lip Treatments -Smith's Rosebud Salve - Minted Rose Lip Balm
star_blueanise 12/16/2008 11:15:00 PM
I've brought this for a bit more than half a year, and I've made a hole..mb 1/5 used? So for the price of about 13 cdn, the price is justable for a lipbalm. My lips are always dried, I constantly have a lip balm with me everywhere I go, even when i'm just at home. When i go out to eat, aside from the wallet/phone? I bring a lip balm, yeah you get the idea. I picked this over the minted cause I love minted lip balms, it gives a slight tingly feeling to the lips. The tint is not too noticable, which is why I usually top this on top of a coloured lip stain I wear. It's fabulous! Especially in the winter times, these past two days, my lips have been peeling like crazy, and being the person I am, I'll peel..bleed..and ugh.. But this really helps to moisturize your lips and keep them healthy. I couldn't find my rosebud for a few days, and I just used a cheap lipchap..nope just doens't cut it. The packaging is a vintage tin, yes it's annoying, but atleast the tin closes properly, I'd be super annoyed if the tin comes off, or doesn't close properly, Yes you have to dip your finger in to apply, but you're not sharing it with anyone and as long as ur hands are clean, I think its fine. The tin means you get extra load of product anywas compared to a lipchap. I would definitely buy again if I run out (mb another year..+)...and I'll prolly still purchase the minted. I would like to try the orignal just for comparison, but definitely not the strawberry, that one smells sickenly sweet...
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Sunscreen -Shiseido - Extra Smooth Sun Protection Lotion SPF 33 PA++
star_blueanise 12/15/2008 11:08:00 PM
Sunscreen is by far the most important part of your skincare. It's especially important to me because I'm using retin-A, which makes my skin super sensitive (like sunlight). I used the Neutrogena 55 but that one began to stung my face once I was on retin-a, so i needed to buy another sunscreen. I have this in the extra smooth, spf 34 ..they have varities of spf leve, 33,34,36? but they dont make a difference in protection..it's not the higher the better! So anyways, I use this after I put on my toner and moisturizer, and I usually dont have time in the morning to wait for it to set, but this works fine. I use a dime size amount for my face and neck, pat it in gently, and within a minute or so, I feel it's totally absorbed. I find this that works as a primer by itself, so it works even under foundation. The price is a bit high, but the quality is high. The packaging needs to be a bit improved, the consistency is a runny white liquid, and you must shake before you use.
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Lip Gloss -Clarins - Instant Light Lip Perfector - Rose Shimmer
star_blueanise 12/12/2008 10:45:00 PM
This was a fail. I have this in 01, it's a thick consistency but applies evenly. I think I just feel ripped from the advertising, it didn't do what I thought it was going to do. The colour was too pink for me, I feel that for the price (20CDN), I could have brought somthing wayyy better.
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Lip Treatments -Korres - Lip Butter - Pomegranate
star_blueanise 12/12/2008 4:10:00 PM
Korres Pomegranate Lip Butter, soooo smooth! Natural coral colour tint, smells lovely! You ladies gotta pick this up at sephora, it's the perfect lip colour and it keeps my lips moisturizered and soooo smooth! The only reason this isn't getting a 5 is because of the packaging, it comes in a tub so you gotta dip your fingers in it. But then if it came in a stick the texture might change. But great product!
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Shampoo -Redken - Smooth Down
star_blueanise 12/12/2008 3:57:00 PM
I've been continously using Redken All Soft Shampoo and conditioner. like for 3 bottles in a row. And i'm never the type to use the same shampoo daily, not to mention 3 bottles! But I did with all soft, but when i ran out of my 3rd bottle, I thought I needed a change. I loved the smooth down deep conditioner (the butter treat) so I thought I'd give the smooth down conditioner and shampoo a shoot. This product isn't bad...the smell is a macadmian nut smell, very buttery. But I found that with weeks of usage, my hair got more oily..and I was getting dandruff :( This is too rich for my fine thin air, I still use it in between shampoos of All soft, but I'm sorry I never cheated on All soft. If you have fine hair like me, get oily by the next day in the roots, definitely give all soft a try first before this one.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
star_blueanise 12/5/2008 1:43:00 PM
I have this in nude, I use this when on days my skin doesn't need too much coverage. Its consistency is like a foundation, and I do use my own moisturizer underneath because my skin is dry. The coverage is sheer, but doesn't give you the caky feeling you might feel with foundation. I use a light dusting of powder of this to set. The price is expensive, about 60$ cdn for a tinted moisturizer, I'd prolly try a different bran once I finish. But this isn't a bad product, and does its job as it claims
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Retin A Micro
star_blueanise 12/2/2008 4:42:00 PM
This is going to be a continuous update, but it has been 10 weeks now since I started using it. I'll give you a little bit background, growing up in HS, I never had a pimple, then when I got into university, I started having pimples, 1-2 at a time, nth too serious and is managable. This summer (2008) I went away for 2 months in a very humid country (I'm from Canada, the weather is prolly one of the best), my summer was humid, muggy and just totally different. Then it got serious with my acne, it started out on my cheek, then chin then my other cheek then forehead..so yeah my entire face. And im not talking about bumps..big noticable and red ones :( Even my dad, who is the usually oblvious type, he doesn't care on details noticed my skin, so I knew it was pretty bad. My entire face was covered with acne, and just awful. I spent my summer at home I didn't want to go to places or visit my relatives. When your skin is breaking out, you feel like the whole world is looking at you and you just want to hide... So in september when I came back home, I visited my doctor, who prescribed me micro-a along with oral antibiotics for a month. I'm finished with the antibiotics, but the retin-A is going to be with me, my doctor suggest using like a night cream. My face has gotten signficantly better. I have no new pimples and my face is left with scars from previous pimples. Which is why I use retin-A. Now, I've had my share of side effects, the dry dry dry spots, you'd look like a fish scale, by mid day bc your skin's cell is rapidly turning over, you will shed your top layer of skin. It's embarassing bc ppl have no idea what you have and it's quite annoying. But you just gotta get over it, dont' stop. Exfoliate gently! The peeling will seize..but not go away. But peeling just means you're going to end up with new skin! The skin that comes after is usually shiny (not oily, but for some reason its shiny) I'm not sure why, but you just gotta keep using the cream. My face is not clear now, I still have to wear foundation to cover my uneveness, but I have faith that as time goes by, my skin will improve. Now, using it. I use it only at night. To ease with the dryness, I use bio-oil before I shower. Then I usually wait about 30-1 hr before applying it, if you dont wait, you're just asking for more sensitivity! Apply a small layer over your entire face avoiding your eye and nose area. I dont use a cream afterwards, it could be because of the bio-oil I use. Now on days, your face will be RED RED RED and extra sensitive, on those days, I use creme de la mer, which is probably the onyl cream that will deal with your dryness. On some days I feel like my skin is overly exposed, I use CDLM first, then wait to apply my retin-a, using it kinda like a buffer. This is strong stuff, and I use it every night at very little amt. The more you apply, not only does it not work, but it will kill your skin and your skin will be uber dry and flaky. I'll come back to update this as time goes on, I hope this helps.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation
star_blueanise 11/30/2008 2:26:00 PM
I have this in 5.5, I also use Laura Mercier's moisturizing foundation Sunn beige, LM tinted moisturizer in Nude. First of all, if you live in Toronto, please note the SA at Holt Renfrew (Yonge) is absolutely oblivious. (perhaps it could be HER), dont get me wrong, she was very nice and it wasn't an attitude problem. But I did lots of reading before purchasing this foundation, atleast colour wise. I'm sure I would be a 5 or 5.5 based on my readings. So anyways, I go in, she's like oh you're a 3. I'm like..3? okay..(i figured she's the SA!) ..she tried it on me..ghostly pale...FAIL. So she's like, oh you're a 3, 3.5, (tried it on FAIL) So i'm like you know what, let's try the 5. She applies it, oh perfect match!, but i'm like..u know what to be safe, lets just try 5.5, and again she goes..oh! perfect match! You get the idea? Anyways, back to reviewing this product. It costs 70$ plus tax CDN, is a bit more expensive then LM, and comes in a smaller quantity. But to me, I'm not seeing too much of a difference between LM and GA. GA is definitely smoother on application, definitely the silk factor, the luminous? Not so much, atleat not on me. But the thing with GA, i find I have to use MORE amt that LM to get the coverage, so GA definitely fails there. Also the packing of GA, very chic, but the pump dispenser is ridicolous, it always spills out too much despite how gentle I am. Overall, I think I wouldn't purchase this again, just because I think there are better alternatives. It's not to say this product is bad though, just..doesn't live up to the hype.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Clarins - Instant Light Perfecting Touch
star_blueanise 11/29/2008 3:25:00 PM
I brought this because of the reviews, and I'm almost finished with my YSL touche eclat and thought this could be a replacement I dont know if it's because i brought the wrong colour or what, but i found it goes incredilbly pale (not the brightening effect pale but un-naturally pale!), cakey (despite eyecream) and doesn't help with my undereye! I'm quite disappointed, I have this in 01, perhaps 02 with better colour matched would be better? I also find that one click turn spills out too much product from this.
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Highlighters -NARS - Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross 
star_blueanise 11/23/2008 12:38:00 PM
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! For reference, I'm a medium skinned asian. I've always perferred matte when it comes to foundation and blushes, because I feel that shimmer shouldn't be so overstated. It must be settled, and if you have a shimmery blush or a shimmery foundation, its definitely too much for me. None-the-less, i love to highlight. I think highlighting brightens your whole look, and defines your face.This Nars highlighter does exactly what it does! It cant even be called shimmer, it's a golden sheen, that reflects light and makes you look so WOW, it's like having a candle-light walking around you all day long! Even when you swatch this, it gives you a settle sheen. You use a fluffy, somewhat dense blush, use VERY little of this product at a time (less is more!) and you brush this on your forehead, your cheekbones (make a backward c), bridge of nose (very imp!), a bit on your chin, and most importantly, around your eyes. I dont wear eye makeup, but this in the inner corners, below the waterline and a tiny bit on the lip? makes your eyes POP! You look awake, fresh, and ready to go. Definite investment, it's somewhat similiar to benefit high beam, but I found with the liquid formula of high beam its really hard to make it look perfect; this with a brush is simplicity and beauty.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Frisky Summer
star_blueanise 11/18/2008 4:01:00 PM
This is just a beautiful natural colour! This is THE colour for me, so natural. The colour is a coral pinkish colour with no shimmer which makes it super natural. It makes the lines on your lips disappear and plumps it nice and juicy all at once. The price IS expensive, for $29 CDN, which is more than their blush, and that is injust, after buying this, it makes the blush a better deal, which means I'm going to buy more NARS blush.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat (Radiant Touch)
star_blueanise 11/16/2008 4:30:00 PM
I have this in 01, it's definitely a highlighter used around your face and to brighten your undereye. I found the consistency kind of thick, and drying for undereyes. It does work to brighten your face to help you look awake, but I find that it cakes up on me no matter how well I apply undereye cream or gently blend it in. THe price was $50 CND; definitely expensive for a highligher, I'd prolly use the 50 to try their foundation instead next time. There are definitely alternatives out there if you're looking for a brightener that prefor the same and for half the price, the one I'd recommend is Clairins Instant Perfecting Pen, to me, they work they same. There's also dior pen, but that's almost the same price as YSL.
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Primer/ Corrector -NARS - Makeup primer
star_blueanise 11/16/2008 4:25:00 PM
This is one expensive primer, it was 40$ CDN; expensive enough to be a foundtion itself. However, I do like to use it. It works great mixed with a bit of foundation to make a tinted moisturizer. (I personally use LM moisturizing foundation but always found this to be too thick) I know use 1:1 approx ratio of both of them, and it really helps to blend my foundation in. The smell is quite floral, but nothing overpowering, I do find a difference in staying power when i use this vs and when I don't. There are pretty better primers out there, but this product is quite good for ladies with drier skin, gives it an extra boost. But again, for the price, and the small amount of product in the tube, I prolly wont buy again as much as I do like it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Redken - OUTSHINE
star_blueanise 11/9/2008 5:31:00 PM
To start, I have fine, mid length, asian hair. I don't dye my hair, so it's not damaged. I did chemically straighten my hair though, so my hair is not completely damage free. Plus, since its getting kinda long,the ends are alittle frizzed up. Now, I love leave in conditioners, and I have tried tons! My standards have to be that it's weighless (because my hair is already thin and fine), and doesn't leave my hair oily and sticky looking. I've been using CHI silk infusion (which I still love) but I get bored and dont agree with using the same product for your hair every night. So I like to switch and add in new leave in conditioners to the family. I've always loved redken products, especially their all soft and smooth down shampoo and conditioners, but their soft ends didn't impress me so much. From the fab reviews on MUA, I decided to give this a shot. The smell is much more agree-able than the CHI silk infusion, the consistency is a white thick cream. Like all, I apply this after I was my hair, so when my hair is damp-dry. I must say, I'm quite pleased! There's not too much of the shine factor, infact, I dont notice the shine at all; but it definitely helps with the flyaways and the frizziness, especially the ends. You're left with soft, manageable hair. The pricing isn't too bad, it's about 24$ CDN, considering my silk infusion was double that. The packaging is quite genious too, got a lid and quite sanitatory. Overall, great product!
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