Concealers -MAC - Mineralize Concealer
MsHepburn 4/7/2012 2:54:00 PM
This is hands down the best concealer I have ever found. The consistency is kind of like a liquid foundation. My main problem with concealers is that they either look too thick and caky, or they are too orange for my complexion. This one blends in with my skin very well, while covering up really well too. I use NC20 while I am NC 25 to 30 normally. It feels lighter and more pleasant to use than the Select concealer MAC also does, to me at least. Much less sticky and gloopy. As this is a mineral makeup product I am hoping it won't clog my pores but that remains to be seen because I only started using this yesterday. I'm pretty sure this is oil free so that's a good start. The applicator brush is very handy. I just put a bit on the area I want to conceal and then gently pat it in with my middle finger to make it melt into my skin. Edit 13 April 2012: OK, I see people's point now about this not being a good under eye concealer: it does definitely get into creases. Not a good look. I prefer Clarins instant light concealer pen for my dark circles. Still, I am delighted that this concealer perfectly matches my skintone and blends in perfectly, making it ideal for concealing blemishes without the need for foundation or powder :D
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Skincare - Body -Johnson & Johnson - Baby Oil with Aloe Vera & Vitamin E
MsHepburn 4/7/2012 2:26:00 PM
This has been my preferred body moisturiser since, I don't know, 2000? I have tried other moisturisers, but I'm too lazy to really work a cream into my skin. This stuff is SO easy to use, super quick and extremely effective. The way to use this as a body moisturiser is to rub a little oil all over your body WHEN YOU ARE STILL WET after showering. It truly does lock in moisture. Just quickly spread it all over, towel off (don't worry, your towel won't get greasy) and you are good to go. I get complimented on my soft skin all the time (well, whenever people happen to touch me anyway), it has been called ' soft as a baby's bottom' on occasion :) and I really don't use anything else. I tried this trick with other oils as well, mainly because I wanted to jump on the 'no parrafin' bandwagon, but hey, if it works it works right? It's cheap and keeps my skin in great condition. (Oh yeah, I tried this in the Lavender scent once but I gave it away because I really didn't like the smell. This one is much nicer, for me anyway.)
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Cleansers -MAC - Mineralize Charged Water Cleanser
MsHepburn 4/7/2012 11:19:00 AM
Me being the cosmetics junkie that I am, I bought this even after having already discovered the best cleanser ever for my picky skin: Avene micellar water. I just can't resist trying anything new and sparkly that catches my eye, like a bloody magpie! Anyway, this stuff is fine. No stinging, removes makeup pretty well although I noticed I had to spend a bit longer than usual on the eye area getting all eyeliner/mascara off. also noticed that there is a very slight 'burning' sensation to it, only lasts a second, not very strong, barely noticeable in fact (definitely not painful or anything), but just enough to lead me to think there might be alcohol in this. Stupidly I discarded the box before reading the ingredient list and I can't find it online either so I have no idea if it does or doesn't contain alcohol. The smell is lovely, barely there but just an ever so slight hint of some fresh, natural scent. I am currently using this as my only cleanser, then following up with my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum and then the MAC Mineralize Charged Water moisturizing gel (which is lovely). However, I do think I will go back to the Avene cleansing water because it's A) WAAAAAY cheaper, B) seemingly a little more gentle and C) slightly more effective. The only area where MAC has the edge is in the fancier looking packaging and the nicer smell, but to be honest my skin doesn't care about that so neither should I. Update 9 April 2012: I think this is slightly drying. My face has been feeling a little tight the last few days. Gonna go back to my trusted Avene micellar lotion. Update 11 June 2012: Hm. Used up my Avene one and have been using MAC again now (just to use it up) for the past 2 weeks or so... and I have to say this grew on me. My skin looks extremely clear and I find that it's not actually stripping my skin like I previously thought. I feel like it cleans just a little bit better than my Avene micellar water, even. However, since Avene is much cheaper, I'm not 100% sure if I'd shell out for this again. But I think I might since my skin is looking amazing, maybe due to the tiny bit of salicylic acid this stuff has. I actually think from now on, if I can afford it, I am sticking to MAC and Estee Lauder products on my face :D... neither have ever let me down.
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Moisturizers -MAC - Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel Moisturizer
MsHepburn 4/7/2012 11:07:00 AM
Only been using this for 2 days, but so far so good. This feels GORGEOUS putting it on... the loveliest, non-greasy, comforting feeling ever in a moisturiser. Very smooth. It's a sort of gel-like substance, but softer. Sinks right in and my face feels super soft and smooth. Feels very comfortable all day, no tight feeling, but also no greasiness. I'm only adding this review now because there are so few so far, but really it's a bit too early to tell. I am very prone to breakouts and also have an issue with dehydration when the central heating is on full blast, so am going to have to wait and see how I fare with this after prolonged use. But for now, this is getting a big thumbs up. Pity this doesn't come in a pump or a tube... also a pity they don't make ANY creams with SPF in this gorgeous type of gel-like, oil-free consistency. I have no idea if this has any real long term benefits, if there is any anti-oxidants or any other goodies in it... Might be more of a simple moisturiser but I really have no idea because I can't find the ingredient list anywhere online and I already threw away the box. Oops. Either way, it feels good.
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Powder -Chanel - Vitalumiere Eclat de Chanel Compact Makeup
MsHepburn 4/5/2012 10:18:00 AM
This looks beautiful, very satiny finish, really made me look fresh and healthy at first. So stupidly I went and bought 2 more... I thought if it's that good, I will keep one compact at home, one in my gym bag and one at the office. Unfortunately after about a week of use this started to break me out! Boohoo. Oh well... back to MAC I go.
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Conditioner -Kanebo - Kanebo International conditioner Balancing hair conditioner
MsHepburn 4/4/2012 2:13:00 PM
This stuff is brilliant. My hair is super fine and sleek, lacks body and gets greasy pretty fast. However, whenever I spend time at my parents' place I use my mum's baby shampoo and this conditioner and it always looks fab! It is very lightweight, definitely doesn't weigh hair down to be even limper. I normally can't really use conditioner, because yes it turns hair sleek but I need body. I try only using conditioner in the ends of my hair but then I can sometimes barely get a comb through the top of my strands and end up snagging hairs... also in winter without conditioner I have a big issue with flyaways. I was kind of hoping it was the cheapo baby shampoo that made my hair look so good and not this crazy expensive conditioner, but I tried the baby shampoo on it's own and strangely my hair is still limp when I use it alone. Am going to purchase this stuff myself now... Might even splurge and try the volumising shampoo too but I think I will ask for a sample first, considering the price. This conditioner isn't named as a volumising product but for me it does give a little lift. My hair looks and feels soft, bouncy and glossy. With other products I have achieved soft and limp, bouncy and dry and glossy and limp, but never soft AND bouncy AND glossy.
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Lotions/ Creams -Burt's Bees - Shea Butter Hand Repair Creme
MsHepburn 4/3/2012 6:04:00 PM
My sister gave me this for my birthday because I was complaining of eczema patches on my hands... obviously without smelling the stuff first. Seriously...?! What the hell were they thinking creating this product? This is the most obnoxious, awful-smelling cream in the history of cosmetics. It was so bad I thought 'if it stinks this bad, surely it must at least work?' but my boyfriend literally kicked my out of bed when I wanted to get in with this stuff on my hands...! He made me go wash it off or sleep on the couch, it was that bad. I could hardly blame him. So yeah, maybe this stuff does work but I didn't use it often enough to be able to tell because I can't get over the stench. Even my cat hissed at me when I had it on and tried to pet him :( Anyone looking for a great shea butter, super rich hand cream that really works wonders: I can recommend l'Occitane. Smells a lot friendlier, same sort of metallic-y tube that looks pretty and fancy and it also has loads of shea butter and no foul stench.
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Scrubs -Avene - Gentle Exfoliating Scrub
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 1:52:00 PM
This is a very pleasant scrub. Bought this on holiday in Portugal after I got a sunburn and my skin started to peel... This is sold in pharmacies in Europe so it makes it feel like you're treating your skin well ;) The smell is strange but not bad, it kind of reminded me of the smell of band-aids! It's just kind of sterile/neutral-smelling but no harsh chemical smell or anything. Although I agree that this scrub is very gentle, I don't agree with the reviews saying it's not scrubby enough. I actually think it is pretty scrubby, and I am used to really gritty scrubs. You can still feel the scrubbing action, the beads are small but I do feel I can feel them scrubbing away dead skin cells, not just rolling around on my face (like the beads in Aveda's tourmaline charged scrub). I like it, I would buy it again but right now I am using Clinique's 7 day scrub which is very similar but smells nicer and is not a gel but a cream. I think I will switch back to the Avene one in summer but I got the Clinique one when my skin got super dry with the cold in winter and I haven't run out yet.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Clinique - 3 Step System
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 10:49:00 AM
I can't believe how many times I have fallen for the marketing spiel on his one, it's depressing. Am I really that thick...? I have tried this line at least five times over the years... the first time when I was about 21 and decided to splurge with the cash I'd earned on my summer job. What a waste. The facial cleanser is extremely drying, the toner stings and strips your face of ALL moisture there was left after using the cleanser and the moisturiser isn't enough to put it back. Although this set looks pretty beside the bathroom sink, it is poison for my skin. Honestly, anyone out there with acne trouble looking for a solution, PLEASE don't go there... it will only aggravate your situation with this overly harsh method. I have learned my lesson and instead of punishing my broken-out skin with regimes this aggressive, I treat it with kindness and some sense now. Meaning I lay off the junk food and booze as much as possible, drink lots of green tea, eat lots of fruit and veg and unprocessed nuts and avocados, and only use Avene micellar lotion for cleansing. Since I bade adieu to harsh skincare (don't be fooled by the tags 'for sensitive skin' and 'allergy tested', this stuff is mean!) I barely break out anymore. When I do, like right now, I know for a fact that all the chocolate easter eggs I've been scoffing are to blame, so it's a lot easier to fix and I am calm in the knowledge that I can deal with the breakout within a week. No more desperate lunging at Clinique and getting stuck with angry, cystic acne that will not move.
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Moisturizers -Biotherm - Aquasource Non Stop (combination skin)
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 10:38:00 AM
Meh. Did nothing for me. Also using the combined with the cleanser and toner from the same line I still got breakouts, despite this being a gel. By the way, when is someone finally gonna wake up and create a gel moisturiser in a pump dispenser with an SPF....?!
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Lipstick -MAC - Hot Tahiti Lipstick
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 9:18:00 AM
This is a very very beautiful colour, don't get me wrong. However, I am a bit of a lipstick phobe and when I wear lipstick I want it to look like my own lips only prettier. Although with ANY other makeup I would pick MAC over Clinique any day, lipstickwise I have grown fond of the Clinique long last lipsticks. Not because they last long (they don't) but because they are very moisturising and look natural. This colour is too colourful for me, even though I am olive skinned. That might be down to my own shyness more than anything, because I have gotten compliments when wearing it. The downside that gets me most, however, is that I find this lipstick drying. That is not a good look, especially in winter when my lips are often chapped. I have to say I am dying now to try the Russian Red one...it got such great reviews and I figure if you're gonna go for a bright colour after all it might as well be proper red. I might wear this lipstick when my lips are in good condition, for a special occasion. But for me, this is definitely not an everyday lippie.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long last lipstick in Pinkberry
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 9:09:00 AM
Gorgeous, cool pink lipstick. I have received samples of both Pinkberry and Beauty in the past and they are both very flattering and moisturising. At first I thought Pinkberry suited my skintone better, because I never liked 'warm' lipstick shades (they reminded me too much of the orangy '80's styles), but I am starting to think that Beauty looks more natural and less harsh on me. Either way, this colour is still very very pretty and lively and it looks kind of like a slightly pinker version of my own lip colour. Makes my teeth look very white too. For now I will finish my full size tube (that I bought after finishing the sample size one) first but after that I might actually buy Beauty instead. Not too sure about the 'long last' in the name to be honest. It's not like it comes off straight away but it's also not as long lasting as a lip stain or anything. Definitely needs reapplying after eating or drinking anyway, but I don't mind that. I used to use the Maybelline watershine moisturising lipsticks when I was in college... they don't seem to sell those anymore and this one is like that, only better.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last Lipstick - Beauty
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 8:54:00 AM
Good name for this colour! Very flattering hue, I'm guessing this would suit almost anyone. This is my 'neutral' lipstick. It's very moisturising and it's one of the few lipsticks that makes my lips look and feel healthy and not dry and flaky. Also no icky lipstick taste/smell. I'm not sure why it's called 'long last' though... it acts more like a moisturising lipstick than a long hold one. Can't say it stays on much longer than other lipsticks. alhough with other lipsticks I might be more inclined to wipe it off myself because it's icky or uncomfortable ;) Actually come to think of it since I started using this lipstick my boyfriend has commented that my lips are so soft, whereas he always used to whine about my chapped, dry lips before. I'm only noticing now that I sailed through winter without chapped lips, which is very rare for me and I am normally always trying out loads of different lip balms (which never work). I guess this lipstick softens my lips more than any chapstick I have found!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Clinique - Quickliner for Eyes in Roast Coffee
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 8:49:00 AM
This eyeliner is OK but for me the colour is waaaaay too light. This will probably look nice if your skin is very light and you have blond or red hair. The product itself is definitely not bad at all, stays put quite well too.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Technakohl in Photogravure
MsHepburn 4/2/2012 8:47:00 AM
This is one of my staples. I love this eyeliner... great staying power, beautiful colour, easy to apply. When I want a bit more of an Audrey Hepburn feel I go for the Penultimate liquid eyeliner pen, so I alternate this one with that. I usually don't even apply mascara, just this eyeliner as close as possible to the lash line (and extended a tiny bit). This is the ONLY eyeliner pencil I have ever found that does not budge or smudge and that's saying a lot, I have been known to show up in people's wedding pictures with raccoon eyes before discovering this.
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