Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Custom Eyes - Truly Pink #2510
marmaladecat 11/4/2011 4:34:00 PM
Great eyeshadow and an absolute bargain at £1.50. I got this to go in my e.l.f 'Elements' compact. It shows up on my skin as a very pale pastel pink shade, very delicate and pretty. I found that the colour applied lighter on me than the picture shows, but it really flatters my skin tone. The colour brightens up my eyes nicely and gives me a fresh, wide-awake look (even if I'm not!) The shadow's got pretty good staying power too. I find I have to layer a lot of this on before the colour shows up well and the shadow is VERY loosely packed so I end up getting a lot of powdery fallout around my compact. It's not a deal-breaker though; the price is brilliant and the shadow itself looks lovely on. I'd definitely get this again.
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Moisturizers -Avene - skin recovery cream (US name: cream for intolerant skin)
marmaladecat 10/16/2011 8:54:00 AM
This review is for the normal version; I know there is a 'Rich' version available too. I am so pleased I found this. I've got combination skin which doesn't cope well with rich moisturisers or anything heavily scented. I picked this up hoping it would help calm the breakouts my face was experiencing owing to a number of unsuitable moisturisers I'd been using. This moisturiser really did the job :) I noticed an improvement in my skin after only a few days of using it in the morning. Having now used it for a couple of months, I've not had any more breakouts (only the occasional spot which I would always get anyway) and my skin looks really smooth and much clearer. The cream is fragrance-free and gives a pleasantly soothing cooling feel when applied. It has very few ingredients, which is great if you're looking to minimise your chances of getting any sensitivity. This does feel quite greasy on my face for a while after application but it doesn't bother me as it doesn't LOOK greasy when I have it on. At £12.50 it is not cheap, but I find I don't need to slather loads on at least, plus the results are well worth the price in my opinion!
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Lip Gloss -E.L.F. - Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 - Malt Shake
marmaladecat 10/10/2011 3:16:00 PM
I'm in a real minority, but unfortunately this did not work for me. Firstly, I really disliked the smell-very overpowering and reminded me of fermenting fruit! Pretty much straight after applying the gloss, my lips began to smart a bit. I left the gloss on for about half an hour thinking maybe it was just temporary, but I ended up having to remove it because my lips just felt quite irritated. I tried the gloss again after a few days and the same thing happened, so there is definitely something in this which my skin does not like. I found the gloss very drying as well. Such a shame as I LOVED the colour of this gloss on my lips (very much a 'my lips but better' shade) and it stays put for a long time. I just can't wear it :( Needless to say, no to a re-purchase.
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Mascara -E.L.F. - Studio Mineral Infused Mascara
marmaladecat 9/25/2011 11:22:00 AM
This is a really good mascara. It's very easy to apply, coats lashes smoothly and evenly and doesn't clump at all, even with a couple of coats. I find I don't have to comb my lashes through a lot (if at all) once I've applied this, unlike some other mascaras I've tried. My lashes look really well-defined, separated, glossy and dark. This mascara doesn't add any volume to my lashes, but they do appear longer. The only negatives for me are that the mascara does flake a little after some time (although not badly) and the formula takes a while to dry. They're not major gripes though. This product doesn't create a 'WOW' false-lash dramatic effect but it does a great job of giving my lashes a pretty, fluttery more 'everyday' look. A bargain at £3.50-I would buy this again.
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Eye Shadow -E.L.F. - Studio Cream Shadow in Dawn
marmaladecat 9/21/2011 8:16:00 AM
I am really impressed with this eye-shadow. I've tried a couple of cream shadows from other brands in the past and not liked them-they creased badly on me and I'd found it hard to get an even application. Not with this one! I didn't use a primer and the shadow stayed put all day, not a crease in sight and no colour fade-AND I have really oily eye-lids! Wow :) I found it easy to apply evenly and build the colour to the level I wanted, which was fairly sheer. However, you can get a stronger metallic look easily, so it's a really versatile product. I found the best way to apply it was using my finger. The only reason I gave it 4 lippies is because I just feel the colour doesn't flatter my complexion a lot. It certainly doesn't look bad, but I find it a bit unremarkable on me, which is why I would not re-purchase. I'm also not a fan of the packaging-it's unnecessarily bulky. In terms of quality, it's absolutely top-notch and the fact it's only £3.50 is another huge plus. Good work, e.l.f!
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Concealers -E.L.F. - Studio Line Concealer Pencil & Brush
marmaladecat 9/6/2011 7:24:00 PM
It is a gamble buying something online when you can't physically try out the product, but I needed a concealer and I got a 50% discount on this, so I figured I'd try it and at least if I hated it I wouldn't lose much money. And, erm...I hated it! The UK site only had 3 colour selections; being very fair I naturally chose 'Fair', the lightest. The concealer I got looked MUCH darker than the concealer pictured on the site and just looked a terracotta colour on me. There is no way my concealer would match anyone with fair skin, unless they had a serious tan or were extremely heavy handed with the bronzer! Needless to say, this was useless. Unfortunately, the only good thing I can say about this is that it provides excellent coverage; I can imagine it'd stay put for ages since it took a thorough wash to remove it. I have other e.l.f products which I think are fantastic, such as the Studio Line brushes and blush, so I would recommend trying those. :)
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
marmaladecat 8/26/2011 6:02:00 PM
I'm really glad I found out about this because it's been great for my skin :) I use it at night to remove my makeup/sunscreen and it does a fantastic job. I massage about a 50 p coin-size of the oil into my dry face and neck for about half a minute, then gently wipe it off with warm water and cotton wool. A bit of residue remains after I do this, which I keep for overnight treatment. I don't follow up with face-wash or moisturiser and I find that my skin is lovely and soft in the morning and not at all dry. I don't use it in the morning as I don't want the oil to stay on my skin whilst I wear make-up/sunscreen. I have combination skin and can gets spots at times, but this method has not caused me break-outs. EVOO is inexpensive and a bottle lasts me AGES, so it's great value. After trying a few night creams and getting spots every time, I'm really happy to have found a simple product which my skin is happy with. I've been using it as a cleanser for a good few weeks now and will carry on doing so! EDIT: Hmmm, I'm not sure if it was the oil or if my skin would have gone through a worse patch anyway, but a few weeks after I first reviewed this I got quite a few spots and my skin wasn't looking as fresh as it did, it looked rather 'congested'! I hadn't changed anything skin-care wise. I gave it maybe another month, then stopped using it when I hadn't noticed any improvement. Can't be sure it was the oil, or a skin blip in general, but better safe than sorry!
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Lipstick -MAC - Satin Lipstick - MAC Red
marmaladecat 8/19/2011 12:34:00 PM
BEAUTIFUL red :) I am thrilled to have finally found a red lipstick that really flatters my complexion. This is a 'true' bright red, very vintage pin-up! It applies smoothly with a silky texture and looks lovely and moist once on the lips. It didn't dry my lips at all or fade to that fuschia sort of shade which I hate because it looks terrible on me. Another bonus is it makes my 'not dazzling white owing to lots of caffeine' teeth look whiter! :) I dab some foundation on my lips, then line and colour with red-liner, finally I put a couple of layers of this over the top. No bleeding! The staying-power is good, not amazing, but certainly not needing constant re-applying.HG red for sure.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush - Pink Passion
marmaladecat 8/16/2011 6:15:00 PM
Love it! :) I was on the lookout for a really good inexpensive blush and at only £3.50 this did not disappoint. The blush looks shockingly bright in the pan, but if applied with a light hand gives my cheeks a very pretty rosy-pink glow and really brightens up my complexion. I found that the product piled onto my brush really easily, so I only needed to gently swipe the brush across.The first time, I didn't realise how much had adhered to the brush and so I ended up with way too much on my face and because I'm pale, it looked really lurid. If you're pale like me, go reeeally easy on swiping the blush up! I like the fact I have to use so little of it though as it means it'll last for ages. It is easy to spread over my skin and has a lovely silky texture. I can see that this would be a really good product for a variety of skin tones as the colour can easily be built up from a gentle layer to a brighter pink, so pale people can wear it without looking OTT and darker skinned people can get more depth of colour. The only negative for me is (as someone else mentioned)the fact that the blush does make a bit of a mess of the pan as it's so loosely packed. However, it's not a big issue. The packaging is really sturdy, closes firmly and even contains a mirror so it does its job! I will definitely ensure I always have this in my make-up bag!
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Lip Treatments -Chapstick - Cherry
marmaladecat 7/5/2011 11:22:00 AM
I really like this lip-balm, it's really cheap and does the job. It gives my lips just a hint of rosy colour and instantly makes them feel and look a lot smoother. The staying-power is pretty good too. The stick formula allows for hygienic application and the packaging is sleek and lightweight so it fits easily into your pocket. I love the sweet cherry smell, but I can see that it could potentially be a bit sickly for some people. I found that the balm can occasionally create a sort of waxy/'crayon-like' build-up on my lips, but it's not a major issue.
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Lip Treatments -Vaseline - rosy lips
marmaladecat 6/4/2011 5:34:00 PM
This is a really cheap and effective lip-balm-a definite repurchase when I run out! You get a good amount of product in the tin (20 g) and you only need a small dab when you apply it as the balm distributes itself well. The balm is really conditioning and leaves my lips smooth, soft and with a delicate pink tint which looks beautifully natural. I really love using this. I don't like the smell of roses, but I LOVE the smell of this, maybe because it has a very sweet smell so I don't notice an overpowering floral scent. I sometimes open the tin just to smell the product! :) I gave it 4 lippies only because it doesn't last long on my lips and I find I need to re-apply frequently, but given the price and the amount you get, it's OK. Also bear in mind that you can't carry it about with you when it's hot as it melts into a liquid!
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Coralista
marmaladecat 5/12/2011 10:27:00 AM
I got this as a present and I love it! I have always preferred candy/bubblegum-pink coloured blushers because they seem to suit my complexion best, but I was pleasantly surprised how well Coralista suited me. On my fair cool-toned skin it shows up as a pink-peach shade (more peach.) The blusher creates a very delicate shimmer which gives my skin a pretty glow. It doesn't contain obvious sparkley chunks so you don't get that really glittery look, just a natural-looking sheen, which is great if you want to look subtley made-up. The texture of the blusher is really silky, so it applies smoothly and easily. It sounds cheesy, but I really find that when I wear this, my skin looks soft and sort of 'candlelit'! This is a great blusher for fair-skinned people as the colour doesn't come out strong. I find I do have to put more on than perhaps other blushers to get a good level of colour to show up on my skin, so I think darker skinned people may feel like they're layering it on a lot! That's my only negative, as the product is not cheap, but I can forgive it as I love how it looks on me! I am not keen on the brush provided (rather stiff) but I use my own blusher brush anyway. Coralista is scented, which is worth bearing in mind if you don't like fragrances in makeup. I would buy this again, unless I found an equally good, cheaper dupe as it really is beautiful. If you think peach-tones don't suit you, try this-you may change your mind! :)
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Mascara -Maybelline - Define A Lash
marmaladecat 2/20/2011 9:56:00 AM
I really like this mascara. My lashes are quite thick but quite short, so I'm always on the look-out for mascaras which add the appearance of length. I find this really easy to apply and the brush easily gets to all my lashes which a lot of brushes don't. I also like the fact that there isn't an excess of mascara on the brush when I pull it out of the tube; I've found with some other mascaras I've had to tissue off the excess to avoid getting a heavy, clumpy look on my lashes, which is obviously a waste of product. This mascara definitely does add the appearance of longer and well-defined lashes. It doesn't add volume, but it doesn't claim to so that's fine! It doesn't clump and I've had no trouble with the mascara flaking or rubbing off on my skin. When I've used it along with an eye-lash curler, the curl's stayed put. The formula is quite thin, so it does take a bit longer than usual to dry, but it's not a problem. It's easy to apply a second coat without lashes looking clumpy or stiff. If you're looking for really dramatic lashes, this probably isn't for you, but if you are looking for a really good mascara to lengthen nicely whilst still looking quite natural, I think this is perfect. It's around £8 something in the UK so it's not really cheap, but nor is it really expensive like some of the £20 ones you can get. For the price, I think it's great. I will re-purchase.
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Treatments (Eye) -Soap and Glory - Eye Maintenance Moisturizing Gel
marmaladecat 2/7/2011 2:19:00 PM
I currently have a bit of an obsession with Soap & Glory and because I was in need of an eye-moisturiser I thought I'd give this one a go. 'Super Eyes, Super Eyes' is an eye gel containing tiny sparkly particles which give the eye area a bit of brightness. The sparkles aren't OTT so it doesn't look like you have loads of glitter under your eyes or anything like that! The plus for me is that this really did firm up my eye area nicely so in that respect its claim to tighten the skin is totally justified. I was impressed as I've always been skeptical about any claims like that! Unfortunately (and very annoyingly!) I dislike everything else about this. I found the gel didn't absorb well into the skin and when I put my concealer over it the concealer went sort of flakey which hasn't happened with other eye-creams I've had. Overnight, the gel formed a kind of crust under my eyes-ick-which again showed it didn't absorb properly. My skin did not feel moisturised at all. Looking at the ingredients, I saw that 'alcohol' was listed 2nd, which perhaps explains why my skin did feel tighter-the gel's essentially doing the job of an astringent toner. You can smell the alcohol easily. I can't see how such large quantities of alcohol are going to be good for moisturising skin. Maybe it depends on skin type, but mine was thirsty! I gave it a couple of weeks of use but all the problems were still there so I had to give up on it. If you have very sensitive skin, this may not be good for you as it does smell very strong and it does have a tingle when you initially apply it. I can see 'Super Eyes, Super Eyes' has mixed reviews so it could work for you, but I really disliked this. Sorry Soap &Glory, you have some awesome products, but this one is bad!
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Lotions/ Creams -Soap and Glory - Hand Food
marmaladecat 2/4/2011 1:04:00 PM
Fab hand-cream-love it. Hand Food has a great consistency, making it easy to spread over the hands. It sinks quickly into the skin and moisturises very well and for a long time without feeling sticky. I love the smell, very similar to that of Soap & Glory's Righteous Butter. I took a lippy off because I doubt it'd soothe badly chapped hands or broken skin owing to the heavy scent; it does say on the tube not to use on irritated or damaged skin. But for everyday dry hands this is a winner. Will definitely re-purchase this one.
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