Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Do It Daily SPF12
Rainbowapple 2/9/2008 5:20:00 PM
Considering the marketing strategy surrounding this product, this is a very 'ordinary' and unexceptional moisturizer. Wait...maybe that's the whole end-game, here?. Labeled as merely SPF10 says it all, really. It contains oxybenzone. The oil-free aspect is a nice intention and it applies reasonably nicely, but I found that I needed a lot to make any lasting impression. Had a fresh, botanical, green-like scent that wasn't too offensive. In all, I think I'm looking for something more in a moisturizer. Sorry, BeneFit, but I Don't Do You Daily. Thanks, just the same, baby.
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Cleansers -Lancome - Galatee Confort
Rainbowapple 2/9/2008 5:07:00 PM
While I generally like many of Lancome's products, I'm pretty indifferent and ambivalent about this product. As a make-up remover, it's perfectly functional, although the fragrance makes me kinda nutty. Which has me wondering what Lancome is trying to prove with such a heavy, floral scent. I made the mistake of purchasing a large bottle, only to realize afterwards, that I don't actually wear a lot of make-up at all anymore. Maybe that will change. It did make my skin tingle a little, so I think I'll use it alternately with another cleanser. It's better than your average cold cream cleanser, but nothing close to HG status for me.
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Bath Treatments -Avon - Bubble Bath
Rainbowapple 2/6/2008 11:26:00 PM
(In the Sensitive Skin version). A great no-nonsense bubble-bath, perfectly functional for everyday. My toddler loves it in the hot-tub, because you only need half a cap-ful for a whole bath brimming with bouncy bubbles. Not too moisturizing on skin, however does lessen the drying effects of harsh water. Non-irritating. For the price, something you could treat yourself to all of the different fragrances in.
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Lipstick -Avon - Glass Reflections - Glossy Pink
Rainbowapple 2/6/2008 4:32:00 PM
Got this cheaply, as part of a season clearance, and was quite pleasantly surprised by the performance of this lipstick product. Shade is a soft, glossy pink, with a small amount of opalescent/silvery sparkle and sheer shimmer. Scent and flavor is sweet. Applies smoothly. Only one real complaint, and that is, the staying power, or lack thereof. Consequently, I consider this to be more of a gloss, rather than a buildable lip-color per se.
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Lotions/ Creams -Chanel - BODY EXCELLENCE - Firming Moisture Milk
Rainbowapple 2/5/2008 9:13:00 PM
Sweet, sassy indulgence, which, while pricey, far out-performs those greasy, smelly and slick drugstore brands (like Olay and Jergens). While drawing distinctions like this is a little like comparing apples and oranges, this Chanel lotion is worth the spends, IMO. I've had numerous reconstructive surgeries on my legs, as well as breast tumor surgery a year ago, so I was looking for a firming, healing and moisturizing lotion that was comforting to use consistently (I'm terrible with beauty routines, and a fickle consumer, to boot). The consistency of this milky lotion is light, its effects are mainly cosmetic, and it has a faintly refreshing, yet relaxing scent of rose and seringa. To be fair, I'm anxious to finish my 30 days of trial with this, before I make any rash statements of glamor and glory. I plan to keep updating, as needed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Queen Helene - Mint Julep Masque
Rainbowapple 2/4/2008 10:39:00 PM
For me, this is one of the (many) advantages and surprising luxuries that I get to appreciate because I re-located halfway across the world!. Smells like Extra Spearmint Gum, but is your basic, no-frills kaolin/clay mask, with mint scent added. I find that pre-soaking the tube in a bowl of warm water for five minutes helps to ease the mask itself out of that tricky tube packaging. At the end of a stressful day, this is a great wind-down, and leaves my skin smooth and calmed. Even if you only try it once, it's worth it!. P.S: A little goes far, and you need to rinse, rinse, rinse!.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Mary Kay - Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF 20
Rainbowapple 2/2/2008 2:06:00 AM
Firstly, just to clarify: I tried this TM alongside PX's Traceless Moisturizing Tint, and the PX was by far the superior product. On the upside, I liked the MK packaging-the slender, pliable tube was attractive. I tried the lightest shade available, and it turned an 'interesting' shade of orange against my skin. Next, it went on streaky. Then, it just wouldn't blend, and balled up. To top it off, it made my nose itch like crazy (like several other MK moisturizer products that I could name, too). Guess I'm just too...sensitive.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Givenchy - Rouge Interdit 06
Rainbowapple 2/1/2008 9:26:00 PM
This "Precious Rose" is my 'Big Girl Panties' of lip-colors. Yanno, the one that you wear when you're being all adult and conservative. It's O.K. It's a fairly neutral dark pinkish red with a touch of gold shimmer. The scent and flavor is very old-school lippy though (Think Revlon and MF lippies from the 70s and 80s). It's also marketed on the basis of its 'sophisticated' packaging, which is just strictly average, IMO. The ribbon on the end of the base seems all a bit fru-fru and pointless. This lip color makes me wish that I could find something akin to Clinque's now discontinued Dramatically Different Lippy in 'Baby Kiss'. This one is just so mediocre for the price, and quite frankly, I expected far more from Givenchy. The texture is very silicone-like-slippery wax, and consequently, the color slides really easily. If Givenchy was trying to be all chic and classic, then they don't have a happy customer in me-sorry to say.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -BeneFit Cosmetics - Some Kind-A Gorgeous
Rainbowapple 1/30/2008 5:37:00 PM
Clever marketing on the part of BeneFit made an unwitting consumer out of me-mainly because I really dislike anything close to foundations, and I thought that this would be an interesting compromise. I was slightly apprehensive when I purchased this, because I have such 'Goth' pale skin, and this looked frighteningly -well, orange, in the compact. On application, this product also looked well, slick, and not the least bit silky or smooth. However, this made my skin look too ashen, especially in photographs. Ordinarily, looking like that wouldn't bother me, but soon everyone was asking me if I was ill. In addition, I needed to add numerous layers to get any coverage, with the sad consequence of it looking too OTT. The compact design itself was also irritating to me. Guess I just didn't fall totally for BeneFit's 50s-inspired brand of whimsy.
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Lipstick -Lancome - Color Design in Fashion Icon
Rainbowapple 1/24/2008 7:55:00 PM
I'm a Lancome "junkie", but I was really dis-heartened by this line from Lancome. This was a GWP, so I was certainly glad, in this case, that I got a 'try before you buy' opportunity. Color is soft, sparkly and slightly sheer, but fails to last. In addition, this color was simply too blue and unflattering to my very pale complexion. Texture was so-so. A pretty product, but simply not a performer for me.
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Concealers -Lancome - Photogenic Skin-Illuminating Concealer SPF 15 ] [DISCONTINUED]
Rainbowapple 1/24/2008 4:37:00 PM
I'm a huge fan of Lancome's Effacernes concealer, so I had high expectations of this. As an all-over skin concealer (blemishes, scars, discoloration) this works quite well. Takes a lot of blending, a little goes a long way, and it dries to a fine, powdery finish, so I just don't use it as an under-eye concealer, for those reasons. Texture is okay, and I don't find that it clogs my pores. I have this in the shade " Correcteur", and it's become a daily staple in my makeup kit. Works effectively and efficiently for photographic work, too, as it goes on creamy, looks matte under heavy or bright lighting, and most importantly, stays put. I apply it with an uber-fine MU brush and blend, blend, blend. What concealer doesn't require careful and gentle application?. Some reviewers have complained that this is too chalky, but applying a makeup base beforehand solved that particular issue for me. Because this is a concealer where a little goes a long way, I just can't imagine re-purchasing it again, but I probably will....eventually!.
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Lip Gloss -Lancome - Juicy Tubes Pop ~ Fruity Pop
Rainbowapple 1/24/2008 4:09:00 PM
I got this as a recent GWP. I had never tried Juicy Tubes, beyond a brief encounter with this product at a Lancome counter during a special promotional event. As I recall, the MA applied JT over my lipcolor, but I can't remember what shade it was. This is a deceptively pretty opalescent shade, highlighted with gold and sheer pink sparkles/glitter. It looks reasonably pale in the tube, applies sheer, and ends up adding just a hint of dimension and depth (depending upon your natural lip shade). Gloss texture itself is sticky and not particularly slick. Gloss flavor and scent reminds me of bubblegum and/or cotton candy. This 0.28oz tube will probably be more than enough for me, as this is a great shade for weekends, or casual wear, but not really suited to my professional work, because of the 'bling' factor. I probably will re-purchase, but I'm still wondering if I can justify the expense, given that this isn't really a HG for me.
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Shampoo -Suave - Professionals Sleek Look Shampoo
Rainbowapple 1/23/2008 3:39:00 AM
I used this as a switch from my other shampoo brands (Avon Advanced Techniques, Redken, etc). Although I've never tried Matrix, this shampoo is pretty impressive for the price. Fragrance is so-so. Shampoo itself is rich, creamy, and lathers up well. Left my fine, frizzy, slightly wavy hair manageable, and dare I say it, sleek. Happy to let it air dry, with none of the usual headaches and difficulties. In addition, I have a sensitive scalp, and this shampoo was perfectly okay for me-no itchiness or bad reactions. I was a little concerned initially, because this shampoo seems quite strong, and is, well-cheap. However, combined with the sleek conditioner, this makes a fantastic duo, at a reasonable price. Nice change from plenty of other soapy broken promises rinsed down my shower drain. Buy, buy and buy again. Update: 2/5/08: I'd recommend this as a temporary switch from your usual brand. I just found it too overwhelming after several washes. Still great value, though.
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Cleansers -Lancome - Gel Clarté Foaming Cleansing Gel
Rainbowapple 1/20/2008 3:15:00 PM
Again, a nice premise, however, this cleanser didn't deliver for me. Liked the fragrance, but this cleanser had terrible rinsability, and left my face feeling like it had been shrink-wrapped. It just set my sensitive skin off and stung like crazy. Again, really wanted to like this product, but my skin won't tolerate it-even in a small amount. Meh.
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Cleansers -Lancome - Mousse Confort- Foaming Cream Cleanser
Rainbowapple 1/20/2008 3:11:00 PM
(This is an updated review for the recently re-packaged version of this product). Background: The 'original' version that came in a pale pink tube, with lid, was very drying and more highly scented than the recently upgraded version. In addition, I've discovered that, for best efficacy, you need to give this product a chance (3 months +), as well as use it conservatively. This isn't what I'd class as a mu remover, it's a CLEANSER-there's a difference. Texture: Light and foamy. Scent: Mild, floral, which dissipates after use. Not as scented as either Clarifiance or Galatee Confort Cleansing Milk. Usage: I reserve this cleanser for days when I haven't been wearing full makeup or a lot of sunscreen. Therefore, I don't use this on a daily basis-maybe every couple of days or so. Accordingly, I use a tiny smear of this on a dampened, non-latex m/up remover sponge, and press gently into my skin, then "spritz" my skin with tepid water. Perfectly effective. Refreshing without being too drying. A nice 'switch' from milkier cleansers by Lancome.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No