Lip Treatments -Avene - Cold Cream Lip Balm
bren81 5/14/2009 6:37:00 PM
This is a pretty good lipbalm. I use this in the daytime because my other lipbalm (Amore Pacific) is a bit stickier. This absorbs very quickly and leaves my lips very soft and moisturized. I don't have the white lips problem and my lipstick/lipgloss applies very well on top of this lip balm. I haven't noticed the lipstick slipping. It's not as good as the Cle de Peau lip balm but it's a lot cheaper and almost as good. I currently alternate between Kiehl's (#1 with no color and the baby), Boots No7 lip treatment, Amore Pacific and this one (I know... but I have chapped lips all around the year because I live in a very dry apartment that no humidifier will cure and I don't drink enough water I think) and this one is my favorite day time lip balm. I would buy it again!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Avene - Cold Cream Hand Cream
bren81 5/14/2009 4:14:00 PM
Wow! This hand cream is amazing! I bought a tube at SDM for about $13-15 (can't remember exact price) for 75ml. It looks very small for the price but since this cream is very rich you just need a little bit. It felt very thick when I first squeezed out of the tube however it went on very smooth and not greasy after application. It left my hands velvety smooth and soft for a long time (even after wash with soap). I love it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - Blendercleanser
bren81 5/14/2009 2:38:00 PM
I like how the cleanser will wash any products off the sponge effectively, however I do not like the packaging at all. Since you have to directly place the sponge on the pump and push down to get the sponge soaked, all the dirt and foundation and things goes back into the bottle, contaminating the cleanser! I don't like that. I am now half way through my first bottle and it's all murky.... I want to throw it out and buy a new bottle but it's too expensive to do that. I wish they'd just get rid of the gimick and put the cleanser in a normal bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -beautyblender - the sponge
bren81 5/14/2009 2:36:00 PM
I have two of these because I wash this everyday and takes more than a day for it to completely dry. I have to alternate between the two. I use this when I'm in a hurry if I have some time I use a MAC 187 brush. This works wonders for me which is great as I have paid quite a few bucks for a makeup sponge. This blends my foundation beautifully, settles my concealer, and great for applying cream blushes as well. One sponge will last me about 3 months and then it starts to rip here and there, breaks down and I have to return the old one (the company will recycle as the package states). I see no streaks or spots when I apply my foundation with this sponge. You just have to give it a try and compare it to any old sponges. You will see the difference (a big difference) immediately!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Giorgio Armani - Maestro liquid eyeliner
bren81 5/14/2009 2:30:00 PM
This was part of the promotional package that included a full size mascara, a full size of this eyeliner and a full size of their lip shimmer, a cosmetic bag and a sample size of their foundation and bronzer (liquid). The eyeliner has a felt tip application which has a fine tip at the end for precise application. The color is not that dark and the pigmentation is not very deep or rich. I would have to apply 2-3 times over to get the result I want. It is also quite watery and runs. I have to make sure it dries completely before blinking (which is normal for liquid type eyeliners but this take longer to dry than my shisedo one but shorter than l'oreal eyeliner). This also stings my eyes which is a common problem I have with most eyeliners. I only use this when I want dramatic look for a short time as over time it smudges quite a bit compared to my gel/cream eyeliners.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat No 1
bren81 5/14/2009 1:29:00 AM
This used to work wonders, covering my undereye dark circles, brightening up, etc. I went through about three tubes of this until recently, I started getting fine lines and this started to crease up accentuating the fine lines... *sigh* this no longer works for me sadly and I'm once again on a quest to finding the perfect under eye concealer....
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -L'Oreal - Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Normal to Fine Hair
bren81 5/14/2009 1:25:00 AM
I don't know what it is about this shampoo but whenever I use this, it is so hard to style my hair. My hair goes so limp yet very stubborn! Also my hair greases up by mid day when using this shampoo. However, this one tangles up my hair! WTH? I don't know what is wrong with this shampoo. It does not work with my hair at all.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Hue
bren81 5/13/2009 6:04:00 PM
Ah.... why did I do this again. Everytime I buy a lipstick from MAC, I always regret it. It's because although the color selection is amazing, the lipstick will always accentuate all the dry, chapped patches, instead of enhancing my lips (isn't that what lipsticks are supposed to do?) It's really a shame because MAC has a lot of pretty colors I would love to try but the application just doesn't work for me. I prefer Dior or Cle de Peau lipsticks far better as they have more creamy texture and does not accentuate dry patches.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #190 Foundation Brush
bren81 5/13/2009 5:49:00 PM
I don't like this as a foundation brush (I prefer #187) however I use this as a highlighting brush (I use Shu Uemura) and it works well. As a foundation brush this leaves streaks which has to be re-patted down with my fingers, an extra step I don't need to do with a beauty blender or #187. The brush quality is good though. It is sturdy, hardly sheds, keeps the shape after multiple wash, goes on smooth and soft.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Lancome - Tonique Radiance
bren81 5/13/2009 5:45:00 PM
Oh my God this toner stings my eyes so bad...And the fragrance is sooo strong! Why? I don't see the point and the alcohol in the toner dries up my skin. I bought it in a set with bifacil and I should've just stuck with my good ol' bifacil and not waste my money on this. I don't know it cleanses well. It probably does but the fragrance and dryness and the stinging all makes this a horrible toner. I didn't get any irritations from it so I will go through this bottle but will not purchase this again. Hell no!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara in Black
bren81 5/12/2009 6:38:00 PM
This mascara does give great length and still maintains my lashes soft. It doesn't clump too bad if you can manage to work quickly with the wand. It doesn't smudge or flake. Cleansing can be a bit tricky because although it says warm water will do the trick, I find that this is not enough to completely get rid of the product. I still need to use my bifacil, but as I wear eyeliners most of the time, this doesn't bother me too much. However, it doesn't add enough volume and most importantly, does NOT hold a curl. Very sad because otherwise it is a great product and priced right. I wish they can improve on the curl effect and this would be a perfect mascara.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aveeno - Creamy Moisturizing Oil
bren81 5/11/2009 1:23:00 AM
Wow!!!! Great find! I usually use body butter or lotion to moisturize but it was getting a bit too heavy as the day got warmer. So I was looking for something lighter but not to skimp on the moisturizing power. This comes in a bottle with a pump which is great, and when you pump once, the product looks more like a runny lotion than oil. But once applied (I use it right after shower when my skin is still damp), it turns into oil, absorbs quickly, leaves my skin silky soft and smells heavenly! (i love coconut/vanilla smell and this smells like coconut!) I love this and the bottle is big for $14(canadian) at shopper's drug mart! Will buy again for sure
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Giorgio Armani - Lip Shimmer 21
bren81 5/8/2009 5:53:00 PM
I got this lipgloss as a part of a special set (with mascara, eyeliner, mini foundation, pouch). I bought the set for the mascara and eyeliner but after trying all of them, I like the lipgloss the most. I have full, highly pigmented lips so it's hard to find lipstick/gloss for me that's not overwhelming. I usually have to do sheer color or nude. This goes on very smooth and glossy but opaque. It doesn't have any obvious sparkles or shimmer. The color is natural rosy color on my lips and flattering to my somewhat pale, yellow-undertone skin. I love the brush tip of the applicator as I prefer this type over spongy tip applicators. I wouldn't buy this particular product as I would like to try out other colours. Doesn't mean this is a bad product, on the contrary it is a very high quality gloss.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Clarins - (New Formula) UV Plus Day Screen SPF 40 High Protection with E3P
bren81 5/7/2009 7:20:00 PM
Hmmmm I like it but I don't love it. I was looking for a sunscreen that is not sticky or oily, doesn't have color in it other than being white, has no fragrance in it, and most of all does not cause breakouts! This does it. However, it is so damn expensive and the bottle only lasts me about 2 months. I use it everyday rain or shine and I do reapply mid-day if I am extra shiny and had to used blot papers. It is light and absorbs very well into the skin. Does not leave sticky residues and although it is opaque white, once applied, it doesn't leave any color or intense white-cast. I used to use dior sunscreen which had higher SPF at 50, but it is not sold in Canada. Neither is one from Amore Pacific. I'm not sure why. If they sold it I would buy those. But since I can't get them in Canada, I'll stick to this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Clinique - Quick Eyes Cream Eye Shadow (All)
bren81 5/7/2009 1:46:00 PM
I got a pale shimmery nude color as GWP and I'm very happy with the product so far. I've tried cream eyeshadows from Shiseido, Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown but out of the four brands, I like this one the most. It goes on very smooth (the doe foot applicator really helps!), color shows very well, doesn't crease or fade off over time and washes off nicely. I wish the package would come in a tin tube instead of plastic one but the applicator is great. Once I'm done with the sample, I think I will go purchase the regular one. But this is going to last me a long time since little bit goes a long way.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No