Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Ziana
GucciDiva 2/25/2012 2:36:00 PM
I am going to document my experience with Ziana here. To start with...I am prone to dry flaky skin, yet it is also very oily at the same time. My acne isn't terrible, but it's persistent and never goes away. I have a totally clear nose and forehead, but I have a tendency for acne on my chin and on the lower part of my left cheek, with the occasional pustule. I never have completely clear skin. I have tried almost every OTC with no success. Day 2 of Ziana: I started using this yesterday, on a particularly bad skin day. I had 2 pustules on my cheeks, some post-acne hyper pigmentation on my chin, and a few small red acne dots scattered on the lower half of my face. I've been a bit dry and flaky today and yesterday, but nothing terrible. I waited 20 min after washing my face to apply it, then used Dermalogica Skin Smoothing cream after. This morning, my skin was looking a little dull, so I exfoliated with Dermalogica microfoliant. My skin had an overall glow. The pustules are flattened. However, they, as well as the random red acne dots and hyper pigmentation, look even redder. I hope with time the redness will fade. The rest of my skin looks pretty good. Day 3: Last night, I read about oil cleansing, so I massaged my face with jojoba oil for 5 min. My skin looked smooth and moisturized. I then washed/applied ziana/moisturized. I put Mario Badescu drying lotion on the red spots. When I woke up this morning, they were greatly reduced. However, I can feel a zit forming on my chin. My chin has a lot of tiny bumps and I get almost every pustule in one certain spot on my chin. I iced the spot, then applied the drying lotion (luckily I don't have to be anywhere today). I'm not sure if it's sporadic or from the oil, because the rest of my skin was looking good. So far, I am not having dryness from the ziana and it seems to be gentle. EVENING UPDATE: Sure enough, I have a monstrous under the skin lump forming right in the middle of my chin. Also I have more red dots. Day 4: Ugh. Starting to get a little flaky. Still have that horrible chin zit and I'm starting to get a few little bumps on my forehead. I hope this is purging. Day 8: Popped the chin zit on day 5, and ended up having to pop it again on day 6. Last night I started using Oxy benzoyl peroxide face wash. I have a scab from the chin zit. My forehead is still a little bumpy but nothing noticeable. I still have hyperpigmentation but no new breakouts or anything since that horrible chin zit. Day 9: I have decided to no longer wear face makeup to help my skin heal (except on my big hyper pigmentation spots, and I just use a tad of concealer) It was a bit annoying to have to blot more, but overall my skin wasn't too bad. Hyperpigmentation marks on my right cheek have faded a lot, my left cheek has 2 big ones, my chin has 2 big ones, I have a few scattered clogged pores but no active zits. I hope my skin continues to improve, although I am worried for the initial breakout.... Since I am using this with the benzoyl peroxide which can be a drying combo, I'm continuing to do the jojoba oil massages. My skin just drinks it up. Gently exfoliating in the morning has really helped. Dermalogica active moist is also working well, I apply a thin layer, wait a bit for it to absorb, then do another. It goes on lightly but moisturizes perfectly without making me greasier. Day 10: I woke up this morning with a little dryness around my nose but overall my skin is doing quite well. Still have no active zits, just hyperpigmentation and a few red spots. I'm scared for the initial breakout. Day 12: I have about 5 red spots on my right cheek, 4 in a small cluster on my left cheek, 1 on my jawline, a hyperpigmented chin, and a nose bursting with blackheads. Purging perhaps? Day 21: Aww my left cheek looks awful and I feel a massive dime sized cyst forming on my chin. Day 23: The chin cyst lump is GONE. Never had that happen.
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Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Face & Body Foundation 
GucciDiva 2/22/2012 7:49:00 PM
My new favorite summer foundation. I have had a very hard time finding foundation to match my skin. I have pale, neutral skin with a beige undertone. Most foundation for pale people is either way too pink or way too yellow. Shade 20 matches my skin perfectly when I'm tan (well as tan as I get). For the rest of the year, I wear MUFE HD in shade 117. I have combination skin with a few post-acne hyper pigmentation marks and I sometimes have acne flare-ups. I hate the look/feel of full coverage foundation. I apply it with a damp stippling brush and 1.5 pumps gives nice coverage. This covers my hyper pigmentation marks and leaves me with a fresh, gorgeous glow that makes my skin look naturally luminous. I apply a touch of concealer over blemishes and a touch of powder, and I'm left with flawless skin. This doesn't even feel like I'm wearing makeup, and it moisturizes my skin. And...IT DOESN'T BREAK ME OUT!! Miraculous. UPDATE: I am on accutane now, so instead of greasepit skin, I now have super dry skin. And this is PERFECT. The HD foundation, while great when my skin was oily, just made my dry skin look dull and dried it out even more. With this, you can't tell that my skin is parched. I use a different method now than when it was oily. I apply jojoba oil on my face in the morning & the night before, make sure there are no flakes, then I pat this in a bit at a time with my fingers. I find applying it this way is better to make sure my flakes aren't accentuated. My mom asked what I did since she said my skin looked much better, she couldn't believe it was foundation. Also this doesn't exacerbate dryness. Love it even more.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Lip Lacquer in Chelsea Girls
GucciDiva 2/22/2012 7:24:00 PM
My search for the perfect nude lip is OVER! I have pale, neutral toned skin. Every nude lipstick has made me look like a zombie, or like I just ate a powdered donut. NO MORE! This is a nude with a hint of pink, and it's a touch darker than my skin so it looks light but in a flattering way. It makes my lips look juicy. I top it with Piree gloss for extra shine. Extremely gorgeous. NOTE: It's a bit thick and drying so be sure your lips are well moisturized. This works best if I apply it with fingers, so I wash my hands first.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Yves Saint Laurent - Anti-Cernes Multi Action Concealer #1
GucciDiva 2/20/2012 3:08:00 PM
I love this concealer for my under eyes. I use shade 2, I dab a touch on and blend it. It's very creamy and easily spreadable. It doesn't settle into lines, and gives the perfect amount of natural looking coverage. However...I wish they had more shades. Shade 2 is too dark to use on blemishes, and Shade 1 is too light and pinkish for my skin.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Yves Saint Laurent - Touche Eclat (Radiant Touch)
GucciDiva 2/20/2012 3:05:00 PM
This is fabulous...if you know how to use it. This is not a concealer. This will not eliminate your dark circles. It's more of a highlighter, but a natural one. I use it under the arch of my eyebrows. I hate the look of eyeshadow there, but this makes it look like my eyebrows naturally stand out. I even use it all over my eyelid, and it makes me look vibrant and awake. I dab a touch over my under_eye concealer. I hate the look of heavy under-eye concealer, and this helps me get more out of the small amount I use. I put this on my Cupid's bow. Shade 8 is an absolutely perfect match for my pale, slightly warm toned skin. I have never found any foundations or concealers or anything that match like this. I don't like to wear much makeup, or look like I'm wearing much, so this is perfect for making my skin look naturally flawless and vivacious.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -OPI - Vodka & Caviar
GucciDiva 2/16/2012 2:37:00 AM
My HG red, I'm on my 4th bottle. I am pale, and a lot of reds look either hookerish or bloody on me. This looks lush, classy, sexy, and flatters my skin tone. Also the formula/staying power is glorious, I'll remain chip-free for over a week.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Flamenco
GucciDiva 2/6/2012 8:59:00 PM
This is a great red. I usually wear matte lipstick, but my poor dry lips have been crying for a change. Enter Flamenco. It's bright, but not overpowering. It's pigmented, but light and doesn't dry out my lips. I can apply one coat for a cherry popsicle look, or 2 coats for a more intense look. If I really want it intense, I'll line my lips with the Jungle Red liner and apply this over. I love how modern and juicy this finish looks. Highly recommended.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - ABC Gum Matte
GucciDiva 2/1/2012 12:31:00 PM
I love this color, I use it on days when I do a cat eye/don't feel like wearing eyeliner, because it matches my eyelids almost exactly but has a peachy tone that brightens my blue eyes. This color will work best on those with pale skin and oily eyelids. I can see how this would accentuate dry eyelids, but as I have oily ones, it works to tame them.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Carmex - LipBalm
GucciDiva 1/28/2012 6:52:00 PM
I hate this stuff. Drying and irritating. I got it in my mouth and wanted to die.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorburst (All colors)
GucciDiva 1/28/2012 6:48:00 PM
I don't usually use drugstore makeup products, but I was intrigued by the color Strawberry. It is gorgeous. One coat is sheer, 2 coats makes it mostly opaque, It's a warm toned, bright strawberry pink with a bit of coral. It's very moisturizing. It's a tad sticky, but enough so that it stays on. I'm not enamored with the smell, but it's not terrible. And the packaging is simple and classy. Well done Revlon.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Impassioned (Amplified)
GucciDiva 1/27/2012 9:36:00 PM
LOVE THIS PINK!! I own many fuchsias, which are cool toned. This is a warm toned, watermelon-y hot pink. I have pale, neutral toned skin, and it makes my blue eyes really pop and flatters my skin. I get lots of compliments on this color. However...it dries my lips out, as all MAC lipsticks do, but this color is worth it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Sex Appeal
GucciDiva 1/24/2012 7:42:00 PM
I adore this blush. I am pale and slightly warm toned, and most blushes look extremely heavy & unnatural. Not this blush. It gives me a warm, natural peachy-pink flush. Also it is very easy to apply, unlike my other NARS blush, Desire, which I have to be extremely light handed with. My HG blush.
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Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
GucciDiva 1/24/2012 12:02:00 AM
HORRIBLE! It burns my face, especially the skin around my eyes. It smells like rotting fish. It made me break out. The packaging is unsanitary.
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Moisturizers -Dermalogica - Sheer Tint Moisturiser SPF 15
GucciDiva 1/5/2012 5:11:00 AM
I love this tinted moisturizer. I have oily, even toned skin, with the occasional zit. This smooths out everything and gives me a glow. It doesn't cover blemishes, but I use concealer. I set it with powder. Foundation is too heavy on me, and this has the small amount of coverage that I need.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Desire
GucciDiva 10/28/2011 8:20:00 PM
This blush is glorious. Scary yet beautiful in the pan. I either lightly dust it on my cheeks for a barely there flush, or dust on another (light!!) coat for a more vibrant, yet still natural, in from the cold look. Goes great w/NARS Angelika lip gloss and gold eyeshadow, or just by itself. I have pale, neutral toned skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No