Fragrances -Jo Malone - White Jasmine & Mint
blushie 3/24/2011 7:53:00 AM
Jo Malone is hard to come by in my part of the world, so imagine my excitement while I was in England in February when I spotted a whole shop! The scent name intrigued me, but I honestly thought I wouldn't like it. At first I wasn't sure, I think because it was so different to how I expected. It's so light and fresh and summery. I expected a sickly floral fragrance. I'm not good with describing perfumes, but the jasmine and mint are really well balanced. When it dries down, it smells slightly musky and so I think it wont be out place in autumn either. It lasts for ages on me, if I come home after being out late, I can still smell it the next day. Saying that though, I rarely have a problem with scents disappearing on me, so it could be different for others. I've already had some complements on it too. I really love this, it suits me perfectly and I will definitely buy it again when I run out!
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Powder -Laura Mercier - Mineral Powder SPF 15
blushie 3/7/2011 8:17:00 PM
I've been using this product in 'Soft Ivory' for about 3 months now, and I've been pretty pleased with it. Depending on how much I apply, I can get up to a medium coverage by buffing the powder in with a kabuki brush. It looks very natural and my skin looks radiant when I wear this. Thankfully, my skin hasn't broken out at all, which has happened with so many foundations I've tried. I do have some problems though. Firstly, the sifter. I find I have to open it up totally and tip the whole pot upside down to get anything out, which is messy and time consuming. Secondly, when the weather is warm or humid, I find the powder seems to "pool" and I get little foundation streaks on my t-zone. I've never experienced this before. It's a shame too, because I find mineral powders much nicer to wear in the summer than liquid foundations. Luckily the weather's getting cooler in Australia now, so I can use it up this winter and purchase something else next summer. This mineral powder isn't perfect, but it is really good and worth a try.
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Cleansers -Vichy - Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel
blushie 3/1/2011 6:51:00 AM
I ran out of my face cleanser in Rome while on holidays, and this was the only one I could find late one night. I hated it for the first 4 days, my face felt and looked oily, and I was convinced I'd wasted my money. But I persevered a couple more days (too cheap to fork out for 2 new cleansers in a week!), and my skin started to look so much better. My skin was looking quite good already, but it looked more radiant and I found that it took longer for my T-zone to get oily. It's been over a month now, and I'm still really happy with it. Sometimes it leave my face a bit dry in the morning, however my moisturiser deals with that. I still get the occasional spot too. But overall I like it, and will definitely look out for it here at home when I run out.
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Lip Treatments -MAC - Calm Mode
blushie 3/1/2011 6:42:00 AM
This was a product I bought completely on a whim when I spotted the MAC counter in Venice on a recent holiday. I needed a new balm, and this was much cheaper in Italy than in Australia. I really like the colour. I was worried it wouldn't be pigmented at all, but it's a lovely, creamy pink that isn't so cool that it makes me look corpsey. I like the lavender scent too. My only problem lies with the packaging. The little white disc attached to the inside of the lid fell off into the product the same night I bought it, despite never being dropped (well not with me anyway). It's done it a few times since, which isn't a big deal but it's annoying all the same.
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Treatments -LUSH - Dream Time Temple Balm
blushie 12/20/2010 12:25:00 AM
I am so surprised at how well this works. It definitely calms my mind, something I struggle to do most nights. Dream Time has a very herbaceous scent, which wouldn't appeal to everyone. I'm going through a bit of a lavender phase at the moment though, so I quite like it (although I wouldn't wear it as a perfume, it's quite medicinal). I rub it onto my wrists so I can sniff it as I'm falling asleep like a reviewer mentioned earlier, and on my collarbones. I've tried in on my temples a couple of times too without any bad effects, but I'll probably avoid this as my skin is acne-prone and sensitive on my face. As for it being discontinued, the shop girl told me that it's only the solid perfumes, not the temple balms. I can't find any of the solid scents on the Aussie website though, so only time will tell. I'll be sad if it is discontinued though, because it really helps me get to sleep.
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Self Tanners -Palmers - Natural Bronze Gradual Tanning Moisturizer
blushie 11/10/2010 11:41:00 PM
I can't exactly decide how I feel about this product. It was recommended to me by a friend whose sister swears by it, and my mum also had good results. I like how you wake up with noticeable colour, and it is probably the most believable colour I've had on my very fair skin. But....it smells briefly like the regular cocoa butter before turning into a freshly peeled potato skin smell, which isn't very pleasant. As it dries, it turns into a distinct fake tan,"old wet biscuit" smell. It also has a tendency to look streaky, even though I exfoliate and moisturise in advance. I find it looks better if I buff it back by exfoliating after the first application, and then applying another lot that night. It doesn't make me much darker, but it does get rid of some of the bigger streaks. I'll either use up this bottle (since I don't hate it), or give it to my mum since it works very well for her. However, I will be trying another self-tanner next time I need one. Oh, and just a tip...I had a product buildup around my achilles, I found rubbing witchhazel on the area really helped get rid of the excess :)
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -MAC - Shroom
blushie 10/30/2010 6:32:00 AM
I've had this for a couple of months now, and its taken me ages to decide if I like it or not. At first I was kicking myself for buying it, it looked so dull and boring on my lids and I couldn't see what all the fuss about it was. I wanted a pretty neutral wash for daytime. But it just looked as if I'd powdered my eyelids. I let it languish for a while. before pulling it out and trying again. Thank goodness I did. When I put another colour into my crease or outer corner, Shroom all of a sudden transforms into a satiny cream with a tiny gold shimmer through it. It's quite odd, but I'm glad I have a way to use it. I only just get away with using it to highlight, as I'm very fair and it blends into my skintone. The texture is pretty good, but not the best I've tried, it doesn't seem as finely milled as other MAC eyeshadows. I will certainly keep using this, but I won't buy again because I think they're better options out there for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NARS - Rose Gitane
blushie 10/22/2010 10:20:00 PM
What a surprise that this gorgeous colour doesn't seem to have more fans! Maybe it's because it looks a bit intense in the tube?. It's the sort of colour I was frightened of, deep browny red, almost like dried blood! But it turns into a pretty, berry shade that I had been looking for once applied, with a deep reddish-pink base. I love how it's buildable too. Cons include the smell which is slightly weird and plasticy...thank goodness it's not noticeable on the lips, and the lasting power isn't great either. It has a similar texture to some Clinique sample glosses I had once, quite light and not sticky at all. It's really nice, but I wouldn't mind it being a *teeny* bit stickier so I don't have to reapply so often. I would definitely recommend this to other fair people wanting a wearable, glossy berry shade, and it will be coming over to Europe with me because it's a perfect winter/evening colour that can go from day to night just by applying less or more. I suspect I'll run out of this gloss, but unless I can buy it discount again, I'll probably look for a less expensive dupe first.
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Crystal Lipstick- Crystal Baby
blushie 10/12/2010 10:36:00 PM
My new favourite everyday lipstick. I've wanted this since March when I first tried it on, I wish I hadn't waited for so long to finally pick it up! It applies like a dream, the packaging is luxurious and interesting and it feels really nice to wear. I suppose I'd call this my "MLBB" shade, as my boyfriend says it looks nearly the same as my natural lip colour. It's interesting though, when I first tried it on, it had quite a brown/berry undertone to it, and I took a photo on my phone to remind myself what it looked like. But the tube I bought comes out neutral pink with a minimal amount of brown in it and certainly no berry. I wouldn't say I like or dislike this, but it certainly is odd. Anyway, back to the review; it doesn't last forever (2 hrs max without food) but I don't mind that because it doesn't dry out my lips. The slightly glossy shine is also lovely, and I actually really like the fig smell although I can see why some find it offensive. I think this may be the first lipstick I use up completely, and when that happens I'll certainly be repurchasing...but I wont wait 7 months to do so this time.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Matte lipstick in Mauve It Over
blushie 10/12/2010 10:26:00 PM
Sadly this doesn't look how I hoped it would on me, instead of a natural pinky/nude colour which I've seen in a lot of swatches, this is more of a warm reddish brown. I think this is probably due to my complexion though (pale, quite pigmented lips). I can still wear it, just sheerly and if I put Peach Petal lipgloss on the top, it turns into a rosey pink which I quite like. It is drying, which I expected, but I find that a quick swipe of blistex before applying the lipstick helps a lot. The packaging quality is good though, and I think on warmer, medium skintones, this lipstick would be amazing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Revlon - Minted #85
blushie 10/7/2010 6:56:00 AM
Minted doesn't apply quite so streaky as Peach Petal, but I found that it took longer to dry and it didn't look "even" texture wise across my entire nail. Sadly the colour wasn't as nice as I hoped it would be on me either, but it will still be used anyway. It's just an average polish I suppose, nothing terrible but not mindblowing either. I won't buy again, I'll look for a polish of better quality and a pastel green shade that suits me better.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Peach Petal
blushie 10/7/2010 6:50:00 AM
Aussie MUAers, if you live near a "Gloss" store, try there first. I bought Peach Petal for around half the price that it is advertised everywhere else. Now to the review...it's a very pigmented gloss which I like, even though I usually wear it sheer, because it works well to tone down bright lippies. The texture is beautiful, I can see why Revlon SL glosses get so much love. It's not too sticky, slimy or runny and it applies pretty evenly although I do find I have to run a finger over my lips and blend it in a bit to avoid application lines. The tube is simple, but it looks elegant and feels well made. It has barely any taste or scent either, which is a nice change. It does dry my lips out a fraction, but most products do this to me and I find a quick swipe of blistex deals with that. I'll definitely buy again if I can find it when I run out.
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Polishes -Revlon - Peach Petal #115
blushie 10/1/2010 7:25:00 AM
This is such a beautiful colour, which redeems the terrible way it applies. The first time I painted my nails with this, it was soooo streaky and patchy that I redid it the next morning. It takes a lot of care and patience to get this looking nice, and as it doesn't apply evenly, you need only 2 coats insome areas and then 3 in others. It did last 3 days with only 1 tiny chip before I removed it though, which I was pleased with. I'll keep using it and just put up with the tricky application because this colour is perfect for me. I probably would not rebuy, and just find something similar from another brand.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Coralista
blushie 9/28/2010 5:48:00 AM
My first BeneFit product, and I love it. The brand has never really appealed to me, and I always thought Coralista would only look good on tanned skintones. But for some reason, I had the urge to check it out while walking to a different counter. I swatched it, the SA offered to try it on, and I loved it straight away. I walked around for a while to talk myself out of it (coz usually I plan a purchase weeks in advance), but it looked great in every mirror I went past. I think this works for me because the coral has quite a pink base to it. The box is pretty cute, and I like how it wont impact as much on the environment if/when I run out and throw it away, but I think because it is made out of cardboard, the price should be lower (my mum saw it on my bed and thought it was a fancy box of tampons...). It adds a nice glow to my skin, and it smells pretty too. You get a decent amount of product, and it lasts all day on my normal/combo skin without fading. It will be my staple blush for the coming Aussie summer, and I'd buy it over and over if I had to. This was an expensive purchase on a complete whim, but I couldn't be happier.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -St. Ives - Apricot Scrub
blushie 9/18/2010 7:46:00 AM
I can see why some people feel this product is too harsh for their skin, but my skin is fairly sensitive and it still works really well for me. I bought the smallest size a few months ago, and once I ran out I noticed what a difference it had been making. This scrub makes my skin look so fresh, helps blackheads come to the surface and makes it really smooth. I find the number of breakouts I experience gradually becomes less and less with long-term use. And my boyfriend always comments on how soft my skin is, which is nice too (he never said this in the break I took from using the scrub, so I know its the scrub doing it). I use it between 1-4x a week depending on how my skin is, and it's something I look forward to. It smells delicious, and makes my skin look good almost instantly. It's knocked my old Avon favourite from my number 1 position, which I thought was unbeatable. I've tried more expensive brands such as Clinique's 7 Day Scrub, and then other inexpensive products from Clearasil etc, and St. Ives wins every time. It doesn't dry out my skin or irritate it like some With the acne-prone formulation, I like to double it up as a mask and leave it on for a minute or two while in the shower, which gives good results. I'm currently using the original formulation which I love too. There's something about the extra-gritty texture that my skin just loves, and it will need to be a pretty amazing product to make me stray.
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