Tinted Moisturizer -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Enhancer SPF 20
jezseeca 6/9/2008 5:46:00 PM
Absolutely love this. I wear this during Spring and Autumn because those are the times of year when i can find a perfect color match for my NC 20 skin (i get the #30). When i'm tan in summer, the next one up is a bit too much and when i'm super-fair in winter, the next one down is too fair. That said, i love the formula. It evens out my skin tone, but it leaves an excellent finish that is somewhere in between matte and natural. it's not a powder-finish, but it's not dewy either (unless u apply too much). 1 pump is enough, 1.5 if i need more coverage. Sometimes, if i want a real polished look, i'll wear this plus a finishing powder on top (like Body Shop's powder foundation). works beautifully. Never breaks me out either and i love the spf too. This is the only TM I like (although i do love the formula of Dr. Denese's tinted day cream, but dislike the color). Generally, most other TMs are too heavy and too shiny for my liking (LM, BB, etc). But this neut. TM is very light-weight and actually gives just the right amound of coverage that makes me comfortable. I love this so much that i usually buy it in 3s. I think i'm on my 8th bottle. As long as you can find a color, this is great, great stuff. HG (which for me, means "i must keep this on hand, and will use every day if my skin can match it"). P.S. i also love that the colors are very neutral. not too pink, orange or yellow. Very neutral.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Neutrogena - mineral sheers mineral powder foundation-fair to light
jezseeca 6/9/2008 5:39:00 PM
Did not like this at all. Worst mmu ever. #1: Coverage is minimal, at best! I get more coverage out of a sheer Tinted Moisturizer than I would from this powder. #2: the brush is scratchy. Normally i wouldn't care and just use my own, but the design forces you to use their brush! Bad, bad, bad. #3. Poor colors. The finish is very phoney, fake-looking. #4. This is going to sound weird, but i swear the fragrance is "fishy". I even returned my first one, thinking it was a bad batch, and the second one had it too! I don't know what ingredient it was or if it was the brush itself, but it smelled like bad fish. ugh. not what you want on your face first thing in the morning. For comparison, i think L'oreal's "bare naturale" while not perfect, is far better and superior to this, as is Revlon's mmu (although almost just as sheer as Neut, but is better quality so it leaves a better finish). I am also a huge fan of Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Enhancer (TM) which is just beautiful, but this mmu was soooo not. I definitely wouldn't waste your money on this product. The only exception, if i could find one, would be if you want to use this for a bronzer or something like that. But do not use this if you want an all-over powder. It sucks.
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Powder -The Body Shop - Powder Plus Foundation
jezseeca 6/9/2008 5:31:00 PM
Very nice, finely milled powder with medium coverage. The silver compact is gorgeous, very retro-chic, imo! I find this a tad pore clogging if i use it every day all over my face. However, I love how this makes my pores disappear so what i usually do is use TBS Flawless Skin Protecting foundation (which in itself is a beauty treatment b/c it seriously improves the actual texture and clarity of my skin) all over and then i use this powder with a small fluffy brush just over my t-zone (avoiding cheeks, which is where i'm prone to pore-clogging). Since the 02 shade is a tad light than what i need for foundation, this method allows me to use it just where i have dark shadows, so i supposed i use it more as a highlighter than an actual foundation. This combo works perfectly to keep me polished and matte all day. For my NC15/20 winter skin i use shade 02.
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Powder -BeneFit Cosmetics - Get Even #2
jezseeca 4/11/2008 1:14:00 PM
Wow. i love this. Total HG. My skin is NC20/25ish and I wanted something to help even out my skintone, minimize pores, and just give me a polished, fresh, matte look without drying my skin out. Also, my problem is that i can never find a powder (or foundation) that is yellow enough. But this does the trick. It evens out my skin beautifully, has great coverage, and blends well with my kabuki brush. Colorwise, the #2 shade is perfect for me. PERFECT! It's the perfect amount of yellow, great for light olive complexions. I think #2 compares to the yellow in Stila's IPF 40 watts, perhaps a dab lighter. But unlike Stila's illuminating powder foundation, this powder really gives you a fresh matte finish, with no shimmer at all. I love that! For reference: I like this sooo much better than MUFE's duo-mat powder foundation (which didn't cover a thing! and was so chalky!) I also like this better than Mac's studiofix (which irritated my skin terribly). I also like this better than BE minerals (which made my skin itch! and was too "metallic-looking"). It's also way better than L'oreal's Bare Naturale (which was nice, but colors were never yellow enough) It's also better than Jane Iredale's powders because this lasts sooo much longer. It really lasts all day on me. I love that is so pigmented. I actually think the compact is super cute. I don't carry it around with me though, i leave it at home. I just apply in the morning, and maybe blot once in the afternoon with 1 oil-blot sheet if it's been a busy day. But if i'm going out at night, i'll sweep my kabuki brush lightly over the powder for a quick touch-up. I wear a special concealer for my undereye circles-- (i adore Time Balm by TheBalm!) and sometimes i'll wear a light TM underneath this Get Even powder (usually Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Enhancer in #30), but that's only when i want to be super polished. Otherwise it looks great on bare skin. I will definitely buy this again. It is so worth it. UPDATE: still like this, but it might just be for special occassions and not everyday, since i think my skin is too sensitive for everyday use. but i kept 5 stars b/c i still think it's nice and does what it says. UPDATE #2: Well, i just tried it again and i absolutely LOVE it!!! It does not irritate my skin like i had previously thought--- i have since changed my skincare routine and learned that my skin really handles make-up better if i use Glycolic Acid toner every night (thank you, Dr. Denese!). So no more problems. Now i can go back to enjoying this lovely powder. my favorite thing about this powder is the natural yellow color. it's not that phoney yellow that Bluff Dust has, but it's yellow enough to really brighten your skin, especially if u have olive undertones like me. Thank goodness for Get Even #2! :) definitely HG for me .
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bourjois - Coup de Theatre False Lash Illusion - Duo Mascara 
jezseeca 3/27/2008 12:28:00 PM
This is my #2 favorite mascara. My #1 is Rimmel's lycra extending mascara (which is amazing!) This Bourjois mascara really extends my lashes quite well, but that is all. it does not offer any volume. (unlike Rimmel's lycra one--which both extends and volumizes). but that's ok-- the result is very natural (imo) long-looking lashes. I did notice some minor racoon eyes at the end of the day, but it was very minor (but something i don't have with Rimmel). The white base takes some getting used to as well-- you can't put it on too thick or else the black #2 step will be clumpy. Great if you want long-looking lashes but not thickness.
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Powder -Revlon - ColorStay Mineral Foundation
jezseeca 3/26/2008 6:56:00 PM
Overall, i really like this product. Out of all the mineral m/u out there (and i've tried BE, loreal, pf, alima and jane iredale) this one has the most NATURAL finish. it really makes your skin look poreless and "airbrushed". very pretty! It does not accentuate fine lines or dryness. It really is smooth and creamy. Great, great formula. the cons, as others have stated, is that it doesn't offer much coverage. So i just use the mineral concealer from L'oreal first and then i do an overall dusting with this revlon one. this definitely is more than a finishing powder, but just not the full-coverage that other mmu offer. However, the finish is far superior. i'd say coverage is light to light/medium. Definitely worth a try! Also, i haven't had any breakouts whatsoever after 3 weeks of use. the 030 color is a tad dark for my NC 20 skin, but it works if i blend down my neck. ideally the 020 color is what i think would be best, but i haven't found it yet here in the UK (the 10 is very fair)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Max Factor - Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation
jezseeca 1/21/2008 11:08:00 AM
Well i finally gave this a try! I usually use mineral m/u, but i decided to give this a try. I used this for 3 days, but had to stop use since it turned out to majorly clog pores! Thankfully i used Neutrogena's microdermabrasion cream (their advanced solutions "facial peel") and it cleared the pores and got my skin back to normal. PROS: --nice colors, the almond color is a nice yellow based shade; --lovely texture because it feels very light on the skin. CONS: --clogged pores! --My skin isn't oily, but I prefer a matte look, and this foundation provided a dewy look, which later looked oily --too sheer a finish. If this is supposed to replace foundation, then why is it so sheer? I find u have to use quite a bit to build it up for enough layers to even out skin tone (which is all i need it for). i prefer light-medium coverage, and this was just light coverage, imo. I found this to be VERY similiar to Benefit's "Some Kind a Gorgeous", only a little more pigmented than Benefit's. And ironically, "some kinda gorgeous" also clogged my pores the same way this did, so they must have similiar ingredients. I think this m/u would be more suitable to dryer skin or more mature skin, since it had that slippery silcone feeling that i think is there to slide over fine lines. I prefer mineral foundations to help me even out skin tone. I hope this helps! PS this was also absolutely horrible to use near my eyes, because it made my eyeliner run. so if u use this, keep it away from ur eye make-up, or else u'll have a major mess!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Make Up For Ever - Duo Mat Powder foundation
jezseeca 11/29/2007 10:41:00 PM
Eh. I bought this and ended up returning it a few days later (and exchanged it for Benefit's Get Even, which i LOVE). My big gripe about this is that it's supposedly a "powder foundation" but it offers hardly any coverage! It's so sheer, that i think this should be thought of more as a fancy pressed powder, or finishing powder. My skin is in good shape (no breakouts), but i just needed some evening out in tone, but even with a TM underneath, this powder was just not enough. also, a MUFE representative was there at Sephora when i picked it out, and she matched my NC 20/25ish light olive skin with shade #201 (and i even saw her try #203, but it looked too dark, and #202 was too pink). First of all, even 201 was one of the more yellowy shades, it wasn't nearly pigmented enough to be worth anything. And if anything, it wasn't yellow enough at all--it was more beige, like covergirl's shades or l'oreal's. So--all in all--- if you're looking for a powder foundation that replaces your foundation or concealer-- don't pick this. But if you just want a sheer, silky finishing powder, then this might work for you. Oh and one last gripe-- i hate the compact. I hate the fact that there is no little indent for your fingers when you are opening it, so i always struggle a few moments trying to open it. Not a huge deal, but it annoys me. The case itself is such a glossy black that once you handle it, it's covered in smudges and fingerprints (making it look cheap). I definitely will not be buying this again. (for reference, Benefit's "Get Even" in #2 is a perfect color match for me, also a dab lighter than Stila 40watts.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -BeneFit Cosmetics - Get Even
jezseeca 11/29/2007 10:33:00 PM
Wow. i love this. Total HG. My skin is NC20/25ish and I wanted something to help even out my skintone, minimize pores, and just give me a polished, fresh, matte look without drying my skin out. Also, my problem is that i can never find a powder (or foundation) that is yellow enough. But this does the trick. It evens out my skin beautifully, has great coverage, and blends well with my kabuki brush. Colorwise, the #2 shade is perfect for me. PERFECT! It's the perfect amount of yellow, great for light olive complexions. I think #2 compares to Stila's 40 watts, perhaps a dab lighter. But unlike Stila's illuminating powder foundation, this powder really gives you a fresh matte finish, with no shimmer at all. I love that! For reference: I like this sooo much better than MUFE's duo-mat powder foundation (which didn't cover a thing! and was so chalky!) I also like this better than Mac's studiofix (which irritated my skin terribly). I also like this better than BE minerals (which made my skin itch! and was too "metallic-looking"). It's also way better than L'oreal's Bare Naturale (which was nice, but colors were never yellow enough) It's also better than Jane Iredale's powders because this lasts sooo much longer. It really lasts all day on me. I love that is so pigmented. I actually think the compact is super cute. I don't carry it around with me though, i leave it at home. I just apply in the morning, and blot once in the afternoon with 1 oil-blot sheet. But if i'm going out at night, i'll sweep my kabuki brush lightly over the powder for a quick touch-up. I wear a special concealer for my undereye circles-- (i adore Time Balm by TheBalm!) and sometimes i'll wear a light TM underneath this Get Even powder (usually Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Enhancer in #30), but that's only when i want to be super polished. Otherwise it looks great on bare skin. I will definitely buy this again. It is so worth it. UPDATE: still like this, but it might just be for special occassions and not everyday, since i think my skin is too sensitive for everyday use. but i kept 5 stars b/c i still think it's nice and does what it says. UPDATE #2: Well, i just tried it again and i absolutely LOVE it!!! It does not irritate my skin like i had previously thought--- i have since changed my skincare routine and learned that my skin really handles make-up better if i use Gylcolic Acid toner every night (thank you, Dr. Denese!). So no more problems. Now i can go back to enjoying this lovely powder. my favorite thing about this powder is the natural yellow color. it's not that phoney yellow that Bluff Dust has, but it's yellow enough to really brighten your skin, especially if u have olive undertones like me. Thank goodness for Get Even #2! :) definitely HG for me UPDATE: i stopped using this b/c i noticed that over time this has dried out my skin. but i'm not taking any lippies off, because my skin is normal (not dry or oily) and so perhaps this product would be better for more oily skinn'd gals.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NYX - Silky Rose
jezseeca 11/11/2007 11:51:00 PM
I adore this. ADORE it. total HG. i'm on my 6th one! It is the most perfect shade of soft, baby pink with absolutely no shimmer (which is hard to find!). It's very sheer and finely milled, which makes it a breeze to apply-- very easy to layer. I love to use it like other ppl use bronzer: apples of my cheeks, and around the hairline/forehead. It is beautiful. Long-lasting too. It's so tough to find this shade at the drugstore--usually pink blushes are too mauvy, beige, or too berry for my liking. i love how this NYX blush is just a fresh, light, baby pink that really looks so natural and lovely. My skin color is NC20ish, light olive. I also wear #30 in Neutrogena's HSE, and this blush looks great over that. i love this blush so much that whenever i see it, i buy however many pots they have, i'm nervous i won't be able to find it, since not all drugstores have it. But i sure do love this!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Ecco Bella - Cleansing Milk and Makeup Remover
jezseeca 11/11/2007 11:43:00 PM
Pretty nice. Not HG status, but it's nice. Over all i think this is superior to Cetaphil, however it does not take off all my make-up (though i don't wear much at all). So i end up having to use this twice, which can be a tad drying. But overall it is nice, especially if ur looking for something "like cetphil, but better".
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Treatments -MyChelle - The Perfect C Serum
jezseeca 8/1/2007 6:52:00 PM
Wow, I am very impressed. This is definitely a keeper. I used this at night and morning, every day, (just one drop though) for 2 weeks, and it dramatically evened out my skin tone. I had some minor sun damage and a few other slightly dark areas and this helped tremendously! No irritation, no pore clogging, just great results. I will definitely buy this again. (btw i am 27). Previously, I used to use Eminence Organics' "Eight Greens Youth Serum", but now that i switched to MyChelle, i noticed much better results. Also, i am reviewing this after 2 weeks, but i noticed great results even after 2 days. UPDATE: i stopped using this b/c i noticed that after 2-3 weeks it would go bad. (as in, the color would get darker and that means that Vit C isn't as effective. Also, it's super expensive. So now i make my own vitamin C serum from scratch-- i just use 1/4 teaspoon of L-Ascorbic Acid Powder mixed with 3 teaspoons of distilled water and a 1/4 tsp of Vit E natural oil. This new serum works great! i can make a fresh batch every few days and it actually gives much better results than the mychelle. But i do think the MyChelle is much better than most of the serums out there on the market. I just prefer to save money and make my own! :) UPDATE #2: well, my homemade serum was too strong and burned my skin after a week of use! So i went back to MyChelle and fell in love with it all over again. I find that it calms my skin more than anything. I just wish it wasn't so expensive.... and the dispenser pump is always getting stuck on me so i get mad. but it is great stuff. I want to try Jason's hyper C serum next, since it's cheaper, but if that isn't as nice, i'll come back to MyChelle.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neutrogena - Advanced Solutions Facial Peel [DISCONTINUED]
jezseeca 6/6/2007 5:08:00 AM
I'm on my 2nd jar of this--and i just love it. Def. HG product for me. i use this 2x a week and it really does wonders at keeping my pores clear and banishing any of those tiny little bumps under the skin that seem to occur. I use a glycolic acid toner (the neutrogena one) 2x a day as well, and a serum afterwards. This combination has really strengthened my skin (yay! no more sensitive skin!) and it is really clear, soft, and supple. Exfoliating is something u shouldn't be afraid of, b/c the more u exfoliate, the more ur skin grows. the key is to know what u can handle without drying out ur skin. Serums work beautifully after using the Neut. Facial Peel, since the exfoliation allows the vitamins in the serum to penetrate much deeper. update: still loving this. i'm on my 5th or 6th one i think by now. This is the best.
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Moisturizers -Alba Botanica - Hawaiian Aloe & Green Tea Oil Free Moisturizer
jezseeca 3/8/2007 1:21:00 AM
The first two nights i used this, it was wonderful...made my skin very very very soft and smooth.... but then day 3 i started getting breakouts...and two more days it just got worse and worse. it was the only new product so i am 100% positive that it was the culprit. i like the Sea Renewal MUCH better. too bad.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Honey
jezseeca 2/20/2007 1:23:00 PM
I will never be without honey. I absolutely love it for facials/masks! It works beautifully and so simple and easy, what's not to love! NOTE: I use the honey from Trader Joe's--it has a squeeze lid for easy applications. and it's cheap. I use honey almost everyday (i leave it on at least 15...but it's best when i leave it on for 30 min)...it is the best thing i ever did for my skin, hand's down! It is moisturizing, cleansing, and most important of all-- it is calming! It really soothes my skin and makes my pores so tiny. My skin is softer and much clearer. Honey really helps clean out ur pores. Great, great stuff. Sometimes (about once a week), if i need to exfoliate, then i add some crushed, diluted aspirin to the honey on my face and this works GREAT. (I find the aspirin works best if i already have a layer of honey that has been on my face for 10 minutes or so... it seems like the aspirin can go in deeper into the pore that way). Also, i find that the honey works best if i heat my skin for a few minutes first with a warm washcloth....and then dry my skin. I LOVE honey!!! :)
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No