Liquid -Giorgio Armani - Lasting Silk UV Foundation SPF20
wonderbuy 4/10/2011 3:07:00 AM
I would only recommend this to normal skin types that have no lines whatsoever. This is a dry type foundation which requires primer since it dries down quickly with no moisture content. This also requires a lot of work in blending, definitely not to be used if you are in a rush in the morning. This does not last all day on me and migrates across my face such that by the end of the day, it looks like a layer of tinted grease, and Im only combo-oily. The biggest issue is that the shade #4 is way too ashy. Those are of that intensity rarely have that much green undertones and made me look oopa loompa....not good. The new shiseido refining foundation in BO20 is much much better, in formula primarily and in colour range if you are after some yellow based foundations. All I can say is that this color looks like a foundation a white person made for a yellow asian complexion, if that makes sense?
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Lancome - Huile Douceur Remove All Deep Cleansing Oil 
wonderbuy 4/10/2011 2:42:00 AM
This is on the better side of average and the smell is divine, the best cleansing oil I have sniffed in my 20-kinds-of-cleansing-oil history. This is very thick and as a result you need to use more for it to spread across your face. There is a residue left so proper cleansing is necessary after this. The cleansing action is moderate and the pump is fantastic. I still rate Dermalogica, Boscia and Laura Mercier to be above this, since you need to use less and they just clean better. This is better than Nars, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, MAC and I recommend this if you are a newish user. You will love the smell. I don't like the fact that its so thick, its the same consistency as olive oil.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clinique - Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam
wonderbuy 4/10/2011 2:33:00 AM
This works but is far too expensive for what it does and its only 125ml. The quantity is actually about half the size of the container due to the space required for foaming action. I get same results from la roche posay effaclar and vichy normaderm, of which are cheaper and you get a lot more. Also the Mychelle white cranberry and burts bees acne solutions cleanser all have the same efficacy and are nice 'natural' substitutes. You are paying a lot for the foaming action pump, which does not affect the effectiveness of the product, only the delivery.
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Moisturizers -Jurlique - Purely White Skin Brightening Night Treatment
wonderbuy 3/4/2011 7:26:00 PM
After using 90% of the tube, I can report that much to my disappointment that this does not lighten or whiten anything. It does make your face slightly brighter that which one hour of sun exposure can easily undo so you look the same at the end of the day. This is a good moisturiser for oily or comb-oily since it dries to a thick matte finish which absorbs oil but if you are normal type i doubt this would provide anywhere near the level of moisture needed. The day cream is even lighter and I dont have a verdict on that yet. I find the Kiehls whitening moisturiser to be a lot more effective and more moisturising. Still if you are after real spot removing action, hydroquinone is the best, Aambi cream at $5 still beats everything natural I have tried.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kate Somerville - Exfolikate
wonderbuy 2/6/2011 4:12:00 PM
I am a big believer in that thourough exfoliation is the cornerstone to healthy skin, hence I am a scrub fanatic. It has taken me a long time to review this and after going through a 5oz tube, I have a verdict! For those with sensitive skins, this will sting but funnily enough, the exfoliation level provided by this is just average and is something you can easily get with a concentrated scrub. There is a bit of hype about this in that it is touted as both a physical and manual scrub. I find this to be an extremely poor physical scrub and it’s the chemical side which is what you really rely upon. I leave this on for 10min, I really cant imagine this to do much if you leave it on for the 30s as directed. Overall, this is OK. I say this since I get better results using alpha hydrox enhanced cream overnight and a good scrub (Clinique exfoliating scrub I like best) in the morning. Also Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel provides deeper exfoliation than this and I would prefer to use that. As for the price tag, I don’t really care if it provides good results but I feel that this does not provide the results it hyped up to be and I would not recommend this. This really is just average for a whopping price tag. Even if this were a third of the price, I still would not repurchase since I think it is just a very average scrub and there are much better alternatives out there.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Pangea Organics - Facial Mask - Japanese Matcha Tea with Acai & Goji Berry
wonderbuy 2/2/2011 1:14:00 PM
The feel good factor of this mask can easily obscure ones opinion of the efficacy of this product. It feels good intuitively, given its organic and all but after using the entire jar, I struggle to see what this does. The herbs are not concentrated enough to exfoliate and it doesn't dry completely for any real oil absorption. It could be great for those with highly reactive skins that cant use strong stuff but I am not among those. I would not purchase again given its high price point. Its very messy to use and takes about 25min to dry so its not a quick pick-me-up. It has the tendency to leave a slight film so its better for drier skin types.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Giorgio Armani - Light Master Make-Up Primer
wonderbuy 1/10/2011 2:13:00 PM
This is a very greasy, holo like primer that comes in a pump. The Becca shimmering skin perfector is a much more advanced version of this. Whatever you can achieve with this, you can also do so with any highlighter and it wont add any greasiness. I find this to be over rated and very heavy. The fact that you use so little means that the pinky, light reflective particles don't show at all. When I wear this over foundation to give me that glow, all it does it add grease. I found that my foundation slides around too much throughout the day and anytime anything touched my face the foundation would move, thereby leaving streaks on my face. I was shiny all the time as well. If you are just after a primer the Hourglass mineral primer is still the best I have found to date to use under foundation.
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Scrubs -Dermalogica - Skin Prep Scrub
wonderbuy 12/11/2010 5:15:00 AM
This scratches like no tomorrow however the particles are quite small. It took me many goes to figure out the fact that this should not be painful to use but its because the particles are not uniform and hence scratches rather than exfoliates. I really wanted to like this but this is just not doing the job, clinique exfoliating scrub is much better and far cheaper. This reminds me of Lush Ocean Salt, I just shudder looking at the jagged salt bits on my face, well this feels the same. I honestly would not recommend this to anyone. I am an exfoliator fiend and have tried about 50 or so exfoliators. If you need something more gentle try St Ives Daily microdermabraison, which is far more effective than this and costs $5.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Estee Lauder - Gentle Eye Makeup Remover
wonderbuy 12/11/2010 4:53:00 AM
This is indeed very gentle but it takes several swipes to get rid of the makeup which is counterintuitive to its purpose in the beginning. I just don't find this effective enough and true, it does not irritate at all. But the fact that you have to go over the area several times defeats the purpose of anything gentle since cotton pads are more irritating than the makeup remover is gentle.
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Skincare - Body -Nuxe - Spa Tonific Body Nourishing Lotion
wonderbuy 12/10/2010 6:17:00 AM
This is the best body cream I have ever used. It may be a bit harder to track down and it may be more expensive but its worth it. It absorbs very well, retains the moisture and is natural based. This does not give me the ick chemical sensation from cheap drugstore body lotions. Great for dry skin, has great nutty smell and is liquid in texture. Comes in an upside down tube so there is no wastage, no greasy residue on clothes immediately after application and truly moisturises all day. This is a staple I will not stray from.
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Cleansers -Perricone - Skin Clear Cleanser
wonderbuy 12/6/2010 3:47:00 PM
Firstly this is a cream cleanser, virtually the same as Cetaphil and as such, I would only recommend this to those with dry skin with acne. This does not foam in any way and is quite moisturising. It works mildly so if you have lots of acne, I would not go with this. The packaging is great, one pump dispenses exactly what is needed. Sometimes I feel as if it were a gel cleanser with no foam, I just feel slightly clogged by the fact that it is a cream cleanser. It would also be better during winter or for slightly drier climates. There are also some anti-ageing ingredients in this but they are not on the face for long enough to do anything, indeed this is not stripping or harsh in any way, but sometimes I do experience some stinging. I thought the price of this did not justify the performance and I would not purchase again. I got better results with La Roche Posay Effalar and the burts bees acne cleanser, which are both significantly cheaper.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Natural Acne Solutions - Purifying Gel Cleanser
wonderbuy 11/22/2010 5:26:00 PM
This works, doens't foam like a bubble bath and is easy to wash off. Due to this I am happy to overlook the fact that the bottle is a little too small for the price, its too runny, dispenser is terrible (why is there no pump?) and it smells like stale cardboard. This is very gentle and really works at preveting pimples. Highly recommended and will repurchase. If they fix the other points I pointed out, this would be a 5 star product. I dislike this brand in general since it clogs up my skin but this is great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Bobbi Brown - Brightening Moisture Cream
wonderbuy 11/21/2010 6:23:00 PM
I am now 75% of the way through and I cannot see a difference. I purchased this to lighten my light splattering of spots but I really cannot see any difference. I am only finishing it since it was expensive. This is a gel-cream like texture and very moisturising indeed but way too much for my combination skin. Maybe I could use it during winter but I found this to be a little too heavy for me. As for the lightening/brightening effects, it is negligible. Ambi cream is much more effective at only $5. I also think the Kiehls Photoage moisturiser is more effective at brightening so I will be returning to that or Dr Brandt Laser Lightening which is the best I found so far, but it’s a bit too expensive for me. I would only recommend this for dry skins with virtually no pigmentation and I will definitely not repurchase.
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Cleansers -Nude Skincare - Cleansing Milk
wonderbuy 9/14/2010 5:38:00 PM
I was on the lookout for a hydrating cleanser, to use only in the mornings. I am not dry, I was just after something that did not strip too much. I like the concept of this but I found that this is just too greasy and left grease on my face afterwards. I had to cleanse again. Not only does this cost a bomb but everything I have tried from this brand smells like off food, even when its fresh. The smell is just a turn off, which is hardly an issue but was with this. This was like smearing off cream into my face. The packaging is great, esp the pump, but this cleanser didn not do it for me. Purity made simple is much better. I would say that other natural based brands are a lot more palatable than this line, nuxe, loccitane, etc.
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Lip Treatments -Caudalie - Grapeseed Lip Conditioner
wonderbuy 9/4/2010 8:14:00 PM
This is nothing but a glorified chapstick with an off putting odor. It did nothing special and is not worth the money. I could hardly bring myself to use this, I also found it gritty in texture.
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