Treatments -La Roche Posay - Effaclar K
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:30:00 AM
Utterly useless. This did nothing at all for me. I used the whole tube and neither felt nor saw anything different.
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Skincare - Face -La Roche Posay - Thermal Spring Water 
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:28:00 AM
Such an odd concept. I never would have bought water in a can, except that it came free with the (useless) Effaclar K. I kept this in a drawer for two years until I read about people setting their face makeup with spray water. I dug this up and tried that-- what a nice addition! Somehow I think I'll hum and haw about repurchasing, though-- I still can't get over forking over money for something like this. And yet... once something becomes part of your routine... sigh...
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clinique - Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:25:00 AM
I love this balm. It's such a joy to use something that feels this nice. I apply it and give myself a nice little face massage, and then wipe off with a warm wet washcloth. Sometimes I clean again with Spectro gel to be sure, but feel pretty confident the balm removes my sunscreen and foundation. It does feel unsanitary to dig into the big jar all the time, but I don't really care much about that. After I cleanse I embark on other creams (etc.) so it's not like my skin is vulnerable for long. For eyes, though, I remove with Cetaphil cream. Not sure I'd feel comfortable with semi-solid oil in that area.
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Blush -NARS - Outlaw
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:20:00 AM
Somehow this deep berry is the perfect replica of my natural blush, and I'm a PPP (NW15). I thought I'd be better off with Angelika, which is very pretty, but that's just too light to be natural. Outlaw is simply gorgeous. It's such a relief to have found the perfect match. I know it's ME because I've exercised to redness and then swiped the blush on to check-- no shade difference! I love that Nars blush, though pricey, has so much product in it. And the pigment is perfect.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Aqualumiere sheer colour lipshine in #46 Bahamas
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:16:00 AM
I love Chanel lipstick. The formulas are top-notch (though not the best in the industry). This one feels really nice but there's something really off about the shade. Too much strange purple in what I think is supposed to be pretty straight-up pink. I just can't wear it. For the record I have light brown eyes and dark brown hair, quite pale skin.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Veluxe - Mink Pink
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:12:00 AM
I just cannot get this shadow to work. It's faint, chalky and impossible to pack on. At my MAC makeover the arist used it to create a nice look with a purple shade (hmm... can't remember) but I cannot for the life of me get this stuff to work at home. Maybe I just dislike the formula, but the shade now, too, doesn't look very pretty to me anymore.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Lise Watier - Lise Watier Waterproof Eyeliner
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:09:00 AM
The best eyeliner I've ever used. Goes on smoothly, stays put until you want to take it off. I remove eye makeup with moisturizer (Cetaphil cream) and there's no problem. My preferred shade for every day is Brun-Noir. Boring, but always works!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Celestine Eye Glimmer
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:05:00 AM
I wear this 6/7 days a week and have for 3 years. On its own, with a crease colour, or to soften darker washes, etc. There is always a place for Celestine. Cannot live without it.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Infrarouge Lipstick- City
Kitty_82 6/19/2009 12:02:00 AM
This was discontinued quite a while ago. I am compelled to eulogize it though. My first lipstick obsession, my first lipstick love, my first HG. I miss you, City.
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Lipstick -Giorgio Armani - Shine Lipstick #8
Kitty_82 6/19/2009
As a PPP I was a little wary of this one, but it was chosen for me by the associate when I asked her to pick the best colour they have for me. Truthfully it somewhat resembles YSL Opium Red, of which I was also afraid. But this red lights up my face like nobody's business. It is astonishing... just gorgeous. It is not true that my lips enter the room before I do. Perhaps because I have dark hair and very pale skin, having red lips is striking but not obnoxious. Since purchasing these slightly warmer reds (usually I go for quite cool ones, or vampy ones, like Clinique Red Drama, Chanel Lune Rousse, Perscriptives Intriguing) I've opened my mind to the possibilities of a lighter, brighter face. The feedback has been good. And these shades (this and Opium Red) make me feel like a million bucks! I wear very minimal eye makeup, full coverage foundation and barely there blush when I go this bright in the lips. Looks great with white or black shirts. Don't be intimidated by the PPP naysayers-- OF COURSE you can make this work. As the Armani associate said to me: "It's about courage."
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Powder -Chanel - poudre universelle libre(natural finish loose powder)
Kitty_82 6/18/2009 11:51:00 PM
Perfection. I have been wearing it (only on my 2nd jar, they are so full) for 8 years and I will never look back. As an NW15 I find 20 Clair Translucent 1 a perfect match. It sets and perfects my foundation, whichever I'm wearing at the time. It feels wonderful going on and never settles into lines or dry patches unless the patches are heinous ones, in which case I rub them down with a washcloth, reapply a dab of foundation and power lightly again. This power makes my skin feel so darn soft. It is a beautiful thing...
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Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Opium Red 131
Kitty_82 6/18/2009 11:47:00 PM
I am a die-hard red lipstick fanatic and have scores of them. Since I'm an NW15 I've tended to the cooler reds, and away from orangey ones. I never would have picked this shade if it weren't for the persuasive reviews. And in fact, upon first wearing it I was uncomfortable. My best friend told me it totally brightened my face, though, and the associate agreed without recommending safer, bluer tones. It's grown on me and I have opened my mind. It's pretty close in shade to Armani Shine #8, which I also bought for the same face-brightening reason, though this time the Armani associate spontaenously recommended that red above all others for me. Since she did that, I knew Opium Red was for real. Perhaps this is blasphemous but I despise the fragrance. Keep thinking I'm wearing rancid perfume... EDIT: I am wearing this almost every day now. I'm totally hooked. It stays on through food, drink, and ANY mood I'm in. If I have to buy a new one every month then so be it. This lipstick is phenomenal. I feel so good wearing it. I don't notice the fragrance anymore, either. Just pure, long-lasting, intense bliss. THIS is why I am obsessed with makeup.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Neostrata - Skin Resurfacing Duo (Canada)
Kitty_82 6/18/2009 11:42:00 PM
This product has changed my life! What a thing to say for a first review. This is a microdermabrasion system, essentially, which I didn't quite realize when I was purchasing it. You apply the crystals and massage for a minute and then add "activator" liquid and massage another couple of minutes. After you wash it off, the freshest, softest face of your adult life is revealed. No, seriously: I now have a major crush on my skin which is otherwise acne-scarred, lightly pitted and starting to wrinkle. But now it is SO SOFT for once. Makeup glides on like a dream--- I never thought I would say that kind of thing. I'm using it every 3 days or so. My results continue to be good though not as dramatic as that first time! Having used scrubs and exfoliators both chemical and manual for years and years, I didn't think this would do much. Oh, how I was mistaken! Cost $70 or so at Shopper's. Neostrata periodically goes on sale, though. It's still worth every penny.
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