Skincare - Face -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair - Protective Recovery Complex
bren81 4/28/2009 9:00:00 PM
This did not work for me at all... It broke me out all over the place and took me almost a year to recover.... I was hoping it would work on my skin since I've heard so many rave reviews about it.... I just use it on my legs because I don't want to throw out a $100 bottle of product but I can't use it on my face...
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
bren81 4/25/2009 2:03:00 PM
I do not like this primer at all. I don't generally like silicone-based primers because they make me break out. It does go on very smooth however the minute I apply my Guarlain foundation (I used extreme with this primer), the smooth base started to peel off in little bits and left me with white residues all over my face! (you know little things you get when you erase a pencil mark? that's what it looked like!). I feel like this product just sits on top of my face instead of being absorbed into the skin. I would not buy this again. Big mistake
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Blush -Shu Uemura - Glow On M Peach 44
bren81 4/24/2009 5:55:00 PM
I usually wear pink blush but wanted to venture out a bit. I was recommnded this blush from a friend who studies make up so thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I listened! It looked too whiteish in the pan and I wasn't sure how much color would actually show up on my skin since I'm not exactly pale. But this gives me a very natural, almost my skin but better, peachy flush. I love it! I have been using it every day for the past week but haven't even made a dent to the product. I think it will last me a long long time but if I do run out, I will definitely repurchase (the price is high and the package is a bit blah but as long as the color is right and the quality is good, I'm willing to fork out the $$)
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Polishes -OPI - Drip Dry
bren81 4/23/2009 6:15:00 PM
I got the one from Sephora (OPI by Sephora I think or the other way around). When I got my package in the mail, I thought they put in a sample by mistake. The bottle was that small!!!!!! I couldn't believe I paid that much money for a little bottle but oh well. It's done. And I don't regret it. This does dry the polish very fast. I wouldn't say 5 minutes as the box promises but usually it takes over an hour and some for my polish to completely dry. This cuts that down to probably 15 minutes which is very convenient. I wonder what must be in this product to make it work so well though. Something tells me it can't be healthy (duh) but it makes my life so much easier so I'll keep using it!
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Polishes -NARS - Schiap
bren81 4/23/2009 6:10:00 PM
I love this nail polish. It's the perfect pick me up for me and perfect for summer although I would wear it all throughout the year. It is a bright vivid fuschia colour that doesn't chip (I'm not sure why the other reviewer's polish was easy to chip because I put mine on 4 nights ago and I have no chipping so far and I work at a lab. I'm guessing it might have been a knock off? Heard there's lots of made in china knock offs on ebay). It goes on very smooth but does leave streaks. But as the previous reviewer stated, double coat fixes the problem. It is on the expensive side but I love the color and the staying power. I would repurchase unless I can find a replacement for cheaper price!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Cle de Peau - Creme Eyeliner
bren81 4/23/2009 1:45:00 PM
I have used Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners for years. I have their black, shimmery dark brown and graphite shimmer colours. They are good eyeliners but this new Cle de Peau gel eyeliners are even better! At first I thought the consistency was too soft and worried it would smudge like crazy. I was wrong! After a full day of work there was no smudging and the color stayed true until I removed it. I use Lancome Bifacil which is usually effective but this eyeliner took some work to take it all off. Which I don't mind too much as long as the product stays put where they're supposed to during the day. The Bobbi Brown eyeliners do smudge a bit and they dry up if you are not careful with the lid (try keeping the product upside down. it dries a bit slower that way). I have asian eyes and oily skin so I have very limited choices when it comes to eyeliners, shadows and mascaras. It has to be smudge proof, otherwise I have more products under my eyes creating artificial dark circle (like I already don't have enought of that!) rather than where they're supposed to be. The price of this product bothers me but looks like it will last forever. Little bit goes a long way since the color is very intense. If I ever run out, I would definitely re-purchase.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Shiseido - Facial Cotton
bren81 4/18/2009 12:28:00 AM
I'm the first one to write a review on this? No way! I first bought this facial cotton way back when I had to find something cheap (compared to other products at the counter) to get GWP. Until then I used cheap cottons that I could get in bulk from Costco. Obviously I was blown away. This was the softest but at the same time very resilient cotton. Usually I had to use about 6-7 cotton pads to get all of my mascara and eyeliner off but with this one I just had to use two! (sort of justifies the price). I would use this every day but it's too expensive.... The packaging could use some improvements also. I wish they'd come in a box or something. For the price I think they should think of a better way to store this.
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Scrubs -Amore Pacific - treatment enzyme peel
bren81 4/18/2009 12:18:00 AM
I can't believe no one wrote a review about this yet! When I bought my first serum, the SA gave me a little sample of this. I have normally oily skin, that is very sensitive and prone to acne which leaves my face with little scars and sometimes dry patches here and there. Simply put, I need good exfoliator that won't irritate my skin and create more break outs. I've tried scrubs from shiseido, MAC, Chanel, clarins, clinique, etc but almost all of them were way too harsh for my skin. This was different from any of the scrubs I ever used before. This is basically powder to which you add a little bit of water and lather up on your palm. Then you just gently massage your face and wash off with warm water. I was so amazed to find my skin so smooth but not dry or irritated. It gets rid of any dry patches and helps with reducing white heads. I didn't really notice much difference on my black heads with the first try but I'm noticing gradual improvements with regular use. I really really love this and have recommended it to my friends. They also love it! It is on an expensive side but the bottle lasts a long long time. Go ask for a sample and you will love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Bobbi Brown - Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in Pale Pink
bren81 4/17/2009 2:42:00 PM
I have love/hate relationship with this product. I love that the product is buildable and you can control how sheer the color to show on your face. It blends very well and gives you a natural looking blush. You can apply before/after your foundation depending on the finish you want to achieve. You can apply this on your lips as a tint before a gloss application. I hate that this product is in a jar that I have to stick my finger every time I use it but given the product property, there isn't any other choice but to put it in a jar... And there is just soooo much in there that even though I use this almost every other day, it looks almost as good as new!!!!! I want to use it up and move onto another one but I don't think I will ever be able to finish this! I wish BB would put them in smaller jars and sell them at a lower price. That would be wonderful!
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Bronzers -NARS - Orgasm-Laguna Blush-Bronzer Duo
bren81 4/17/2009 2:31:00 PM
I think Nars was very smart to put these two products in one. It's so handy and I love both colors. Orgasm is a pretty peachy/pink with some sparkles to it but not too over the top. Laguna can be a bit dark for very fair skin girls but if you use sparingly it will give you not too orangy, golden colour and works great for contouring the face line as well. I'm not too thrilled about the texture of the product (I'd prefer something silker) but the pigmentation is great (you don't need too much. little bit goes a long way and it stays). This is going to last me forever so I don't think I'll repurchase. I like trying new things. But definitely, you will get lots of use out of it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Gel Eyeliner
bren81 4/16/2009 8:40:00 PM
At one point I was obsessed with gel eyeliners and ended up buying three of these (black, brown shimmer and graphite shimmer). They are highly pigmented, goes on smooth and don't smudge except graphite shimmer. This one is a bit softer than the other two and tends to smudge more than the other ones. I can't wear liquid eyeliners (I've tried a dozen) because they make my eyes water up and the eyeliner ends up all over my face in black tear. So I'm left with either gel or pencil eyeliner (powder/cake eyeliner is too much work for me). If I have extra time in the morning I go for this and if I'm in a rush I use cream shaper from Clinique or MAC pencil. BB liner is expensive but the colors they have are very beautiful and they apply better and stay longer. I have better luck using the ultra fine eyeliner brush than their regular ones. The only con is that the pot does dry faster than I can use all of it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Kabuki Brush
bren81 4/16/2009 8:22:00 PM
Hate this brush. I actually don't like BE products. I got the beginner's kit or whatever when all the mineral make up frenzie started (yes I had to try it after watching that promotional video...) and the brush was included. I feel sorry for the model in the video because when I first tried the make up, it was like sandpapering my face with this brush. And after about a week of using the BE products, I started to break out. Had to throw out the whole thing except the mineral veil. Big waste of money
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Conditioner -Aussie - catch the wave mouse+leave-in conditioner
bren81 4/16/2009 8:14:00 PM
I have a naturally wavy hair which is unusual for asians I guess. I tried the japanese straightening perm before and it looks horrible on me, and same goes for regular curly perm. So I thrive to keep my hair looking wavy but it's hard to find a product that doesn't leave my hair heavy and crunchy. I read good reviews about this product and it was cheap at SDM so I wanted to give it a try. I'm glad I did! After washing my hair, I towel dry and while my hair is still damp, I apply generous amount of this product. It comes out like a mousse which I like and the smell is okay. It enhances my natural waviness without making the hair go crunchy or frizzy. I love that I don't have to do anything else to style it. Just put it on and let it dry and I'm good to go!! And it has very good lasting power too. The only thing I don't like about this product is its horrid packaging. I mean it's in the ugliest purple color. Their whole line is in that color urgh... What's up with that? I hate looking at it so I put it away in the shelf after I use it hahahahah
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Anna Sui - Blotting Papers
bren81 4/16/2009 8:04:00 PM
I got the one in the plastic case with the mirror inside. Figured after I'm done with the paper, I can use the case to carry credit cards and things (just the right size). The blotting paper itself if bigger than the old ones (I have both and the old ones don't fit in the new package :( bugger). But the quality didn't change. It's the same flimsy mediocre paper. But the new one has butterflies printed on them and they are so cute :D Oh and i tried to fit the clean and clear blotting papers and they fit wahahahaah
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Polishes -Anna Sui - Nail Polishes
bren81 4/16/2009 5:09:00 PM
I have about a dozen of Anna Sui nail polishes. The colors are a hit/miss: they don't do neutral colors very well. I would recommend brighter, sparkly colors. They come in the cutest little package (that's why I bought them in the first place), and smells like roses (way better than any other nail polish out there). The quality is not bad either. They don't chip very easily and goes on smooth (I think Chanel polish has horrible brush and staying power considering the price tag). I had been using these polishes since 5-6 years ago and my favorite ones are the black with silver sparkles and the light purple with sparkles (can't remember the numbers).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No