Powder -Chanel - Double Perfection Compact
cerulfox 1/14/2012 1:13:00 AM
I originally bought this as a touch-up powder to my Perfection Lumiere for several reasons: I get oily later in the day, I obviously can't bring my HG Poudre Universalle Libre with me, and the Poudre Universalle Compacte got hard and crusty after repeated use (see my review on it). However, I may just use this on its own! The powder is buttery smooth; with a light application (as a touch up to my PL) it lends an airbrushed effect, and worn as a foundation on its own my skin looks smooth and satiny, never powdery/cakey. No breakouts, but my skin does feel tight with it on, hence me not really wearing this as a foundation until it gets more into the warmer months. I buff it on lightly with a kabuki as a touch up, and when I want to use it as a foundation I just buff on a bit more and use the sponge on areas I need more coverage. Oil control is stellar, though the real test will be during the summer. The compact is a pretty decent size, but not bulky, and is sturdy. It comes with a decent quality sponge, though I'd still replace it after a while even though I mostly use a kabuki. Highly recommended, but I *did* have to take off a lippy for the exorbitant price (hey, it's Chanel) and also for lacking an exact color match. PL BA34/NC44/Nars Tahoe for reference, I bought this in 120 7.0 Honey-Ultime which is slightly too light, but the next shades up were too dark. EDIT: Knocked it down another lippy as after a few days of wearing this on its own as a foundation, my skin started breaking out in tiny bumps along my forehead and cheeks. Bummer, since it has such a nice finish. Returning it, but may retry it during the summer and if Chanel releases more shades.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Chanel - Base Lumiere - Illuminating Makeup Base
cerulfox 1/5/2012 3:04:00 PM
This is an absolutely FABULOUS primer that makes my Perfection Lumiere foundation (BA34) FLAWLESS. Though the small size of the bottle is alarming at first you truly need very, very little of it to be effective, maybe the size of a pea or even less. It's hydrating enough that I don't need an extra moisturizer, and after I let it sit for a few minutes I then apply my foundation. I have quite oily skin and not only did it help my PL stay matte and stay put much much longer, but when I did get a bit oily I looked dewy rather than greasy. My skin looks healthier and more luminous than it did before this primer, and I've finally achieved that glowy look I never thought I could pull off. I now only need one pump of foundation to look flawless. I've even stopped using powder to set my foundation thanks to this primer, though I may have to start doing that again once it gets warmer here. Also, my blush stays on for MUCH longer than it did before, where my oily skin would eat up any blush within 3 hours. Yes, for the price the bottle is pretty cheap looking/feeling, but what's inside is what matters and I'd rather have a plastic squeeze bottle than a glass bottle I have to pour out/dip into (hello, Le Blanc!). After several days no breakouts, but you do have to be careful not to use too much or you'll look ghostly. DEFINITELY recommended and borderline necessary if you're using a Chanel foundation.
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Primer/ Corrector -Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer-Mineral
cerulfox 1/3/2012 9:18:00 AM
Worse primer I've used, actually made my foundation WORSE. Turned me into a greaseball in two hours, and started separating my Chanel foundation in splotches. My foundation NEVER did that, so I know it's the primer. Blegh.
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Styling Products -DevaCurl - Set It Free
cerulfox 12/21/2011 7:47:00 PM
After my beloved Ojon Revitalizing Mist got DC'd, I've been on the hunt for my next HG conditioning spray. I've definitely found it in DevaCurl's Set It Free! Besides providing moisture and taming frizz/fuzz it also provides some light hold. I'm grateful for that as I try to keep my hair as natural as possible with as little product as possible. I took off a star since the smell is like really sweet candy and gives me a headache, and takes a while to dissipate. Highly recommended.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -DevaCurl - One Condition
cerulfox 12/21/2011 7:44:00 PM
After using Dove for a while, I switched to this. Wow, it's made a difference! My hair looks much softer and healthier. I think it's the lack of sulfates that's doing it. Will definitely repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -DevaCurl - No Poo
cerulfox 12/21/2011 7:44:00 PM
After using Dove for a while, I switched to this. Wow, it's made a difference! My hair looks much softer and healthier. I think it's the lack of sulfates that's doing it. Will definitely repurchase.
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Styling Products -DevaCurl - Angell
cerulfox 12/21/2011 7:42:00 PM
This gel works great--I have softly defined curls, and I can scrunch it in and go (I always air dry). It can feel a little sticky in the hair, but I never touch my hair if I can help it so that isn't an issue. My hair's a bit thick for this though, so by day two my hair can look a bit fuzzy, so after I use up my trial/travel bottle I'll try out the Arc AnGel instead.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Oil Free eye makeup remover
cerulfox 12/21/2011 7:36:00 PM
I love finding a less expensive alternative to a product I love, and this has definitely replaced my $30 Chanel BiPhase eye makeup remover. It works just as well just as gently without any breakouts. There *is* a greasiness to it that the Chanel remover lacks, but as I only use eye makeup remover as an extra boost *before* my oil cleanser when wearing heavy eye makeup, that point is moot since I wash it all off with my normal cleanser anyway. $7 is a steal compared to the aforementioned $30, and since I don't use this all the time anyway (my oil cleanser removes almost all of my makeup) my one bottle will last forever. HG-worthy for sure.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue, Glitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer
cerulfox 12/21/2011 2:40:00 PM
If you've ever had problems with glitter fallout, TF's Glitter Glue will be your BFF. I use the regular Shadow Insurance on a normal basis, but my super-glittery Chanel shadows would sprinkle glitter underneath and get into my contacts (ugh!). One day using this and I got no fallout whatsoever, which I noticed immediately when I put my shadows on. Usually I get a few glitter bits immediately after applying, but they didn't budge this time or towards the end of the day. Why isn't this 5-star/HG-worthy? GG does NOT play nice with other shadows. You will NOT be blending shadows with this, so you best apply GG just where you're putting your glittery shadow and use your normal eyeshadow primer elsewhere. I guess that makes the tube last longer, but it's still obnoxious. It can also be a pain to squeeze out the tube, and you have to be careful not to squeeze too hard and to do it from the end of the tube or else risking exploding the back seam.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Tarte - Park Avenue Princess
cerulfox 12/20/2011 8:41:00 PM
The.perfect.bronzer. Park Avenue Princess is very slightly darker than my skin tone (NC44ish) with a kick of golden sheen (not glitter!) to make my skin look healthy and glowy. I use this if I accidentally bought a too-light foundation or if I'm just generally looking pale/sick that day. No breakouts, but it doesn't last very long. The only thing I dislike is that the packaging looks tacky and cheap.
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Loose Powders -Chanel - Poudre Universal Libre
cerulfox 12/20/2011 8:04:00 PM
After much trial and tribulation, I have finally found my HG loose powder! Chanel's Poudre Universalle Libre is a very fine powder that melts into your skin, giving a soft-focus/blurred effect in photos as well as in real life. While the color range could stand to be improved the color I *do* have (40 Dore / Translucent 3) is translucent and neither leaves a white or orange cast to my skin. Staying power is decent, and you'll need to touch up 4-5ish hours later, but the effect as it wears off is dewy rather than shiny. Thanks to this and Chanel's Perfection Lumiere (and a better skincare regiment) I've quit wearing concealer. Yes it's quite expensive, but the quality is definitely there. I buff in with a fluffy kabuki brush--I use Too Faced's retractable kabuki. HG and highly recommended!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Chance
cerulfox 12/20/2011 10:17:00 AM
I look much younger than I am, and aside from still being constantly carded, when I go Chanel shopping unfamiliar SAs continue to foist Chance upon me when I mention liking Chanel perfumes. Chance is about as far from classic, chic Chanel perfumes as one could get, which I suppose was the point and for me is a turnoff. It starts off with a strong blast of citrus and pepper akin to Coco Mademoiselle, and dries down to a generic sweet woodsy-vanilla-patch confection...like Coco Mademoiselle. It indeed smells young, but not in the positive sense IMO. I may have no love for Mademoiselle, but it's much better blended than Chance and I can't imagine why someone would buy Chance when they can opt for her much more sophisticated sister for just a few dollars more. Isn't sophistication the allure of Chanel? I suppose Chance is fine for one with -teen after their age, but I can't imagine this vanilla-citrus water as appropriate on anyone beyond that.
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Makeup Brushes -Sephora - Retractable lip brush
cerulfox 12/19/2011 11:13:00 AM
Definitely a case of you get what you pay for. Was a good, basic lip brush until it broke completely in half while retracting it. I'd only had it two weeks! Was also a PITA cleaning. Going back to Sephora and will save up for a better quality brush from MAC or Chanel.
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Polishes -OPI - Barefoot in Barcelona
cerulfox 12/18/2011 9:28:00 PM
On my skin tone Barefoot in Barcelona is a browned dusty rose. Isn't streaky at all, and I get full opacity in 2 coats. Wear time is average at 5ish days, but my nails grow fast and I use my hands a lot so that's normal. My HG nude np! NC44/Nars Tahoe/Chanel PL BA34 for reference.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco
cerulfox 12/18/2011 2:49:00 AM
Rouge Cocos are very hit-or-miss for me, the vast majority on the miss side. For being a supposedly moisturizing formula they feel quite drying on my lips, far more than the Rouge Allures (my HG lippy) are. They also can be quite inconsistent with the formula--some are VERY drying, some feel horribly heavy, and some are creamy enough to be tolerable. I've tried many, and own one--#80 Etole. While I adore it, I've found the Rouge Cocos also lack the glow that the Rouge Allures have. I wonder what the point of these were when Chanel already had a hit with their Rouge Allures. I'll only purchase a Rouge Coco if I can't find a Rouge Allure equivalent and if it doesn't leave my lips desperate for moisture.
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