Cleansers -Philosophy - When Hope Is Not Enough Omega 3-6-9 Hydrating Cleansing Balm
janet1028 5/20/2010 8:21:00 AM
It's Vaseline. OK, not really. It's really glycerin, olive oil, sunflower oil and five or six other oils. But it feels like Vaseline. It gets in your eyes like Vaseline. But it does wash off. Eventually. This is supposed to be the Philosophy face wash for dry skin. It's the alternative to Purity. It's $25. Don't bother even trying it because you'll just be taking it back.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Philosophy - The Supernatural Superglossy Lip Gloss - Smell the Roses SPF 15
janet1028 5/20/2010 8:15:00 AM
When I saw this at Sephora, I thought, "Ooo! SPF lipgloss. Pretty colors!" When I brought it home and tried it, it felt like peppermint oil. Not peppermint oil in it, it feels like peppermint oil on your lips! Which means that the color just walks to the lipline and sits there looking stupid, totally negating the SPF.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Philosophy - The Supernatural Lit From Within Healthy Cream Blush Bare Your Soul
janet1028 5/20/2010 8:10:00 AM
When I opened the box and felt the product, I thought, "Is this lipgloss?" It wasn't. The color in the pan is lovely- a nude pink. The color on your face is virtually non-existent. There's sheer blush and then there is this. I don't get? Who is this for? Why put a color product on your face that doesn't add color? It's just something else to encourage breakouts. I'm thinking that the target audience for this product is tweens.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Philosophy - The Color of Grace palette
janet1028 5/20/2010 8:04:00 AM
The Color of Grace is 2.5 x 4 inch palette that contains two eyeshadows - Angel (a pink-based nude), Dream (a pink-based tan) - one blush, Pure Joy (pink with shimmer), Amazing Grace shimmering face powder, and 7th Heaven all-over shimmer creme, and two lip glosses - Be Sweet (light pink with shimmer) and In Love (deep pink with shimmer). That's a lot of shimmer! And a lot of products for a tiny compact. It doesn't matter what I say about the colors because they barely - if at all - show up on the skin. And I'm as pale as a sheet of paper! What I wanted was a small kit with pale colors that would apply easily and quickly for those days (and it is getting to be everyday!) that I wanted to put on a bit of make-up. What I got was a kit that would be appropriate for a 7th grader going to her first dance. I compounded the insult by spending $20 for the cute little portable pink brush that is going to fall apart in a week. I used to love Philosophy. I think the quality has really gone downhill. This is just a waste of money. For $37 I could have a spectacular Chanel lipstick. Or I should have bought the fabulous Chanel palette. Duped again!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Philosophy - Supernatural Coloring Book
janet1028 5/20/2010 7:49:00 AM
The writer in the review beneath does a terrific job of explaining the colors so I won't be redundant here. I'll just add, "What color?" Are they kidding? First, I want to say that back in 1997, Philosophy made THE best makeup set: full-sized matte eyeshadows and blushes, full-sized, beautifully-colored lipsticks plus all of the brushes you need. Brilliant!! In a moment of nostalgia, I thought, "Ooo! This is great!" Wrong. This is what Estee Lauder gives you for free during a gift with purchase. If you actually use the lipgloss, you'll be finished with the tiny pan in two weeks. I am as pale as a sheet of paper and these "colors" barely show up on my face. Duped again! I don't know what has happened to Philosophy - I know the company was sold - because the products are getting lower and lower in quality.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Philosophy - Supernatural Superbeautiful foundation
janet1028 5/20/2010 7:38:00 AM
I really want to like this product: it has a decent titanium dioxide/zinc oxide base and is a 20 spf. Now 20 is nothing to write home about: lots of more elegant formulas have a 20 spf. And that's the problem. Getting this product on in the morning takes some serious work. Apply-blend, apply-blend, apply-blend. And the tube is only 1.7 ounces. If you are using this as you should - which is spreading ALL over your face, not just your nose, forehead, and chin, you'll be rebuying it at least once a month. So it has the worst features of a hybrid, not the best. The color range is good although all are yellow based. Why? No, it does not tone down the redness in your skin: yellow + red = a mess.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess: Luminous Liquid Bronzer
janet1028 4/28/2010 4:29:00 PM
Since I no longer wear much foundation or any powder, I've really had a problem finding color for my cheeks. Cremes go on too pigmented without a foundation base and powders just sit there without blending. And then I found Bronze Goddess. (I must say that for for full face applications, the powder cousins to this product are fabulous so if powders work for you, you're set.) This liquid is a dream! I'm 55 with light skin and rosacea. I use a foundation brush to apply just the lightest touch to my cheeks forehead and, yes, even eyelids. Just a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of shimmer so it doesn't look like foundation - and WOW! What a difference! I've read so many experts say that women my age shouldn't use liquids. Forget that. This will be a staple for as long as they make it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess Liquid Eyeshadow in 04 Sand Shimmer
janet1028 4/12/2010 3:34:00 PM
I always feel left out of the summer make-up collections because I think, "Too much sparkle for a 55-year old!" So i'm really excited to share my experience with the new liquid eyeshadows in the Bronze Goddess collection. It is liquid, not creme, so you have to make quick work of the application (I use a concealer brush) but what a lovely effect! The sand makes my blue eyes pop and it doesn't look sparkly, just shimmery and gorgeous. The product container is just under 2" for about $17 but it will be more than enough to see you through the summer. All of the colors are interesting: I bought Sand and Molten Bronze. They blend perfectly! The Aqua Flash looks great on my brown-eyed friend. And they stay on forever - let's just say that they require eye make-up remover to get off.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Estee Lauder - Double Wear Stay-in-Place ShadowStick Golden Pearl 01
janet1028 4/12/2010 3:21:00 PM
Thought I'd hate it (too much shimmer) but I love it! Perfect for under the brow! And it stays on until the cows come home!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Re-Nutriv Ultimate Radiance Makeup SPF15
janet1028 4/12/2010 3:07:00 PM
When I read the leaflet about this product - crushed minerals! - I was a little dubious and expected some kind of super sparkle. But I was looking for a spring foundation that offers great coverage for my rosacea skin, that will last without creasing in my lines, and has a good color pigment (which, to me, is the difference between the less expensive foundations and the more expensive foundations) and wasn't too matte or too creamy, I found all of that in this product. The color choice is limited - but it blends so beautifully that even the Beech - which is the lightest color and is a warm tone - looks great on my reddened skin. It neutralizes the redness without looking yellow. And let me repeat myself: it does not settle into lines and wrinkles! Again, this is a great product for the menopausal crowd who have the problems of hot flashes (doesn't melt away!!!!), uneven pigmentation, and facial lines. Younger women have lots of options. It has a 15 SPF and runs around $80 but you'll use this foundation to the end of the bottle.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess Sunscreen SPF 30 Sun Indulgence Lotion for the Face
janet1028 4/9/2010 4:08:00 PM
I took one off because the tube is small for the price. BUT the tube is small (1.7 oz) and I can keep it in a pocket or my bag so maybe I should add it back on! Active ingredients are: Oxybenzone 5%, Octisalate 5%, Avobenzone 3%. This is a good and effective combo of ingredients. And all of the things I hate about sunscreen are corrected here: It applies easily, it blends down to a soft glow, it could be used under foundation, and it smells great! Just a little coconut, beachy scent to cover up the chemical smells. And I'm not breaking out, but, of course, I can't guarantee that for everyone. If you've been avoiding sunscreen (me!) because it looks awful and feels awful, this could be a gentle way of starting a necessary habit.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess Exotic Bronzing Blush
janet1028 4/9/2010 3:47:00 PM
Holy Smokes, I LOVE THIS! I have been staying away from all things shimmer because I am, well, 55. But I read these reviews and I thought, "Heck, I'll give it a shot!" It is the exactly right combination of blush and bronzer so if you don't really like bronzer because the color never seems right, this is the perfect option. And the compact is big! It's buildable - which was mentioned by other reviewers. You can't screw up the application. So it could be subtle enough to wear to the gym (if you're into that) or the beach yet strong enough for a night out. And Estee Lauder does the most subtle shimmer in all of their products - nobody else compares. So ladies over 45: If you've been avoiding shimmer because that's what the experts say, just try this one product. You'll love it and you'll use through the whole summer and into the fall.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Estee Lauder - Day Wear plus multi protection anti oxidant base spf30
janet1028 4/6/2010 8:16:00 AM
Like so many women, I just hate facial sunscreen. But a stern warning from my derm humbled me and I began the quest to find one that I could wear under make-up and that wouldn't break me out so horribly. And if it had some great ingredients in it, so much the better. Fortunately I didn't have to try too many before finding this product. If you can swallow the just under $40 price tag, it is a worthy option. It goes on well without making me look like I've applied Crisco to my face and I had just the smallest blemish after wearing it under a powder foundation. Of course, the deal with sunscreens is that you should be wearing about a tablespoon on the facial and neck area everyday. I top this with the new SPF50 powder by Physician's Formula and I'm good to go. It must be popular because it is sold out everywhere including online.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Estee Lauder - ReNutriv - Ultimate Youth Creme
janet1028 4/6/2010 8:06:00 AM
I have been having great luck with the Re-Nutriv line and when it was time to repurchase a creme, I thought I'd try this instead of the Ultimate Firming creme that I've been using. Mistake! While the consistency and feel are lovely - and I have no doubt that this product will be terrific for some women - it wasn't for me. First, I broke out. And second, I did not feel that it was moisturizing enough for me. I decided to check in with the EL online experts and the rep told me that that the Youth line is for younger women who want to maintain their smooth skin. The subtext of this is women maybe 27-35-ish who want a high end creme with state-of-the-art ingredients but who don't have many other skin problems. So I went back to the Ultimate firming creme and will live happily ever after.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Estee Lauder - Re-Nutriv Ultimate Eye Creme
janet1028 4/5/2010 1:12:00 AM
I LOVE this eye creme - and I don't usually like eye cremes. I've been transitioning to the Re-Nutriv Ultimate Firming products (silver jars - I know, it's getting confusing!) and I was going to skip the eye creme. So here's what I like: It really smooths the skin around my eyes to the point that I can wear a creme eyeshadow with no problems - and I'm 55. It's easy to wear under concealer with no smudging mascara. Let's be clear: I don't expect it to reduce the lines around my eyes or take care of dark circles, but the skin around my eyes looks better - and that's what I expect and get. It does come in a little jar - with a gold cavier spoon - and it has a shelf life of 6 months. I do wish for better packaging but it is not greasy which is my major complaint about other eye cremes. And it works great on my dry lips, too.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No