Blush -MAC - Sheertone Blush in Peaches
Caty_23 7/31/2007 5:36:00 AM
I had been looking for a pure peach blush for a long time, so was very pleased when i came across this product. Although it looks almost orange in the packaging, it is a sheertone blush so goes on quite light and can be layered to build up the intensity of colour you are looking for. It is a matte blush so contains absolutely no shimmer, but this does not mean the shade looks flat or heavy, as it gives a nice sheer wash of colour. I personally find this blush applies better with a large dusting brush rather than a contoured blush brush. I am not sure why this is, it just blends eaier this way for me. I am pale skinned with neutral undertones and this colour makes me look healthy and a little bit tanned. I would repurchase this colour if I ever ran out, but I think it will last me a long time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sally Hansen - Diamond Cuticle and Nail Creme
Caty_23 7/30/2007 9:03:00 AM
I love this product, I must have been using it for over a year now, as I really feel like it helps the condition of my nails (making them stronger) and my cuticles (making them softer). I do agree with a lot of the other reviewers though, in that it is such a rich cream it does take a while to sink in, and it does leave finger marks and stickiness on the jar. However, I feel that it is the richness of the product that makes it work well, and the jar is easy to clean so this is not a major problem for me. I also only use the creme at night and put it on last thing before bed so it has time to sink in and work overnight, so, again, it's inability to sink in quickly is not a problem for me. I use this product whenever my nails are unpolished. I usually polish my nails once a week and leave it on for 4 - 5 days, but I do like to leave my nails bare to recover in between, which is when I use this product. I feel like it restores my nails to their usual healthy state by moisturizing and strengthening them. I also feel like it smooths them out and even whitens the tips. The jar lasts me a very long time, but I will be repurchasing when it is finished.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Avene - Cleanance Antishine Regulating Lotion
Caty_23 7/30/2007 8:14:00 AM
I like this moisturizer for it's non-oiliness annd for the fact it is non pore-blocking. I have combination skin, which is most oily on my forehead and it did prevent shine. However, I found it was a bit too mattifying for me. It did not work as a good base for my make-up at all, as there was nothing for my foundation to cling to. This made my foundation almost impossible to blend, resulting in major uneveness in my base and annoying streaks. So whenever I used this foundation I used a facial sunscreen underneath to give me that bit extra moisture and anchorage for my make-up. I also needed the sunscreen as this lotion doesn't contain an SPF, which is very important for me in a moisturizer. I also felt that the tube did not last very long, which was annoying as it was quite expensive. I have now found a better moisturizer than this to suit my skin, so I will not be purchasing this product again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Avene - Cleanance - Anti-Shine Purifying Lotion
Caty_23 7/30/2007 7:30:00 AM
This is my HG toner, I really couldn't live without it. I have sensitive combination skin, which is particularly oily on my forehead and prone to blocked pores, and this toner really helps. It is a two phase lotion, with a kaolin (clay) based phase to soak up any oil, and a purifying phase to clear pores and prevent future breakouts. If I still do get a breakout, the clay in the formula of this toner helps to dry it out quickly. Whilst this is good for my skin, it is only really suitable for people who have problems with oiliness, due to the clay in it that can make skin feel tight. However it is suitable for sensitive skin, which mine is, and I have never experienced any reaction/rash as a result of using this. The bottle lasts quite a long time as you only need to use a small amount of the toner each time, and I feel like it is a good base for my moisturiser. EDIT: As of March 2008 the formula of this product has changed. Although it is still a two phase lotion, it feels lighter on my face than the previous formula did. The old one sometimes left a slight dusting of white clay residue behind on my face when it dried off, but this new formula does not do this. Despite that, it still works as well as the old product and keeps my skin pretty much oil and spot free. I will continue to repurchase.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bourjois - Rose Idyllic - 3D Effet
Caty_23 7/29/2007 7:57:00 AM
I bought this product as part of my search for a replacement for my L'Oreal Glam Shine lip gloss in Lychee Sorbet, my HG pale pink lip gloss, which they have recently discontinued. Although the colour in the bottle was an almost identical shade of pink, I was worried that the gloss had a more frosted finish than the shimmery L'Oreal one I was trying to replace. But, I was pretty desperate at this point, so thought I would give it a try. I'm really glad that I did, as it is not frosty at all on me, the finish is more of a pearly shine. It is a very light soft baby pink, which looks great against my pale skin and blonde hair, but may not suit anyone with a darker complexion. Like all Bourjois lip glosses, it is non-sticky and lasts fairly well, although do expect to have to reapply every couple of hours to maintain the colour. It doesn't have a strong smell, just a light sugary make-up scent that you don't really notice when its on your lips. I like the packaging of Bourjois products too, the bottle shape of this gloss looks classy and quite expensive.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Unlisted Brand - Originails Bubble White
Caty_23 7/26/2007 8:41:00 AM
I have used this product a number of times now, but I am still unsure of how useful it is to me. I like to give myself a full manicure once a week and soak my nails as part of this, so thought I would try Bubble White. I haven't seen a massive improvement in my nails, although they feel very clean after I have used it. The product also smells quite strongly like a cleaning product and this lingers about for quite a bit, which I'm not too keen on. I don't feel as though it leaves my nails noticeably whiter, although this may be because I don't have very badly yellowed or stained nails. I also feel like it leaves my nails quite coated (although I think this may be because of its moisturising properties) and this takes a while to wash off. This also means that it is best to leave nails a day or so before painting them, as I tried straight after using Bubble White and found that my (usually hardwearing) nail polish chipped quickly and moisture got underneath creating a sort of bubble effect. I probably would buy this product again if I felt my nails were very badly stained, but otherwise, I think I will try some other nail soaks.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Alberto Vo5 - Red Styling Mousse - Curvaceous Curls
Caty_23 7/25/2007 9:34:00 AM
I have fine, highlighted hair that has a bit of a kink/wave in it, which I usually straighten out with the help of a blow dryer and straightening irons, as it is so unmanageable when left to it's own devices. I had noticed some damage to my hair, probably from all of the heat styling and colouring I had put it through, so, on a whim, I bought this mousse in the hope that it may allow me to leave my hair to dry and style itself naturally, and therefore restore it to its previous good condition. My expectations weren't too high though, as I have never had all that much success with these types of products, and have never had any success whatsoever with getting my hair to look decent without heat styling. However, I was completely amazed with this product! After washing and towel drying my hair I applied it and scrunched my hair into shape. Curls formed quickly in my damp hair, which never usually happens. I also noticed that the product did not leave any sticky residue on my hands after applying, which I also took as a good sign. After about an hour, when my hair was completely dry (and very slighltly crunchy with the mousse) I ran my fingers through it and got gorgeous bouncy loose curls, which stayed in place all day! After styling my hair like this at least once a week for the past few months I have noticed a change for the better in the condition of my hair. It is so nice to be able to give my hair a break from heat styling without it ending up a complete mess. I will definitely be repurchasing this product. I am also so impressed with its staying power and the look that this mousse gives me, I will be using it to style my hair when I am a bridesmaid this summer.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri
Caty_23 7/25/2007 7:02:00 AM
When I first found this product, I thought it was a miracle, as it was the first quick drying top coat I had found that actually dried within the time it promised to! I was (and still am) very impressed that it sets within 30 seconds, and I find that it does dry to a shiny and hard finish. I usually paint my nails on an evening and hate to wake up with sheet marks, and this has never happened with this top coat. Unfortunately though, it has never lasted for me as long as the 10 days it claims to, and even after one day it starts to crack and peel a little at the edges. I have had success though if I layer it over my polish and a long lasting topcoat. I also find that, like many quick dry top coats, it does get thick and gloopy quite quickly. I usually find it very difficult to work with once I have used half of the bottle, as it becomes too thick to apply and causes lots of tiny bubbles to appear on the nail surface, which I find really annoying. That said, if it was an emergency, I would purchase this product again. I would also re-purchase if I was able to justify the wasteage and cost of buying a new bottle everytime it got too thick to apply properly. However, as it stands, I plan to try out some other quick drying top coats to see if they are any better than this. Overall, it is not a bad product for the price.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Expose Your Toes
Caty_23 6/11/2007 10:32:00 AM
My reason for buying this product was to find a similar colour in the Essie range (which works very well on my nails) to OPI's Italian Love Affair - a pale, but bright opaque pink. I was also looking for a polish with shimmer rather than frost (as OPI's ILA has) as I sometimes find frost difficult to apply. I was not disappointed at all with Expose Your Toes, it is exactly what I had in mind. It is a fairly light candy pink, which becomes opaque after 2 coats, and it has a hint of silver shimmer. Whilst the shimmer is fairly subtle on your nails (you have to look fairly closely to see it) it does give nails a nice sheen. As is usual with Essie polish on my nails, the colour lasted well for 4 days with no chips or cracks. If I ever run out of this colour I will definitely re-purchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Guchi Muchi Puchi
Caty_23 5/25/2007 4:59:00 AM
I'm really pleased with this colour - I agree with BarneysBrunette below, it is more of a candy pink colour with lilac undertones to it. However that works great for me as my hands can look "dead" with some lilac polishes, which often take on a bit of a gray cast. It is also a semi-sheer - I tend to wear two coats and can just see my white tips through it, but with three coats I would imagine it to be opaque. Also, this colour is completely creme, with no shimmer or frost to it. I find all Essie polishes to work very well on my nails and have great wear, and can go 4 days without any chips or cracks. I found no streaking with this product. All in all this pinky-lilac is a perfect Spring colour and looks so pretty on nails.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Mademoiselle
Caty_23 5/12/2007 12:05:00 PM
I had been looking for the perfect sheer pink polish for years, and was captivated by how Mademoiselle looked in a photo accompanying its award for "Best Pink" polish in Allure magazine. It also described the colour as a sheer, clean-looking pink, so I had to try it! It was the first Essie polish I had ever purchased, and I am so impressed. I am usually an OPI devotee, but find their sheer polishes are not long-wearing on my nails - they tend to chip and crack easily, and moisture gets underneath them. This is not the case at all with Mademoiselle, which lasts on my nails without chips/cracks for four days (at least). The colour is beautiful too, and was perfectly described by Allure. I usually change the colour of my polish every week, but have worn Mademoiselle for the past three weeks in a row, ever since I purchased it! I am so impressed with the wear of it I will definitely be buying more Essie colours.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Jam N Jelly
Caty_23 5/6/2007 11:55:00 AM
There are no stores near me that I can buy Essie at, so I have to rely on the internet, which isn't always ideal for choosing a nail polish colour. Jam n Jelly was definitely not what I was expecting - it was much more of a fushia pink and more shimmery than I thought. I was disappointed at first, but after trying it as a pedicure, I love it! It looks even better on than in the bottle. Its a really juicy bright pink, with just a hint of hot pink shimmer. A definite summer pedicure favourite!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No