Cleansers -Alpha Hydrox - Foaming Face Wash
Dive14 3/15/2013 8:21:00 AM
I am usually vigilant about product ingredients before I use them on myself and I was wary of this product because it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate but I bought this anyway because of the great reviews on Makeupalley. MUA has proved extremely helpful to me over the years unfortunately this one did not live up to the rating - for me, anyway. I use my Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant in the AM (which I use in tiny amounts) along with a super-rich non-comedogenic Clarins moisturiser (Super Restorative range) and then in the PM remove my makeup with my usual Bioderma H20/Simple Wipes/a mild non-foaming cleanser. This time I used this to cleanse after removing makeup, then my usual Decleor night balm. Literally my skin felt so parched and I could tell this had "stripped" my skin and disrupted its protective acid mantle. The next morning I woke up to an irritated rash on my cheeks - like small red blisters. I could also feel an under the skin spot forming on my cheek. I immediately slathered on my rich, soothing mosituriser and luckily this calmed my face and stopped it from getting worse. The rash and spot luckily settled the next day however this experience was enough to make me throw out the wash. I should have known better anything "foaming" is too drying and stripping for me. Plus the claims of this product are false - they claim the product is "soap free" yet Sodium Laureth Sulfate is indeed one of the ingredients (albeit low down in the list - it's still there!). Plus the way you get most products to foam is the presence of a soap/detergent (SLS)!!! I stupidly thought because it wasn't in the top ingredients it would be fine but this experience has taught me to stay away from all skin products with SLS in the ingredients in future and I urge anyone else to do this even if they have combo skin (like me) or even oily...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Embryolisse
Dive14 3/11/2013 2:22:00 PM
I'm skin care obsessed so of course I had to try this product. It basically has a cult following of models and makeup artists. However delve a little further and you'll realise that the aforementioned don't use this as an everyday moisturiser unless they have dry skin - it's just too rich otherwise. It's so famous and popular because of it's amazing priming abilities, rather than as a moisturiser. It basically can transform dry, dehydrated skin into plump, healthy and glowy in a matter of minutes. I've seen it happen on myself! The skin feels soo ridiculously soft and has a gorgeous, satiny-sheen not to mention photographs beautifully. Unfortunately it contains cheap, comedogenic ingredients such as mineral oil (2nd ingredient!!), Glyceryl Stearate and Beeswax. I have normal/combo skin and tried wearing this every day and even though I have an extremely thorough cleansing and exfoliating regime this still made me break out in those little bumps that seem to appear in clusters - typical of cosmetic acne from pore-clogging ingredients. However I'll still give it a 3 as it is very reasonably priced and has multiple uses - as well as a moisturising cream it's also a cleansing cream that gently removes make-up, an after-shave cream and a cleansing lotion for babies and children. It also respects the skin's natural balance (pH, microorganisms) and encourages the rebuilding of the hydrolipidic layer (the skin's natural protection). I have heard reviews of people burning badly from sun overexposure and this aptly named "24 HR Miracle Cream" helped heal and soothe their skin enormously. I won't buy again because I prefer Bioderma H20 as a makeup remover and Decleor, Clarins and Sothys products as moisturiser. I just feel like there are so many superior products on the market with far better ingredients.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Vitalumiere
Dive14 1/24/2013 3:01:00 PM
Anyone breakout-prone please check and research the ingredients before you buy this (like I wish I did)! The second ingredient is Ethylhexyl Palmitate which is highly comedogenic. I used this on clear skin for 1 day (probably wore it for around 8 hours) and by the evening my skin was a congested mess, it almost looked grey it was so dull. I also noticed tons of clogged pores and blackheads. So this has extreme potential to cause cosmetic acne - I am sure it would have if I had continued using it. As for the staying power, one of the poorest I have experienced - it is also highly transferable. It is also overpoweringly scented, another hate of mine (and a possible irritant for sensitive skin). I would recommend this for those with dry, non-sensitive, non-breakout prone skin. As for me, I would never touch this stuff again and I expected much more from Chanel.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
Dive14 1/24/2013 11:26:00 AM
Oh dear... I am one of the many who got duped into buying this overpriced, "all-natural" mineral makeup. The first time I wore it, I was shopping and getting hot from all the bright lights and indoor heating. I noticed my face was starting to itch uncontrollably - I could have clawed my face off!! I knew it was the makeup, as I had never felt anything like that before. The next day I could see a rash-like breakout along my jaw and cheeks. So I decided to do a bit of research and it turns out this product contains Mica and Bismuth Oxychloride which are both known as irritants for sensitive skin. As for the claims that you can "sleep in it", don't! As for BE's "all-natural" marketing strategy, in fact Bismuth oxychloride rarely occurs in nature and is manufactured by combining bismuth, a by-product of lead and copper metal refining, with chloride (chlorine compound) and water. All this aside, the actual look of the MU on the skin is terrible imo - like many others have said it magnifies pores, looks shiny/has a "pearly" finish and I personally find I need to use a lot of it to give a decent coverage. Therefore, it is quite expensive when you consider how long it would last you with daily wear. I used the mini "starter kit" size up in a couple of months. I'm sticking with my MAC Studio Fix powder and liquid!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
Dive14 6/21/2012 8:25:00 AM
Love this stuff - has so many uses. My personal faves: 1) for hair as a pre-wash treatment: I apply this generously to dry hair for as long a few hours before I wash my hair. I have recently started to take good care of my hair after years of treating it badly and after doing a lot of research, CO kept coming up time and time again as one of the best hair treatments. Now when I shampoo my hair I also make sure I only use sulfate-free products because thos e that do contain are way too drying and damaging to my already naturally dry hair. Because of my dry hair I only shampoo once to remove the coconut oil, however if you have normal/oily hair you should probably "rinse & repeat". The oil helps prevent my hair from becoming "squeaky clean" and it feels soo much softer when I wash it now! Before, after shampooing my hair always felt coarse, matted and rough but now it feels silky, smooth, moisturized and with no matting and tangles like before! There have been studies that find that CO was found to reduce protein loss for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product and I believe this is what I am experiencing currently. 2) I also like to run this through the ends when my hair is dry, to help add and seal in moisture (and generally tame frizzies!). However if I do this I know I cannot use flat irons as it will literally fry the hair (oil + hot plates)! So I only do this for my "final touch". 3) Skin - this is an amazing body moisturizer and having paid around £100 for Sisley, La Mer and La Praire body moisturizers I can honestly say this is as good especially for the price. Plus I prefer the thought of applying 100% natural products into my skin, rather than paraben/cone loaded products. 4) As a dietry supplement, I add it to my green tea and it works like a digestive aid and I swear adds a glow to my skin! I try to nourish my skin from the inside as much as the outside and this really does make a difference.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Desert Essence - Jojoba Oil - 100% pure
Dive14 6/14/2012 8:12:00 PM
Right... so it's taken me years and god knows how many 100s or 1000s of £££ to find that my "HG" moisturiser was jojoba oil (or as I call it "nectar of the gods" haha!). Really, it is amazing. It sorted my skin out in 1 day (it was dehydrated, flaky and I had tiny bumps around my forehead and chin). I applied it in the afternoon and now I'm sitting in bed at night feeling my skin in disbelief. It feels soo soft and looks so glowy and clear - i almost can't believe the skin I woke up to this morning! Best part is it's 100% natural, no chemical nasties in it like parabens, silicones, parfum etc. as I have sensitive skin that is easily irritated and clogged. Oh, and it's so cheap... which makes me so annoyed to think I have spent more than 10 x more on 1 tub of creme de la mer which is not as good as this! Plus, I love how the skin soaks it right up - apparently because this mimics the skins own natural sebum. For that reason, I only apply 1-2 drops to my combi skin. Any more might run the risk of causing breakouts I would think. Also make sure to apply this on a damp face, not dry. My AM routine is either wash with Cetaphil or Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant then pat this on until dry. Sometimes I just mist my face with Avene Spring Water and then apply the oil. Who would have thought adding oil to the face makes the skin behave!? I would have pictured congested skin & cystic acne galore! But no, it really is a wonder product - I also use it on hair, cuticles, dry patches like elbows; it's very versatile. Read up on it and you'll find out many more properties like the fact bacteria cannot survive in it and its ability to unclog pores. Really amazing - I urge anyone reading this to try it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -La Prairie - Life Threads Gold
Dive14 5/29/2012 8:59:00 AM
Wow! This fragrance packs a punch...in a goood way! Reminds me of the type of scents Arab women wear in London - almost "statement" scents that wash over you as they walk past. For some, I have heard comparisons with "powerhouse" 80s scents. For me, if Monaco had a scent, this would be it - think opulence, distinctive, sexy, glamourous, luxury and yes.. "gold". Makes me picture bronzed women dressed up to the nines strolling past the shops in Monte Carlo. It smells like a well-groomed, immaculate and polished lady. Note a lady, not a young girl. I would describe it as an oriental spicy fragrance - the top notes are tangerine, plum and clove. At the heart there is pepper, cinnamon, coriander, rose, lily-of-the-valley and ylang-ylang. At the base there is cedar, patchouli, golden myrrh, vanilla and incense. It's feminine and voluptuous; makes me think of an elegant and confident woman.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Truth or Dare by Madonna
Dive14 5/24/2012 6:58:00 AM
My mother, sister and I were making our way through Selfridges in London, vaguely glancing over at the latest fragrance being plugged in the prime position of the beauty floor. Usually it’s just the latest cheap-smelling, fruity, celeb-endorsed mess (sorry Burberry Body I’m looking at you) but I got a little excited upon seeing that it was Madonna’s new frag – although I could have easily walked on by if not for my mother insisting we try it. Well, I bought it on the spot. I was immediately wrapped up in a warm, soft blanket of creamy, soapy tuberose, gardenia and vanilla; it felt like I was taking a walk in a sun-drenched garden full of blooming white floral bouquets. The scent is simply pervading... and I'm very fussy with scent: love white florals but find Michael Kors a little too beachy and somehow aquatic; Fracas too reckless and animalic; Van Cleef’s Gardenia Petale too bland and shampoo-reminiscent and Estee Lauder’s Tuberose Gardenia too screechy and plasticy. I feel like I’m having a Goldilocks moment in saying “this one, is juuust right”. Regarding comparison, although it's missing the prominent Tuberose note, I find Kenzo's Amour very similar to this. They are both those kinds of scents you could spritz just before bed because the scent is so relaxing and dreamy - you feel enveloped in a beautiful cloud. Truth or Dare is an EDP and the lasting power is amazing: I can still smell this by the end of the night after applying when getting ready in the evening. I feel like I used to be constantly on the lookout for my “perfect gourmand” (found it in the form of Angel, Flowerbomb, Coco Mademoiselle and Pink Sugar) then I moved on to the search for the “perfect white floral” which I have now found in Truth or Dare! I am a very visual person and when I wear TorD I picture white linen sheets, lazy walks on St Barts beaches and summer strolls through leafy parts of south west London. The kind of scent I love to smell being carried in the breeze. That said, it will work in colder months too; it will complement hot cocoa by the fire in St Moritz and cozy cashmere knits. I think this is due to the vanilla notes coming through at the base that stop it from being too floral and ‘cold’. The colour combo of the bottle suits so well: white and gold are cetainly the colours of this scent. Neutral but distinctive. Well done, Madonna.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Chantecaille - Future Skin
Dive14 5/16/2012 7:36:00 PM
I used to be part of the MAC-only cult - I love their Studio Fix fluid and powder foundations and use those all the time. But I started to want a foundation that looked like skin, not makeup. A name that I kept hearing great things about was "Future Skin". The name is appropriate as it's the future of foundation technology; the ingredients list containing 60% charged water, seaweed, light reflective particles and green tea. I guess we have come a long way since Pan-Stick. Foundation formulas seem to be constantly evolving to deliver a "your skin but better" look - so many times I've heard my SO say that he "prefers the natural look"... well, I do too but we know the time and effort that can still go into that! So when I want to look fresh, radiant and naturally glowing but not obviously made up I use this. I love the look of models skin backstage at shows in magazines - it looks so flawless yet still natural. RE shades, I'm naturally an NC15/20 with neutral undertones and I wear Alabaster. I was told by the SA that the next shade up Chamomile, has some definite yellow tones in it. Also, you need to know that the shades are either neutral, pink-toned or yellow toned. If you go on the blog by Karla Sugar, she has uploaded a great photo of all the shades next to each other so you will be able to see what I'm talking about. There is also a shade perfect for PPPs called Porcelain. The next 3 shades up from Porcelain are Ivory, Alabaster and Chamomile (they are all the same "level" of shade, but Ivory is pink, Alabaster neutral and Chamomile yellow). Vanilla is also a great shade for when I'm more tan - so perhaps an NC20-25. I find the application is foolproof and so easy even with fingers - really, it's one of the only fdtns I can just swipe on with my fingers (with a spatula from the jar for hygiene issues) and takes me like 1 or 2 minutes max to have covered my entire face and achieve a flawless look. That's something I thought I could get from Chanel Vitalumiere or Luminous Silk by GA...but no, just no. Vitalumiere was too greasy and contains a highly comedogenic ingredient as the 2nd ingredient and thus made me break out; luminous silk looked cakey and smelled strongly of alcohol. On me FS goes on like a dream - hands down the easiest liquid fdtn I've ever applied - I usually use a fdtn brush but this goes on better without imo. Coverage - more medium than full so I cover any blemishes I might have with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage which works well with this. It does not oxidise at all, it stays the exact same as it goes on for 8+ hours. The first time I wore it I walked around London for hours in the hot sun, got a little sweaty and flustered and when I got home I looked in the mirror and for once, my skin still looked as luminous as when freshly applied. It is expensive (£55!) but that is the only thing I can complain about. And as you only need a small amount to cover the whole face, it should last you a very long time. The only thing that may bother people is the seaweed in FS (Laminaria saccharina) as algae extracts are highly comedogenic however this is usually only something to worry about if it is listed as one of the 1st 7 ingredients which this is not, so the amounts are probably too small to be problematic (I have not experienced breakouts so far).
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Guerlain - Shalimar Parfum Initial
Dive14 10/15/2011 10:18:00 PM
I've always wanted to wear Shalimar - a legendary perfume created by the equally famous perfume house Guerlain. It's even got it's own entry on Wikipedia! And that's kind of a big deal. Only one problem, no matter how I tried and persisted with it, it just wasn't working for me. Now I'll admit to my perfume snob tendances, but I have started to acknowledge I'm more J'adore than L'Heure Bleu. And to other self-confessed perfume snobs like myself, you'll know what that means. It means that I guess I kinda like "commercial", because let's face it, I think that's what Guerlain is trying to do here. It's for the newer generations of Guerlainers or really, anyone that just doesn't "get" Shalimar. After all this perfume has been around for a long time and while my dad would love it, my boyfriend probably wouldn't be so keen - would think it too old-fashioned to fit to his perception of sexy. Anyway, perhaps like me, you wanted to love the original but needed something more Coco Mademoiselle. Which actually, this quite resembles. If you take away the prominent patchouli of Coco M and generally make the feeling smoother and not quite so zesty, then you're close. Not dissimilar to Angel's vibe, either (again, minus that overriding patchouli). We start with citruses - bergamot, orange and that famous lemon. Then rosy flowers and jasmine make an appearance along with a vetiver and patchouli, while oriental notes of vanilla, white musk and luscious tonka give a seductive warmth to the whole composition. The whole tone feels fresher, not so heavy and thick and powdery as its predecessor. I think they added green notes, so while that famous lemon and vanilla (and incense) are all still there, it's just more modern. It's more wearable - like it's been brought up to date. Brighter and less stuffy. It's almost like you gave an iconic beauty a makeover, getting rid of the heavy kohl, false lashes and heavy powdered face and letting the natural beauty shine through. In that sense I hope readers will understand that it's still ultimately recognisable as Shalimar - that identity hasn't change - it's just been polished and brought up to date.
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -By Kilian - Love
Dive14 5/20/2011 11:13:00 AM
This fragrance confuses me, in a good way. I actually came across this perfume accidentally. My family and I were on vacation in Beverly Hills, wandering around Barney's when we found the "By Kilian" counter. We had never heard of it - and for us self-confessed perfume snobs/enthusiasts this was not OK. Imagine our delight when we were invited to Mr Kilian himself's private "smelling" party (if that's what you would call it) at the Beverly Hills Hotel. We thought we had died and went to perfume heaven. After the event we were sent home with a tester or each and every scent. This was the only one I couldn't get out of my head, to the extent that by the end of the holiday I has purchased the full size bottle and also the travel version - which by the way comes in a beautifully ornate, black rectangular bottle that closes magnetically. Anyway, my first impressions of Love were that of playfulness, frivolity and a childlike innocence; the scent feels decisively edible - like pink Birthday cake. But then, a decidedly more adult element. Love smells so deliciously "delectable", good enough to devour, that it takes on an extremely sensual quality. Structurally, I admire it as an evidently very accomplished scent, expertly blended and using the highest quality ingredients: Bergamot calabria oil, Tunisian neroli oil, pink pepper berries oil, coriander seeds oil, honeysuckle, orange flower absolute, orange water absolute, Egyptian jasmine absolute, Bulgarian rose concrete, Bulgarian rose oil, iris butter absolute, reconstituted civet oil, caramelized sugar, vanilla absolute, cist labdanum absolute, white musk. I like my scents to smell un-mistakebly high end and this does - don't be fooled by the sweet description which seems to tread dangerously close to Pink Sugar territority just in that fluffly, gourmand way. No one wants that when they're shelling out around $200. You can tell, imo, the quality of this perfume by the way it immediately transforms after that initial spray and begins to soften and meld with your own body chemistry, unlike cheap scents that stick around like an uncomfortable chemical cloud. The ingredients feel very "real", not synthetic or laboratory-born. For comparison, it's very similar to Flowerbomb due to the prominent marshmallow and vanilla notes in both, but Love is sharper, hipper (if that can be applied to perfume - I swear the frag vocabulary just grows day by day). Love also has that slight bubblegum likeness which, I note, Flowerbomb does not. A little off topic but it would make an amazing gift for a girly girl but one which doesn't like to be too saccharine sweet if you know what I mean. Perhaps this is Pink Sugar for adults.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Allure for women
Dive14 2/7/2011 7:06:00 PM
This is a beautiful, timeless scent that is pretty but sophisticated at the same time. Scents I have previously thought of as sophisticated, Cartier's So Pretty or Hermes' Kelly Caleche for example, have felt quite cold or sharp but Allure manages to be warm, enveloping and smooth. It's a very comforting scent, the kind of scent you'd love someone you hugged to be wearing. I can imagine wearing it well in both warm and cooler weather - summers in Cannes, winter in St. Moritz. I love how it opens with a bright, citrusy feel before revealing the softer, creamy vanilla base. The fresh notes at the start include mandarin, bergamot and peach whilst the heart of the fragrance seems more classically floral with notes like jasmine, magnolia and orange blossom. At the base are 3 of my favorite notes: sandalwood, vetiver and vanilla. The composition of the fragrance seems expertly blended. None of the notes overwhelm, they all work in perfect harmony. The longevity is excellent, I have the EDP and it lasts for hours. Also, a little goes a long way - just 1 spray is needed at any time because it is quite strong. I have always loved Allure on other people and have just recently bought it to wear for myself. I think it's because I feel more like a confident, adult woman now than I did for the last few years when I was enjoying light-hearted flings with the likes of Paris Hilton's Can Can and whatever Escada's newest fruity summer scent was. Something about me and Allure just seem to 'click', now. A fragrance should meld not only with the wearer's chemistry but also with their personality. Pink Sugar suited me perfectly when I was a Juicy tracksuit wearing teenager but Allure suits me better now that I'm a more cashmere and Cartier 20-something. "Sexy" is a word that people interpret in a lot of different ways and Allure would not be described as an obvious “come-hither” sexy - its certainly not ‘dirty’-sexy, indolic or animalic. But I would still call it sexy in a very classy way. Allure is a scent that could still be worn to the office or to other more conservative or formal occasions. I can imagine wearing it for both black tie and casual wear because more than anything I think it's very elegant. Apparently Princess Letizia and Princess Stephanie both wear Allure and I think that speaks volumes. I came across a review that said this was the fragrance for the woman that had it all - beauty, brains, social life, career and I agree. It seems very "put together" and polished. I’m not surprised to hear people describe Allure as generic or boring because it isn't trying to be different. I appreciate a perfume that is not overly-thought out or complex and based on some moment in time or a specific theme and is going to be appealable "to the masses". And I always imagine a smart, classically beautiful, sophisticated girl or woman wearing this because that's exactly what Allure is.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Bioderma - Sensibio H2O (aka Crealine H20 Solution micellaire)
Dive14 12/25/2010 4:12:00 PM
I purchased this after giving my skin care routine a complete overhaul and deciding that "less is more". I decided to look for the most gentle YET EFFECTIVE products available because of the fact that I have quite sensitive skin that is easily irritated, so what I'm after is pretty much "NO FRILLS". I have tried countless cleansers in my times - in many forms - be they rinse off, wipe off, milks, creams, balms, oils... and I've decided to go back to basics. That's right. I want quick, easy, does what it says on the tin whilst causing no aggravation to my skin whatsoever, and this does it. This feels as gentle as water but dissolves my makeup at the moment it comes into contact with my skin. Simply pour a small amount on a cotton pad and remove makeup in swiping motions. I love how I don't have to rinse afterwards because my skin is so sensitive that even tap water can irritate it and dry it out. Even something as gentle and mild as Cetaphil can dry out my skin if I rinse it off with water and don't moisturise afterwards. This cleans my skin effectively but doesn't strip it of its protective acid mantle layer. I was finally completely and utterly, life-time, HG "sold" when I read about this cleanser being the number 1 choice for removing makeup backstage at catwalk shows as it is so mild that it does not irritate the models' skin even after countless makeup removal/re-application. Also, when I constantly seem to read about beauty editors buying this in bulk from French pharmacies. I also really like the packaging which is made of plastic and has a snap-type lid which makes it practical and portable - I hate when manufacturers make the container with a pump-dispenser, not very bag/suitcase friendly! My only issue with this is the availability - as it is not available in the UK *MILDLY ANNOYED FACE*
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Le Metier de Beaute - Classic Flawless Foundation
Dive14 12/6/2010 7:31:00 PM
Damn I love this. Was really hoping I wouldn't because I'm such a foundation addict. Amongst my current favourites are GA LSF (4), Studio Fix liquid & powder (both NC30), La Prairie caviar (Peche), Teint Miracle (Beige Porcelaine) and Double Wear (Sand). I have this in 4 which is the most perfect match, so perfect it has me peering closely into my magnifying mirror to try and detect it on my skin. It covers but looks crazy natural. "Flawless Finish" you are aptly named. This is medium coverage so I use the flawless finish concealer to cover any red spots I might have. It covers everything else though, including any slight dark circles I might have. It's £40 so more on the expensive end of foundations but totally worth it. It also smells divine, although the smell is very subtle. On my skin it feels dry and soft to the touch - I hate it when foundations sit on top of the skin and stay 'wet' like Laura Mercier Silk Creme, Chanel Vitalumiere, Pro Lumiere and Teint Innocence being a few of the worst offenders I've tried. It also feels absolutely weightless - I forget I'm wearing it. It's just outstanding. Unfortunately it is hard to find in the UK, I only came across it a month or so ago in Selfridges where it's stocked exclusively, luckily they sell it on their website too. It's also beneficial for my skin; for night ie going out my priorities are altered and it becomes purely about what it looks like on my skin ('flawless' is favoured over 'natural') and how long it will last. For day though I want something that will look natural and won't upset my skin like some of the heavier formulas can do. It contains Vitamin A and E which is great because I like the fact it contains nourishing ingredients. Lasting power is great (has lasted on my skin all day since 1pm and it's now 12:30am) but it's no Double Wear obviously. I love it! ***UPDATE*** 08/12/10 Actually, shade 4 is not a perfect match - I think I may need # 3 (for ref my skin is naturally NC20ish). It's a little too on the pink side for me, too. Also, it is not very transfer-resistant at all; a couple of times throughout the day I must have absent-mindedly touched my face (something I never worry about with Double Wear for example) and noticed that foundation had come off in those places so I had to re-apply. I would also prefer more coverage - I know that it is stated as medium but I find that my LSF (also medium) covers better. Still, the finish is lovely and natural and glowy and I like the fact it doesn't irritate my sensitive skin.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Laura Mercier - Vanille Gourmande
Dive14 12/5/2010 7:20:00 PM
I'm sick of perfumes that are fruity in the opening and you have to wait f o r e v e r to get to the vanilla base. I mean, no. Just give me the vanilla now, please. That's all I want. Vanilla Gourmande provides this for me in one hit. This is want I wanted Annick Goutal's Vanille Exquise to be, but it had this weird alcoholic rum-like note which grew so irritating that I had to eventually throw it over my garden fence in a frenzied and somewhat unhinged manner. This is also what I thought Creme Brulee might smell like, whilst I mistakenly ordered the shower gel and body cream before actually testing it. That I find has a horribly chemical/plasticky note. Vanilla Gourmande however is just the most beautiful, natural-smelling, soft, warm, enveloping scent ever created. It's very smooth and sensual. It's sexy but not in an intimidating way. I read that vanilla is like an aphrodisiac to men and I quite like that. In LM's words it "captures the essence of vanilla orchid & vanilla liqueur, vanilla musk, heliotrope, daylily, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood & amber" and I have to say...yes, yes it does. I love vanilla so much that I imagined my search would be easy... alas, no. It's taken a while to find you, Vanille Gourmande. Years of stopping to test anything with "vanilla" in its name. Oh and this is also what I wanted Pink Sugar to be but that is just the teeniest bit too sickly (/migraine-inducing) to be my absolute "HG!!!!11". This is more sophisticated; seems more well-blended or something. This is also so great to layer over different frags. I love it with Angel, HM Butterfly and Hypnotic Poison to bring out the vanilla or used to soften PS' sharp edges. It's the perfect vanilla. I urge any vanilla-lover to try this.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No