Cleansers -Dermalogica - PreCleanse
serrabird 9/26/2007 9:48:00 AM
This is simply THE best makeup remover I have ever used. I never liked those face cloth sort of cleansers, tried them, but way too dedicated for me. However oil bases always remove the makeup best. This is the perfect solution and the perfect product. The ingredients contain no synthetic oils (no mineral oil, no isopropyl myristate) or no silicones but numerous plant-based oils and leave no yucky grease film. Great for eye makeup, too. Doesn't leave a trace of mascara or concealer. Because you use no cottonpads, it is also very gentle on eyelids and eyelashes. You need a small amount to warm in your palms, apply with dry hands on dry face and eyes and massage. Then you wet your hands and work it into a lather. You wash it off with warm water. I use my Suqqu HA White Soap after that. Great product, cannot recommend enough.
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Brows -BeneFit Cosmetics - Brow-Zing in Medium
serrabird 9/15/2007 7:23:00 PM
If there is one thing I hate more than pinkish streaky foundation clumsily smeared on too pale a skin, it is those carefully 'drawn' red-brown eyebrows...If only they knew they looked only slightly better than a sub-trainee clown... I really like this set because it gives you a very natural filling-in and definition to sparse or misplucked eyebrows. It tidies them up very nicely and gives just a hint of colour, not unstylish greasy lines. However, I am pretty sure the guys at Benefit never ever put their hands on this packaging before it was put on the market, as it is literally impossible to open it (the sliding film approach DOES work btw, genius, angelyshis :)) and the brushes are horribly dysfunctional. Get your own proper brushes from Mac or Bobbi Brown to get a proper use out of it. Other than that, it stays on all day, doesn't interfere with the rest of the makeup and the colours are very natural.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Toni & Guy - iron-it heat defence spray
serrabird 7/23/2007 12:08:00 PM
I got this in a 3 for 2 offer at Boots. It has that strange unbearable smell that T&G seem to be obsessive about in their products. Also it does nothing in the way of protecting hair, dries it under the iron into a crispy, unmanageable strange texture that you cannot just correct with the irons. After using it the hairstyle all becomes messy and doesn't hold even if you spray down a whole can. In short, stay away from it.
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Lotions/ Creams -Korres - Yogurt cooling after sun face and body gel
serrabird 7/1/2007 7:36:00 PM
I am Turkish and like our Greek pals we use natural yoghurt to treat sunburns. So this rang a very familiar bell. I had bought this during Chrismas sale in huge numbers. I kept these in the drawer until summer came and voila! The first day on the beach I was such a happy idiot swimming and sunbathing that I forgot to apply suncream on my back. My shoulders turned slightly red by the evening. This was the perfect moment to put the Yoghurt thing to test. Simply great. Applied it all over my body generously, including my face, and when I woke up all the redness and slight tenderness was gone. It really works and smells fantastic. It also prevented any peeling or discomfort. I will take huge quantities with me on my Mediterranean holiday this year.
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Cleansers -Sisley - Buff and Wash Botanical Face Gel
serrabird 6/26/2007 6:33:00 AM
Completely useless, Don't ever be fooled into this extremely expensive totally useless trash with so-called exfoliators that actually do no more than scratching and irritating your skin. Trash.
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Moisturizers -Fresh - Creme Ancienne
serrabird 5/5/2007 12:05:00 PM
This cream is definitely mis-marketed. C. Ancienne is NOT only for dry or very dry skins and it is NOT a daytime cream. This can be used on ALL skintypes including the oiliest, most sensitised and acne-prone skin. And it should only be applied at night, when the skin is absorbing everything like a sponge and regenerates itself. Having suffered from a large number of skincare blunders recently, I was quite skeptical in the beginning. I saw that the big cystic acne on my cheek disappeared the next morning and the wounds from prevous acne healed completely! In just a few days my skin went back to normal. After a month, I have completely normalised peachy skin that looks and feels great. I stopped using all other skincare and replaced the alcoholic toners with rose water, and the day creams with preservative-free natural ones. UPDATE 26/09/07: It took aaaages to finish the little 30gr. jar. Still nothing better. I cheated my beloved CA with other creams in the meantime and always came back to it. I even tried a sample of Creme De La Mer - OMG what a scam!!! Deciding that getting anything cheaper than CA will be false economy, I rushed to the Fresh store to shell out £155 (oh God my fingers still burn!!!) to buy the huge 135gr. one. I am even planning to stock up whenever spare funds are available, just in case...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Fresh - Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar
serrabird 4/16/2007 6:19:00 AM
This is simply the best clay-based mask I've ever, ever used. Just as another reviewer mentioned, this is the best mask to remove the gunk off my face. The first time I'd applied it, I had some blemishes and red bumps on my face from a reaction to harsh cosmetics. All are gone after the second use and I have great skin again. This is such an emergency treatment! Next I'll try it overnight on the occasional time-of-the-month spots. Someone here mentions that this is a temporary solution. Certainly. No cosmetic treatment can change the nature of skin permanently. You cannot have 20 year old's skin forever because you use some anti-ageing treatment Therefore you cannot have peachy skin instead of oily forever after using a mask or cream. I am very happy with the way it helps me keep my skin. Rather expensive but very highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Remede - sweep
serrabird 3/20/2007 4:04:00 PM
Such a huge hype on such a hugely mediocre product! I really couldn't understand the rave about this thing. I really tried to like it but it's just an ordinary scrub with a hefty tag and cute packaging. And it's not gentle on the skin at all. Actually powdered marble is so harsh and scratching compared to rounded polythene particles.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Orange Blossom
serrabird 1/8/2007 10:30:00 AM
I bought this on the on-board duty-free shopping at BA, being mesmerised by the beautiful photography and description of the product. And, oh what a beauty it is...I used it all throughout the summer and everyone - even some people at the shops - asked me what I was wearing. It has a most beautiful, romantic yet clean and fresh scent of flowers and unlike most floral scents it stays and stays. It is quite pricey, nevertheless although I virtually washed myself with this perfume for months, I am still only 1/4 through the bottle!
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Lotions/ Creams -L'Occitane - 20% Shea Butter Hand Cream
serrabird 12/11/2006 3:24:00 AM
This is my definite HG hand cream. I've been using this for years, especially during the winter months when the eczema on my fingers flare up. I apply a thick coat overnight, and it really helps the cracked and sore skin. I noticed they changed the texture of the cream since last year, it is much thicker now. I will definitely continue using this along with the 100% shea butter. Although the cream is rather pricey (£14), a little goes a long way and the tube lasts for months.
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Moisturizers -Chantecaille - Water Flower Fluid
serrabird 11/24/2006 5:25:00 AM
Read the ingredients list of this very expensive product and hiddent amongst the oh-so-lovely waxes and extracts, you will find ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, the terrible petrochemical used in cheap drugstore products. A reviever below made the same point. IPM is the culprit behind most cosmetic-related acne and irritation. I could not believe how a brand so 'purist' could include such a terrible oil in its products. And then claim to be oil-free. This is why so many reviewers commented about mysterious break-outs and oiliness. Whatever extracts or lovely flower waxes you put in a product, if the delivery system includes cheap mineral oils and myristates, stay away from it. They sit on the pores and cannot be absorbed or eliminated by the skin. The immediate efect will be oiliness, developing into break-outs. In time the heavy-weight of these petrochemicals will act with gravity and sag your skin. Read the labels of effective skincare products from scientifically acclaimed serious brands, and you will never see such ingredients.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
serrabird 11/23/2006 8:26:00 PM
This is my HG. The only mascara that I always go back to, no matter what other brands I try. I tried Giorgio Armani, Lancome Hypnose, MAC, Diorshow, etc. I really cannot explain why I keep trying other mascaras when I know that I will always go back to my beloved YSL. Curiosity? I have naturally long and thick eyelashes and it is actually not easy to find a big-lash compatible mascara. All others make them sticky, clumpy and smudgy, no matter what. The first time I bought it the SA had warned me not to pump the wand into the tube and not to dip the wand for a second time for the second eye. All these cause the mascara to dry out, apparently. This is not like other ordinary mascaras so you should not apply a second coat. I am using my 7th tube and all her recommendations hold valid. I cannot rave enough about this mascara.
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Lip Treatments -Dr. Hauschka - Lip Balm - stick
serrabird 11/22/2006 4:54:00 AM
I LOVE this balm. Cannot rave enough. This is just about the best lippie I have ever used and believe me, I have used hundreds over the years. Moisturises perfectly and no sticky, runny or waxy feeling. Just the right amount of moisture that lasts for hours and it gives a nice shine but never like you've eaten pork chops. I also like the fact that it consists of pure ingredients as what you put on your lips most likely go into your stomach as well. I also love the gentle honey smell. I have both the pot for use at home and the stick for my handbag.
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Treatments (Eye) -La Roche Posay - Active C Eye Cream
serrabird 11/16/2006 7:36:00 PM
I've been using this cream for two years and finished many tubes. Along with my beloved La Prairie Cellular Radiance Eye Cream, this is my second HG eye product. However, as with all 'serious' clinical treatments, you shouldn't expect miraculous results in a week - unlike many brands out there that work for the first few weeks and then go bad. After regular use for a month or so you definitely notice visible improvement in puffiness and most importantly in dark circles. Here I mean DARK circles. Before I got married in June I was so stressed out with work, wedding etc. that I slep very little and very late. So I switched into LRP again and it really made a huge difference. The great light texture moisturises and plumps up the eye area beautifully and is great under make up, too.
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Cleansers -Eve Lom - Cleanser
serrabird 10/6/2006 9:23:00 PM
I have been using the Cleanser with the muslin cloths, the SPF 15 Moisturizer and the Repair Mask for the last 4 weeks. I used to have huge cystic breakouts around my chin that left scars, some small bumps on my forehead, greyish unhealthy complexion and uneven texture. One day I bought into the hype just out of desperation. My skin hasn't looked or felt this good in years. I am shocked to realise how I must have been stripping and damaging my skin under the name of cleansing for years. Not to mention the damage Sisley, La Prairie and SK-II caused on my credit card! The Eve Lom system is based around the cleansing ritual and you need to use minimal amount of products for anti-ageing and moisturising. No foaming cleansers, no toners, no unnecessary layers of extra products. Like me, you can experience some breakouts in the second week, but stick to the routine and you'll reap the benefits in no time. I apply the cleansing ritual exactly as described: I massage a small amount on the entire face (asked for a spatula from the SA and she supplied me happily with a few), neck and eyes, dip the muslin cloth in very warm water, wring it and compress it on my face for 5 seconds. I repeat the dipping, wringing and compressing for 3 times. Then I cleanse my entire face and neck using double-folded muslin cloth and applying pressure slightly. Do not over-exert, though. Then I splash with cool water and that's it. Then I follow with a small amount of La Roche Posay Active C night cream. For the day, I just splash my face with after getting up and apply Eve Lom Spf 15 Moisturiser. The cystic acne is gone in 2 days, my skin is glowing. I used Liz Earle and The Organic Pharmacy cleansers in the past, but none of them have the same efficiency or impact this cleanser has. I cannot rave enough!!
7 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No