Concealers -Revlon - Age Defying Moisturizing Concealer (New) [DISCONTINUED]
emysiu 7/16/2010 6:24:00 AM
I had initially bought this because of all the positive reviews for it as a good undereye concealer. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me when I used it for that purpose. It creased so easily (probably because it has too many moisturizers) and didn't last much longer than an hour or two. Instead, I've been using it for other areas on my face when I don't use foundation or tinted moisturizer. My skin is actually not bad, just some redness and uneven skin tone in some places on my cheeks. After I apply sunscreen, I dab some onto my cheeks to hide the redness and it works just great. It lasts and looks very natural. It also works fine in hiding blemishes. I wouldn't call this a miracle, but I think that it works great as a light concealer.
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Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Blushing Cherry Blossom
emysiu 6/1/2010 2:19:00 AM
Not bad at all! Every time I pass by Bath and Body Works, I dread the breeze of intense and overly sweet fragrance that hits my nose (same goes for Abercrombie) so I was definitely in for a surprise when I took a liking to this on a random stroll into the store. I love the rose smell in this, it provides a great balance to the sweet fruit notes in it. It reminds me a little of the cassis rose scent from The Body Shop. The rose scent disappears quite quickly and after the scent settles on my skin, all I smell is fresh laundry. Even my friend complimented me on how I smelled like clean linen. I like it. I would love it if the rose stayed longer, but for a cheap fragrance, this is great! There's definitely no comparison to any other fragrance at BBW. This is balanced, subtle, feminine, and youthful without being childish.
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Treatments (Eye) -Dr. Brandt - r3p eye cream
emysiu 5/21/2010 3:58:00 AM
I was convinced by all the positive reviews to purchase this despite the price tag. I have extremely dark eye circles coupled with pretty deep lines for someone my age. I used this for a month and finally gave up. Each time I put this on, I would feel a burning sensation temporarily. Finally, this last week, I winded up getting dried patches of skin around my eyes and red irritation as well. I noticed that other reviewers suffered from similar reactions. I will definitely be looking elsewhere for a solution to my eye problems.
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Concealers -Maybelline - Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer
emysiu 5/16/2010 6:04:00 PM
I'm on my 2nd tube! I didn't see that coming. I've been on the constant hunt for a concealer that will cover my dark circles without sinking right into all my wrinkles and lines around my eyes (I have an obscene amount for my age). This turned out to be such a pleasant surprise. I don't wind up with concealer whiskers on my undereyes as I usually do with any other concealer I've tried. It stays for a good 10 hours or so and even afterwards, what's left still looks kind of decent. As a NC35 in MAC terms, I use the shade Sand, which is just right to cover the dark circles. You have to go lighter than your skin tone in order for them to be effectively concealed. I've tried to be unfaithful and try other kinds of concealer but I just couldn't live in denial anymore. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Make Up For Ever - Face & Body Foundation
emysiu 4/22/2010 12:04:00 AM
I'm normally a MAC NC35ish, nearing NC40 during the summer, and use the color Sand in the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizers. At first, I bought 32 in Alabaster Beige but found that it looked strange on my skin. I looked I thought it would be a good match because most people with about my skin tone seemed to buy this shade. I went back and was matched to 34 in Honey Beige by a Sephora consultant. Much better! Since I've started using this, my skin looks great. Admittedly, you need a good base of decent skin to make this work. I'm definitely someone who doesn't like dramatic makeup for everyday (my routine is light foundation/tinted moisturizer, concealer, mascara, and a light dusting of bronzer). But what I like about this is that it makes it look like my skin but better. I like this a lot better than the Laura Mercier, which would sometimes make my pores very pronounced. and in some lighting, even cakey. This gives me a dewy, smooth look. I just smooth it on over my sunscreen with just fingers, which works just fine. I don't really have the need to use brushes or sponges with this. I don't think this will work as well for people with oily skin, but I have combination skin that leans on the dry side, so this works just great. Anytime I get too shiny, I just wipe over it with an oil absorbing sheet and it looks great again. I do agree about the poor packaging, but I guess one plus is that you can get the most out of the bottle. So many people complain about the smell, but I like it. It's almost a baby powder-ish laundry smell. This is my new favorite foundation!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Viva Glam VI
emysiu 2/17/2010 3:45:00 AM
This is my first and only purchase I've ever made at MAC and really, my first ever lipstick purchase. I just got a job that requires me to wear makeup for a polished yet natural look. I tried on other lipsticks at other places and at MAC, but this was the only one that fit the bill for my desired "my lips but better" look. I am Asian NC35 with a naturally darker lip color. I really only wear lip balm on my lips, so this was a huge surprise to me. It makes my lips look finished and a single color...sort of like what tinted moisturizer does for my skin: natural yet finished look. I love this lipstick for giving me a great first experience with lipstick, and I'm actually willing to experiment with more lipsticks from MAC! I'm eyeing some of the stuff from the colour forecast! For now, though, I've been carrying this stuff around even when I'm not working to refresh the colour of my lips. I feel fabulous with this on!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Anna Sui - Dolly Girl
emysiu 1/22/2010 5:42:00 AM
This is clearly a perfume that not everyone will fall in love with, as is the same for any perfume. I have difficulty finding perfumes that mix with my body chemistry well and this is one of the exceptions. I fell in love with it in high school and I'm still a fan. It's a lovely floral mixed with fruity scent that is vibrant, youthful, and exuberant. Because of its nature, it definitely isn't for those who are more into darker scents (I'm thinking musk, amber, woodiness). This is clearly a perfume for sunny day of uncomplicated and uninhibited fun and play. When I spray this on, all I can think of is throwing on a light dress and sandals for a nice walk in the park. I know that some find the bottle a turn-off, but I actually like it. It reminds me of mannequin heads at hat shops. For me, this is a staple perfume and scent.
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Cleansers -Burt's Bees - Natural Acne Solutions - Purifying Gel Cleanser
emysiu 1/17/2010 5:06:00 AM
I've been using this product since 3 months ago and I'm close to finishing the bottle, so I knew it was time for me to write a review! This was truly a nice surprise because it does clean my skin well while not stripping it dry. The latest trend for many "all-natural" brands is to use cleaning agents that are derived from glucose, and this is indeed one of them. I was initially concerned because of the pH balance, but I really haven't had any issues, probably because this is formulated with citric acid. This is also why this cleanser doesn't foam up as much as others because it lacks the popular cleaning ingredient sodium laureth (and sometimes lauryl) sulfate, which does foam up very well but can also be pretty drying to certain skin types. When I wear makeup, I do need to use some avocado oil to clean it off before using this, otherwise, there is still makeup left on my face. I've found that this is a great solution for my dehydrated, combination skin that needs deep cleansing but doesn't need to be stripped of moisture. After I use this, my skin doesn't feel tight and I don't need to rely on my toner as a second cleansing. As for acne fighting, I wouldn't rely on this product, just because the salicylic acid content seems a little low for an acne cleanser. Also, you are washing off the salicylic acid (along with the rest of the cleanser) not very long after you apply it, so it's probably best if you have issues with acne, to actually apply some kind of medication after cleansing/toning so that it has time to work on the skin. Otherwise, I think this cleanser is a nice surprise packaged in a cute little bottle. It does smell like artificial orange, but I actually kind of enjoy it. If you're interested in trying this, I believe that you can Google for $1 off coupons for products from Burt's Bees Acne Solutions line. I'll be using one to buy my next bottle of this great stuff!
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Treatments -MyChelle - Ultra Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum
emysiu 12/27/2009 7:52:00 PM
This has been really good to my skin. It hydrates without being greasy and doesn't break me out nor aggravate my noninflamed closed comedones. It is a nice watery gel that smells soo delightfully rosy to me. I just put on one pump in the morning under my sunscreen and at night. It makes for a great primer, as well. I've used this for more than a month after I decided to give it a shot instead of swapping it and am so glad that I made that choice. My face is looking quite close to normal and instead of flaking in certain parts, my whole face is well hydrated without dripping in grease. It seems to be most effective when I use my Mario Badescu Glycolic Toner with it. And since the combination of the two seem to be doing so well, I really have nothing to complain about except the price! I had tried the Dermalogica hydrating booster, which is also another expensive hyaluronic acid serum, but I find this one much more accessible in terms of price (thanks to eBay) and better for my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -NARS - Orgasm-Laguna Blush-Bronzer Duo
emysiu 12/25/2009 6:08:00 PM
Two cult faves in one? It seems too good to be true, right? I had heard so much about both Orgasm and Laguna doing great things for NC30 - NC40 ladies like myself, but was always resistant to getting them because of the price. However, when I got a coupon to Sephora, I winded up picking up this duo to see for myself. I use my Sonia Kashuk Blusher Blush to apply this, dipping the brush lightly Laguna and even more gently into the Orgasm. The result is that I have nicely accentuated cheeks and nose, finished off with a healthy glow on my apples of cheeks. I find that I really don't need too much of the Orgasm to get the effect that I want; any more than a light pat of the brush into the powder winds up giving me clown face. When I first bought this, the sparkles scared me a bit, but gently applied, the sparkles aren't noticeable and just give your skin a nice glow. I wish the powder was a bit more finely milled because I do spot the occasional obvious chunk of glitter sitting on my skin. I can see how for lighter skinned ladies, this might be a bit too heavy and dark unless applied with a super light hand. I do agree that this is a great addition to anyone's makeup arsenal. For anyone that is planning to get this, apply very gently and THEN add more if necessary. That will help prevent this from looking too severe. This, for me, is a new love that I reach for on a daily basis! Even right now during the winter season, it adds a nice glow to my face. I'm so glad I got this!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Mario Badescu - Glycolic Acid Toner
emysiu 12/25/2009 4:03:00 AM
Yes, yes, this will burn the ba-jeezus out of your face! It's not the most pleasant experience ever. But because it has actually improved my skin since I've started using it more than 1 month ago, I'm willing to endure it twice a day. The pores on my forehead look like they did when I was a teen with problem-free skin. I like how the dark spots from my acne scars fade well with this and it does help me extract the white stuff in my clogged pores. I might go down to using this once a day soon but for now my skin is taking to this well. Fyi, I have combination skin that is consistently afflicted with noninflamed whiteheads that just sit there and don't budge nor do they turn into red pimples. I love the easy access bottle, the low amount of ingredients (water, aloe vera gel, grapefruit extract and glycolic acid), and the reasonable price for such a big bottle. I'm only through 1/4 of the bottle and I hope that by the time I'm through with the rest, all will still be well!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Clinique - Mild Clarifying Lotion
emysiu 12/7/2009 5:53:00 AM
I used one whole bottle of this stuff for about 4 months and I don't have any strong feelings about this product. It certainly did the job of a good toner: it helps take off any lasting traces of makeup/dirt without leaving my skin dry, stripped, or irritated. I do see why so many people do like it. However, considering the extensive list of ingredients on this product and the duties it fulfills, I would say that you might be just as well off using the rose toner from Nivea for less money. As for me, I need just a little bit more from my toner to help my congested skin.
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Sunscreen -Skinceuticals - Daily Sun Defense
emysiu 11/1/2009 12:27:00 AM
I can't be in denial anymore about this fabulous sunscreen. I first borrowed it 2 months ago from my mother and sister and have been using it ever since. It doesn't dry out my skin by the end of the day and doesn't break me out at all! This is such a pleasant surprise for my easily acne prone, pore-clogged, dehydrated, combination skin. This also makes for a great primer for the the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (which I find too drying on its own). I take everything off at the end of the day with avocado oil and then a separate cleanser. I know that I'm going to have a long term relationship with this.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Avocado Oil
emysiu 10/5/2009 7:14:00 PM
2011 Update: I still have avocado oil in my arsenal of beauty products. However, since last year, my skin has become well behaved and I only use it on my face when my skin is especially dehydrated. I do use it on a daily basis on my hair, though. I massage a couple drops through my scalp and in the ends of my hair before I blow dry it. The result is that my hair is not as damaged by the heat and it retains the hair style much better. 2009 Original Review: Whoa. This has to be the product that caused the most dramatic improvement to my skin, a finicky dehydrated, combination, clogged pore, pimply hodgepodge, AKA a huge mess! I read about avocado oil on Beauty Brains' website and here on MUA. With positive reviews from both sites, I thought that this would be worth a shot, since my Eucerin CoQ10 cream just wasn't doing enough for me. Each night after cleansing with only water, I massage on 4-5 drops of oil completely in my toner-wet skin and then before going to bed I just dab on another layer on problem areas that are dry or pimply. I wake up to skin that doesn't even resemble what I went to bed with: all that oil absorbs into my skin overnight, leaving it smooth and glowy. It manages to undo the damage that my drying sunscreen (still on the hunt for a better one) does to me during the day. I've used this for over a month now and I really am glad that I've found this. Even though oil is a bit difficult to deal with, I've found that the best way to control it is to put it in either a dropper or a small squeeze bottle with a small opening. Trust me, that's an easy fix when a low price, tons of skin-loving nutrients, and accessibility make this item an HG for me!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clinique - Almost Makeup [DISCONTINUED]
emysiu 6/12/2009 5:49:00 AM
[Update: This is just too drying for my face now, to the point that it's making my clogged pores worse. I've temporarily given up on tinted moisturisers in favor of plain sunscreen while I hunt for a new one. For those with pretty dehydrated skin like me, I would recommend you stay away from this.] This took a little getting used to just because it is pretty drying. I received this in a swap after hearing some good reviews about it. I was looking for a tinted moisturizer with a low SPF, because for some reason my skin reacts horribly to items with higher than 20 SPF. Initially, I did not like how it caked up on my face. It highlighted all the flakiness in my skin, especially my nose. I found that it worked better to put it over my regular moisturizer and just avoid putting too much of it on my nose. I don't just squeeze out a dollop on my hands and smear it on my face. I just put dots of it on my forehead, t-zone, cheeks, and jawline. Then I blend it all in with my fingers. That strategy has worked well for me for the past 6 weeks. I actually am having moments when I can look in the mirror during the day and think that my skin looks pretty good. I've been using this in Medium, Shade 3 which was actually a good match for my NC35 skin during the colder foggier weather but is now perhaps too pale for the summer. I might give the Deep shade a try. I do think that this product will work great for people who already have good skin. Now that my skin is "semi-normal" in terms of pimples, I can get away with just using a layer of this and applying some more layers on my dark circles and pimples. Unfortunately, I do have to blot in the middle of the day, otherwise I look like a disco ball in indoor lighting. But I can live with that. :-) I agree with other reviewers that this has a tendency to separate into this clear oily liquid, however a good shake of the bottle every now and then seems to take care of that. I do hate how the tube spills over into the cap. I feel like I waste a lot of product every time I open it up. However, for now, this seems like a good tinted moisturizer for me: a very light foundation that can even out my skin without making my face look two-dimensional.
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