Liquid -Guerlain - Parure Extreme 
Anera 1/6/2013 10:29:00 AM
Hmm... I'm not sure if I'm liking this foundation. I'll be trying the ELDW after I finish this one so I can compare the issues I had with this one. HG stuff but not for me. My skin: oily to combo, acne scaring, acne, blemishes, uneven skintone So, I came to Douglas with intention of buying Estee Lauder's Double Wear 01 Fresco 2N2. The SA showed me ELDW foundation, but when I started explaining my problems (oily skin, foundation "slips" from my face within 5 hrs) she said: "Oh, let me show you a foundation that will be like an answer for your problems! it has two different polymers that will absorb any excess on you skin's surface". Since I never thought about buying a Gurlain, and the thought about two polymers sounded very appealing, I asked her to clean my face and apply the Parure Extreme 02. The finish of this foundation is slightly dewy, very healthy and natural. No blemishes are visible, as well as minor acne and acne scars. Beautiful soft and not dehydrated finish (conpared to ELDW). I have to note I haven't used/bought ELDW but tried. So a huge plus. I bought it because the price between GPE and ELDW was pretty the same (GPE being $1.50, €1.10 more expensive). So now a brief review: - non-transparent: hmmm..., definately it can come off while being cheek-to-cheek with your boyfriend. Or using a tissue when having a runny nose.I would say it is transparent! I heard ELDW is really non transparent and therefore if you sleep with it on your face the whole night it won't come off. - staying power up to 8 hrs - long staying power my ass! 5 hrs max and then it is super visible to everyone that your having foundation (cracks in some dryer parts, ie nose area; visible pores, hyper shine). Those polymers aren't doing anything! (I don't use a setting powder since I like the finish). And when I say up to 5 hrs it is because I have a sedentary lifstyle, I don't dare to think what would be the SP if I did something with more energy! - color: the color section and the colors itself are not an A+. Mine is not the perfect match but an ok one. It is slightly too peachy orange but by time passes ( up to 30 mins) it is unoticable. The color doesn't oxidize at all!! - after putting on, you instantly have the most beautiful, most hydrated and most soft skin EVER. It radiates a healthy complexion and looks dewy (not to dewy, tho). Perfect! - and it comes with a pump (great!), and the bottle looks realy pricey and nice For the price of 5 times greater then a drugstore foundation, I expected more. It should have a longer staying power and it should be non-transparent for at least 8 hours
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Liquid -Yves Rocher - Second Skin Effect Foundation
Anera 12/11/2012 12:38:00 PM
Price: it is cheaper than Bourjois, Max Factor or L'oreal Packaging Quality: Because it's so small and light you can carry it in your purse, compared to hard glass / plastic foundations. Would I buy it again: Maybe. It's not the perfect foundation but it isn't bad either. It gives light to medium coverage. Not for humid weather (or clubbing). Good for everyday. What I don't like: Applying the second layer is kind of troublesome (you can find yourself removing the first layer rather than applying the next one). I didn't use a brush (have tried) because it is best applied with the warmth of your fingers . When I'm out, by applying with a foundation sponge it tends to go from your skin rather then being applied on. Which is kind of annoying and forces you to use your fingers. The consistency is very runny, and when building the coverage you put pretty much of it, so I think the 30 ml that it contains won't last me for too long (compared to other foundations same net weight). Since I have oily skin, I have to re-put it every four hours, and using a blot sheet removes the foundation leaving you with no-foundation-bare-skin spots (argh). It doesn't make your skin look baby soft - pores are visible, but does make you look skin-even (blemishes and minor acne scaring are concealed). Using with a loose powder on top it can get cakey, but this can be due my Manhattan mattifying loose powder. Esp. when you set it in the morning and by applying it in the mid-day on top of your foundation+loose powder : horrid! I had to speedy wash my face and reapply my foundation in the Ladies room. What I do like: That it is not greasy, doesn't clog pores, didn't break me out and makes me feel pretty when having it. My bf thinks my skin looks nice and natural (which is the reaction I always want to hear), compared to foundations I usually use (B. HM, M.F. SS/CA). It doesn't dry my skin, after removing it I don't feel my skin tensed (hydrating or rather: non-drying feature). But I would still recommend usig a moisturizer under it. I am not afraid to say that, though it has bad sides, the foundation is worth a try, and until I find one that would suit me the best, this one will be a keeper.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Bourjois - Matte Mineral Foundation
Anera 11/25/2012 9:44:00 PM
I've never used mineral nor mousse foundation, but I must say I'm impressed. I couldn't decide weather to buy 82 or 83, but ended up buying 82. It gives a medium, buildable, matte coverage. I have oily/combo skin, and since my dry parts after applying the foundation show off, I wouldn't advise those with dry skin to use. Pro: The final apperance was a nice, silky skin (except those patchy parts). No blemishes or minor scarings are visible. Con: When you look closer, you can see the foundation, like when you apply a powder foundation to non-moisturized skin (I did use a moisturizer each time before applying!). I didn't like the color, and ended up buying the shade 83, too. i would't buy an extra one (when I don't like how a foundation looks on me, I end hateing the product whatsoever), but since it's being discontinued, the price was in half. Now I'm mixing them and am fully satisfied - the color match is much better. For ref. I'm nc25-30. The package contains 18ml , and compared to HM serum, gives a more pricey product. And I think those two won't last me more than 2 months with everyday use. I have the HM serum, used about 1.5 months, every day, and it looks almost new, I've spend 2mm of product! What I don't like about the serum, and do like about the mousse, is the "longlivety" of the foundation on the skin. Both need to be re-blotted after few hours, but mm looks less shiny. The serum is def. for those of normal/dry skin. I removed 2 lippies. Why? It looks horrid after 4 hours. Right now it is cold (-1 degrees Celsius ) and the foundation makes my skin look flaky (dry spots, acne and similar blemishes) and vanishes from other parts of my oily skin (those clean areas). The foundation would be the best foundation in the world if it looked the same after 4 hours as it looked the moment it was applied - my skin was ever so flawless. No blemishes, no visible pores, no nothing. Just baby skin. But with the day passing, ... Sad. Caution: definitely NOT for DRY skin since it makes dry parts VISIBLE.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Bourjois - Healthy Balance Unifying Powder
Anera 11/8/2012 5:43:00 PM
bought it together with the hm serum, both in shade 53. I am still searching for the perfect pressed powder for oil-control and touch-ups during the day. This one, sadly, doesn't match my skin color. Pros: Silky structure Pretty, as alwasy, Bourjois packigig (the box feels heavy and concrete) Has a mirror Cons: It has a mirror and no puff/spunge?! It would be definately more covinient to have at least little space to put your puff. Really bothers because it doesn't save space at all - still you have to put a spunge in your purse. The color doesn't match the hm serum, which is shame. Limited colors. When "patting" on your skin starts to be VERY visible. Really yellowish. Ladies with more yellow undertones would prefere it more, I asume.
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Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
Anera 11/6/2012 2:16:00 PM
I do not like this foundation because of it's low LOW staying power. I bought it (mainly?) because of good MUA reviews. And because Bourjois always looks pretty (I know, I sound shallow). Bourjois is a bit pricey compared to Max Factor, Maybelline or L'oreal, which is why I always have huge expectations for them. Mine is no. 53. I've been using it for about 2 weeks. One of the things I don't like is that the color is a little bit off. True, I have oily skin but the HM didn't attract my atention as the serum. I guess because of the bottle's desigh (me again). If I bought 52, it would make me look like a ghoast, and 53... I don't know, something isn't right. Sadly, I do not know my mac color; nc20-25? Pros: Doesn't clog pores Nice finish - I look almost flawless (I do have acne scars, larger pores and acne-prone skin) Skin feels nourished and nice Cons: Staying power - gosh, after 5 hrs being out, at the Uni, my foundation wasn't there anymore! After I apply the serum, I always use Bourjois Healthy Balance Pressed Powder no. 53 ( bought it together with the HM serum) and Manhattan Matte Finish setting loose powder. If I go in a club, how long will it stay on my face then?! Within those 5 hrs, I didn't blot or put pressed powder. Maybe I expected too much? Oily girls - it is not loong lasting. If you tend to have more then one foundation, fine. If not, don't waste your money on this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bourjois - Volume Glamour Mascara
Anera 11/4/2012 2:44:00 PM
To be honest, I bought it because I like Bourjois girlish packiging. The mascara doesn't do wounders. It isn't a bad mascara either. Makes my lashes look nice but doesn't make them optical longer or give them extra volume.
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Mascara -Max Factor - False lash effect
Anera 11/4/2012 2:38:00 PM
I don't know why I repurchased it for the second (third?) time. I haven't bought a lot of mascaras and this one seemed promissing. Definetly way better than 2000 calorie!
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Treatments -Oxy - Oxy 10 Acne Treatments
Anera 11/3/2012 1:07:00 PM
Oxy10 cream is funtastic! I have troubled skin for almost 8 years, and nothing helped me (Vich, La Roche Posay, Clean and Clear, Neutrogena, Rosal, Nivea, Afrodita, ...). After just 2 weeks of using it (T-zone + cheeks) 2 times a day (in the morning before putting a moistruizer w spf and in the evening before going to sleep) I got rid of my blemishes, there are no new pimples, no breakouts, no blackheads, and my pores are less visible. It realy dries your skin so avoid eye area, and give your skin a one-day break here and there. This cream works wounders!
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BB Cream -La Roche Posay - Hydreane BB Creme
Anera 11/3/2012 9:43:00 AM
Will I repurchase it? Maby. Since I live in Europe, the BB drugstore/pharmacists range isn't somenthing: Loreal, Deborah & Garnier, and newly LRP. I am NC25-30 so the light version is a little bit too fair, and the medium is a little bit too dark. I've purchased the fair version, which makes my face skin look 1-2 shades lighter. The darker version would be more suitable for the summer period after tanning. If it were cheaper, I would porchase both versions and mix them together. The cream itself isn't bad. It feels good on skin, doesn't clog pores (have been using it for the past month) and is definetly better than Garnier's (both all skin types and oily/combo versions). Leaves a feeling like you're taking good care of your skin. Because ot the mismatched color, I use it as a base (onece, twice a day). Here are my pros&cons: Pros: Leaves a hydrating, caring, mouisturizing feeling Nourushing Staying power (4-5 hrs) - could be better but I have oily-to-very-oily skin Doesn't cake, clog pores Doesn't cause new breakouts Makes better face apearance (smooth & silky look) Cons: One inbetween color/shade extra wouldn't hurt (a true medium) My face starts to shine after few hours, so I have to pat with pressed powder Like a tinted moistruizer (light, sheer coverage). If you have redness or acne you def need to put a concealer. I couldn't layer (wrong shade) to get better coverage
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bourjois - Liner Feutre - 11 Noir
Anera 11/2/2012 10:14:00 PM
I adore Bourjois cosmetics - not sure because of the quality of the products or of the nice packaging. I was looking for a new eyeliner since there is no more L'oreal - gold-matte one in stores. L'oreals golden and shiny black eyeliners aren't as pigmented as the gold-matte one. Pros: - nice, long container - easy to apply - the tip is multipurpose - for making both thin & thick lines Cons: - doesn't last long (?) - I remember that I wasn't satisfied whenever I got home from a night out and looked myself at the mirror - when first putting a powder eyeshadow, and then applying the eyeliner, the eyeliner stops to spread color - you have to clean it (remove the powder flakes) - never experienced it with L'oreal, haven't thought it can happen :) - short lifetime - mine dried out pretty fast, ie. it stopped spreading color (used it a couple of times)
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Toners -Unlisted Brand - Himalaya Herbals Deep Cleansing Astringent Lotion
Anera 11/2/2012 12:23:00 PM
I usually like to use LRP's Astringent Lotion, but decided to give Himalaya a try. I would repurchase it again. Pros: - I use it few times daily (2-3) - in the morning, mid-day (after I come home from Uni when cleaning my make-up), and before going to sleep. My cotton-pad is always brownish (after I wash my face from the foundations I use), weather I use my foundation or not (when I stay at home & see my face shiny) . So - it does clean my face each time I use it - I haven't had any break-outs (I use OXY 10 from Mentholatum) - combined with the above mentioned cream, my face DOES look nicer - there are no blackheads, my pores are getting smaller, no pimples (only during "those days") or other troubles - it WORKS! Cons: - had troubles with the package. I couldn't pour it out so I had to use a knife to spread the hole. Dunno if I did sth wrong or the bottle had a manufacturing defect.
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