Liquid -Maybelline - Superstay Silky foundation ] 
Crystal557 5/4/2007 9:55:00 AM
First off, I have to say that I would not normally review a product I haven't used for at least a little while, but even though I just purchased this, I feel I have enough to say about it to add my review to the mix.
1) Light #2 is very, very orange! I'm very fair, and it is way too dark for me and has an extreme orange cast to it.
2) It is NOT rub proof. Some long-lasting foundations (the kind I love) "set" in a way that you can gently rub your finger over your skin without your finger picking up any product (such as Almay Amazing Lasting and the OLD Revlon Colostay - not the new one w/ Softflex). This one is not one of those.
3) Like everyone else says, it is very hard to get even amounts of the primer and foundation out. The packaging also seems very flimsy, although I love the idea of a pump bottle in a plastic container.
4) The ingredients listed in it cannot be good for acne-prone skin! While I can't say either way regarding my own use, I can say that most foundations do NOT have this many pore-clogging, acnegenic ingredients in them.
I'd like to at least see what its lasting power is for when I run out of my stash of my discontinued HG foundation (to see if it's worth trying Light #1), but I'd be way too embarrassed to leave the house looking orange like this!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Teint Idole ULTRA [DISCONTINUED]
Crystal557 5/4/2007 9:30:00 AM
Hands down, one of the WORST foundations I have ever used!!! I wanted to like this very badly, but it just would NOT work, no matter what I did. While it is slightly longer lasting than your average foundation, I did not find it to be long lasting at all like it claimed, and it controlled my oil *less* than even the cheapest drugstore foundations. In fact, it made me MORE oily. It sat on top of my skin like it's own odd entity. And it cracked in every place you could possibly imagine. I am in my early-mid twenties, and I had cracks under my eyes, on my cheeks, under my nose and on my chin, everywhere my face possibly moved and even the tiniest of fine lines. And I don't have dry skin!
THEN, for the only possible thing that could have made this foundation even worse, it turned ORANGE on me. A few minutes after being squeezed out of the jar it starts turning orange, and it gets progressively MORE orange as the day wears on...as in, if you wear it 6 hours, you'll be noticably more orange than you were at the 5 hour mark. The only reason I am not giving this the worst possible rating is that 1) it's my sister's HG, and somehow looks great on her; and 2) the coverage is really good.
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Cleansers -Olay - Clarifying Daily Facials for Combo/Oily Skin
Crystal557 1/10/2007 6:07:00 PM
This is the best cleanser for makeup removal that I've found. One side of the cloth is soft, the other is textured for exfoliating. I cut the cloths in half (as they are much larger than I need), and go over my face first with the soft side of the cloth, taking off all of my makeup, then again with the exfoliating side for a deeper clean. At first I found the textured side to be too rough, but after adjusting and learning how to use it very lightly, I've grown to really enjoy it and how well it exfoliates. Even though these are for oily skin, they always leave my skin very soft, not dry. I can't testify to whether or not they cause breakouts, as I always follow with my beloved Phisoderm 4-Way Clear Confidence acne wash, to clear out my pores and remove any residue. If you find the textured side to be too rough, but like the idea, you might want to try the product in the sensitive skin version. Their textured side is much gentler.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear 
Crystal557 1/3/2007 7:44:00 AM
This a good enough product, but overall I'm not impressed. This foundation does cover well and I like the finish, but I would need to stipple on quite a few layers of it for it to take the place of concealer. I also have incredibly oily skin and hardly any foundation lasts on me, even with powder - most are melted within an hour. I hoped, based on the reviews, that this one would be able to offer me excellent lasting power, something similar to the *old* Revlon ColorStay or my former beloved Almay Amazing Lasting, but it isn't even in the same ballpark. It has better lasting power than most, but it isn't budgeproof or waterproof by any means (regardless if whether or not they advertise it as such). I made the mistake of crying in this (not sobbing up a storm mind you, just a few tears that got away and were quickly and lightly blotted) and while my Almay AL used to hold up to cryfests, this one left tear streaks all down my face, and started melting into my fine lines within 2 hours. On top of that, if you are very, very fair like I am, STAY AWAY from EL! Overall I like the brand, so I have a hard time staying away, but they just do NOT make colors for very fair skinned ladies like myself. The lightest shade in this is somewhat orangey, as I find with most EL shades, and darker than I could ever even achieve with fake tanning. Overall I don't think it's a bad product, but it isn't suited for my needs (lasting power + color choice).
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Liquid -Almay - Almay Amazing Lasting Foundation ] [DISCONTINUED]
Crystal557 1/14/2006 8:54:00 AM
This is my Holy Grail foundation; I am absolutely in love with it! I have a number of skin imperfections, and it is *imperative* to me that something not only cover these, but KEEP covering them throughout the day. The lasting power on this is unbeatable, the quality feels like department store (in fact I highly prefer this to EL, Clinique, and MAC) and the coverage is extremely adjustable. Pale and Buff, the only two I've used, are yellow-based, a relief considering how pink most drugstore makeups are. I stipple on a good sized amount of this with a makeup sponge after moisturizing for heavier coverage, sometimes followed with a second or third layer on problem areas after the first sets. It looks extremely natural and satiny for as much as I use. If you've figured out how to use concealer AND foundation without the difference in the colors being obvious, then that would probably be the better way to go, but even with careful blending, I've never been able to pull that off. This is neither matte nor creamy, but combined with my water-resistant SPF moisturizer and Almay's loose powder, I rarely have to blot or repowder my incredibly oily skin. My only complaint is the packaging. The foundation POURS out of the huge opening at the top of the bottle, and it's very hard to control, even if you know it's coming. It drives me mad, but the results and staying power are worth it.
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Moisturizers -Clean & Clear - Shine Control Moisturizer
Crystal557 1/14/2006 8:13:00 AM
When they discontinued my beloved Loreal Hydrafresh moisturizer, I had to find a replacement to moisturize with at night. Considering that everything breaks me out, this presented a problem. After reading the reviews, and having had good luck with Clean & Clear products in the past, I decided to give this a shot, and it does what most of the other girls say. It moisturizes well, has a nice feel to it, and it's cheap. I didn't buy it for shine control, nor do I think it would do much in that area, but this satisfies my need for a good, basic moisturizer that's doesn't break me out and doesn't break the bank.
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Eyeliner -Prestige - Waterproof Eyeliner
Crystal557 1/14/2006 7:13:00 AM
I LOVE how my eyes look lined, so I consider eyeliner to be a necessity. I have incredibly oily skin, so I spent years searching for a liner that would actually LAST on me so that I wouldn't have to continuously reapply throughout the day, or risk being appalled when I looked in the mirror later. I draw the line using back and forth strokes, go over it a couple more times, and it actually DOES last throughout the day and into the night (however late I need it to). It does the job so well, I have no need to try anything else. It goes on very smoothly, without tugging at my eyes or irritating them at all. My only two warnings are: this doesn't sharpen down to a very, very fine point (if that's what you're looking for) and you have to remember to recap after each use, or it could dry out. Make sure, if this is the product you're wanting, to get the Waterproof formula. Prestige also makes a Kohl eyeliner, and while it's a good liner with decent lasting power, it doesn't last nearly as well as this. I use the non-automatic pencil in Charcoal Brown, a dark brown. I tried Suede, but it was way too light for me (and I'm a PPP). The Suede looks dark in the package, but it doesn't seem to have a lot of pigment to it. *Between this and Revlon ColorStay: Prestige is smoother, creamier, lasts better on top lashes and can withstand for the most part any additional layers you want to add. Revlon draws a thinner line, lasts better on my bottom lashes, but doesn't go on as smoothly and flakes some throughout the day and when I try to add additional layers. You also get less product for more $ w/ the Revlon. I far prefer the Prestige.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Fresh Foaming Cleanser
Crystal557 6/14/2004 7:31:00 AM
This is a staple in my bathroom! It's a cleanser and makeup remover in one, and it does its job well and doesn't break me out. While it doesn't remove *all* my eye makeup (and in its credit, I wear a lot, plus my eyeliner & mascara are extremely long lasting & waterproof), it removes makeup better than any other cleanser I've tried. Unlike other reviewers, I don't have any problem with its scent, nor do I find it strong, but I've been using it for so long I don't know that I'd notice anymore. This could be drying if you have dry skin, but you get a lot of product for your money and I love it for my oily skin.
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Toners -Clean & Clear - Deep Cleaning Astringent-Sensitive Skin (blue)
Crystal557 5/30/2004 8:29:00 AM
A product I've been using for years and repurchased many times, although I don't recommend it for dry skin like the "sensitive skin" part of the label might imply. I have very oily skin and acne, and this product definitely helps. I notice my face gets a glow and has improved clarity whenever I use it, and is a lot smoother when I go to wash my face. Oddly enough, I don't so much notice a difference in acne when I use it as I notice a difference when I *stop* using it. Then my breakouts slowly start coming back. The main acne fighter in my routine is benzoyl peroxide at night, but the times my face has been the clearest are when I use this in the morning as well. I'll continue to repurchase! :-)
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Sunscreen -Coppertone - Oil Free Sensitive Skin SPF 30
Crystal557 3/10/2004 8:08:00 PM
A nice, effective sunscreen with zinc oxide (not titanium dioxide like another poster stated). It has a nice, whipped cream like texture, and I don't color through it, so it protects well. Leaves a VERY obvious white cast at first (at least using as much as you should be for proper coverage) but it fades in about 5 min. to unnoticable. What makes me feel only so-so about this though is that makeup does NOT go on well over it- a problem since I bought it for facial use, and do not leave my house without makeup. When summer comes though, this will be my first choice for body sunscreen.
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Concealers -Clinique - Advanced Concealer
Crystal557 1/10/2004 7:10:00 AM
I don't understand the bad reviews on this at all! This is the most awesome concealer I have ever used for acne - it will fully cover the biggest, brightest, reddest zit you can find so that not even a trace of red remains, and somehow the formula even seems to makes it appear flatter. It is very matte (a wonderful smooth powdery matte) but that's one of the things I like about it! Liquidy makeups often have crappy staying power. Because it's so matte, not only does it last, but I can use it on problem spots and then apply foundation OVER it (patting it on with a sponge) without worrying about any of the concealer coming off in the process. A little of this stuff goes a long way, so at $12.50, it's a very economical purchase. Even when my skin does get drier, I just pat it on, and I don't find that this emphasizes flakes or dry spots anymore than any other concealer (of course as always be sure to moisturize underneath if you're dry). This is also one of the few makeups that doesn't break me out. This is more for use on blemishes and small spots than undereyes or large patches of skin, but I do on occassion use the tiniest amount of this on top of my eye moisturizer and undereye concealer, and it does a good job of adding a little extra coverage on those days I really need it. If you're looking for something with this kind of coverage that has more moisture and is more blendable, than I recommend Clinique Line Smoothing Concealer. It has almost as opaque coverage but can be used on undereyes and spread over large patches of skin. I took off a lipstick because of the crappy color selection, and the fact that "light" is WAY too dark for really pale skin.
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Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Dermo Expertise Futur-e Moisturizer SPF 15 (Oil-Free)
Crystal557 11/8/2003 6:13:00 AM
This is a great product. It has Vitamin E and salicylic acid (BHA), as well as SPF 15. I figured since the salicylic acid wasn't listed in the active ingredients section, and was somewhat far down the ingredients list, that it wouldn't really do anything. But this stuff really exfoliates. My skin was terribly broken out, and every time I tried to use any of my BHA products underneath my moisturizer, it would make my makeup ball up and look flaky or weird (and I tried this with a number of different moisturizers, makeups, and BHAs). This stuff saved me though, cause it works better than any BHA I've ever used, really helped clear my skin (not only does it not cause breakouts, it treats them), moisturizes well, goes on well under makeup, and doesn't leave my skin dry in the least. A little bit makes it a light moisturizer, but it can be layered to achieve significant moisturizing, depending on what your skin needs that day. This leaves my skin really soft and smooth. Everyday my skin glows like I just did a weekly mask, plus it comes with a pump top, which is so much more sanitary than jars or bottles. I actually got a compliment on my skin the other day, which might I say, NEVER happens! :)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No