Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
DaniDeelish 5/18/2013 1:45:00 AM
I guess I'm part of the minority that actually likes this product. It does work for me. I'm 19, and am blessed with reasonably clear skin. Granted, I have a lot of hyperpigmentation on my cheeks, but only get the occasional couple of blemishes during 'that time of the month' or when I'm really stressed, but usually my skin is pretty clear. So I can't comment how this works for very bad skin. I have used the system for about 5 years now (I'm 19). I started using it when my hormones started acting up and my skin started breaking out. At first it burned quite a bit, but I stuck with it, and it worked. It keeps most of my break outs at bay, even 5 years later. I don't use the toner in this system (step 2), as I find toners to be quite drying (I have dry skin). The repairing lotion (step 3) works great on red blemishes (those under the skin bumps. For white heads, I use tea tree oil). It only has 2.5% benzil peroxide (or around that much), so it helps treat my blemishes without drying my skin out. The cleanser is exfoliating, and has very small, sand like beads in it. So it exfoliates without drying my skin. And the cleaner is the only thing that helps keep my nose blackheads at bay. I only use the step 3 at night, as well as the cleanser (which I sometimes use in the morning, but mainly at night) So overall, it works for me. I will repurchase, as I don't like experimenting with skin care, and this works fine for me. I have repurchased for many years now. This isn't a miracle product for me. I'm sure there are acne products out there that work better than this. The problem is finding them. I don't want to go on the hunt for the HG acne product, and while looking for that stumble upon horrible products that break my skin out. So I'll be sticking with ProActiv. I can't reccommend you try it, or guarantee it'll work, as it doesn't for most people, but I just thought I'd share a review from a person that actually had a positive experience with it. Good luck
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Jag-u-are
DaniDeelish 4/9/2013 5:59:00 AM
Oh wow I am in love with this polish! It is the perfect blue toned (cool toned) red polish with tiny shimmers in it. It looks absolutely fabulous on the nail. Lasts long and doesn't chip quickly either. What more can you ask for in a polish? LOVE LOVE LOVE
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Eyeliner -Rimmel - Glam Eyes Professional Liquid Liner
DaniDeelish 4/7/2013 1:31:00 AM
This stuff is absolute garbage, IMO. I needed a new liquid eyeliner, so decided to try this one as it was on sale. **PROS: -This stuff is extremely black and very dark. No need to build it up. One line and it's black as black can be. -I love the brush. Small and thin applicator makes lining your eyes so simple. Very easy to make a thin line, like I prefer. **CONS: -This stuff doesn't last at all. It's 90% gone within like 3 hours and 100% gone by 5. And I have long days. So I need my makeup (including liner) to stay on for 12 hour days. This doesn't come close at all. -This takes soooo long to dry. I line my eyes, and then I have to keep my eyes closed for like 7 minutes after I apply it (cause I have slightly hooded eyes, and if I open my eyes my eyeliner completely smudges. It's so frustrating cause I can't really do anything for those 7 or so minutes cause then the eyeliner smudges all over my eyeshadow. Just such a nuisance. **BOTTOM LINE The cons outweigh the pros for me. I gave it 2 stars for the nice packaging and applicator, and the very dark black colour. But the fact that it just doesn't last and smudges and takes so long to dry, definite no's for me. Won't repurchase.
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Foundations -Clarins - Super Restorative Foundation -Teint Lift Eclat Spf 15
DaniDeelish 4/4/2013 9:16:00 PM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** -I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and mouth, pretty much normal everywhere else. -I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** -I am a MAC "NW15", and a "Gobi Light 3" in NARS Sheer Glow. I have very pink undertones. -I have this foundation in the shade "05 Shell", which is a pretty decent shade match. It's more of an NC-NW20 from MAC (neutral-yellow undertones). It gives me a glow to my face and puts some colour back in to it. -Shell is the first neutral toned foundation. Don't really pay attention to the numbers, they can be really deceiving. ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** -This foundation has the perfect consistency. It's not runny to the point of running off your hand. It's got almost a gel feel to it. It's a liquid foundation, but where you squirt it on your hand, it will stay there, let's put it like that. Makes for easy blendibility and application ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** -This foundation has a definite glowy finish. NOT sparkly or even that dewy. It just makes your face look fresh, hydrated, supple and glowy from within -This foundation probably isn't the best for oily skins (as it has no oil controlling properties and is quite hydrating on the skin) ****APPLICATION**** The foundation reccomends that you apply it with your fingers, which is what I do. I have tried using a brush with it too, but I felt like it made it look a little heavier on the skin and it made it feel a little tacky/sticky on the face. Where as when you use your fingers it just blends the foundation right it to the skin beautifully. So I first squirt out 1 pump, start from the middle of my face (nose), working my way outwards. I usually end up using 2 pumps (the second pump I use to cover up the pigmentation on my cheeks and big freckles on my nose. I then use a damp beauty blender to get rid of any streaks and make my face look flawless! ****PROS**** -This foundation has medium-full coverage, so it will cover almost everything with 1 layer -Can easily be built up to full coverage with a second layer. It will not cake or look heavy with that 2nd layer. -This foundation doesn't look cakey or heavy on the skin. It looks beautiful and flawless and glowy. This is the thing I love the most about it. I mean, it's not hard to find a medium-full coverage foundation these days. The challenge is finding one that looks invisible on the skin. This DOES look invisible, even in direct sunlight. Looks like you have on a tinted moisturiser or something (cause of the supple, healthy glowy look it gives you) -I love the beautiful glowy finish this gives. Looks like you've pampered your face to a hydrating facial and then put this stuff on. Supple, fresh, glowy hydrated and beautiful -This foundation has pretty good lasting power. It's not 24 hour wear, but I'd give it a good 12 hours before it starts looking not its best. And for a foundation that doesn't claim to be long lasting, thats pretty good IMO. -Has an SPF of 15, which is nice for everyday wear (can be a con, see below) -Doesn't settle into fine lines as much as most foundations do. For me, no matter what foundation I use, it settles in to fine lines a little (all foundations will at least a little). But this is about as good as it gets for that. -This stuff is very hydrating. Not drying at all and doesn't accentuate dry patches. I think it's cause it has some skin care ingredients in it or something. -Has a GREAT pump, which makes it easy to control how much product comes out (not like some pumps where you can't control the amount of product that comes out, with this it's very easy to control). I usually use 1 pump for everyday wear and 2 pumps for when I'm going out. - Even though the bottle isn't very pretty, it is the perfect bottle for travel. It's plastic so it won't break and has a great pump so it's very travel friendly. ****CONS**** -If you have oily skin, or you don't like a glowy look, this is not the foundation for you (has no oil controlling properties and has a definite glowy look and is very hydrating) -The SPF 15 in this product means it's not going to look good in flash photography (will flash back with a white cast) -This is a foundation that is strictly for dry-very dry-normal skin. Oily/combo skinned gals will hate this stuff cause it will make you look like an oil slick. -This foundation can get greasy looking by the end of the day, even on my dry skin. So I have to set this foundation with powder when i apply it, otherwise my face will look greasy by the end of the day. I love the Chanel Natural loose finish powder. Not drying but makes foundation non greasy. I also take some oil absorbing sheets and a pressed translucent powder with me on the go in case I look a little greasy (rimmel stay matte powder, translucent cause it won't cake up as much as normal powder). For oily skinned gals they carry this stuff on a daily basis, but for a dry skinned gal, I'm still not used to having to blot sometimes. -The bottle isn't the prettiest thing ever. Practical, but if you like having a pretty foundation bottle for your desk, this isn't really that bottle. -This stuff is expensive, but well worth it ****BOTTOM LINE**** I love this stuff so much! One of my fave foundations without a doubt! Great buildable coverage, extremely hydrating, but looks like you're not wearing foundation. And that's a tough thing to find. Will 100% repurchase.
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Liquid -Lancome - Teint Miracle
DaniDeelish 2/22/2013 2:38:00 AM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** -I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and mouth, pretty much normal everywhere else. -I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** -I am a MAC "NW15", and a "Gobi Light 3" in NARS Sheer Glow. I have very pink undertones. -I have this foundation in the shade "Ivoire 1N', which is the lightest shade available in the US. This shade is a perfect match to my skin, which I'm so excited about! ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** -This foundation is pretty runny and liquidy, which makes it pretty easy to work with. Not thick or goopy at all. Be careful or it will run down your hand! ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** -This foundation has a definite glowy/dewy finish (not SPARKLY or GREASY, just GLOWY/DEWY). Beautiful if you want that dewy look to the skin. -This foundation probably isn't the best for oily skins (as it has no oil controlling properties and is quite hydrating on the skin) ****APPLICATION**** I apply this stuff one of 2 ways. One, I use my fingers to work the foundation in to my skin. The warmth in your skin helps melt the product into your skin and make it look a lot more natural. Then I go over it with a damn beauty blender to get rid of any streaks. Result=flawless and non-cakey. I do it this way for everyday wear. The second way I apply it is using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. Using a brush will give you a little more coverage than using your fingers. So I work the foundation in with the brush, then go over it with the beauty blender sponge as before. I do it this way if I'm going out and I want a little more coverage. Doesn't look quite as natural as with the fingers, but for night time I'm not too fussed about that. ****PROS**** -This foundation has great medium coverage if applied with a brush, and light-medium coverage if applied with the fingers or a sponge. I think medium is a great amount of coverage; can add a second layer for fuller coverage but with 1 layer it's perfect for everyday, daily wear. -This foundation doesn't look cakey or heavy on the skin. It looks beautiful and flawless and glowy. -I love the beautiful glowy/dewy look that this foundation gives my skin. It makes you look fresh and youthful and beautiful, without looking greasy or oily for a while (does look a little oily at the end of the day-refer to cons) -This foundation has pretty good lasting power. It's not 24 hour wear, but I'd give it a good 8 hours before it starts looking not its best. And for a foundation that doesn't claim to be long lasting, thats pretty good IMO. -Has an SPF of 15, which is nice for everyday wear (can be a con, see below) -Doesn't settle into fine lines as much as most foundations do. For me, no matter what foundation I use, it settles in to fine lines a little (all foundations will at least a little). But this is about as good as it gets for that. -This stuff is fairly hydrating! Not drying at all, which is great for people with dry skin like me! -Has a GREAT pump, which makes it easy to control how much product comes out (not like some pumps where you can't control the amount of product that comes out, with this it's very easy to control). One pump is the perfect amount to cover my whole face! ****CONS**** -If you have oily skin, or you don't like a dewy glowy look, this is not the foundation for you (has no oil controlling properties and has a definite glowy look) -The SPF 15 in this product means it's not going to look good in flash photography (will flash back with a white cast) -This foundation doesn't withstand heat or sweat that great. It won't run all over your face if you sweat, but the foundation won't look that great if you sweat in it a lot - will cake up) -This foundation looks oily and greasy at the end of the day. Even on my dry skin. Initially it's beautiful, but at the end of the day I look pretty oily. So I would have some blotting papers and a pressed (translucent) powder with you on the go just incase (even if you have dry skin). (Translucent so it won't cake up like other powders can quicker, especially if you're touching up at the end of the day) -The glass bottle makes it not very practical for traveling (as I'm scared it will break) -This stuff is expensive, since it's Lancome. ****BOTTOM LINE**** I love this stuff! It kind of reminds me of Estee Lauder Futurist foundation (one of my faves, have a review on it if you would like to read it :). This has a little less coverage, but the colour match is a lot better on me! Apart from that I think theyre pretty similar. Love this foundation more for winter. nice daily foundation for me and will repurchase.
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Primer/ Corrector -Laura Mercier - Foundation Primer Radiance
DaniDeelish 2/11/2013 3:36:00 AM
Holly cow this stuff is INCREDIBLE! A HG for sure! The problem I have had with primers in the past is, because I have dry skin, most primers dry and flake my skin (as theyre silicone based). The ones that dont dry my skin out (the ones that aren't silicone based) dont have any benefits and I dont notice a difference with them at all. This product is completely different and a miracle worker! A primer is supposed to minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, make your makeup go on smoother and last longer. I don't really have a problem with my foundation lasting (as I have dry skin so oils don't break my foundation down), but I have HUGE pores around my nose, so much so that I was never able to wear highlighter as it just emphasized my pores so much and made them look huuugggeee. After this product, my pores are reduced by about 95%. They are hardly visible at all. And I can finally wear highlighter without having to worry about my pore size. This has a gel-cream like texture and has a golden pearlescent glow to it, so if you have extremely oily skin or don't like a glowy complexion then this is probably not for you. I don't notice the 'radiance' part too much. Especially after I apply foundation on top. It's NOT sparkly at all. It just adds a bit of a light glow to the skin. Nothing dramatic but makes you look healthy and fresh. I apply this after letting my moisturiser sit on the skin for about 5 minutes, and then let this sit for another 5 minutes before I apply foundation. Something to keep in mind with this primer is that right after i apply it, my pores actually look bigger than before. Do not be alarmed by this, and don't wash or rub it off because of that. once you apply your foundation on top, the pores just disappear. This primer is not silicone based and isn't drying on my skin at all, like most other primers I have used. You need about a pea sized amount (or even less) for your whole face, so it will last you a long time. I initially bought the 50ml/1.7 fl.oz size, then straight away bought the 100ml/3.4 fl.oz size cause I was so in love. This stuff is a little pricey, but well worth it for me. I paid about $47 for the 100ml/3.4 fl.oz size, and about $25 or the 50ml/1.7 fl.oz size off eBay (make sure its a reputable seller) A staple in my makeup routine now. LOVE IT and can't go without it now. 100% recommend and would 100% repurchase. Good job Laura Mercier! Please never discontinue this amazing stuff!
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Futurist Foundation
DaniDeelish 12/7/2012 10:22:00 PM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** -I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and mouth, pretty much normal everywhere else. -I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** -I am a MAC "NW15", and a "Gobi Light 3" in NARS Sheer Glow. I have very pink undertones. -I have this foundation in the shade 'Beech 20', which is the lightest shade available in Australia -The foundation is a little too dark for me once it dries and settles on the skin (about NW). That's not my biggest minus with the foundation shade. This shade is very pink toned, and on my very pink toned skin, even though the coverage and finish of the foundation look flawless on my skin throughout the day, it makes my face look very pink. ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** -This foundation is pretty runny and liquidy, which makes it pretty easy to work with. Not thick or goopy at all. ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** -This foundation has a definite glowy/dewy finish (not SPARKLY or GREASY, just GLOWY/DEWY). Beautiful if you want that dewy look to the skin. -This foundation probably isn't the best for oily skins (as it has no oil controlling properties and is quite hydrating on the skin) ****APPLICATION**** I have tried many ways of applying this foundation, all of which worked fine. This isn't a difficult foundation to work with and blend. It works fine with a brush, sponge or your fingers. The way I prefer applying it, and the way I apply pretty much all of my foundations, is to start off working it in with my fingers (the warmth in your fingers helps melt the product better in to your skin and give you a more natural finish). Then I always use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend out any streaks that my fingers left, and to make the foundation look flawless and non-cakey. ****PROS**** -This foundation has medium-full coverage, so it cover practically everything you need it to cover! Acne, scars and redness, freckles; this foundation covers all of my flaws and makes my skin look flawless! -This foundation doesn't look cakey or heavy on the skin. It looks beautiful and flawless, despite its high coverage. -I love the beautiful glowy/dewy look that this foundation gives my skin. It makes you look fresh and youthful and beautiful, without looking greasy or oily :) -This foundation has pretty good lasting power. It's not 24 hour wear, but I'd give it a good 8-10 hours before it starts looking not its best. And for a foundation that doesn't claim to be long lasting, this is pretty impressive. -Has an SPF of 15, which is nice for everyday wear (can be a con, see below) -Doesn't settle into fine lines as much as most foundations do. For me, no matter what foundation I use, it settles in to fine lines a little (all foundations will at least a little). But this is about as good as it gets for that. -This stuff is fairly hydrating! Not drying at all, which is great for people with dry skin like me! -Has a GREAT pump, which makes it easy to control how much product comes out (not like some pumps where you can't control the amount of product that comes out, with this it's very easy to control). One pump is the perfect amount to cover my whole face! ****CONS**** -If you have oily skin, or you don't like a dewy glowy look, this is not the foundation for you (has no oil controlling properties and has a definite glowy look) -The SPF 15 in this product means it's not going to look good in flash photography (will flash back with a white cast) -This foundation doesn't withstand heat or sweat that great. It won't run all over your face if you sweat, but the foundation won't look that great if you sweat in it a lot - will cake up) -Can oxidize a little (nothing major, but a little). Wear a primer under it to stop it from oxidizing as much :) -The glass bottle makes it not very practical for traveling (as I'm scared it will break) -This foundation doesn't have an exact colour match for me. The lightest shade is a little too dark (the lightest shade in Australia, that is). -This stuff is HELLA expensive in Australia. I paid a whopping $75 for a 30ml/1fl.oz bottle of this stuff! Ridiculous! More than Chanel and YSL costs in the states :( ****BOTTOM LINE**** This is my favourite WINTER foundation! Hydrating and beautifully glowy :) If you have dry skin, or want a nice foundation with a dewy glow (especially for Winter, as it is now in America), try this foundation! I tend to not use this that much in summer (as like I said it doesn't withstand heat and sweat that well). For summer I use my Shiseido Sun Protection Liquid Foundation (I have a review on that, you can check it out if you want :) I will definitely repurchase this Estee Lauder foundation, despite its high cost. Hope this helps :)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Face and Body Foundation
DaniDeelish 11/18/2012 4:17:00 AM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** --I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and mouth, pretty much normal everywhere else. --I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** --I am a MAC NW15, and NARS Sheer Glow "Gobi Light 3", and I bought this foundation in the shade N1(which is the lightest neutral shade available) This foundation has a different numbering system to other MAC foundations, so make sure you get colour matched first. --The colour is a little too dark for me once it dries down(it's probably a NC20). --This foundation also comes in a white shade, which is great! You can use it to lighten up other foundation that are a little too dark ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** This foundation has a very runny, watery consistency (which makes sense since it's water based). The kind of consistency that will drip down your hand if you're not careful. Also, it has a sticky kind of feel to it. If you're blending it with your hands, it will feel slightly sticky/tacky. Once the foundation has set/absorbed into your skin, that sticky feeling goes away, so don't worry. ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** This foundation has a semi dewy/glowy finish. Not sparkly or shimmery, just gives your face a nice youthful glow. ****APPLICATION**** I have tried many ways of applying this foundation, all of which worked fine. It works fine with a brush, sponge or your fingers. The way I prefer applying it, and the way I apply pretty much all of my foundations, is to start off working it in with my fingers (the warmth in your fingers helps melt the product better in to your skin and give you a more natural finish). Then I always use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend out any streaks that my fingers left, and to make the foundation look flawless and non-cakey. ****PROS**** +This foundation is very long lasting! It is marketed as being water resistant, which it definitely is. This means you can go swimming in it and it won't come off, but if you then wipe your face with a towel (while its still wet), the foundation will come off. It is also transfer resistant and sweat resistant. *MAKE SURE U USE A WATER BASED (OIL FREE) MOISTURISER/PRIMER UNDERNEATH THIS* +Has a very light feel on the skin, and will never look cakey or heavy! Very natural looking +This can be used on the face and on the body (hence the name). I get those red bumps on the back of my shoulders. I use this foundation on them whenever I wear a dress/tshirt where my shoulders are visible. It offers just enough coverage to cancel out most of the redness, and because its so long lasting it wont get on your clothes or transfer (make sure you give it a few minutes to set before you put on any clothing so u dont rub it off while its still setting). You can also use it on your legs, chest, back, anywhere really. +Has a lovely glowy finish. This can be a con (see below) if you have oily skin, but I love the glowy natural youthful finish it gives your skin! +Comes with a huge amount of product! 120ml/4 fl.oz (4 times more than you get with most foundations which is 30ml/1 fl.oz). +Has no SPF in it (which can be a con, see below). I love the fact that it doesn't have any SPF. It's perfect for weddings/big occasions where you know you're going to be photographed. This foundation was made for special occasions, not as an every day foundation) +Doesn't accentuate dry patches/flakes on the face +Shouldn't break you out (as it's water based, not oil based) +I use this foundation to lighten up any other foundation. For example, if I think a foundation is a little too heavy feeling on the skin, I mix in a little of this stuff, and it makes it a thinner consistency and beautiful! +It's actually very reasonably priced for how much product you get. ****CONS**** -Has VERY little coverage (sheer-light). You can build it up to a light-medium, medium at absolute most, but it's not getting anywhere near full. This won't be a con for everyone, but since I have hyperpigmentation, I need a full coverage foundation to cover it up, and this can in no way provide that. So I never use this foundation by itself (I mix it with others or use it on my body). If you have very good skin and only need light coverage, this foundation can be great for you. But if you need full coverage, not the foundation for you. -Won't be the best for oily skinned people (as it does have that glowy finish, and has no oil controlling properties) -This stuff settles into fine lines. Because it's so liquidy& watery, it will get into every wrinkle on ur face (from what ive experienced) -Since this foundation is water based, you NEED TO use products underneath it that are also water based (or oil free). So your moisturiser, primer, what ever u use under this foundation also needs to be oil free (otherwise this product won't last, since if you use a moisturiser/primer with oils in it, the water in MAC face/body will clash with the oils, causing it to separate) -I hate the squeezy nozel! You'd think its practical, but the foundation just kind of always bubbles out of the nozel (after Ive stopped squeezing the bottle), and too much always comes out (wasteful) -Even though it comes with a lot of product, coz its so watery I use a lot more of this foundation than I do any other. -Lack of SPF means its not practical for daily wear (use an SPF under it if u do want to wear it daily) -Can only be bought at a separate MAC store (not counter) from what I know (in Australia that's the case anyway) ****BOTTOM LINE**** I will purchase it again, because of how versatile it is! Great for people who don't need a lot of coverage, or who want a foundation for their body. Probably not for you if you have very oily skin (will need primer/powder), or if you have a lot to cover up you will need a lot
7 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Shiseido - Sun Protection Liquid Foundation SPF 42 PA+++
DaniDeelish 11/9/2012 4:13:00 AM
****FOUNDATION CLAIMS**** --"A liquid foundation that defends against powerful UVA/UVB rays as it provides a flawless makeup finish. Resists perspiration, water and oil, to maintain a soft matte look on the skin, even during outdoor activities." --Transfer resistant, very water-resistant, non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested (formulated to minimise the risk of allergy) ****ABOUT MY SKIN**** --I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and mouth, pretty much normal everywhere else. --I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** --I am an NW15 in MAC, "Gobi" in NARS Sheer Glow (I have very pink undertones) --I bought this foundation in the shade SP20 (second lightest shade after SP10). It looks a little dark (like an NC25) when first applying and blending it in, but as it dries down and sets on my skin, it's a close to perfect shade match. ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** --This foundation is very watery (the kind that will run down your hand). Because of this very runny consistency, I tend to use a lot of this foundation (see cons) ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** --This foundation has a very natural, semi-matte finish. It dries down to almost like a powdery consistency . ****APPLICATION**** I have tried many ways of applying this foundation, all of which worked fine. This isn't a difficult foundation to work with. It works fine with a brush, sponge or your fingers. The way I prefer applying it, and the way I apply pretty much all of my foundations, is to start off working it in with my fingers (the warmth in your fingers helps melt the product better in to your skin and give you a more natural finish). Then I always use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend out any streaks that my fingers left, and to make the foundation look flawless and non-cakey. ****PROS**** --This foundation has medium-full coverage, so it cover practically everything you need it to cover! Acne, scars and redness, freckles; this foundation covers all of my flaws and makes my skin look flawless! --This foundation is water resistant, transfer resistant, sweat resistant, you name it, this foundation resists it! so it will last all day until you take it off (you will probably have to use a makeup remover to get it off) --This foundation doesn't cake at all! It's amazing. I packed it on (I always do when I first test a foundation do see how buildable it is), and this didn't cake one bit! It the end of the day, it looked as fresh, flawless and beautiful as it did at the start of the day when I applied it, and I have never had that with any other foundation (not chanel, estee lauder, revlon etc). If you have a problem with your foundation looking cakey at the end of the day, try this! You will be amazed! --Has a very high SPF for foundation (now, I think there are 3 different SPF levels available with this foundation - 30, 42 and 43) - from what I've heard. I have SPF 43, so it will protect your skin from the sun really well! (the high SPF can be a minus - see cons) --This foundation doesn't really settle into pores or fine lines (it does settle in to fine lines a little, but nothing major at all - a lot better than a lot of other foundations I have tried) --Because it dries down to a semi-matte, kind of powdery consistency, you don't need a powder to set, which is a great plus for me cause powders always make my foundation look cakey --Has a squeeze tube nozzle, which lets you control how much product comes out --Sleek and small packaging is great for travel and easy to store! ****CONS**** --This is kind of drying. When I just put it on it looks flawless and beautiful, but as the day goes on it does accentuate my dry patches.So this probably isn't for anyone with dry skin. Normally, I don't use a foundation if it's drying. But because this looks so amazing (in the non dry patches), this is the exception for me. Also since this is pretty much strictly a summer foundation for me (and as in summer my skin isn't as dry as it is in winter), the drying factor isn't that big of a deal. --I tend to use a lot of this foundation to cover my whole face. Even though it is medium-full coverage, because it's so watery, a little does not go a long way (and I use a lot more of this foundation than I do others) --The shade range of this foundation kind of sucks. There aren't many shades in it, so you might have a little bit of a hard time finding a shade match. --The high SPF is great for everyday, but will flash back like crazy in flash photography (give your face a white cast), so i can never wear it out (as much as I want to, as after this foundation no other one really compares). I wish Shiseido made a version of this without any SPF (for those special occasions like weddings, etc)! --It's a little expensive (I bought it for around $40), but it is much cheaper than other foundations in Australia, and so much better, so totally worth the money! (Revlon foundations cost $35 here, so $40 isn't that big of an increase) --When I first received the foundation, I thought it looked tiny! It looks like it has hardly any product in it (even though it says it has the average 30ml/1 fl.oz in it). It's just such a thin, little tube that it looks like you're getting ripped off. Now, this isn't really a minus, but just so you're not alarmed, the bottle will probably be smaller than what you expect ****BOTTOM LINE**** HOLLY GRAIL ALLERT! I recommend this to absolutely everyone! If you have dry skin, make sure to exfoliate, moisturize, prime and don't set it with a powder so that this doesn't cling to your dry patches, and you should be okay! This foundation is well worth it and it's absolutely amazing! Beautiful! Oh an BTW, make sure to SHAKE IT before you use it.
16 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Erase Paste in Fair
DaniDeelish 11/4/2012 7:47:00 AM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin, nose and under my eyes, pretty much normal everywhere else. I have horrible, blue-purple hereditary dark circles. ****CONCEALER CONSISTENCY**** This has a thick, whipped cream gel kind of consistency. It's different to any other texture I have tried. Like a thick, goopy creamy gel. ****APPLICATION**** I think the best way to apply this concealer is with your fingers. Because of it's thick consistency, the warmth in your fingers really helps blend the product in to your skin. So I usually use my fingers to apply it, and then finish blending it out with my beauty blender. ****PROS**** --This concealer will cover absolutely EVERYTHING! "Erase" paste is a very good name for it. It will erase everything you need it to. It has amazing full coverage and you only need the tiniest bit of it! --The colour is very peach/pink based, which is great for counteracting and covering dark circles. --This concealer has decent staying power. About 8 hours I'd say, which isn't bad. --This concealer will last you so long! ****CONS**** --The biggest con for me with this concealer is that this stuff creases like an absolute NIGHTMARE! Like omg. I've never in my life seen anything that creases this badly. Probably because of it's strange, thick consistency. No matter what I use (primer, powder), this creases far worse than any other concealer I've ever used, which annoys the crap out of me! A concealer that creases this badly will age your under eye area. Never a good thing! I can't stand the creasing in this. My bf even told me that my under eye area look awful when I wear this! --This concealer is strictly for under your eyes (IMO). As I mentioned above, it is very peach based, which is great for under your eyes, but not on your face (unless you use a peach/pink based foundation). If you put this on blemishes on your face, they will stand out (as most people do not wear a foundation with strong peach/pink bases). So I would not recommend it for your face (which limits the use of the concealer) --This concealer gets very cakey as the day goes on! A few hours after I apply it, I look in the mirror and it looks really cakey and un-natural. Never a good look. --The goopy thick texture won't be the best for people with oily skin, as your skin will look greasy. --The pot is not hygienic as you have to keep dipping your fingers in to it. ****BOTTOM LINE**** --If you have tried every concealer out there for your dark circles and none have covered them up, then I suggest you try this (if you can get past the intense creasing). This concealer will cover your dark circles instantly. But it's definitely not for people who like a crease-free under eye area. I probably won't repurchase, as I have other concealers that cover just as well and don't crease this badly.
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Foundations -Rimmel - Wake Me Up
DaniDeelish 10/21/2012 10:24:00 AM
First off, I would have given this foundation a 3.5/5 if that was an option. Since it's not, I thought this product was a little closer to 4 stars than to 3 (just a little closer) ****ABOUT MY SKIN**** I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin and nose, pretty much normal everywhere else. I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** I am an NW15 by MAC, and a "Gobi" in NARS Sheer Glow (I have very pink undertones) I chose shade 'Ivory 100' in this foundation (which is the lightest shade), which is slightly too dark for me once it dries down on the skin (I'd say about an NC20) ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** This foundation has a liquid consistency, but it's not too runny. If you pump some on the back of your hand it will not run off. It's just, IMO, the perfect consistency (liquid but not too runny) ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** This foundation has a definite dewy/shimmery, almost glittery finish. Definitely not for people with oily/combination skin. This foundation is best for normal or dry skin (because of the dewy finish, which will be too much and look greasy on oily-skinned people). It's almost a little too glittery even for me, as someone who prefers a dewy finish to the face. ****APPLICATION**** I have tried many ways of applying this foundation, all of which worked fine. This isn't a difficult foundation to work with. It works fine with a brush, sponge or your fingers. The way I prefer applying it, and the way I apply pretty much all of my foundations, is to start off working it in with my fingers (the warmth in your fingers helps melt the product better in to your skin and give you a more natural finish). Then I always use a damp beauty blender sponge to blend out any streaks that my fingers left, and to make the foundation look flawless and non-cakey. ****PROS**** --This foundation has medium, buildable coverage which is nice for ever day, not too much coverage but not too little. It's a nice everyday foundation, but I never use this for special events/going out or anything. --I love that this foundation comes with a pump! It makes it easy to control how much product comes out. --Has a reasonable staying power. Not crazy, but it does last about 6-8 hours on my skin before starting to wear off a little --Doesn't look heavy or cakey, it feels very natural and lightweight on the skin --Has a definite, strong citrus scent (which is wear I think it gets it's 'wake me up' foundation name from). This can be a 'con' (see below) --Does feel pretty nice and refreshing when you first apply it (cause of the scent which lingers while you're applying it, but then fades) --Has an SPF on 15 --This product is reasonably hydrating, which for my normal-dry skin is nice --Can be found in the drugstore and is pretty inexpensive, even in Australia --Has very sleek packaging which allows it to be stored easily ****CONS**** --This foundation is made for a very limited market. If you have oily/combination skin, or you don't like that dewy, almost sparkly effect to the skin than this is definitely not the foundation for you! Also, because of the fine glitter in this product, it will accentuate every pore, wrinkle, acne spot or imperfection that you have on your face! You have to have reasonably good skin, IMO, to like this product. --I don't like the fine glitter in this product (it looks a little greasy and is just too much). I like a dewy finish, but I think this foundation has crossed the lines of a 'dewy' finish foundation, and taken it to a 'sparkly' finish. --This product tends to oxidize a bit. Make sure you use a primer underneath it to help it oxidize as little as possible! --The scent can be a definite negative quality in this foundation (like I said, it fits the needs of a very limited group). If you have skin that's sensitive to scented makeup products, then stay far away from this (as the scent is very strong in this!) --Doesn't last very long through heat and sweat --Even though the bottle is thin and good for storage, it is a glass bottle, so I would never travel with it (I'd be afraid that it would break). --All of Rimmel's foundations have a limited shade range. There is no option for those light-skinned gals like myself. I can only wear this foundation in the summer as in the winter it's a little too dark for me. I have the lightest shade (Ivory 100), and that's about an NW20 by MAC (I'm about an NC15 in winter, NW20 in summer) If your skin is lighter than NW20, then you will not find a colour match in this foundation. I wish that Rimmel would make a lighter shade (around NC15), in all of their foundations! ****BOTTOM LINE**** I'm not sure whether I would repurchase this product or not, I'm on the fence about it. I probably wouldn't, as there just isn't anything that special about this product (no incredible staying power or coverage etc.) The things that are 'special' about this foundation I either don't really like (like the fine glitter in this product, which I just think provides too much shimmer. It is not a glow, but a shimmer/glitter which almost looks greasy on the skin) This isn't a horrible foundation, but I just don't find myself reaching for it that often as I have other foundations which I prefer a lot more. I find myself reaching for this product when I just need to run some errands and don't want to waste an expensive foundation/one that I really like..
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
DaniDeelish 10/21/2012 9:33:00 AM
****ABOUT MY SKIN**** I have normal-dry skin. Dry around my chin and nose, pretty much normal everywhere else. I don’t really have acne (just a few acne scars), but I have horrible hyper-pigmentation and redness on my cheeks (which requires a medium-full coverage foundation to cover it up). ****SHADE REFERENCE**** --I am an NC15 by MAC, and a "Gobi" in NARS Sheer Glow --I have very pink undertones to my skin, so I go for a neutral or yellow toned foundation (but never pink) to cancel out the redness in my skin --In terms of shades, I chose shade ‘Buff 150’ in this foundation, which is the lightest shade of this foundation I found in Australia. It's a pretty good colour match for me! ****FOUNDATION CONSISTENCY**** This foundation is kind of like a thick crème consistency. That’s the best way I can think of to describe it. It’s different to any other foundation I have tried. It’s not a liquid or a mousse, but very thick and creamy. ****FOUNDATION FINISH**** This product has a semi-matte finish IMO. Not quite completely matte, but definitely not dewy either. ****APPLICATION**** I have found that the best way to apply this foundation, for me, is to use my fingers. The warmth in your fingertips helps melt the thick creamy product better in to your skin. And I think for such a thick foundation, application is key. After I blend it over my face with my fingers, I then take a damp beauty blender and work that all over the foundation to perfect it. This has worked best for me in terms of application for this foundation (and any thick creamy foundation) ****PROS**** --The foundation provides medium, buildable coverage. Some say that this has full coverage, but on my skin it’s medium (as I can still see all of my freckles and redness after 1 layer of this) --The cream consistency allows it to blend very easily in to your skin --Doesn’t dry as quickly as the original Revlon Colorstay foundation. You actually have time to blend this one out and you don’t have to worry about it getting patchy/not blending properly --Doesn’t look cakey unless you apply an extreme amount of this stuff --Even though it’s so thick, it still feels reasonably light on the skin, and doesn’t feel oily or greasy (even though it’s so thick and creamy) --The staying power of this foundation is great! Not sure if it’s quite 24 hours (never had to wear my foundation that long), but it definitely lasts on my skin all day until I need to take it off! --Has an SPF of 20. Now, that's what it says on the jar of the one I bought (and I live in Australia), but I've heard that ones in America have no SPF, which is odd. So I can't really comment of that... --This foundation stays on during sweat and heat, a huge plus in a hot country! --Tends to not sink into pores or fine lines too much, looks really nice on the skin! ****CONS**** --This foundation is a little drying. I think it will work best for people with normal/combination/oily skin. Definitely not for those who have dry skin. This looks fine on my normal-dry skin initially, but within an hour or so I can see it emphasized dry patches on my nose and chin (looks a little flakey). --The jar is so darn heavy and huge, so obnoxious! You could probably bludgeon someone to death with it (I hope I’m not giving anyone any ideas =/ .. ) Anyway, there is just no need for this jar! It’s so hard to store and travel with! Just completely unnecessary! In Australia, we are allowed to test most of the drugstore products (this one is no exception). And the testers for these foundations come in normal squeezy tubes, which are so much smarter and easier to use than these huge murder weapons! --The foundation has a lot less product than it looks like it has, and less product than most foundations have (most foundations have 30ml/1 fl.oz of product, but this foundation has 23.7ml/0.8 fl.oz --This stuff is so expensive in Australia! $34.95! Ridiculous ****BOTTOM LINE**** I will repurchase this, and I do recommend it for everyone who doesn’t have extremely dry skin and wants medium-full coverage with long lasting power! It’s a really nice foundation that looks beautiful and natural on your face! I took 1 lippie off because of the the fact that it does dry my skin out a little..
5 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Cover Girl - WetSlicks Amazemint
DaniDeelish 10/20/2012 10:09:00 AM
These are the perfect “kissing glosses” in my mind. I shall explain why.. ****PROS**** --These glosses have the most amazing taste! They taste like peppermint with a slight hint of vanilla! This is perfect, ESPECIALLY for dates/kissing! The minty taste will help freshen your breath (it kind of tastes like you just popped a breath mint, which is a great +), as well as just making your lips taste amazing, and help give your partner better breath too! --They smell like minty vanilla as well! Delicious! --These glosses aren’t sticky (for glosses). I mean, every gloss is going to be at least a little sticky, but this one isn’t as sticky as most I have tried (and sticky glosses are a huge no-no for me in terms of lip products, I hate it! That’s why I hate all MAC glosses, they’re all just too damn sticky!) Again, the non-stickiness of these glosses is great for kissing! Nothing’s worse than kissing someone with sticky lips and it being all goopy and gross! --Come in a great selection of colours! --These glosses tingle (feel minty) and feel slightly cold on your lips! Now for some that can be a huge minus (my mum HATES the minty feeling on your lips that these glosses give you, but I absolutely love it!) If you hate that feeling, than these are not for you as the minty feeling stays on pretty much as long as the glosses stay on – there is no way around that minty feeling not even if you wear lipstick underneath this product. --They are pretty cheap and available from the drugstore ****CONS**** --These glosses have a pretty poor staying power. That’s probably their biggest minus. This comes back to the fact that they’re not very sticky. The stickier the gloss, the longer it will last (cause it will stick more to your lips. Makes sense lol). So you’re always going to have to choose between staying power of your gloss, or a very sticky gloss. I choose non sticky but not long staying power any day! Glosses are easy to reapply on the go! You don’t need a mirror or anything, they’re not like lipsticks. Which is why I don’t mind the not so long lasting quality of this gloss. I can just reapply it whenever I want, wherever I want! --Most of them aren’t very pigmented! I have a couple that are very pigmented for glosses, but most give a sheer amount of colour. Again, I don’t mind this. I don’t use glosses to give me a huge amount of colour (I use lipsticks for that). I just use glosses to add some gloss (obviously), and maybe a slight amount of colour (which these glosses do just fine!) --I don’t like the packaging too much, as product can sometimes leak out of the tube (through the little gap between the cap and the actual tube) ****BOTTOM LINE**** I love these glosses! The not good staying power and the low pigmentation don’t bother me. I love the way these taste and smell, like I said the perfect date or kissing glosses! They will not be the gloss for you if you want high pigmentation and amazing staying power, though! I will 100% keep repurchasing these! I always carry 1 in my handbag just in case that ‘kissing’ opportunity comes up! Absolute love! *DO try these if: You hate sticky lip glosses, you don't mind re-applying glosses often, you don't mind non-pigmented glosses, you like/don't mind a minty/cold tingly feel on your lips, and you like a minty, almost toothpaste taste. *DO NOT try these if: You want your gloss to last long, you like a really pigmented lip gloss, you don't like the cold, tingly feeling on your lips, or you don't like a minty taste to your gloss.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Sleek - Pout Polish ALL
DaniDeelish 10/20/2012 1:39:00 AM
*******UPDATE JANUARY 24******* Brought this product down to 3 stars and will not repurchase anymore. I never reach for this stuff. Because of the taste. Even my trusty covergirl wetslicks glosses can't completely mask the awful taste this product has. And it just completely puts my off the product. So wont repurchase anymore and never really use it. Would be great if it didn't have that awful taste. Still recommend if u can put up with the chemical taste. ****FIRST REVIEW**** This is a review specifically for the colour 'Frosting', as that is the only one that I own. The Sleek Pout Polishes are tinted lip balms, and the colour ' frosting' is a light, cool toned pink (like a baby pink)! ****PROS**** --Gorgeous colour that gives a light pink flush to the lips (only gives a slight amount of colur-it’s a tint, but I like that in this product) --Supposed to be kind of like an all in one product (lip balm, colour and leaves a glossy finish) --Feels amazing and lightweight on the lips (but still very moisturising) --Smells amazing! Actually smells like frosting! --Comes in a wide selection of colours --Has an SPF on 15 --Relatively cheap --‘Sleek’ packaging allows for easy travel and storage. --Supposed to be a dupe to MAC’s tinted lip conditioners (although I have not tried those) ****CONS**** --The taste is awful! I cannot believe anyone would enjoy the taste of this (like one review on here said. Maybe I just got a bad bunch?)That's the reason it lost 1 lippie for me! Actually, I would have given this product 3.5 lippies if I could (since that's not an option, I thought it was closer to 4 than to 3). It tastes like chemicals! Disgusting! And for a lip product, that is a HUGE no-no for me! You’re going to lick your lips whether you mean to or not (either way you’re going to get a taste of your lip product), and when I taste this it makes me want to puke, gross! Because of the horrible taste, I have to have another lip product on top that tastes nice (to get rid of the horrible taste of this product). But that defeats the purpose of this being an all-in-one product (colour, balm and gloss) I use Covergirl wetslicks amazemint glosses. They taste like minty vanilla, and mask the awful taste of the Sleek Pout Polishes. --The container, although it doesn’t really bother me, is unsanitary because you have to keep dipping into the same product every time. --This is not the product for you if you want a lot of colour from all of your lip products. This will only give a slight amount of colour ****BOTTOM LINE**** I do recommend this to everyone who likes a sheer amount of pigmentation with a soft glossy finish, and I will continue to re-purchase it if it runs out and maybe try some other colours. But I do recommend getting a yummy tasting gloss to go on top of it (eg the covergirl amazemint ones), otherwise you’re going to get a strong chemical taste every time you lick your lips..
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Becca - Pearl Shimmering Skin Perfector
DaniDeelish 10/19/2012 10:00:00 PM
I got this stuff after seeing a video by youtube guru Lisa Eldridge. I love this stuff so much! My favorite, HG highlighter! ****PROS**** --Gives you a gorgeous natural GLOW to the skin! It's not shimmer or glitter, just a glow! The shimmer in this thing is so finely milled that it's insane and just reflects for the most natural, amazingly beautiful finish! --Makes your SKIN look glowy! There are many highlighters that clearly look like makeup and you can clearly tell you're wearing highlighter and make your MAKEUP glow, while this makes it look like your skin is glowy! --Comes with a lot of product (50ml/1.7 fl.oz), which will last forever as you only need the tiniest bit of this product! I use about half a grain of rice for my cheekbones, under my brows, down my nose and cupids bow. --So versatile. You can mix some with your moisturiser to make your skin look glowy, mix it with your foundation to make it a little sheerer and look luminous, or use it as a traditional highlighter --The consistency is great! It's a liquid, but not too runny! You have plenty of time to blend this stuff out. --Comes in 4 shades I think. Pearl is the lightest, creamy white one. Beautiful for light-medium skin tones! --Has an SPF of 25! (Can also be a con) ****CONS**** --I'm not the biggest fan of the pump. I like the way the packaging looks, but the pump on mine always gets kind of jammed (I can't pump a little), it always pumps out a whole pump which is way too much and wasteful! --This stuff is so expensive and hard to find! I bought it for around $60 (including shipping). I couldn't find any on ebay or anything! To find where you can buy them, go to google's 'shopping' option, and type in the product name. --Even though the SPF is nice in this product, it means I can't wear it out where there's going to be pictures as the high SPF in this will reflect in pictures (will give you a white cast. We want a glow, not a white cast) ****BOTTOM LINE**** I recommend this to everyone who's looking for a natural glow! It's not oily and sparkly, just glowy! It's an investment, but a little will go a long way and this product will last you ages! I like applying it with ELF's small stippling brush (best one for it as the bristles are short and it doesn't disturb the foundation) but you could definitely use your fingers! LOVE this stuff! Will definitely re-purchase if/when it runs out!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No