Lip Gloss -Clarins - Instant Light Lip Perfector - Rose Shimmer
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 4/16/2013 2:14:00 AM
I recieved this as a sample a few days ago and it has not left my side since. It is such a lovely product. I struggle to find a lip treatment that nourishes my lips, most just create more chapping on me but not this. The texture is somewhere between a luxurious balm and a gloss, it is not sticky at all and glides on extremely smoothly. It feels soft as you apply it. It smells divine, like vanilla or marshmallows or something, it's not an overpowering scent just softly sweet and I love it, fortunately it doesn't taste like it smells or it wouldn't last 2 minutes on my lips before I was licking it off again! It intensely moisturises my lips and leaves behind a soft glossy sheen, plus it really does what it says on the packaging. Perfecting my lips by hiding any small lines. The packaging is lovely, I am especially loving the applicator and have never seen one like it before. You squeeze the tube until the product comes out onto a soft fabric covered applicator which allows the product to glide on so smoothly and softly. The sample I recieved was for the Nude shade but I could not find a review for that so wrote it here. I understand the formula and packaging are the same for the other shades, Rose Shimmer and Apricot Shimmer. I would highly recommend this product and want to try the Rose Shimmer next since being pale I tend to suit pink shades more than nude ones. This product has soon become a HG for me and I will always repurchase.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Illusion D'Ombre - Illusoire
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 11/13/2012 12:38:00 PM
I love, love, love the IdO's. particularly this one. The texture is like a creamy mousse, there is loads if microshimmer in this beautiful grey/purple shade. The colour is similar to their ombre essentielle in Taupe Gris but with lot's more shimmer. They come in a beautiful little glass pot with a tiny brush which is a nice qualty and makes it easy to apply the product. The eyeshadow applies beautifully, is easy to blend and lasts for ages on me. I use this particular shade as a wash allover my lid for a super easy subtle smoky eye. I usually pair it with the IdO in Mirifique along my lashline and a nude lip (glossy or matte).
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Polishes -Essie - Ballet Slippers
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 11/13/2012 12:30:00 PM
When I first tried this shade I hated the streaky mess it became on my nails, but with a little experimentation and practice I can now apply it so it's streak free. This is what I do: I apply 2 coats of my base coat this gives a good smooth base on which to apply your polish. The first coat is always streaky, I try to use as few brushstrokes as possible. Often I can get it streak free by the second coat sometimes I'll do a 3rd (I find it's always perfect with 3 coats). I then top with a regular topcoat followed by a quick drying topcoat to avoid dents or smudges to my neatly applied polish. I love the colour, it's neat, clean and elegant looking and my absolute favourite pedi colour too. My nails look like Giada's with this polish and I have since found out that this is what she uses too! Warning: Once you get half way through the bottle you will need to regularly thin the polish (please use polish thinner as polish remover will ruin it) so it continues to apply as streak free as possible - goopy polish = streaks IME.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Marshmallow
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 6/6/2012 10:58:00 AM
If I do a french manicure this is the only polish I will use for my tips. It is easy to apply and gives a beautiful natural looking french or American Manicure. Very clean looking when used alongside Essie Mademoiselle. Generally I do a Base coat, one coat Mademoiselle, one coat Marshmallow on the tips and another coat Mademoiselle and then top coat.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Carmex - LipBalm
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 6/1/2012 4:09:00 AM
It actually works! I have used many HE and DS lip treatments in the past and none have really helped to keep my lips moisturised except this. I come back to it time and time again because it works, everytime. Many lipsticks cause my lips to chap which looks awful (some balms do this too) and Carmex always moisturises and smooths my lips and removes any flaking it truely is a HG product for me in that respect (especially for the great price!). It has a sort of medicinal with a hint of vanilla scent, it's not a greasy balm and lasts a long time on the lips. When first applied it kind of gently tingles too. Plus it is very easy to find, it is sold almost everywhere! I have a number of these little pots dotted around so I am never too far away from some. The only thing that bothers me is the fact it's in a tub, I feel it is a little unhygienic and have tried the stick version of this balm but somehow it just doesn't live up to the original for me. All in all it will remain my HG. I am terrible and always end up trying new things but I'm sure, as I have in the past, always come back to Carmex.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Chanel - Gentle BiPhase Eye Makeup Remover
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 5/27/2012 5:19:00 AM
This is really great eye make-up remover. It's bi-phase so you have to shake it up to combine the liquids before use. It removes even waterproof eyeliner and mascara with ease, doesn't leave an oily residue and doesn't make my eyes sore either. It's an HG product for me and IMO much better than often awarded Lancome version.
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Lotions/ Creams -Clarins - Hand and Nail Treatment Cream
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 5/22/2012 3:35:00 AM
I love this hand cream, I have tried others including the Chanel hand cream wich is really expensive and have come back to the Clarins. It is the only hand cream that actually does moisturise my hands well and improves the condition of my nails. I use it a couple of times a day, it has a nice light creamy consistancy that sinks in quickly and smells a little floral but mostly fresh. I think this is my HG (I have never found anything better), I also like that you can get a version with SPF which I keep in my handbag. I will keep coming back to this since it works so well and is much cheaper than other HE alternatives.
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Lotions/ Creams -Chanel - Coco Mademoiselle Velvet Body Oil
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 4/23/2012 2:55:00 PM
My SO bought this for me since I love the EDP, the body cream and the shower gel in the Coco Mademoiselle scent. It's beautiful, a pale peachy pink oil in the signature deco style rectangular container. It has a spray nozzle so is super easy to apply and when I use it, it glides onto my skin delicatly scenting it and makes me feel like a million bucks. It's heavenly and such a treat, it's nicely moisturising, makes my skin glow and doesn't leave me sticky like some body oils can. The scent also lingers for a long time on me. I like to use it before a night out so my skin softly glistens, gorgeous.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - Vanity Fairest
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 4/16/2012 2:40:00 AM
l love this sheer pale pink with microshimmer from Essie. I have tried many of the Essie pale/sheer polishes and find most of them streak no matter how carefully I apply them. But not Vanity Fairest or Mademoiselle for that matter. If I am in a rush I can slap a couple of coats of this on and my nails can look perfect with minimal effort. I am incredibly pale and find Vanity Fairest works slightly better on me than Mademoiselle (this can sometimes look too pink) it also whitens my tips so my nails look like an American manicure without the extra effort required to paint the tips. The shimmer is hardly noticeable but gives the polish a lit from within look. I love the natural, groomed, my nails but better look this polish gives me and I will continue to repurchase when I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -NARS - Lipstick in Dolce Vita
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 4/16/2012 2:33:00 AM
This lipstick has pulled me away from Chanel lipsticks which I find at first are lovely but then become quite drying. I wanted so much for the new Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle to be my perfect MLBB shade but it turns orangey on me. I bought Dolce Vita because I had heard so much about it and I am so glad I did! It gives the neutral, polished, rosey MLBB look that I wanted from Mademoiselle. Not only is it a better colour on my super pale, cool toned complexion (I have naturally rosey lips) it is so moisturising I find it better than most lip balms I have tried. A winner all round for me.
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Bon Bon Glossimer
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 1/31/2012 3:52:00 PM
I am very pleased that Chanel has released this shade as a glossimer. It has been a favourite of mine since I used to wear it in Cristalle gloss form. I have also been using the Aqualumiere gloss of the same name which I love but find it is not very long-wearing. Now with the glossimer I have the perfect pale pink shimmer gloss with the lasting power I want. Although looking at the Aqualumiere and the Glossimer side by side the Aqualumiere is a touch rosier, but both are very similar and hve the same beautiful, subtle, fine golden sparkle that the shade has always had. Everytime I wear this gloss I get compliments on it. It looks great on it's own and is fantastic for layering over lipsticks too. I particularly like it over Chanel Rouge Coco in Camelia or Nars Dolce Vita. With a smoky night time eye I will wear it alone, it's subtle and non-tacky, long-lasting and polished looking. As long as Chanel keep churning out Bon Bon gloss, I will buy it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Essie - East Hampton Cottage
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 1/10/2012 8:31:00 AM
This is my favourite pedi polish. I am extremely pale skinned and find most neutrals to be too pink or too white for my skintone but this is perfect. It's bright and clean looking with a beautiful fine shimmer throughout. I tend to wear it on my toes because I have found it to streak a bit when I apply it to my nails and I am very OCD about streaks and chips, but I can't see any streaks when I apply it to my toes. I love Essie polishes in general due to the easy to work with consistency and the brush suits my nails better than the wide brushes and the little square bottles with the white caps are just adorable. i will definately be buying this product again when I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Aussie - Aussome Volume
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 12/9/2011 5:42:00 AM
I have been using this recently because I am so sick of high-priced shampoo and conditioners that simply do nothing for my fine, thin, limp hair. I decided to take a chance on a drugstore brand after many years of Kerastase, Redken, TiGi and Bumble & Bumble with no imprvement to my locks. Aussie Aussome Volume however is a miracle worker for me. It really does volumise my hair even before I blow dry I can see it looks much thicker. But thats not the only great thing about this shampoo, it cleans really well without stripping my hair. Other reviewers have commented on it being drying but I have not found this at all. It lathers beautifully and rinses out very easily and even before conditioner my hair feels so much softer and really clean. I use this in conjuction with 3 minute miracle conditioner which is another fantastic product. I am over the moon that I have finally found something that really works for me and doesn't cost the earth! Plus it smells amazing! UPDATE: After a couple of weeks use, this turned from perfect to nightmare for my hair. I ended up with lots of buildup and greasy lank looking hair the day after I washed it. Dropped a few lippies and won't be buying again.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -TiGi - Health Factor
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 12/9/2011 5:35:00 AM
I'm sorry to put a downer on the reviews for this but it just doesn't work for me. It doesn't lather as well (being sulphate free I understand that), afterwards my hair feels as though the product hasn't rinsed away properly and the smell! I like the initial grapefruit scent but once I start working it into my hair I can't bear it, sort of ammonia-like? I am not a fan of the conditioner either both products leave my hair dull and limp. I will not be re-purchasing.
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Treatments -OPI - Avoplex Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment
EnglishRoseAmongThorns 11/23/2011 11:58:00 AM
I love this, I wanted something that was a portable cuticle moisturiser that would also get rid of hangnails. I tried many othe portable products like OPI Avoplex to go - just didn't get rid of hangnails and took a while to sink in; Burts Bees Lemon Butter - nice scent and moisturises pretty well but left my manis dull looking. Oils are a nightmare, they are greasy and horrific when they leak all over your bag! This product is great, it's light, it's not greasy, it doesn't leak, it moisturises brilliantly and has gotten rid of my hangnails, it smells so fresh and thanks to the bottle design is easy to apply and small enough to fit in my purse. I think this is my HG cuticle treatment!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No