Skincare - Face -Payot - Pate Grise Purifiante
Eva5 1/25/2013 7:43:00 PM
I did not find this product as effective as I hoped it would be. The smell reeks of cigarettes. It stays very sticky on your face so I sometimes add bentonite clay to it. It's quite unremarkable. It's just something else in my arsenal that I use in tandem with other products because by itself it doesn't do a great deal.
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup (new - 2011 version)
Eva5 1/25/2013 7:14:00 PM
This is my second favourite foundation. Unlike its predecessor, the flawless forever which broke me out this seemed to actually improve my skin. It caused no problems for my difficult hypersensitive to ingredients skin. I get cosmetic acne with most products but I know what I'm looking for now so that helps. This is a lovely velvety medium finish which has good longevity. My single gripe was that the colour I bought (020) was a bit pale for me so I tend to wear it in winter. The next yellowy shade one I thought was a bit too yellow so resisted buying. It also makes me a bit shiny in summer. It's an excellent product.
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Foundations -Clarins - extra firming foundation
Eva5 1/25/2013 7:08:00 PM
I have tried a very large number of foundations across the whole price spectrum. I suffer from cosmetic acne. As my skin is sensitized to so many ingredients I struggle to find something that doesn't lead to problems.The main culprits for me I have discovered are the products containing coconut derived ingredients. I suspect this is the problem for a lot of people but they just don't know it yet. I won't go into my research here but I don't buy anything now without reading ingredient lists. Sales Assistants regard me as an oddity for taking such an interest and don't understand but hey. I think they just think I am some weird academic researcher- which funnily enough!.... My point is this: - Coverage is a good medium. Will cover imperfections and pores. I apply makeup using a magnifying mirror and when I compare the coverage with other foundations it looks the most natural on skin. - The finish is consistently beautiful and goes on easily. It is a light cream and will not look cakey (Ive no idea how this works on dry skin though). I don't know about lifting. It doesn't feel tightening. Just radiant. -I don't have time to touch up in a working day and this stays on all day and still looks good even after a drink after work (12 hours all told). -I have difficulty matching colours as everything looks pink on me.The colour (Honey) is perfect. In this formula Honey is a soft true golden beige and stays that way. - *It most definitely does not cause break outs for people with skin sensitive to coconut derivative products*. I have used this for about 5 months now with no issues brought about by this product. - Some may not like the fragrance. It is light, floral, pretty and dissipates on application. It is by no means overpowering. -It can get a sheen later in the day but its ok. It depends what you use underneath. eg. a zinc based matt sunscreen will not lead to shine. A glossy moisturiser probably will. I do get shiny with everything else but this compares well in the shine stakes. I dust over with bronzer from Bobbi Brown Golden Lights and it works well for me I like a satiny- velvet finish. In summer I use the Clarins fix spray if its hot but this does give me too much shine for my taste, but then I use a matt bronze powder. . - It is pricey £28.00 in Boots but thats whatcha points are for. I have done a rare thing for me and not only finished the first bottle but repurchased before I ran out. It lasts well too. It is the one I have been looking for. So they will probably discontinue it now!! I am finally completely happy with a foundation. Hallelujah!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -MAC - Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50
Eva5 7/28/2011 6:41:00 PM
This gives a very matt look. It looks great with Laura Mercier silk foundation. Creates perfection in fact. The idea of the double duty formula sounds great. Unfortunately for me it blocked my pores terribly and gave me spots. I have to agree about the packaging too. Its incredibly difficult to squeeze the hard plastic tube.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Chanel - UV Essentiel Protective UV Care Anti Pollution SPF 50
Eva5 7/28/2011 6:38:00 PM
Thats a hell of a lot of money to pay to get blocked pores. On my cheeks. Where I never get them. It stung my eyes too.
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Laura Mercier - Dune Bronze
Eva5 7/28/2011 6:35:00 PM
I loved this when I bought it. I had to get rid of it. I am convinced that this product gave me the worst, most catastrophic cystic acne condition my skin has ever suffered. They were like boils and months later after trying bentonite clay mixed with castor oil, mixed with heat treatment, glycolic, salicylic acid, mandelic acid, horseradish- everything I can think of! - my skin is still not over the bumps this stuff caused. I 'think' it was the cornstarch but am not sure. Will check out the other ingredients this little shop of horrors contains and update when I get the chance.
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Sunscreen -La Roche Posay - Anthelios SPF 30 AC Fluid Extreme
Eva5 7/28/2011 6:25:00 PM
I wore this for best part of a year. I thought it worked just fine though a bit shiny and balled up if I used it directly on top of Biotherm moisturiser. It didnt cause spots and breakouts but I noticed my pores were always blocked on my forehead and generally had minor congestion all over my face. I happened to notice that on the box mine came in the dreaded Cetyl Alcohol ( a comedogenic 5 rating) was present. I note with interest that this ingredient isn't in the drop down list of ingredients. Odd. Isocetyl Stearate is also a 5 so either way it blocks my pores.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Alpha-H - Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50
Eva5 7/28/2011 7:04:00 AM
This is really a rant but also a warning to others. Like many people I have difficulty finding a decent sunscreen that doesn't break me out. I had decided to try this product based on reviews which all said how light it was, how the whole line is aimed at people with cosmetic acne like me and this is their best selling product. I couldn't find the whole list of ingredients, only 'key' ingredients. So-- I emailed the company to ask. They sent me back a list. A half baked list as it turns out. I spent £27 on this stuff. I got it today. The company I bought it from were great. The problem is the list of ingredients goes on and on.I use a really good site (www.CosDna.com) to check ingredients and products out for comedogenicity. The 9th ingredient is Isopropyl Myristate. I can't use myristates in any form. (is it coconut?). My skin hates the stuff. This particular ingredient rates a 5 on the comedogenicity scale and is therefore a complete no no for spotty girls. Alpha-H customer services suck. What is the point in being half helpful and leaving out the crucial information that was plainly requested? The company I bought it from are lovely and I am sending it back to them but am boycotting Alpha-H. I am fuming. I am going to post the full ingredients for this so no one else falls for this crap.
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Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose
Eva5 12/22/2010 7:49:00 PM
I did find this a bit gloopy at first but then most mascaras are (unless they are dried out from the start). I just wipe off the excess until it settles down. I bought Double Density by Elizabeth Arden at the same time. This did make my eyelashes look thicker but the colour was flatter, more of a matt black and it knocked the curl out. I have stopped putting mascara on both sides of my lashes and just do it like make-up artists now, underneath, and that certainly helps retain the curl. The thing I particularly like about this one is the colour it imparts. I haven't yet found one with this sort of almost blue blackness that adds depth and, I think, sparkle to my eyes. Quite simply it makes my eyes look more attractive than any other one I have found. I am now using divaderme with it. Like Wow!
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Eyes -Unlisted Brand - Divaderme Lash Extender
Eva5 12/22/2010 7:17:00 PM
I have enormous difficulty using false eyelashes and don't much like the idea of losing my own through having extensions done- I believe it's very damaging and can pull them out. Read the reviews for this and ordered it in UK ( am always worried to say where from in case my account gets deleted as advertising!). Anyway, it is expensive but I thought 1- According to reviews, it lasts an age and 2- It's cheaper than the alternatives. As soon as it was delivered I had to try it. I had watched some really good YouTube videos (just did a search for divaderme or lash extenders) that demonstrated how to use it. I did exactly what they advised and it worked like a dream. My God this stuff is brilliant, and easy to use (and take off). It is genuinely one of the few products that delivers its promise. An instant fluttery prettifier. I thoroughly recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Giorgio Armani - Armani
Eva5 10/15/2010 2:46:00 PM
Out of curiosity I checked the reviews for this out.It is surprising there aren't any as the other reviewer states. I don't really like to share fragrance finds because I can't think of anything more likely to put me off something than it being worn by everyone. Having said this, when my man wears this it makes me want to do terrible things. Its very sensual.
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Liquid -Clinique - Anti Blemish Solutions Liquid Make Up
Eva5 5/1/2010 9:26:00 AM
I read the reviews for this and it sounded so promising. I am on a major research project of my own trying to find products that don't break my extremely reactive skin out. I have a cleanser, a moisturiser and have been staying away from over drying products. I have also stopped piling on products. My skin was responding quite well to this. The only bugbear has been trying to find a foundation and to this end I have been trialling them all. I have discarded so many of my own and rather than purchase one after another I take my own pots and gently persuade SAs to give me samples. This foundation I bought because I thought it was a no-brainer. No-one had reported breaking out with this. It is aimed at us spotty girls for heavens sake! The SA tried to match me to the wrong shades. I told her the colour I needed and its ok but none of them sparkle on me. Skin with golden or yellowy tones don't match up well to Clinique. Anyway. Sunday wore it for first time. I have since worn it 3 more times. PROS: It goes on really nice, evenly and light and it doesn't sit in pores or accentuate lines. It gives a fresh look that is not totally matt and dead looking. The look in fact is quite pleasing and natural. I could add that the packaging is light and hygienic and travels well. CONS: The bloody stuff has broken me out. I can't believe it. I don't know what is in it that would do this and so blamed it on other things (hormones etc). Every time I wear it at least another three spots appear. Is it purging? I don't know. I know blemishes are meant to take 90 days to travel to surface so perhaps it is simply hastening this journey time but I don't know where its finding them. My skin also looks really parched and pores seem bigger. Face washes with salicylic acid do that to my skin and are just too drying. Maybe I am the wrong age group for this stuff. I can't even take it back to Boots because they don't take back cosmetics. In the future I have decided to buy premium brand cosmetics from a certain department store in England because their returns policy is the best. As a matter of interest I just had a little look over the reviews for this. There may be the exception but the people who love it are either very young or have oily skin. I am in my forties and don't have especially oily skin and have golden undertones.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Weleda - Birch Cellulite Oil
Eva5 3/15/2010 7:47:00 PM
This has a very pleasant smell and I like the fact that it is a natural oil rather than smearing chemicals all over my skin. It is a nice moisturiser and helps my fake tan go on smoothly. I massaged it religiously into my thighs with one of those wooden nodule things for about six to eight weeks prior to my holiday.I did this after dry brushing then showering. I did it at least twice a day. I do have cellulite. I had something called eporex treatment some years ago which I didn't keep up and it made bumps worse in the long run. I bought several bottles of this stuff due to it having such good reviews. A topical lotion aint gonna do much for proper cellulite. I know this, but with daily massage, I thought there may have been some improvement. It did nothing for my cellulite whatsoever. I think it gave me hives.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clarins - Everlasting Foundation SPF 15
Eva5 2/27/2010 6:07:00 PM
I hate to be a party pooper but I think this stuff is weird. I got a sample of Honey and used it at night. It was so quick to put on I was amazed- plus point obviously. It covered everthing and on the whole, although it was a bit sort of mask like for my taste I thought I looked quite good. Flaws were erased as if by magic and it was quite a perfect finish. It does not sit in pores or look cakey at all. Its quite light textured and very matte and powdery- more so than ELs Doublewear with fuller coverage! I thought the colour looked a bit too yellowy on me though and didn't feel too comfortable in it. I picked up another sample of Sand which was much to pale and made me look ill. MACs skinfinish over the top used with the idea of enlivening my face (its like a magic trick for me and has proved a failsafe at delivering warmth and depth) only made me look too powdery. My conclusion is that this would suit someone who likes full coverage and can get a good match. They seem to have an inbalance in the pink based tones to the yellow or neutral ones. I am fair with golden undertones and it deadened my face. Oh yes, it is very strongly fragranced.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Espresso Ink Long Wear Gel Eyeliner
Eva5 2/26/2010 5:52:00 PM
I have never used a gel eyeliner before. Wish I had. It's a whole new world for me. I always get the gen on products on this site first and y'all came through for me again. I love this stuff. It does everything they say it does. I am over 40 and thought my days wearing eyeliner were through unless I wanted to look like a drag artist. There were two SAs on the counter wearing two different looks with this. I wanted a natural tightliner look. I should add that I only wear this at the base of my upper eyelashes and sweep it either side. Very understated but it gives a more polished effect than without it. Makes the contrast of the whites of your eyes stand out. Never done tightlining before until I saw something on Youtube by an American male makeup artist- can't remember his name but he was good. I bought the Benefit 'get bent' brush which just seems like a lipbrush and is overpriced but does a good job. The SAs put the black ink on one eye and the espresso on the other. They were both nice but I thought this one was a bit more subtle. I don't know why I have never used this before, It looks amazing and will doubtless last forever unless it dries out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No