Mascara -Clinique - Naturally Glossy Mascara
Ianthe19 4/10/2011 12:18:00 PM
I have short, sparse & poker straight eyelashes. This product clearly was not designed for someone like me - but I was intrigued by the MUA reviews and also fancied trying something more natural and less clump-tastic than my usual Estee Lauder and YSL thickening/lengthening mascara brands. I was so impressed - despite having the most rubbish eyelashes in the world this product definitely accentuated what I have, in a v natural way, and I also found it to be *slightly* thickening and lengthening - again, in a very natural way. Enough so that I could go out and party with it on, and not feel like I had a bad case of eyelash baldness. The brush is fantastic too - really easy to use and coats all eyelashes. Great product.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Kerastase - Elixir Ultime
Ianthe19 4/4/2011 5:13:00 PM
I'm a Kerastase girl when it comes to hair and I was so excited to try this. I was disappointed though; it was totally average and no better than any of the other Kerastase serums. Saying that, it's a decent serum, and doesn't make my long, dry, fine highlighted hair greasy or weighed down. It doesn't turn it dull or anything. But it didn't change my life. Drat!
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Clarins - Instant Light Complexion Perfector
Ianthe19 4/4/2011 4:10:00 PM
I love this ... I use the Champagne Shimmer, which is amazing for my yellow toned skin. It gives my skin a gorgeous glow. I generally either mix it with my foundation or use it alone when I've run out of foundation. It's the only primer/highlighter I've ever used, so can't compare it to others. However, it never breaks me out and I will definitely repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Estee Lauder - Sumptuous Extreme
Ianthe19 3/31/2011 5:19:00 PM
This so did not work for me ... based on the marketing and MUA reviews I was expecting a lot. I have thin, poker-straight eye lashes and I need all the help I can get, but seriously, Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara works better for me ... and I ain't a Clinique girl (for general skincare I use Clarins, but have always been partial to Estee Lauder mascaras). On the plus side, it was fab at volumising, but on my eyelashes it just didn't lengthen. V disappointed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Kerastase - Specifique Bain Clarifiant
Ianthe19 10/30/2010 2:59:00 PM
I don't have oily hair, but I brought this shampoo because I wanted a clarifying shampoo to get rid of build up. I only use Kerastase products, because I find they're the only products that keep my fine (but lots of it) very highlighted, dry hair in decent condition. I was worried that this would be too drying and strip my hair of moisture and colour - but it hasn't. It makes my hair feel very squeaky clean. It's not a shampoo designed to moisturize, so if like me you have dry hair that's also very prone to tangling when you wash it you'll definitely need to use a conditioner afterwards. I read somewhere that Kerastase products are meant to be used in certain combinations, and for me this was very true with regards this shampoo. It works really well for me when I condition it afterwards with Kérastase Soleil Lait Richesse - well moisturised, nice finish with good volume - but it didn't work so well when I conditioned it with Kérastase Ciment Anti-Usure (which works really well for me when I use it with the shampoo in the same range). It's slightly runnier than other Kerastase shampoos, but lathers brilliantly and smells very clean and fresh. It was exactly what I was looking for and my experience with it has been very positive so will definitely re-purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clarins - True Radiance (Light Reflecting Oil-Free) [DISCONTINUED]
Ianthe19 10/30/2010 2:29:00 PM
This is my HG foundation. I have naturally pale, yellow toned skin, although I use fake tan a lot. This foundation blends perfectly with my natural skin tone, whether I'm pale as hell or super-tanned (I get it in 05 Shell). It leaves a lovely dewy finish (v important as I'm 37 so need all the help I can get). However, as well as looking natural, it also seriously improves the overal look of my skin - it makes it look flawless (which it most certainly isn't, as I have quite a few blemish scars on my chin). For me, it gives a perfect coverage - pretty lights and not overdone, but sufficient to blend out old blemish scars. I find it lasts all day and into the evening (I do set it with a little Clarins powder - though haven't found my HG powder yet). I have dryish skin, but my t-zone is prone to rosacea-type break-outs. This foundation never breaks me out, despite having slept in it on many occasions. :-} I've brought it time and time again. One of the best there is IMO - and I've tried a fair few similarly high end ones.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Kerastase - Bain Volumactive Shampoo 
Ianthe19 9/20/2010 1:49:00 PM
For some reason the Bain Volumactive Shampoo had the opposite effect on my hair (as did the masque in the same range), it made it limper than ever. Very odd - maybe something to do with water quality, as I notice others also experience this effect. I'm a massive Kerastase fan - it saves the life of my long, fine (but lots of it) highlighted-to-death hair. However, this was not a good product and wouldn't recommend.
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Shampoo -Kerastase - Bain Age Recharge
Ianthe19 9/20/2010 1:43:00 PM
A decent shampoo .. but not an HG for me I only ever use Kerastase hair products, as my long, fine (but lots of it) highlighted-to-death hair is dry as hell, and only Kerastase enables me to live like a normal human being. I was finding that the Bain Satin range was getting a little heavy in my hair and weighing it down (although it's a fab range, and one I always go back to). Before I tried the Bain de Force range (which I also love, as it helps to volumise my hair, without being too drying) I thought I'd give the Bain Age-Recharge a go, in the hope it would freshen up my hair whilst still giving it the de-luxe Kerastase treatment. It sort of did - it's a decent shampoo, make no mistake - but unfortunately it was not moisturizing enough for my hair. Used with the hair masque in the same range it was absolutely fine, but by itself, not moisturizing enough to make my hair feel pampered, or tempt me to buy it again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Decleor - Radiance Revealing Peel-off Mask (Source D'eclat)
Ianthe19 8/15/2010 1:14:00 PM
I'm pretty new to Decleor, as always identified as a Clarins girl. However, I tried this full size mask along with some other sample size items. I really liked the mask and find it very effective. It properly grips the skin as it tightens, and peels off easily and in one piece, taking with it the surface of any fake tan I still have left on my face. My skin has been particularly good since trying out Decleor (for round about the last month). I'm also using the neroli facial oil and the hydra floral cream. I've had less break outs than usual. My only issue with Decleor is the price - it is expensive compared to Clarins. However, if it performs well, I'm happy to pay extra.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Kerastase - Ciment Thermique
Ianthe19 8/15/2010 10:31:00 AM
I love Kerastase - every now and then I try something else, but am always disappointed. I have fine hair, very prone to being weighed down, that is very dry, particularly at the ends, due to regular all-over highlighting for many years. I use Ciment Thermique as part of my general Kerastase routine, alongside other resistance products. Basically, it's great (when used with the shampoo and conditioner in the same range - if I didn't use Kerastase shampoo and conditioner my hair would be a disaster). My hair looks as good as it's ever going to get, and I can get away with not using straighteners. I use quite a generous amount, and don't find it weighs my hair down.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Matrix - Biolage Ultra Hydrating Conditioning Balm
Ianthe19 8/15/2010 10:05:00 AM
This is truly awful stuff. I thought I'd give it a go as it got such good reviews, and was so cheap. I usually use Kerastase, so you can understand my desire to save money. :-) It smelt really chemically, and didn't leave my hair with that 'already straightened' effect that Kerastase achieves. In a nutshell, it felt like cheap, super market conditioner, so I only used it the once.
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