Misc Beauty Tools -Boots - NO.7 BEAUTIFUL SKIN CLEANSING BRUSH
Itisred 2/21/2013 9:18:00 AM
The new No.7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Brush is Boots own version of a Clarisonic. Currently on sale for £24.95 it was originally released with an introductory offer of £15 - which sold it to me. It is battery operated and comes with one standard removeable brush head and has two speed settings. Replacement brush heads are sold in a pack of 2 for £8. It feels sturdy and comfortable to hold. Now I have never tried a Clarisonic (so can't compare) but after reading positive reviews about BSCB decided to give this face brush a try before spending a huge amount on the original. I have mature skin with an oily T-Zone and dry/normal cheeks. My skin gets dehydrated and has a tendency to look dull. I look after my complexion as best I can but the plague of blackheads over my nose was really getting me down. Boots recommend using BSCB with their melting cleanser and for no longer than 30 seconds at a time. I am a recent convert to Soap & Glory's "Face, Soap & Clarity" so used it successfully with that and I have to say I am very impressed! Having used it twice I can honestly see a huge difference in my skin already. It is brighter, clearer and my blackheads are considerably improved. It gives a lovely deep clean and exfoliates really well. I used it very lightly over my cheeks, forehead and chin, concentrating on my nose. My skin felt clean and refreshed -not sore or tingly as I had imagined it might on the dryer areas of my face. Obviously it's early days but I am very positive about the results and for the money I consider it worth it. Since using this my foundation looks flawless and I only have to use half the amount I usually apply as my skin looks that good! If you are on a budget or just reluctant to spend out on a Clarisonic I would definately recommend trying this version. My only gripe? Different texture brush heads would be great - but for now I love the results.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum
Itisred 1/15/2012 8:16:00 AM
One word - STUNNING! Plinko's review absolutely says it all, but I felt compelled to add my adoration of this fragrance. I haven't felt this excited about a fragrance since Tom Ford designed White Patchouli, this is different but equally exciting (to me).... Bottega Veneta is a brand I can only dream about as it is way out of my price range. If you can't have the clothes/accessories you can wear the fragrance right? So I was very nervous when the company released their first offering. Would it live up to the Bottega Veneta image? Absolutely! I think it most definately has - pure sophistication on every level. On first sight the packaging looks very simple but on closer inspection has been beautifully well thought out and great attention given to every detail. The bottle shape reminds me of the domes of St Mark's Basilica and the skyline of Venice, it has a skin coloured leather ribbon around the neck with a tiny Brunito butterfly seal on it. What surprised me was the bottom of the bottle - totally unexpected - frosted glass made with the 'intrecciato' texture of the leather bags. A detail unseen but so lovely to hold - a reminder of the craftsmanship Bottega Veneta is known for. The perfume itself is very elegant and understated in a sophistated way. It doesn't jump in the room before you - it is shared when you are close to the wearer. It has a powdery masculinity about it that reminds me of Italian men's cologne - it smells clean and 'well groomed'. To sum up - it totally honours and represents the integrety of the Italian heritage and craftsmanship of the brand. A classic that I love. The scent makes me feel beautiful when I wear it and never fails to lift my spirits almost soothing and comforting. Tomas Maier - you are genius - enough said!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - MUA Heaven And Earth Palette
Itisred 7/28/2011 4:27:00 PM
An amazing palette that is sure to sell out once the word spreads........ SWalker make-up on YouTube had this palette in one of her favourites videos which made me sit up and take notice. MUA is a brilliant make up brand where everything (mostly) costs no more than £1 - the quality is fantastic for the money. They have decent pigments in the lipsticks, glosses to rival MAC's Lipgellees and beautiful shadows with texture and lasting power that rival expensive brands. Recently in a larger branch of Superdrug I was intrigued to find a new MUA stand that included three different make up palettes and a make up primer all at £4 each. I cannot even tell you what colours the other two palettes were as I was immediately drawn to the "Heaven & Earth"palette. It has fast become HG for me and has even replaced my UD NAKED palette in terms of the beautiful bronze, brown, neutral colour selection and the texture of the shadows themselves. This palette was simply made for those with green and hazel eyes and I find the variety of shades more wearable for day. The textures are also more complementary on 'older' eyes - more 'veluxe' than the glittery shimmer found in some of the NAKED selection (Half Baked I'm looking at you!). The fantastic review by 0037Sammie - above - just says it all. I am buying a couple of back-ups of this palette. It is all I will ever need!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
Itisred 5/27/2011 12:04:00 PM
WOW! I am so amazed by this 'tinted moisturiser'. Laura Mercier is a brand I had never even considered had it not been for the delightful Pixiwoo girls and their friend Tanya Burr - Pixi2woo. Tanya is an ex Laura Mercier consultant and recommends LM tinted moisturiser for 'Mature' skins. Please read LookingGoods review below mine because I too am an ex-Estee Lauder Double Wear devotee and she explains the transformation from EL to LM perfectly. You know you are wearing the wrong foundation when your skin looks better when you take your makeup off!!!!! Devastated that I was looking old and tired I needed something to transform my skin with something that had great coverage without that 'luminous shine' (sorry Vitalumiere!) and that would match my freckled complexion with its yellow/pink undertone. Well this works. It is the best coverage tinted moisturiser there is. I would say it has a thicker texture than Bobbi Brown and other tinted moisturisers. It comes in a tube which is hygenic and you don't waste any product and best of all the colour remained true on me and didn't oxidize like so many products I have tried. You can build it and add 'coverage' then set with a translucent powder to give an air brushed finish. The result is 10 years younger and fabulous luminous skin. Again the consultant was patient and very careful to try different shades all over my face and let me go see them all in daylight until I was completely satisfied. She did say that the 'Oil Free' version does pull darker in colour so I went with the original version in 'Fawn' and use the fantastic Benefit Porefessional to mattify my T Zone - I would definately recommend using a primer to add to the longevity of this product. LMTM shows the great bits of my complexion while sufficiently covering the bad. It blends like a dream with fingers or brush and feels beautiful on the skin. 'Mature' ladies throw your foundation out and give this fabulous product a go..................
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorburst Sunset Peach
Itisred 4/10/2011 11:09:00 AM
thlewis reviewed this gloss perfectly but I just had to add my disappointment! Beautiful packaging, beautiful colour in the tube - woefully inadequate quality gloss. I think the Super Lustrous glosses are far superior to the Colorburst range. Revlon why don't you just put the SL gloss into the Colorburst packaging and then you'd have a real winner on your hands!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - myface blingtone eyeshadow 'Spicy'
Itisred 3/20/2011 12:39:00 PM
'Myface' Cosmetics is a brand created by the make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury and is available exclusively in Boots the Chemist in the UK. Blingtone eyeshadows are beautiful, individual pressed eyeshadows created to produce a soft wash of colour infused with lots of very fine sparkle - giving a 'blingtone' effect. If you can imagine using eyeshadow and then patting on a glitter pigment over it - that is the look you will achieve with just one of these shadows! In the pan Spicy looks similar to MAC'S Indianwood Paint Pot or Bronze shadow a very intense bronze but on it gives a softer wash of colour with lots of sparkle which looks absolutely beautiful in the evening when it catches the light. Spicy also looks great over any shadow in the gold spectrum as it intensifies the colour and adds a soft sparkle which looks very pretty - not OOT - just beautiful. Gorgeous on - I imagine spicy would look beautiful on all skintones. Spicy complements hazel eyes and looks lovely with lipstick/gloss in the orange spectrum. A MUST for redheads! These beauties retail at £9.99 each and there are 10 shades to choose from.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss - Genie (52)
Itisred 2/20/2011 5:20:00 AM
I was very excited to try this Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss - who isn't attracted to the beautiful packaging and 'allure' (pardon the pun!) of the Chanel brand? I was investigating foundation of all things when this lip colour caught my eye - a beautiful peachy coral gloss that alludes to summer months housed in a gorgeous black glass container with the sophisticated chanel logo embossed on the lid. I was in love. I foolishly thought that the Extrait de Glosses were more like a liquid lipstick with a glossy finish but NO. Do not be fooled. £23 later (a fool and her money are soon parted right?!) you have a semi opaque gloss with minimal lasting power. The gloss itself is more satin than highshine - a lovely product but one that is comparable to the L'Oreal glosses! Yes L'Oreal Glamshine Diamante glosses have a peachy shade not dissimilar to Genie, it's called "Amber Carat" and it only costs £7.69 in Boots. OK its no dupe - but for the peachy effect with high gloss and lasting power give me L'Oreal every time.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tom Ford - White Patchouli
Itisred 2/19/2011 10:30:00 AM
I cannot and will not even try to describe this fragrance in any 'technical' sort of way but I will explain why I have become so excited about a fragrance that I have fallen in love with for the first time in a long time. Yes the packaging is 'Tom Ford', quietly stylish and classy - the way only he can. Yes it is 'exclusively' expensive £42 for 30ml but I think it is a classic and given the longevity and staying power of this fragrance it is worth the money (if you love it!). I love strong (evening) fragrances with patchouli in them - always have. My youth was defined by YSL "Opium", CK "Obsession", Clinique "Elixir", Estee Lauder's "Cinnabar" and my beloved "Knowing". In more recent years my tastes have evolved with Chanel's "CoCo Mademoiselle" and Prada "Tendre". All strong and distinctive all with a patchouli undertone but all different. I had given up on finding anything that could evoke that special feeling again until I recently came accross White Patchouli. With hope in my heart I sprayed it and went home - convinced it would change and disappear. But NO! It lasted and warmed with my chemistry. It worked! The fragrance remained true and had me hooked. It made me feel dressed up and sophisticated. Another exciting fragrance - it conjures up the 80's - just as in Tom's adverts (big hair, sharp suits and glossy red lipstick) and a modern take on an Oriental fragrance. I'm no professional, but it has elements that vividly bring back the familiar scent of 'Knowing'. When I wear it people stop me and ask what fragrance I'm wearing - they always comment that it is beautiful and unusual - so if you have loved any of the fragrances I have described then I'm convinced you'll enjoy White Patchouli too.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Soap and Glory - CLEAN GIRLS
Itisred 1/22/2011 5:51:00 AM
WARNING this product is addictive lol! I have always overlooked S&G's shower gels as I consider them quite expensive given the rate I go through shower gel (Clean Girls comes in a large 500ml pump and costs £5.87 at Boots) But it came in a Christmas gift set and I gave it a try. Am now hooked on its beautiful smell ("Mist you madly") and it's rich creamy foaminess - pure luxury. Amazingly you need only 2 pumps on a body puff to get perfectly cleansed and beautifully soft skin. You are left smelling gorgeous and don't need to use a body cream every day - so it saves loads of time and is cost effective. Highly recommend using it on the huge S&G body puff as it exfoliates gently and really holds the product so you use less. A bottle of this lasts a very long time! Will definately repurchase and look forward to trying "Clean on me". Sceptics go try it.....................!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Simple - Kind to eyes nourishing eye make-up cream
Itisred 1/5/2011 3:53:00 PM
This is a newcomer to the Simple brand of eye make-up removers and I was so impressed with it that I had to review it on MUA. Lets be honest - eye make-up removers are only successful at removing mascara if they 'work' dissolving the type of mascara that is adhered to the lashes and can be very hit or miss. My mascara of choice (controversially) is L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes which is applied after a coat of primer and forms a 'tube' around each lash that is removable with warm water. I top this with a coat of Max Factor False Lash Effect, to seperate and even out any clumps,so you can imagine I like a full on lash look lol!!! Removal can be tricky to say the least as I have to remove the MF first and then can't be bothered to wash off the L'Oreal underneath! I need a product to remove them both and this has required, on occasion, lots of product and rubbing. Not so with Simple Nourishing cream. I bought it (a) because it was on a cheap offer and (b) you can't have enough remover right? I would describe it as a creamy lotion rather than a thick cream and it does contain an oil type emulsifier to 'melt' the mascara, however it doesn't leave a greasy film over the eyes. A little on a cottonwool pad held over the lashes for a few seconds and my mascara totally lifts off cleanly with two gentle wipes. I don't need much product and the skin around my eye area feels really soft afterwards. I wear contact lenses for long periods and my eyes get sensitive and sore, this product is non-irritating and actually quite soothing. It also doesn't leave me with dreaded panda eyes in the morning, a sign of a great remover. This works well at a very reasonable price. For me it is my new HG remover and a definate repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Soap and Glory - The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser
Itisred 12/27/2010 11:14:00 AM
I love Soap & Glory products - they are either outstanding or average and this cleanser falls into the outstanding category. I cannot compare The Fab Pore to the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (although the ingredient list looks similar to me) but I do know that my complexion has really benefitted from this product. Firstly I have *Mature* combination skin, by which I mean an oily T-zone with enlarged pores and blackheads with normal to dry cheeks. I use Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation which is very difficult to remove gently but I have always managed with my regular drugstore cleanser and a weekly 'detox' using a Dermalogica mask, or so I thought. With my enlarged pores ever noticable I decided to switch up my cleansing routine and bought TFP. Firstly, I always remove surface make-up with a wipe off cleanser and take off my eye makeup before using TFP. It is a rich cream containing a cocktail of essential oils, panthenol and vitamins. It glides onto the skin and sinks in quickly to remove make-up and grime. It has a gentle lavender scent - IMO it is a comforting and natural smell. You massage it into the skin for 1 minute, leave it on for another minute and wash it off using warm water and the muslin cloth provided. In my experience the warmer the water the more thoroughly the product is removed (it is worth buying a pack of babies muslin cloths so a fresh cloth is used daily and then machine washed to prevent build up of bacteria). The first time I used TFP I was horrified at the makeup that came off onto the white muslin - all the grime I'd been sleeping with! Yuk! TFP leaves my skin feeling really clean, without being tight or dry and is left feeling like silk. The magic didn't happen immediately - over the course of a month my skin looks so much brighter, the tone of my skin is more even and pores and blackheads are definately smaller. Even fine lines look less noticeable. You could argue that paying more attention to deep cleansing your skin will make it look better regardless but for me TFP does it thoroughly and gently with ingredients that my skin reacts very well to. The easy squeeze plastic tube means nothing is wasted and you can get every last bit of product out. In the UK TFP is sold at Boots the Chemist for £9.00 and for that you get a tube containing 100ml (3.3 US Fl Oz) with a muslin cloth. Currently S&G products are on offer 3 for 2 so that is a great buy and I will be stocking up. A HG product and so worthy of 5 lippies!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -John Frieda - Luxurious Volume Conditioner
Itisred 12/21/2010 7:46:00 AM
1 Lippie = bitter disappointment in this conditioner! As a huge fan of John Frieda's Luxurious Volume Mousse and blow dry spray, I expected more from this product. I have a lot of fine hair - which is naturally poker straight. It is cut in a blunt chin length bob (which doesn't help when adding volume) so I demand a lot from anything that promises to volumise my hair! Firstly the conditioner itself doesn't smell very 'luxurious' - it has a vague almost plastic scent which is very cheap. Although very creamy - and I guess that's where the 'luxury' lies - it did nothing for me other than to make my hair very soft to the point of weighing it down! Having spent over £5 on this product I was determined to make it work and tried using it in varying amounts, roots only, ends only and even leaving it on for different time lengths, before giving in and using it as an 'intensive' treatment occasionally! Sadly this didn't work but TREsemme "24 Hour Body" range which is far cheaper and not as luxurious - definately gets my 5 lippies every time.
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Lotions/ Creams -Soap and Glory - Hand Food
Itisred 12/2/2010 4:13:00 AM
What else is left to say about this brilliant hand cream? Having had my acrylic nails removed I needed a heavy duty cream to help restore my wrecked nails and cuticles. As a Soap & Glory fan I headed to their shelf in Boots to see what they could do to help - hence a mini-tube of "Hand food". Soap & Glory rival many h/e brands at a fraction of the price and I love the way many of their best sellers come in travel sizes so you can 'try before you buy'. Hand food has their signature 'Dior Cherie' scent, which I have grown strangely fond of, its a rich cream so a little goes a long way but it really sinks into the skin really quickly without leaving a greasy residue. What surprised me was the way it also softened my cuticles and the skin around the nail from relentless nibbling. With Hand Food you have no excuse not to have gorgeous hands - keep a mini size for your pocket/bag and a full size at home. In a month my hands have been transformed and my nails show little trace of the acrylic abuse! Adore this brand - the value for money is amazing!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MeMeMe Cosmetics - All Products
Itisred 10/24/2010 3:56:00 AM
Benefit cosmetic fans check this out! MEMEME is a brand sold exclusively in Superdrug in the UK and it unashamedly 'replicates' a lot of Benefit products at a fraction of the price. The lovely Laura Lollipop26 brought this to my attention and I am amazed this product has not been reviewed before. MEMEME "Blush Me!" comes in four variants "Rouge" (very similar to Coralista), "Coral", "Pink" and "Bronze". They are packaged in little cardboard boxes - just like Benefit's bronzers and blushes, with one brilliant exception - they have a mirror in the lid! Invaluable! These beauties retail for £7.99 and for the money the quality is excellent. I am reviewing "Coral" - this is a gorgeous peachy, coral. Not a coral with pink undertones, more a coral peach, with a very subtle gold shimmer. It has good pigmentation which is buildable - perfect for the heavier handed. It has great lasting power (over foundation) and the texture is extremely blendable. I have worn this every single day for a month or more now and have hardly made a dent in the product so its going to last a long time. This blush makes my skin 'glow' and gives a naturally healthy 'flush'. A I am very excited to try the other shades they look fabulous, but for now "Coral" is a definate repurchase!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -St.Tropez - Everyday Daily Moisturiser
Itisred 9/7/2010 7:34:00 AM
I absolutely love this self tanner - and am reviewing the med-dark variant. It has knocked my beloved HG Clinique "Self-Sun" off the top spot - see separate review - and I am now a St Tropez convert! I have a fair, very freckled complexion with yellow undertones, which tans slowly and burns easily - hence my reliance on self-tan before I hit the beach (in the shade lol!) and with my colouring I never thought St Tropez could work for me. The key to this product, as with all the others, is preparation. I usually start by exfoliating my body with the Sanctuary body scrub and follow with a good moisturiser (any from Soap & Glory are particular faves). That evening I apply a THIN layer of EDM using a mitt and let it sink in to the skin and dry. I then repeat the process and 'layer' the product with another THIN coat. This sounds time consuming but it doesn't take long. I apply it with upward sweeps first, then work around limbs and body from side to side. This way I don't 'miss' bits and get an even coverage. Although it is entirely dependant on your skin type EDM has absolutely no scent on my skin!!! Yaaaaay!! No nasty after-smell and covering up with scented body lotions. In fact the first time I applied it my daughter asked what body lotion I had used as it smelt so good (the product itself has a pleasant vaguely tropical scent) I have also found that EDM leaves no rub marks on the necks/cuffs of nightwear or bedding (as I have found with Dove and Clinique). By morning I have a lovely, realistic tan - not orange at all, very natural. For some strange reason I've found that it continues to develop further throughout the day on my skin - I don't know why - but its no problem. I moisturise every day and exfoliate every other day to keep the colour streak free as it fades. I top up once a week and I find through summer this is enough to keep my skin 'glowing' and looking great. Using the darker variant I don't use as much to get fab results - so cost effective in the long run. If you are fair don't be afraid to try the darker shade - it gives beautifully natural results! Thanks to MA another fantastic find!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No