Liquid -Yves Saint Laurent - Teint Touche Eclat Foundation
JunkieXL 10/12/2012 7:20:00 AM
I was looking for a foundation that would make my skin look a little more vivid, without covering too much. I read some reviews about this foundation and as I'm a big fan of the Touche Eclàt, I was very curious about this one. I started with checking the color system which was quite easy: BD=beige doré (yellow undertones) BS=beige rosé (rosey undertones) B=beige (neutral). The higher the number on the bottle, the darker the color. For me, BD20 is a good match. For reference: I'm a NW15/20 at MAC. The color is light without being ashy or too yellow. It's easy to blend and buildable; I usually put a little extra on my cheeks as I have some redness there and on spots I still use some concealer. My skin looks healthy without being glittery or shiny. I use some powder on my t-zone and a good moisturizer underneath. So far so good but there's some room left for improvement: *The coverage is very light; a bit too light for some. *No sunscreen *The quality is good but I doubt if it's worth the price tag. *Staying power is mediocre, not great. *The pump dispenses a bit too much product so you end up throwing away a lot. I think YSL is relying a bit too much on the succes of their Touche Eclàt concealer pen with this foundation. It might be more about the hype than about the quality. A good foundation but there's better ones out there.
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Lip Treatments -LUSH - Bubblegum Lip Scrub
JunkieXL 9/22/2012 6:49:00 AM
I've used this for a short while because it dried out so quickly. I know I can just add a little water before using it again but after a couple of times I got tired of it. I love the smell but I'm not sure it's really worth the money. Scrubbing with a soft tootbrush or a bit of olive oil and sugar gives the same results and I don't have to put my fingers in a jar to get it out... The jar was a big 'oh no' for me. I love Lush but this product didn't work for me.
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Treatments -Estee Lauder - Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator
JunkieXL 9/18/2012 3:08:00 PM
I've been using this for over a year now and my skin looks great. My skin tends to be reactive but I never had any rash using this lotion. It's easy to use because of the pump bottle, it gives a 'pick me up' without looking shiny or greasy and a little goes a long way. Works great under foundation and leaves my skin feeling and looking smooth. Just one pump at a time is all I need. The price tag is a bit of a deal breaker... I think it's very expensive. But then again, I've been using my bottle for over a year now and it's still not empty so for me it's worth the investment.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eye Studio Master Drama Kohl Liner
JunkieXL 6/22/2012 11:39:00 AM
It's all in the name I guess... 'Drama'. I bought it because I like to wear black eyeliner but I don't have the time to put in on with a brush from a jar everyday. Hoping this would be a good alternative, I wanted to give it a try. At first I was hopeful. The liner goes on very easy and it's a nice, deep black. After about half an hour I started noticing the first smudges around my eyes and it only got worse. Within 2 hours it melted away, leaving my eyes looking smudgy and panda-like. I tried it with and without primer, I used black shadow to set it... It keeps smudging. I guess I'll just have to get up a bit earlier everyday to put on my trusty Inglot gel liner... With a brush.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
JunkieXL 6/10/2012 7:31:00 AM
2 words: major breakouts! I got this because it was said to stay put, even in humid climates and surroundings like clubs and bars. I partied a lot back then so I gave it a try... And I wish I never did. After a couple of hours, my skin was shiny like a disco ball, the color had changed from light beige to a strange orange tint and I noticed bumps that weren't there before. At first, I thought it was just me using it wrong but after a few times I realized it was the foundation, not me. I have the same problem with the makeup base... It makes me shine like crazy and even after a good cleanse at night, in the morning I wake up with zits and red spots. A big NONO for me! The only pro: is has a pump bottle and it's quite easy to dose but that's about it :(
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Eyeliner -Inglot - Eyeliner Gel
JunkieXL 2/26/2012 11:42:00 AM
I've been using eyeliner for so long now... I've seen and used quite a lot. I started with pencils, started trying with felt tip liners and eventually I bought Bobbi Brown Long Lasting Gel Liner. Before that, I already tried Shiseido and Clinique cream liners but still I did not find my HG. Bobbi Brown is a good one but I find it a bit dry and clumpy at times, which makes it hard to apply. After hearing a lot of raving about Inglot (they have been here in the Netherlands for a year now) I decided to go to an Inglot counter in a department store. The SA was really friendly and she did a great job helping me. I left with a lip paint, a Freedom Palette with colors to make my eye color 'pop' and a dark, matte brown eyeliner in a jar. The eyeliner is smooth to the touch, creamy enough to apply with ease and it dries to a beautiful pigmented, matte finish. And the best thing... It stays on forever. As I'm pregnant, I'm quite emotional but so far it survived every tear ;-) The price is very reasonable too, especially considering the price/quality. I paid 12 euros and in comparison: I paid 26 euros for the Bobbi Brown one. I might have found my HG in gel eyeliner...
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Mario Badescu - Drying Lotion
JunkieXL 2/9/2012 11:20:00 AM
My Saving Grace in dark days of break outs! Wouldn't recommend to use it all over your face if you have many spots but it's a miracle worker when you need something to zap away a few occasional zits. It's quite strong, it smells like everyting in your cleaning closet mixed together and when dry, it looks you've put pink toothpaste on your face. But it's all worth it... It works. Even the big, red angry bumps reduce overnight and the good things it contains a lot of soothing ingredients to zap zits without leaving red spots or scars. I use it together with the Buffering Lotion (for bigger areas) and my skin hasn't look this clear since my early teenage years. I'm in my thirties now... Just imagine ;-) Used with care it's a great zit zapper!
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Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Makeup - Vanilla
JunkieXL 2/9/2012 11:10:00 AM
I'm not really sure what to think about this. I've heard some raving and I've heard some hating and I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. Like a lot of Revlon foundations it dries too fast to apply it properly. Looking at in in proper daylight, I feel like it's really glittery and shiny... A bit too much for me. As I have combination skin, I don't need anymore shine. It feels very dry on my skin but when I stroke my fingers over my skin it feels very smooth, almost slippery. I use one of the lightest shades but it still has an orange tinge to it, especially as it oxidizes during the day. Have to say: it looks great in pictures. I just wish it would feel as good as it looks in fotographs LOL! It has good staying power, I like the pump bottle and I like the price. My skin is very acne prone and I felt this foundation wasn't really helping... I broke out a little bit after using it. It's still in my makeup bag, maybe I'll start loving it one day but until then: not my HG!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -MAC - Prep + Prime Skin
JunkieXL 2/5/2012 9:42:00 AM
I hate to say it but I totally hate this product :( I was expecting a lot when I purchased it and after the first use I thought it was a hit. Until I woke up the next morning with a major breakout on my chin and around my nose. At first I figured it could be coincidence but unfortunately, it wasn't. I tried it a few times since and every time I wake up to the sight of zits, redness and clogged pores. I'm almost religious when it comes to skincare and cleansing and I never fall asleep in my makeup so that can't be it. My main complaints: very slippery to apply, too shimmery, doesn't do anything for my oily t-zone and it clogs my pores like crazy. The only positive thing I can thing of is the packaging... It comes in pump. Sorry MAC... No lippies this time!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Lancome - Genifique
JunkieXL 1/13/2012 2:24:00 PM
I've been using this for two weeks now; two times a day, morning and night. I use it together with the Genefique Repair Night Cream and for me... It works wonders on my face. I'm in my early thirties and started to notice some small lines and overall uneven complexion. (partially due to severe acne when I was younger) I bought it as a set: a full size serum, a trial size night cream and a trial size eye cream. In the morning, I dab the serum on my face, under my makeup, and I notice my skin looks a lot fresher during the day. At night I put on the serum and top it with the night cream; in the morning my skin feels soft and comfortable and looks even and healthy. In the morning I only have to use a little toner on a cotton pad, wipe my face with it and apply a few drops of Genefique serum and my face is ready for makeup. It's easy to dose (pump bottle) and the packaging looks luxe and sleek. My only two BUT: * It doesn't have a SPF so you have to put on another layer of cream to have your SPF... I'm more about all-in-one. * It is a bit runny and when you put in on your hand, it doesn't really look attractive to put it on your face. A sleeker feel would be nice. (a little more like Olay Regenerist, which feels more silky) Overall... Expensive (maybe a bit too pricey?) but on the right type of skin it can really make a difference. Wouldn't advice it to those with very sensitive skin; it might be a little too much.
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Treatments (Eye) -Clarins - eye revive beauty flash
JunkieXL 1/4/2012 7:16:00 AM
After a very stressful period I started noticing dark circles under my eyes and a little bit of puffiness. At 33 my skin doesn't seem to bounce back as good from short nights as it used to and I was lookig for something to do all the tricks at once. I was already a Clarins convert and my skin always looks saintly fresh after a big night out, thanks to Beauty Flash Balm. So when I noticed there was one for eyes too, I decided to give it a try despite the price. It does a great job for me... It's easy to apply, easy to dose, it absorbs quickly and it gives the same result as the Beauty Flash Balm for face: tightened skin, a natural glow and a wide awake look. My only con is the price. I think it's a bit pricey and there should be good dupes for a lower price. Despite that, Clarins is still one of the most underrated companies while their products are, in general, very good. Just because the packaging doesn't look very flashy, doesn't mean it doesn't work ;-)
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Cleansers -Bioderma - Sensibio H2O (aka Crealine H20 Solution micellaire)
JunkieXL 7/28/2011 7:27:00 AM
My skin is quite reactive. I'm acne prone but harsh, anti-acne products always turn my skin red and raw. I've used this kind of cleanser before, by LaRoche Posay, but I was really interested in trying this one after some really good reviews. When I was in France (you can't get it in Holland, only on the web) I just walked into a pharmacy and bought two bottles. And I have to say... It's great. My skin doesn't look and feel irritated, it cleanses like it should (I use another product to clean my waterproof mascara) and it leaves my skin feeling clean and healthy. A cleanser like a cleanser is supposed to be: no frills, just good cleaning. I got two bottles for 20 euros but they are huge 0.5 litre bottles so I think the price is fair. The packaging is just like the product: no frills, only the information you need. A no nonsense product, I like it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -NYX - Round Lipgloss #01 True Red
JunkieXL 6/30/2011 1:45:00 PM
I just LOVE this color! I'm a big fan of red lips but sometims carrying off a gloss is easier than a lipstick. In the tube it looks like a bordeaux red but when applied it turns out to be a beautiful bright shade of red with some pink undertones. It's easy to apply and it feels soft without being sticky. It has a nice non-overpowering smell to it, a bit like vanilla. It brightens up my face (for reference, I'm a MAC NW15/20) and it's easy to wear as it's a good red but sheer at the same time. My only con is the staying power which isn't very good; it needs a lot of re-applying. But then again... It's quite cheap and for it's price it's good quality so I'll forgive them for that ;-)
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Skincare - Face -Clarins - Multi Active Jour Gelée lissante rides précoces
JunkieXL 6/30/2011 1:33:00 PM
It took me a while to start loving Clarins again. After some bad experiences I didn't buy it at all but now I decided to give it another a try and I'm glad I did. As a beautician, I used to work with Clarins and I loved the results on client. That's why I was even more confuses about why it didn't work for me. It turned out to be simple... I used the wrong products for my skin type. Now that I'm using gels instead of creams and use the products like they should be used, the results are great. This gel is very lightweight, it sinks into my skin in a matter of minutes, it smells lovely and it does as it says: it smoothens out the first lines. Because it's so light, it's easy to wear under a foundation and after a few uses I definitely can see a difference in my skin. It looks more radiant and more healthy. My only con is the packaging; I'd prefer a pump over a jar because the jar makes it hard to dose right. Considering all of the above... I'd buy it again.
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Pressed Powders -New York Color - Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder - Rose Glow (725A)
JunkieXL 5/19/2011 10:52:00 AM
I was impressed with the quality, considering the low price. I've been using far more expensive powders (bronzer / blush) but this one does a really good job for me. The color is there without being overwhelming, it's not too pink or too brown and it gives just a little flush; very natural. I have no problem with the packaging but I think it could be a problem if you want to put it in your purse for touch ups... The lid is is pretty loose and I think it'll fall off and ruin your bag. Overall a good product!
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