Blush -Aubrey Organics - Silken Earth Powder Blush
Kcairns 7/16/2010 5:06:00 PM
I'm a real fan of Aubrey Organics and since I use their translucent base I thought I'd give their blush a go. This was a bit of a disappointment. I bought the shade warmed rose. It goes on quite dark but once I've blended it I'm left with a slight ruddiness and lots of sparkle on my face. While I don't mind a bit of shimmer in my blush these sparkly particles do nothing for me. It just doesn't work well - the colour is really flat and there are these bits of glitter. The other shades seem to be similar. I wanted tolike this but its not for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -GOSH - Velvet Touch Eyeliner 
Kcairns 7/16/2010 4:47:00 PM
This was a recent purchase bought specifically to wear to a music festival where it was forecast to rain (I'm in Scotland - it rains here all year!) as I really wanted to avoid any nasty black marks on my face from mascara / eyeliner. It worked very well. Stayed on all day with minimal fading and no running at all. I bought the shade metallic brass and it didn't really seem to live up to it's name - it's not really metallic (it has a slight sheen) and the 'brass' was non existent - I think of brassy shades as tending toward warm, this is cool/neutral. The colour actually reminds me a lot of Clinique's Egyptian. Texture was good, yes its soft but its not mushy or too smudgy. I plan to buy a couple more in other shades, they're such a bargain and there's a good range of shades. I didn't have too many issues with removing it - I use a gentle face wash (Lavera) for removing my eye make up and this came off with no problem.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Aubrey Organics - Blue Green Algae Mask
Kcairns 7/16/2010 4:32:00 PM
I got a little bottle of this as part of a trial kit for Aubrey's Blue-Green Algae range. I really like this. I can use it as often as I need as it doesn't dry my skin out at all. 4 lippies instead of 5 because I still need to use my usual clay mask to really get my pores clean. Using this seems to improve the performance of my clay mask. This is also a really good mask to use to give your skin a glow without risking bringing out any spots or blemishes that might be lurking below the surface, as can happen with some more heavy duty masks. Perfect thing to use before a special occasion. I generally prefer masks that dry out but I make an exception for this one. Another great product from Aubrey Organics.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aubrey Organics - Blue-Green Algae
Kcairns 7/16/2010 4:20:00 PM
Having been so pleased with the Aubrey Organics Rosa Mosqueta Cream, I decided to give this a try as my skin has been getting oilier with the warmer weather. I actually bought a trial kit of the Blue-Green Algae range and used all the products as a regime, which is unusual for me. In addition I never usually use cleansing lotions / creams as I generally prefer a mild foaming face wash. Well, after about 2 weeks of this regime my skin was looking great in comparison to usual - neither oily nor dry (I suffer with both), glowing but not shiny and even managed to rid me of some stubborn blocked pores that had been sitting onmy cheeks for an eternity. I tried the kit for oily skin as well and, although I have no complaints, it didn't come close to the Algae range. The moisturizer itself works great as a base for my make up, causes zero irritation and even feels good on my eye area. I did get a bit of separation after leaving the bottle in a warm place for the day but after a good shake it was fine and it hasn't happened again since. I definitely recommend trying the Aubrey trial kits for whatever skin type you have -they're really good value and you get enough of each product that you can really try them out properly. A final note about smell ;-) I think this smells just fine, however for those who don't like the smell it does disappear pretty fast. Also, unlike some natural brands it doesn't have a strong 'essential oil' smell that would irritate eyes / skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Hermes - Un Jardin sur le Nil
Kcairns 4/28/2010 7:43:00 AM
Citrus notes are always a bit hit or miss for me. I'm not against citrus if it's done well but I am very wary of the nasty 'lemon pledge' tone a lot of citrus fragrances resort to and also have a bit of an aversion to anything too sour. I find the citrus in sur le nil to be delicious, refreshing and addictive and I can definitely see why it seems to be popular with those who don't often appreciate citrus based scents. Having never been fortunate enough to have smelt green mangoes on the tree, I interpret the top notes as something close to grapefruit. But this is no ordinary grapefruit note - not harsh or cheap smelling in any way. It has a juicy, refreshing feel at the top that follows through to the far drydown, while the middle notes introduce a light floral note (presumably Lotus, which I am not usually a fan of, but which is just right) with some light and airy wood notes and just a hint of incense at the base. My bottle is just a little 15ml spray so I'll definitely be obtaining more to see me through the summer months. Many have said how suited this scent is to warm weather but I also find it works so well when the weather's wet - any kind of humidity makes the notes bloom on my skin. Just a lovely well crafted fragrance you could wear anywhere. Longevity is fantastic for EDT - I applied before a 10 hour shift at work and it was still present when I got home!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Lavera - Rose Milk Repair Shampoo for Dry Hair
Kcairns 4/22/2010 10:07:00 AM
I'm currently using the rose milk shampoo with the matching conditioner and I really like them. The shampoo lathers really well and rinses clean. I always use conditioner after shampooing so can't comment on the effects of the shampoo alone but can definitely recommend them as a set. The shampoo doesn't cause my hair to tangle, although I haven't noticed it to be particulary detangling in itself. The conditioning milk, however, is a revelation. It conditions great and gives my hair such good slip that I've checked the ingredients a few times to see if I missed a silicone somewhere! For anyone who wants to switch to a natural S&C but misses the slip provided by cone containing products, this is one to try. It also adds shine, reduces frizz (very well) and yet doesn't weigh my hair down at all. Works so well on my hair whether I'm going straight or curly. And it smells nice. Fab ;-)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powders -Aubrey Organics - Silken Earth Light Tone
Kcairns 4/22/2010 9:50:00 AM
Great to find a natural powder (no talc!) that isn't mineral based (having had no luck at all with any of the mineral make up I've tried - all felt and looked terrible on me). No such problems with this - it feels great on the skin, like silk. Unfortunately it has no coverage at all, not even enough to even out my skin tone. I really wish AO did a liquid base or tinted moisturiser to go with this. That said this powder does have a lot going for it. It takes away any excess shine without making skin too matte or dry and it is wonderfully undetectable on the skin. It doesn't matter how much I pile on it never clogs or settles into pores or wrinkles. It seems to work brilliantly over any other product I use. Great (semi) mattifying powder. Quite expensive but you get lots of product for the money so should work out pretty reasonable.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Aubrey Organics - Mineral Water Sparkling Herbal Facial Mist
Kcairns 4/22/2010 9:30:00 AM
I use a spray of this on my face before applying moisturiser and now and then as a pick me up. I've never really used this kind of product before and tend not to use toners etc since they usually make my skin feel either tight and irritated or sticky. I actually only bought this to get free delivery on an online order so I'm very surprised to find myself ordering a second bottle. I find using this under moisturiser allows me to use less product as it makes it easier to spread and aids absorption. I also occasionally use it as a pick me up if my face is feeling a bit dry and it refreshes and adds some moisture without any additional weight.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Aubrey Organics - Rosa Mosqueta Rose Hip Moisturizing Cream
Kcairns 4/22/2010 9:12:00 AM
Having skin which is prone to spots blackheads and blocked pores, but also prone to extreme dryness, irritation and flakiness, finding the right moisturiser is a nightmare. I received a sample of this from a website just at a time when my skin was really acting up and fell I in love with it straight away and bought a full size bottle. I've been waiting a while to add my review as I've often thought a product was great only to find that after a few weeks of use it starts to break me out. So far, so good with this. I really love it. It moisturises very well and I haven't had any flakies since I started using it. What's really great is that it achieves this without making my skin in any way greasy, even throughout the day. It soaks in quickly and leaves a great base for make up. I also use it as eye cream and again it moisturises brilliantly with no resulting milia or irritation, even with my sensitive eyes. Although this is specified as suitable for dry skin I think its suitable for all skin types and well worth having on hand if you're at all prone to dry or dehydrated skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Giorgio Armani - Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup
Kcairns 4/22/2010 8:56:00 AM
I received a generous sample of this at the Armani counter while I was browsing for a tinted moisturiser / light foundation. I've actually been trying to find a more natural product of this type but haven't yet discovered one I like so have been using this in the meantime. I'm not a fan of silicone based products, which I find DO block the pores in my skin, despite their apparently being considered non-comedogenic. Anyway, I would not personally buy this again for that reason. However, I have found that a thin layer of this topped with a dusting of Aubrey Organics powder gives me a great msbb effect. No patchiness, colour change or streaks, even at the end of the day. I also felt that it made a good base for the rest of my make up (as many others have commented it is very similar to a primer.) I would recommend this as a great product for someone with good skin just wanting to look a bit more polished. Don't know what the price is but considering how little product you need to use it would probably work out quite reasonable.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Nuxe - Creme Fraiche de Beaute Light
Kcairns 3/24/2010 6:15:00 PM
I purchased this partly on the strength of the reviews here and partly because my Mother has given such good feedback of the Nuxe products she uses (not this one specifically). I have combination skin which is prone to acne and sensitivity but has actually been behaving well of late. Unfortunately this product was not for me and after only 1 week of use my skin has both broken out and dried out. (I usually think it's wrong to blame a product you haven't used for long for breaking you out as it takes a while for spots to even develop, however this product broke me out in the sense of an allergic reaction rather than usual acne). From the first application it just didn't feel right. I felt like I was wearing heavy make up after applying this, it irritated my eyes even if I kept it well away from them. I am so disappointed as I thought this would be a great product for me. I haven't been able to work out which ingredient is causing the problems - essential oils etc are usually ok for me. Sigh, this was money down the drain and has left me with skin that looks and feels worse than it did before. The search for a moisturiser that works for my skin goes on.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -John Frieda - Frizz-Ease Hair Serum Thermal Protection Formula
Kcairns 3/12/2010 5:13:00 PM
I like this serum a lot. I was getting a bit of sick of using a multitude of products on my hair - leave in conditioner, styling aid, heat protection, finishing gloss etc. This stuff is actually enough to replace all that. It deals with my frizz, helps protect from heat styling and leaves my hair shiny and nicely groomed. Agree with others who've mentioned that this also works well for drying hair naturally. This is one of the few serums I can use on dry hair without making my hair feel greasy. I wish I could find something similar without the parabens/mineral oil etc, but until that day I will continue to repurchase.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Weleda - Wild Rose Creamy body wash
Kcairns 3/12/2010 4:45:00 PM
Lovely body wash, especially if you like the scent of roses. It is indeed nice and creamy and doesn't dry my skin out. Smells lovely, although the scent doesn't linger on my skin. Leaves me feeling clean and refreshed. I find this product quite luxurious - more so than other, more expensive, lines I've tried. Recommended to everyone (if you don't like rose just get a different scent).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Vivienne Westwood - Let It Rock
Kcairns 3/12/2010 4:10:00 PM
Well, this is certainly an interesting one. At first spray I was overwhelmed by an smell that reminded of those cheap little tree-shaped air fresheners found in mini cabs everywhere. Like a blast of cheap and nasty aldehydes used in products that exist only to cover the nastiest of odours, rather than to make anthing actually smell nice. After maybe 45 minutes this subsided somewhat and I got the aroma of lozenges as described by other reviewers - not a 'bad' smell to me, but not something I'd really want to wear. It wasn't until the next day when putting my scarf on that I caught a whiff of some lovely aroma I didn't recognise. It took a couple of minutes before I could even work out what it was and then I recalled my unsatisfactory run in with Let it Rock the previous day and realised that it was the residue of that! Well it was a surprise to me given my initial negative reaction to it. It was good enough that I had to have another shot at testing it. Sadly on the second wearing I found my experience exactly the same as the first time - pretty unpleasant. Sadly there's not much I enjoy about this fragrance except in the (very) long drydown. I can only assume from the many positive reviews I've read of this scent (on mua and elsewhere) that others must experience these lovely soft floral notes I get from it the next day at a much earlier point than I do so I've given it a 3. Definitely not for me though.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Cloud Eye Shadow
Kcairns 3/12/2010 3:00:00 PM
Love this shadow. Lovely soft texture that applies smoothly and easily. The colour works great for me as an all over shade with a just a quick swipe of eyeliner. Staying power is good. Packaging is all that lets it down (and I do think it's shocking that Stila expect their customers to pay extra for packaging, particularly since they're products are not exactly cheap), however I've rated it a 5 anyway since I bought it at a reduced price and I like it so much.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No