Liquid -Estee Lauder - Invisible Fluid Makeup
Laurel15 5/30/2013 6:59:00 PM
After using this foundation for a few weeks, I'm not so crazy about it. But I'll start with the things I like about it: The colors blend very well with my skin. I'm able to wear both the 2CN1 and the 2CN2, depending on my hair color or outfit. It goes on very sheer and blends well with my natural skin tone. I wear it over SPF moisturizer, with a little powder over it, and it looks very nice. Not gorgeous, but nice. However, this foundation doesn't wear well at all. By the middle of the day I look sort of dull and meh. It's hard to describe, but my favorite foundations are the ones that make my skin look polished and more glowing as they wear, so that by the evening I don't even want to wash my face. This stuff does not perform. I think it just doesn't contain enough pigment. And I wish it had an SPF. The SA told me that it was a good thing that they removed the sun protection from their foundations, but living in sunny South Florida, I need all the sun protection I can get. So I plan to continue looking for a foundation that looks great not just in the morning, but all day long.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Calvin Klein - Euphoria
Laurel15 10/24/2012 2:38:00 PM
Dark, lush patchouli and rose with a burnt sugar note and maybe a bit of chocolate or something foody. Not as good as it sounds. Dries down to a plastic, "make-up" smell. Everyone was saying this is a sexy fragrance, but I think it smells cheap, synthetic. There are so many perfumes that do these notes in a more refined, elegant way.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Al Rehab Perfume oils
Laurel15 10/10/2012 4:53:00 PM
This review is for Al Rehab perfume oils. First off, these are cheap - about on par with the quality of an inexpensive drug store perfume. They're made from synthetic oil blends. Anyone accustomed to even moderate-quality fragrances might struggle with these at first. However, there is some merit to these for a number of reasons. The packaging is awesome - the 6ml roll ons come in small, triangular boxes adorned with Arabian writing. It's best to start with a small dab of oil rubbed on the inner wrists. Some of them start out nice, and others smell god-awful when they first go on. It's important to wait and withhold judgment, because these can take up to an hour to open up. These are the ones I've tried: Superman - great name, great packaging! Unfortunately, this goes on like a harsh, piney chemical cleanser. It actually becomes a nicer, soapy clove/pine blend by the dry-down, but by then it's so close to the skin that you have to put your nose on it to smell anything. My boyfriend loves this one. Aseel - The cleanest, brightest oud I've ever smelled. This was actually a bit of a disappointment, as I was hoping for something resinous and incensey. Aseel is the opposite - linear, laser sharp, and in-your-face. Sultan - A clean, fresh, 'aquatic' men's fragrance with a pleasant dry-down. I don't get citrus or musk as described, just that general men's aftershave smell. The opening is harsh, but I enjoy this one about 20 minutes in. Good sillage as well. Al-Sharquiah - A surprisingly complex woman's rose/oud fragrance. This one is enjoyable from the opening. It goes on as a jammy accord of dry rose petals and stewed raisins over a base of oud. The oud becomes more apparent over time and rounds out to a warm, quiet, incense-y skin scent. The whole experience takes several hours, after which I often re-apply the perfume and begin the journey again. Al Sharquiah stays mellow and low-pitched throughout it's development, and the dry-down stays very close to the skin. I wouldn't re-purchase any of these. However, I'm intrigued enough by the line to want to try several others. I believe there are a few gems hiding in the bunch - Al Sharquiah and Sultan may be among them.
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BB Cream -Smashbox - Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
Laurel15 1/7/2012 9:55:00 PM
My skin looked lifeless with this on, plus it made me break out. Avoid this if you're acne-prone.
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BB Cream -Smashbox - Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
Laurel15 1/7/2012 9:47:00 PM
Warning: This made me break out terribly! Wasn't crazy about it as a foundation, either. It's sheer like a tinted moisturizer and doesn't cover redness very well. Too bad, because I really need something now that my entire face is broken out. Avoid this if you're prone to acne.
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Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
Laurel15 10/3/2011 11:39:00 PM
Well, I was all ready to hate this, after spending $17 for the tiniest bottle and then reading all the reviews that say this product doesn't deliver. On my hair, it totally lives up to the hype. My dry, coarse hair is super silky and styled now after adding Moroccan Oil to my routine. My hair loves silicones, and I wanted to try Moroccan Oil because it contains some actual oils along with the cones. I added a little more than a dime sized amount to each side of my armpit-length hair, then combed it in really well, and smoothed/dried it with a towel. Then I added a bit of Fekkai Straightening Balm (which I love) and blow dried my hair in sections using a round tourmaline brush, and finished it with a few drops of Moroccan Oil used as a smoothing serum. That had been my routine, except instead of Moroccan Oil, I had been using Chi Silk Infusion. I'm pretty sure I have a glowing review of Silk Infusion here. . . it's good stuff. But Moroccan Oil is better. Silk Infusion is more affordable, but it can add weight. I don't feel any added weight with Moroccan Oil. Best of all, my hair did not tangle or snag while I was drying it. As for the packaging, I actually like the jewel cut glass bottle. I had no trouble dispensing the desired amount. Just tip the bottle over carefully into your palm. You don't need a huge amount of this stuff, and I'm thinking my tiny little bottle will actually last awhile. Thumbs up for Moroccan Oil (and one lippie off for the ridiculous price).
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Erno Laszlo - Absolute Finish Finishing Mousse Foundation
Laurel15 10/8/2010 6:16:00 PM
This is my new HG foundation. It is head and shoulders above anything else I've used. This stuff is just in a completely different league, and worth what you pay if you want to splurge on something really nice for yourself. This is a whipped foundation which looks really dark in the tub. You don't need much - it spreads easily and melts into your skin, creating a "perfect", poreless, glowing look, with a multi-spectrum sunscreen. This makeup feels completely lightweight - I can't feel it at all when it's on. I am in love with this stuff and I will absolutely buy it again. Make sure to have a Laszlo rep help you match your color, because the colors look deceiving when they are in the pot. I'm not crazy about having to dip my finger into the jar every time, but I make sure that my fingers are clean, and it's probably okay. The product comes with a spatula to lift out the product, which works well enough until you lose it :) I just like the control of using my fingers. Try this!!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Double Extend Mascara
Laurel15 10/8/2010 6:09:00 PM
Meh. This mascara has two wands, one with a primer and one with the mascara. The idea is to coat your lashes first with the white primer, then add the black mascara over that. The formula forms tubes around your lashes, making them long and smudge proof. I'm giving two stars because it does look nice and feathery when you put it on, and for awhile it is smudge proof. But I still ended up with little black dots under my eyebrows, after just a few hours of wear - not a great look! There are better tube-forming formulas than this. Plus, L'Oreal still tests on animals, which I am not cool with. Skip this - skip everything from L'Oreal - and look for something better.
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Powder -Revlon - PhotoReady Translucent Finisher
Laurel15 7/10/2010 11:45:00 AM
I'm almost 40 and have smooth, clear skin with no wrinkles. My biggest skin concern is large pores, and this product really made them stand out! Normally I use a liquid foundation, and then press in a loose powder like Estee Lauder Lucidity. Ludicity makes my pores disappear, but Photoready Translucent made my skin look too light, and the sparkles were messy and accentuated my pores. I won't be buying this again. I have to admits, the packaging is pretty slick. The plastic case fits in your hand like an mp3 player (the powder window is the "dial" - clever!) but the included brush is pretty flimsy.
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Hair Color -Ion - Color Brilliance - Demi Permanent Hair Color
Laurel15 7/1/2010 7:19:00 PM
My Colorgems shade (Golden Copper Brown 4.63) has been discontinued, so I switched to Ion Color Brilliance 4RC, which was supposed to be the equivalent shade. It's a good formula which actually lasts longer than the Colorgems did, and it conditions the hair nicely. However, the color went much darker than I expected it to, and left stubborn dark areas on my hair that turned out to be more or less permanent. So be careful as you mix this up, and go lighter than you think you should. The main reason I won't be buying it again is that the copper is just not coppery enough. It leans towards pink rather than orange, and doesn't look as natural because of this. If you like violet shades, this might be perfect for you. But if you're looking for a true copper, skip this line.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Estee Lauder - Lash Primer Plus
Laurel15 5/19/2010 4:53:00 PM
The idea of using a lash primer seemed superfluous to me until I tried a sample of Lash Primer Plus. It's basically a white mascara base. You use it under your regular mascara, and it really does help to beef up your lashes. It goes on quickly because you don't have to get the application perfect, so it doesn't add that much time to your beauty routine. The white color magically disappears when you put mascara over it. For best results, put your mascara on when the lash primer is still wet. I have used this with different mascaras, all with good results, but I like it best paired with Estee Lauder DoubleWear mascara. My sample tube lasted a long time, and when it dried up I got another one. I will definitely repurchase again when this runs out. Who doesn't want the fattest, thickest lashes they can have?
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Skincare -Origins - Skin Diver
Laurel15 5/19/2010 4:43:00 PM
After using this heavenly scented black soap for two weeks, I can't imagine bathing without it. Origins Skin Diver soap contains charcoal which draws impurities out of the skin. And it only takes a few days to see results - the little bumps on my back and shoulders were gone within a few days. This soap is finely milled, meaning it won't dissolve to gooey puddle on you. I've been using mine for two weeks and the Origins logo can still be clearly seen on the front, so for $12 it's a good value. Did I mention this soap smells amazing? My entire bathroom is scented with the fabulously fresh and spicy scent of cloves, wintergreen, spearmint and rosemary. This soap does have one drawback - the lather creates a clotty white floating residue, which is a little gross when your taking a bath. But in the shower, this is not a problem. Skin Diver is my new favorite soap!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Frederic Fekkai - Technician Color Care Mask
Laurel15 5/19/2010 4:27:00 PM
I have to wholeheartedly thank the fabulous swapper who sent me a sample of this, because Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask is the best thing that ever happened to my hair. I have elbow-length colored hair that gets very dry on the ends. I had resorted to using an occasional mayonnaise mask to hydrate the ends, but since I've discovered this product, my mayo days are over! This thick, pink, grapefruit-scented deep conditioner comes in a disk-shaped jar. I scoop out about a walnut-sized dollop of this magical cream, and apply it to my ends from the ears down, comb through, and rinse after three minutes. The effect is like night and day - soft, thick, manageable, great smelling hair that holds up to blow drying or straightening or whatever other tortures I choose. My mother tried this and it transformed her frizzy hair into a head of soft, cascading curls. One jar is $35, which is on the spendy side, but since you only need it twice a week it should last a while. My ONLY criticism is the packaging - I prefer to squeeze product out of a tube rather than scoop it up with wet hands in the shower. But don't let that stop you from trying this excellent hair treatment.
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Shampoo -Ojon - Rub-Out
Laurel15 4/11/2010 1:00:00 PM
Not impressed with this at all. After spraying and nearly choking on the horrible fumes, my hair appeared somewhat less oily, but still oily enough to make this product seem more or less useless. It definitely removes any shine and leaves your hair looking dull, and *feeling* heavy and dirtier than it did before. It's pretty gross. Worst of all is the smell, which is strong, unpleasant and lingering. Plus, as the scalp heats the product you just end up smelling it all day long. **UPDATE** Despite the smell, I'm probably going to keep this product because it does work - it absorbs the oil in my hair and allows me to go another 1-2 days without shampooing. The name 'dry shampoo' is misleading - this only makes your hair dirtier, but it adds volume and will probably save me a lot of time in the long run. But I will seek out a superior (and sustainable) product when this can is finished!
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Skincare - Body -Estee Lauder - Bronze Goddess Body Oil Spray
Laurel15 3/11/2010 4:24:00 PM
Bronze Goddess smells like coming home from the beach. Your hair is wet and matted from the wind and waves. Your skin is salty and sun-warmed, still smelling faintly of sand and sweet coconut tanning oil. Estee Lauder has nailed this summer memory and bottled it up at a very reasonable price. I have tried both the skinscent and the body oil; they smell very similar to each other. If there is any difference, I'd say the skinscent is slightly sweeter, and the oil smells richer, but both are extremely light and wearable. Living in a humid climate, I don't usually want to put oil on my skin, but this a "dry" oil which sinks in quickly and moisturizes without any heaviness. The glass bottle is lovely, but glass + oily hands = slippage. Probably the safest way to apply this is to leave the bottle on the counter top and just pump some into your hands, since you're going to rub it into your skin anyway. For a real treat, rub this on your arms, legs, shoulders and chest after a shower. It locks in moisture and leaves your skin soft and delicately scented. By the way, if it's not clear from my review, I just love this stuff. I bought a bottle unsniffed from EL online, and liked it so much that I ran out the next day to get my mother a bottle for her birthday. I might have to buy the edp, too, since it's limited edition.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No