Sunscreen -Clarins - UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection Tint SPF 40
LetsSwap 5/24/2013 10:00:00 PM
I am truly blown away by this product, so much so, that I am considering ditching foundation altogether and using only this for the rest of my life, lol. There are only three shades, light, medium, and deep, but as is typical with Clarins, the shades run light so I went with Deep for my NC35 skin. Although it is just a bit dark for me, I'll be able to use it during summer when I'm just a bit darker, but will be buying the Medium for fall & winter. The Dark shade is def a bit orange; however, I find that I can sheer it out nicely. I've looked in the mirror outside, inside, etc. and I see no big telltale lines between my face & neck; however, you might have issues if you are lighter. It is also dewy, and bc I prefer a more matte look, I use a very light powder and voila! I wouldn't say it covers like a foundation but I found it covers wayyyyy better than some BB creams and feels much, much lighter. It also layers well. Highly recommend this product bc for me, it eliminates the need to layer sunscreen & foundation, and it is lightweight, not heavy & gross like most all BBs imo.
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Treatments -Sunday Riley - Good Genes
LetsSwap 5/24/2013 9:41:00 PM
I don't know how people are getting good results; this was a major FAIL for me. First, I could hardly stand how sticky, slimy, and gross this feels. Who could stand it long enough to see if it works?? If I was able to leave it on for a couple hours, all I saw was that the lesions or acne would dry out. But I can get that same result with a $6 pimple cream from the drugstore. I did see a tiny bit of cleaner pores, however, nothing so extreme as to make me want to keep this. And the smell...........gross and disgusting....eugh :p This is on its way back to Sephora as we speak (as I write this, actually).
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Jennifer Aniston
LetsSwap 4/6/2013 1:10:00 AM
I can't help but like this product because it's my going-to-bed fragrance. And YES, I wear fragrance to bed bc otherwise some of my frags would turn into vinegar from lack of use (SAHM here). As such, my going-to-bed scent has to be very soft and not long-lasting; this one is both. I guess bc I wear it to bed, I've come to associate it with nice feelings of relaxation, warmth, etc. And of course one of the fringe benefits is being told that I smell really good in the mornings :) and also having a permanently-nice scented pillow. Although this scent is not long lasting, it is on my linens and for that reason alone I will repurchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Kat Von D - Shade Shifter in Stockholm
LetsSwap 2/19/2013 10:22:00 PM
MUA, you gotta try this!! This eyeshadow is so cool and unique, I'm surprised it hasn't yet been discovered. You dampen the applicator, swipe it across the eyeshadow, and apply it. In that application, you'll get a couple of different colors! It gives a gorgeous holographic effect; I bought the blue (Stockholm) and there's an awesome green that also comes out mixed in with the blue. It's hard to describe but its like nothing I've ever seen. Such gorgeous, gorgeous color, I'll have to post a pic soon. I'll be trying the other shades too! In the meantime, here's a link to the product: http://www.sephora.com/shade-shifter-eyeshadow-P375407?skuId=1432863
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Treatments -Peter Thomas Roth - Retinol Fusion PM
LetsSwap 2/19/2013 9:54:00 PM
I have I feeling *this* is the product I have to thank for all the compliments I get on my "beautiful, glowy" skin (modesty aside). Let me gloat for just a bit: every time I go get my hair done, my stylist asks "WHAT I use on my skin because it's perfect". Same when I'm getting a manicure, going to see my doctor, and several other places. I don't see my skin as perfect and what others see as glowy I often see as oily, but it's too many ppl commenting to not be true. *End of gloating* The product is runny, as others have mentioned, and I never thought it'd do anything. However, PTR products have always been kind to me & have never caused problems, so I was unafraid to be use it. I do like the dropper bc you get more product than with a pump. I usually do like 5 drops on the back of my hand, and dip-pat w/my fingers on my face a bit at a time. then I do a light rub-in and I'm done. The product sinks in beautifully, and believe me if it didn't, I would tell you right here bc I hate anything even slightly sticky. It's fairly $$ but since this is what works for my weird still-oily even @ fortysome skin happy, then so be it. I'll be poor but glowy ;)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Laura Geller - Blush n Brighten Pink Grapefruit
LetsSwap 2/5/2013 5:04:00 PM
This is so beautiful, but I'm so sad bc it barely shows on me :( It takes a few swipes for me to get some color (NC35, Latina) and I don't know if it's bc it has the light highlight veining or it's just my skin -which really eats up color. At the end of the day, all I'm left with is a light shimmer on my cheeks. So very sad, I'll be returning this. Three lippies bc it's not the product's fault that my skin just eats up color...
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Treatments -Peter Thomas Roth - Glycolic Acid 10% Hydrating Gel
LetsSwap 1/4/2013 3:28:00 PM
Sadly, this product did nothing for me. I am a big fan of everything PTR and I keep recommending his line to everyone who asks me what I use on my skin to keep it "so nice". However, this product was unremarkable for me; it's tacky when you first put it on (although it goes away somewhat after a bit) and in just a couple of hours, I get oil breakthrough. Too bad because it contains great ingredients :( Will forever love PTR products, but this one I will not be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner -Aqua
LetsSwap 12/24/2012 9:39:00 PM
What can I add to these reviews that hasn't already been mentioned? The pigmentation is excellent and it's as smooth as butter. The staying power is absolutely awesome. I disagree that the color leans green, it's more of a turquoise aqua. I wanted to try UD's Flipside for the longest time, but since this one is much cheaper & just about the same quality (and a more beautiful shade, imo) I'm really happy I got this. Try it before you buy UD's Flipside.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Diane Von Furstenberg - DIANE
LetsSwap 9/14/2012 12:05:00 PM
I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned that this smells very much like Sarah Jessica Parker's "Lovely". I tried them both, one on each wrist, and sure enough the scents are very comparable. Diane is a bit lighter, more refined if you will, more mature but NOT old-lady at all. Lovely is a bit stronger. This one has notes of frangipani blossom, violet, patchouli, myrrh and musk. It's very soft and feminine, a must try if you like "Lovely".
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Primer/ Corrector -Paula's Choice - Shine Stopper Instant Matte Finish
LetsSwap 9/14/2012 12:01:00 PM
This product has dethroned my previous HG of mattifiers (Shiseido for Men). Reason being that this product doesn't make my face feel congested as with the Shiseido. This leaves a nice matte finish for me that lasts hours and doesn't "ball up" like all the Smashbox primers do. It also has a nice creamy feel, not siliconey, like Smashbox. I agree with a previous reviewer that this may be hit or miss so you'll just have to try it out for yourself. This product works so well for me, I have to keep two handy: one to use as a primer, the other one for overnight (yes, I have to wear something at bedtime or else I'll wake up like I smeared lard on my face -ugh). It's never clogged my pores or caused any breakouts.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Nuance by Salma Hayek Quinoa Smooth & Shine Conditioner
LetsSwap 7/7/2012 6:34:00 PM
Not a fan of celebrity anything, but I walked into our *newly opened* CVS & spotted this while searching for a truly nourishing conditioner. The ingredients were what reeled me in: Wheat Protein, Olive Oil, Rice Bran Oil, Quinoa, etc. I took a whiff of it and had to buy it. It goes on very lightweight, and does feel nourishing to the hair. It could be a bit more moisturizing, but then it'd probably weigh my (thin) hair down. Once again, the smell is to die for. Something else I noticed: it's paraben-free and not tested on animals. The bottle is tall (10 Fl Oz) and it sells for appx. $7. I'll keep using it, and will be getting the shampoo.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -John Frieda - Precision Foam Color
LetsSwap 6/30/2012 8:43:00 PM
Went with this product (instead of my old reliables L'oreal Excellence & Feria) just to see if I could get less fading. Boy, what a mistake. I chose shade 5A Medium Ash Brown, wanting to even out some highlights & get my hair all one shade. Well, one shade I did get: ELVIRA BLACK, as someone else described it. I left it on for the 20 minutes rec'd, which was hard to do, since I did get drips down my forehead. After the mess was rinsed off, I called the 1-800 number & all I was advised to do was use a clarifying shampoo. I'm on day 4, but it's still pitch black -ugh. The drips on my forehead have taken forever to come off so I've looked like I had melasma these past few days. That, along with the terribly DARK shade this product runs + cost ($12+) = NO MORE for me. Back to my old reliables. ***If you MUST try this, go 1 (even 2) shades lighter than the color you actually want***
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Color in T53 Cool Medium Brown
LetsSwap 6/3/2012 8:24:00 PM
This haircolor is from the Tortoiseshell Browns collection, and it's supposed to reflect the colors found in tortoiseshell. I was torn between trying this one and going with my good old reliable Excellence Creme, but I couldn't stop drooling over the gorgeous brown color with multidimensional shades of amber & honey. I used it right away because I was dying to get rid of some old red color. Upon processing the color looked very dark, almost black. However, when it was done = WOWZA! A gorgeous brown that was very true to the color shown on the box. Now it's two weeks later and I haven't had any fading or brasiness/red. This shade is doing wonders for my skin tone (NC35) and my eyes! Love it and will continue to use. I'm surprised there's no other reviews for this, it's soooo beautiful, just take a look at the pic. There's a $1 off coupon on the L'Oreal website for it, so go try it!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -Make Up For Ever - Duo Mat Powder foundation
LetsSwap 3/1/2012 12:25:00 AM
Merde, another miss with powder foundation. I had such high hopes for this one, and although it didn't break me out like other ladies on here, it did make me shine like a disco ball. It goes on smooth and matte, but it won't be 2-3 hours before most of it has faded and I'm left with high shine. I even tried my industrial-strength mattifier (Shiseido Men) underneath, but nope, the oil still came through. Too bad, since shade 207 was sooo gorgeous on my skin, it made it look flawless. Too bad, I can't deal with the oily mess. I could cry.
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Gels/Soaps -Caress - Fine Fragrance Elixirs - Scarlet Blossom
LetsSwap 1/27/2012 8:03:00 PM
Not even Victoria's Secret has come out with a scent like this. It's soft and sexy, something to bathe in for a special night. It's very warm and ambery, the patchouli is soft, not in-your-face as others have mentioned. I get so many suds with just a little bit, and the scent lingers in a good way. I can't add much more to what everyone else has said, just that this will be a staple for me and I'll be trying the other fragrance elixirs just because of how good this one is.
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