Skincare - Face -Unlisted Brand - Emma Hardie-amazing face
LuHu82 5/4/2013 10:33:00 AM
Lovely balm, very nice texture and easy to use. Didn't make a world of difference to my skin but didn't do it any harm either. Fairly effective cleanser. I don't wear much make up day to day (just mascara and blusher) and this does remove it (and heavier 'full face' make up) but I do find I'm left with a small amount of mascara residue. My main bugbear, however, is the packaging. £34 for a product in a jar which isn't fit for purpose? The 'thread' where you twist the lid onto the jar is all cracked and ruined with approx 1/4 product remaining and so the lid now won't fasten (exposing the product to air and increasing risk of contamination) . The gold inner comes out of the Perspex outer jar , basically the whole thing falls to pieces every time I use it. Not good enough. Until the packaging quality issues are addressed I won't repurchase.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Indeed Laboratories - Hydraluron
LuHu82 3/9/2013 9:06:00 AM
Lovely. My skin is oily and I didn't realise it was dehydrated until I tried this and saw the difference in my skin. My skin is more glowy, plump and the small lines which I thought were inevitable irreversible age lines have all but disappeared. The tube packaging is hygienic and I like the no nonsense graphic design. The price at £24.99 for 30ml strikes me as very reasonable for a quality product with quality ingredients, that doesn't promise the earth but actually delivers on what it does promise (especially when you compare to something like EL night repair which is full of 'cones and is £44 for 30ml). Plus, this is frequently on 3for2 type deals @ Boots or you can buy it with Advantage card points which adds to the value for money factor.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Illegal Length Fiber Extensions
LuHu82 2/23/2013 9:16:00 AM
I really wanted to like this but I'm not sure why I bought it in the first place as I really don't get on with Maybelline mascaras. That said, I like fibre mascaras and was on the lookout for a cheapish, 'drugstore' option. I have the waterproof version. Firstly, the packaging. It's ok. Functional but very plasticky and quite cheap looking. The look? I was expecting length from this (packaging promises up to 4mm extra) but no additional volume really. I was right on the volume but length? Not a bit. My lashes on the 'done' eye looked no different to the ones on the side I hadn't done. Pointless. The price? At £8.99 it's expensive for a product that does nothing. I bought the YSL volume false lash effect mascara at the same time and it is so much better. Yes, it is twice the price but there is no competition. Gorgeous, lush, separated, longer and thicker lashes. The additional length from the YSL surprised me. I was expecting the Maybelline to deliver more impressively than the YSL in that area but no dice. So, in short, I really dislike this product. A waste of money that failed to get anywhere close to the promises made or even the performance of ANY basic mascara.
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Lipstick -MAC - Lustre in Lady Bug
LuHu82 7/1/2012 10:08:00 AM
Moisturising formula, great orangey red colour. As it's a lustre it goes on quite sheer, so it is very wearable as a muted 'day' red or you can blot and build layers for a more dense colour. It is a very versatile shade and an ideal red for anyone who is a bit scared of reds and wants to ease in a bit first. Wear time ? Not great, because of the super light lustre formula. For me, about 2.5-3 hrs without eating etc, but it doesn't claim to be long wearing and reapplication is no hardship. The smell is the usual MAC vanilla frosting smell, which I'm not mad about but I can live with. The packing is the usual black/grey and silver bullet shaped tube. Understated. Iconic. The price ? £13.50 in the UK (approx $20 USD at time of writing!) which is fine for a mid range l/s in the UK but compared to the MAC US price it is again a bit galling, as you pay UK drugstore prices for MAC (I try not to be bitter ;o) ) Buy again? Yes, because it is a fab 'go anywhere' red at a reasonable price from a respected brand.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Stippling Brush
LuHu82 7/1/2012 9:45:00 AM
This is a great brush. I use it to apply tinted moisturiser (Laura Mercier Oil Free), as I'm not a foundation wearer. First I buffed it into my skin and then I stippled in on any areas that warranted a little more coverage. The finish was wonderful. Much better than when blended with fingers and a million times better than application by the traditional flat syle of foundation brushes which streak like mad, ime. It allowed a slightly heavier coverage of TM without caking or losing that 'skin' look, which is essential as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to look like I'm wearing a tonne of base and it was so easy and user-friendly to use. The brush is soft on my skin but still firm enough to give the resistance needed for buffing. It washes well and dries quite quickly (thanks to the synthetic bristles). I've had no shedding or colour bleeding with this brush. The price in the UK is £11.99 (approx $18.50 USD!) so more expensive than our US sisters pay for it (which is a bit irritating given that Sam is a UK MUA, I'd have expected it to be cheaper over here), but the price is still great considering the results and what you pay for an equivalent quality MAC or NARS brush. This brush comes without a case but has a fluted base so it can stand if you want it to. This can make it awkward to fit into brush pots/caddies etc, so I can see why that could mark it down for some. I have put mine into a brush roll which is fine as the elastic loop can stretch over the fatter bottom, so it doesn't affect me. The metal handle is quite light, it doesn't bother me but I can see how some would prefer a weightier feel. Overall, I personally can't fault this brush for the value for money, the quality and the finish. It is excellent.
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Polishes -Essie - Peach Daiquiri
LuHu82 6/23/2012 11:41:00 AM
Gorgeous, bold, hot coral colour. I adore this on my toes. Opaque in 2 generous coats and not streaky. No chips. Wear time is AMAZING. I've had it on 10 days so far and I'm only removing it today to give my nails a breather, they are totally immaculate. If I could give halves, this one would be a 4.5 / 5. Not a 5/5 because I reserve that for HG stuff and nail polish, for me, will never be an HG item.
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Blush -NARS - Deep Throat
LuHu82 6/23/2012 9:20:00 AM
Apparently every fair skinned make up lover should have this iconic item in their arsenal. I bought this on the strength of MUA reviews, beauty editor recs,, online swatches and NARS' reputation. I hadn't tried it in person as my nearest counter is a 2hr round trip away and so a pain to visit. I am fair skinned, N15-20 (I am undecided on my undertone! I am fairly neutral leaning toward cool, I think.), assisted blonde (highlights) with dark brown eyes. In the pan this looks a light but bold pink to me, I see none of the 'peachiness' described by other reviewers, there is also a small amount of glitter (small flecks, not big chunks). The second picture on here is the most accurate for me. On my skin it is pink and the glittery sheen comes through no matter how delicately I apply and how much I blend. I think it's a bit too barbie pink on me, even blended out. I benefit from something peachier and certainly something matte, I'm not keen on the glitter, no matter how 'subtle'. The formulation is nice, lovely application and the pigmenation is so good that a small amount goes a very long way (I use ecotools retractable kabuki) and the pan is a good shape for getting the brush loaded. It's not chalky at all. Wear time is 4-5 hours and no oxidisation. The price in the UK is £21 GBP (approx $32+ USD at time of writing), which is pretty expensive for something I'm not madly in love with and wouldn't buy again. If we could exchange MU in the UK (we can't for hygiene reasons), this would be going back. I've marked this down in the sparkly finish, the price and because I really am disappointed with it. It's such a shame, I wanted to love it.
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Lipstick -NARS - Lipstick in Dolce Vita
LuHu82 6/23/2012 8:42:00 AM
So, Nars Dolce Vita, I bought this on the strength of MUA reviews, online swatches and NARS reputation. I hadn't tried it in person as my nearest counter is a 2hr round trip away and so a pain to visit. I am fair skinned, N15-20 (I am undecided on my undertone! I am fairly neutral leaning toward cool, I think.), assisted blonde (highlights) with dark brown eyes. My lips are naturally the same colour as the tube shade of Dolce Vita, however, once on my lips DV turns much pinker. It goes much more raspberry and somehow there are sheeny, tiny glittery particles visible in it that are not visible in the tube (it appears a totally matte, rosy nude in the tube). So I can't count this as a MLBB, unfortunately. The colour is just a shade too raspberry for me, though it is a nice, muted colour for days when bright shades feel a bit much. It is pretty moisturising and the formulation is very smooth and comfortable to wear. I prefer MAC's cremesheen or Amplified formulas for staying power. The price in the UK is £17.50 GBP (approx $27.50 USD at time of writing), which is reasonably expensive and £4 GBP ($6.20 USD) more than a MAC lipstick retails for here. Given that 1) this colour isn't my MLBB, 2) MAC has a wider choice of shades, 3) I prefer their formulation and rather fortuitously their prices are considerably cheaper, I won't rebuy from NARS and will look for my MLBB from the MAC range. If we could exchange MU in the UK (we can't for hygiene reasons), this would be going back. Even though this review isn't exactly glowing, I've given this 4/5, though really it'd be a 3.5 / 5 if we could give halves, because the quality of the product overall is good, the colour just isn't perfect for me. The places I marked it down were price, moisturisation and wear time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Cololr Sensational Popsticks in Crystal Pink 040
LuHu82 6/17/2012 8:29:00 AM
So I am the first ever to review this on MUA, feeling the pressure somewhat! 040 is the European colour code for the shade "Crystal PInk", I don't know if the US/non euro code is the same. The packaging - The tube itself is shiny silver plastic, a bit light and flimsy feeling. The lid is almost full length and transparent in a shade that is supposed to represent the colour of the lip product (in this case a bold, highlighter pink). The overall style is very similar to that of Revlon lip butters with the skinny bit of tube at the base of the lid that can make getting a decent grip a bit of a pain and the transparent lid in the product colour. The product in the tube - in the tube crystal pink is not what you might expect! It appears as a sort of brownish, orange jelly with a pinkish glow when held up to the light. I'll be honest, I was a bit horrified as rusty colours are NOT me. The smell is very lip balmy, it smells like cherry sweets/candy. How does it look/feel on? - It is incredibly sheer but it does come out with a pinky tone to it and not the scary orange/rusty promise of the tube. It needs lots of layers before any colour shows up and even then it is very, very light (sort of a my lips but a teeny bit pinker and glossier). This is definitely more of a tinted lip balm product than a true lip colour. It is very moisturising but the colour payoff is 3/10 (which is find is the opposite with their Revlon counterparts). This shade, when layered does give me a very delicate, subtle MLBB look though (n15/n20). Good for my conservative workplace or those who are easing into lip colour. The cost - £7.19 GBP, pretty reasonable for a nice quality tinted lip balm, which is how I would classify this given the colour and the wear time. I'm on the fence re buying again, but I've ticked 'yes' because I probably would buy it again as a lip balm.
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Lipstick -MAC - Crosswires Cremesheen
LuHu82 6/16/2012 9:13:00 AM
On my n15/n20 complexion this looks pink. Strong, bold, bright fuschia-ish pink. Barely a hint of the coral in the tube shade. Luckily the lip shade is one that works on my face and I like it (though I'd have liked it to be more true to the tube shade but that's down to my own lips). The cremesheen formulation is great for me, softening & moisturising, I find no issues with bleeding (I don't use liner with it) or flaking and the wear time without eating or drinking on me is about 3-4 hrs. As coral shades go, I can't say it's up there for me because it just doesn't come out coral on my face, for me that coral is Vegas Volt. However, as a daytime bold but not too bold hot pink, it works for me. Price is reasonable at £13.50 GBP. I'm not mad about the vanilla cupcake sweet smell, but I can live with it. 4/5 because it's great but it's not HG. If I could give halves this'd be a 4.5 / 5
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Lipstick -MAC - Vegas Volt
LuHu82 6/15/2012 4:11:00 PM
Love it. Fun. Moisturising (as lipsticks go). Sturdy container. Great quality. Perfect bright but not too bright coral on my n15 skintone. Price is reasonable at £13.50 too. I'd buy again if I ran out. Not a 5 because it's not HG material.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Coty - Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
LuHu82 6/13/2012 2:47:00 PM
Bought as a gift (thank goodness i didn't shell out for this!) but just a revolting smell both on my skin and in the bottle. Overpowering and nauseating. It sits on my shelf waiting to be donated
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Fragrances -Valentino - Very Valentino
LuHu82 6/13/2012 2:42:00 PM
I bought this on a whim a couple o years ago from duty free, having quite liked the tester. Unfortunately, once I got it home, I just couldn't get on with it. I find it sickly and nauseating.
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Conditioner -Redken - All Soft Conditioner
LuHu82 6/4/2012 6:41:00 AM
My hair : shoulder length, highlighted, fine textured but reasonable amounts of it, dry ends, oily roots, washed daily. Reasonable condition with light damage from highlights and breakage from tying up when wet (I know!). No heat damage as I only heat style max once a month. I tried this shampoo & conditioner after a disaster with Aussie Miracle Moist & the very disappointing Kerastase Bain Cristallise range, which had been recommended by my stylist. All Soft & Cristallise are similar in their ideals, softening, moisturising & light protein repair, but their results light years apart. My hair is soft, bouncy, manageable and clean with soft ends, with All Soft (they were still dry & oddly crunchy with Kerastase). Plus, as a bonus, All Soft is much cheaper at less than £10 for 300ml of shampoo ($16 USD approx) & less than £11 for 250ml of conditioner ($17 USD approx), compared to nearly £14 for a smaller 250ml shampoo & nearly £17 for a smaller 200ml conditioner in the Kerastase. No contest. Redken all the way.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Redken - All Soft Shampoo
LuHu82 6/4/2012 6:36:00 AM
My hair : shoulder length, highlighted, fine textured but reasonable amounts of it, dry ends, oily roots, washed daily. Reasonable condition with light damage from highlights and breakage from tying up when wet (I know!). No heat damage as I only heat style max once a month. I tried this shampoo & conditioner after a disaster with Aussie Miracle Moist & the very disappointing Kerastase Bain Cristallise range, which had been recommended by my stylist. All Soft & Cristallise are similar in their ideals, softening, moisturising & light protein repair, but their results light years apart. My hair is soft, bouncy, manageable and clean with soft ends, with All Soft (they were still dry & oddly crunchy with Kerastase). Plus, as a bonus, All Soft is much cheaper at less than £10 for 300ml of shampoo ($16 USD approx) & less than £11 for 250ml of conditioner ($17 USD approx), compared to nearly £14 for a smaller 250ml shampoo & nearly £17 for a smaller 200ml conditioner in the Kerastase. No contest. Redken all the way.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No