Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Corrector
NK207 3/20/2012 7:35:00 PM
I bought this a few months ago, and I absolutely love it. The packaging is a traditional round clam packaging which snaps in place and is sturdy enough so it's safe to keep in my handbag. It's not the most hygienic packaging, but I don't know how else to have this product. It has a tiny mirror in the lid for touch ups and comes in the regular sleek BB black plastic - looks and feels exclusive. You get 1,4 g which isn't much considering the price (£17), but you need only a tiny bit. I have just barely dented mine and I've had it for 3 months with daily use. Now onto the actual product. It comes in many different shades put into two main categories, bisque and peach depending on the shading and darkness of your undere-ye discoloration. Best way to make sure you get the right undertone as well as shade, is to drop by a Bobbi Brown counter. I mix between porcelain bisque and light bisque depending on how dark my circles are - which often correlates with how much sleep I've had. It is, as the name implies, very creamy and it will settle into fine lines if you do not set it with a powder. If you have very dark circles and need the BB concealer kit on top you already have the perfect powder, but you can use any, really. Just make sure to set so it doesn't settle or make your mascara smudge. This is a bit annoying, but any creamy or liquid product will do this if not set into place, so I'm okay with it. This is one of my HG products and I would not go without. I am very pale and therefore my veins are really visible and this is the only thing which makes it go away. There is such a huge difference between when I'm bare and when I've applied this. I gently pat it into place and this does the trick. On me this lasts all day and only need to touch up if it's been raining or I've accidentally rubbed my eyes. def worth getting if you struggle with darkness underneath the eyes and regular concealer doesn't do the trick. I will keep repurchasing this when I run out because I need this to not look ill.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Patina (Frost)
NK207 2/9/2012 2:37:00 PM
My all-time favorite color by MAC and the one I use every single day. I went back and forth on whether or not purchasing this, as I heard so many raving about this but whenever I went to the counter it looked a bit...blah. Finally I caved in and bought it and have been using it daily ever since. I have very pale skin (Bobbi Brown porcelain/alabaster) and I was a bit worried about the shade as most people who loved it were quite tan. However, I actually really love this. It's a cool-toned light multicolored brown with tiny bits of golden flecks in it which picks up the light in different ways and really makes my blue eyes pop. For everyday I apply this lightly all over the eye, put on some black gel eyeliner on top lashline and MAC powersurge on the waterline, and this just makes my eyes pop and look vibrant. Powersurge is kind of like patina in an eyeliner. It pairs great with most colors as it is so dimentional, and even though it is quite light, it looks great in a smokey eye. I don't understand people who say that it doesn't have a great color pay-off, cos on me I can layer it and get the exact same color as is in the pan. I never do this though, as I prefer a more soft sweep of color and then really well blended out. Doesn't look too harsh on even my super pale skin and picks up light really nicely. I don't love the packaging of MAC eyeshadows though, I think it looks a bit cheap. I only like the quads and it's very annoying to have to bring out a quad when I only want the one eyeshadow, especially when traveling. I don't think it's too expensive, as it here has the same price tag as L'Oreal products. I would def repurchase this and recommend it for all eye colors and for every skintone except perhaps really dark skintones as I think this might show up a bit ashy. Don't be fooled at how blah it looks at the counter. Have a MUA apply it and go out in sunlight to see how gorgeous it picks up and you will want to purchase it.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Moroccanoil - Moisture Repair Shampoo
NK207 1/25/2012 5:23:00 PM
This product is amazing for the hair. I have really long hair and I live in a very cold climate and use central heating all the time and it takes it toll on my hair. This adds moisture, shine, bounce and makes the hair and scalp healthy and hydrated. The reason why I will not repurchase this is because it breaks me out soooo badly and there is no way I can use this for a longer period of time. I use this once a month or so just to finish it, but no more than that. A shame really, because the effect on the hair is beautiful - I just can't use it.
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Pressed Powders -MAC - Blot Powder
NK207 1/11/2012 4:24:00 PM
I have used this powder for about 4 years now, and I don't understand how I managed without it. It was a savior when my skin was super super oily, but I can still use it now on my combination skin, I just don't need to use as much product. It gives a velvety finish to the skin and reduced the appearance of pores and on my skin it lasts all day. I only need to touch up during the summer months, and in the winter months I use it just to set my makeup and it looks good all day. The compact packaging is a bit cheap, as I think all mac packaging is, but it is quite sturdy, at a comfortable size so it's easy to hold, has a nice big mirror in the lid and it's light and small enough to carry in your handbag at the same time that you get a lot of product. I need like 10 months to go through one compact. It photographs well and best of all, it is safe for acne-prone and sensitive skin.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Casting Creme Gloss
NK207 1/11/2012 2:13:00 PM
I have been using the color 500 for the past 2 years now, coloring my hair every 6 weeks as my roots show very easily. This is also why I go for a semi-permanent, as there will be no line in where the roots show, and it doesn't damage the hairas much. I have naturally super straight hair and it absorbs color very easily. This review will be from start to finish of the process, on the color 500. Choosing color: I think choosing color can be quite difficult, as the color names in Scandinavia for some reason are not the same as the ones in English. For instance, the 500 shade is called medium brown in English, but in Norwegian it says light brown: two completely different colors. Also, the darker colors are quite dark and one should look to other images for color codes, meaning that number 500 = 5 in other shades: look at the boxes at say the excellence, and you get the correct color. 415 = 4.15. Get it? ;) On a sidenote, in scandinavia this is an expensive hair dye compared to other high street/drug store dyes. Allergy test: ALWAYS do a skin allergy test and wait 48 hours. I take a cotton bud and apply a tiny amount behind my ear, even though I have used the same color before. Coloring the hair: First you mix the color and the developer by shaking the tube. It does take a while for it do properly mix, and I would leave it on the counter for a little while before starting to color the hair so it has time to develop. I usually wet my hair in the meantime. However easy the mixing is, I hate the packaging on this. The squishy tube is not practical and the nozzle lets out too much dye. The little oval hole in the cardboard box to hold it in place while you section your hair is useless, as the container is too heavy for it to stay in place. The gloves that comes with are waaay to big for me. I like to start by doing my roots at my hairline first, then moving on to my other roots. Then I apply to the lenghts of my hair by sectioning a small piece of hair and massaging the color into the strands from root to tip. This goes pretty well I think, and even though I have very long hair (almost waistlength) there is always a lot of dye left in the bottle. I apply this to the hair and just keep massaging the color into the hairstrands. Then I let it sit for 10 minutes, not 20 as instructed. I prefer the color I get with this amount on time, as 20 turns my color a dark dark brown. However, DO NOT do this with the lighter colors as it can result in a very unhealthy greenish color (a friend of mine tried this...) Wash out. Apply conditioner. I let this sit for...a while. I apply it, put my hair in a bun and watch tv/do something else. Rinse out. Result: Even shade all over. but not flat-looking, as the dye absorbs differently depending on already existing highlight. So if your hair has sunbleached highlights, the color in these will be lighter. This gives a natural looking, very smooth and glossy finish. I do think it looks a bit fake-glossy immediately after, but after 3 washes the excess color is out and you're left with the actual result and it looks natural and pretty.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Gel Eyeliner
NK207 1/4/2012 5:00:00 PM
I've used gel eyeliners for 5 years, this is by far my favorite gel eyeliner for several reasons. It goes on super smoothly and can be applied with many different brushes and does not build up. black ink is a really opaque black color, and it stays black throughout the day as well as in the pot when it's starts getting old (many blacks turns an ashy washed out color) It does not flake, smudge or budge throughout the day, not even in a full-on rain storm (yup, tried it). At the same time, it can be easily removed with makeup remover. There's a few seconds to correct any mistakes, and due to formula I can correct any bumps without smudging it all over the place (like the Maybelline one...ugh) In all of these aspects it is similar to MAC fluidline. The big difference between them and where Bobbi Brown comes out on top, is in terms of tightlining the upper lashline. I always do this and have for close to 10 years now - first with pencil, then with gel, and I need it to stay put. Bobbi Brown's is the only one which stay put on the top waterline for hours and hours until you remove it, even with contacts. With contacts eyeliners often smudge onto the lens, but this one doesn't. It also doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes. Onto packaging. This is by far superior to MAC, as the mac ones does not close properly, thus drying out the product before reaching halfway through the pot. This ones does close properly, and I hit bottom of it before it dried out completely - there's still product being wasted around the edge, but not as much as MAC. Also, the packaging is sleek, pretty and professional-looking as all the Bobbi Brown products are. It is a bit expensive, but considering quality it is def worth it. I am currently on my 2nd pot of this, and will repurchase as long as they produce it. It does everything I want my eyeliner to do: easy to apply, opaque color, long-lasting no-smudging formula, suitable for sensitive eyes and contacts, and gorgeous packaging.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Origins - NIght-A-Mins Cream
NK207 12/23/2011 10:24:00 AM
Background information: I have extremely sensitive, dehydrated oily skin which feels really tight if I don't moisturize at the same time I get oily and shiny. I bought this because I was in a desperate need for something amazing for my skin due to shifting and harsh weather: -15C, windy, snowy...Not good, and my skin was breaking out like crazy due to increased production of oil at the same time my skin starting "cracking" and burning. The lady at the Origins counter recommended this for me, and I'm so happy with it! It stings a tiny bit when I first apply due to it's rejuvenating properties, but it fades fairly quickly. It sinks into my skin, but it leave some residue. What I do, is that I apply my cream all over, let it sink and then I massage any residue in. In the morning my skin looks plump, smooth and hydrated. I also use this after my skin tone correcting pads and it's fantastic for that. I really do believe this has faded my acne scars some and I will keep using this. It is a bit pricey, but for me who reacts to nearly everything, it's worth it. I haven't had any breakouts or any sore skin after using this. The packaging sucks, I prefer a tube as it is more hygienic, but the product works and that's what matters. EDIT: It no longer works as well, I don't find it to be hydrating enough. I will keep repurchasing though as it does help with fading of scars.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Eyeshadow in Mystery
NK207 11/4/2011 7:26:00 PM
To start off, I have very pale skin with freckles, and dark hair and blue eyes. This color unlike any other brows I've come across, a sort of a mauvy cool-toned brown without any red in it - which I love. I use this through my eyebrows every day and it's perfect for that and lasts really well. For most looks I put this in the crease to darken it, but I recently found a new way to use it and it has become my go-to make up look: Apply mystery with a regular application brush, preferably a bit softer than usual brushes, and apply it all along my top lashline as well as 2/3 on the lower lashline. Then I smudge this a bit to soften it, apply black eyeliner to my top waterline and finish off with mascara. Voila, an appropriate, super easy smokey eye suitable for daytime and with some more eyeliner for evening. Works great. I think it might be a bit too ashy on people with warm undertones, but it is worth a shot. It's a perfect cool-toned dark brown, highly pigmented and super smooth to apply. However, I think MAC eyeshadows are a bit too expensive, luckily they last forever. The packaging is hideous and I really hope that MAC do something with that. But great color though :-)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Burberry - Body
NK207 10/8/2011 6:57:00 PM
I love this perfume, however I think this is one of those which isn't for everyone...it translates different on different people, and on some it seems it doesn't go very well, but with others, including myself, this is a total win. I'm rubbish at describing scents, so I'm just gonna do my best and tell you how it smells on me. It smells pleasantly weird/different at first, like strong floral/vanilla/musk all at once, and when it settles into the skin it changes scent as it wears off and it's floral and fruity and spicy and light an heavy all at once before it settles into a warm musky vanilla after 12h wear. Sorry I can't descirbe it better than that. With that said, this isn't an unique scent...there are a lot of scents like this on the market with the exact same ingredients. However, I do think that this is the perfect mix of them, often I find perfumes to be too much of this and too little of that, but this is perfect for my skin and personality and it's just right in every way. I can wear this during the day when I feel like wearing a deeper fragrance than my usual ones (Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel or Dior Chérie by Dior) and in the evening, because it picks up really nicely on my. In the short amount of time I've owned this, 2 complete strangers have told me I smelled nice (one customer at work and one person on the tube) as well as family members and friends. In that short time, this has become a must-have for me. I will update if I replace it, but I don't think I will. Now on to the packaging, which is the only bad thing about this. It's....awful...Like, it looks elegant and pretty on its own and photographs well and all, but it's so awkwardly tall standing next to my other perfumes. I tried to lay it down on it's side but then it just looks weird - it reminded me of what the tower of Pisa would look like when it actually hits the ground. When I showed it to my college room-mate she told me it looked like one of the crystals from the superman-movies. I think it looks like something that would make a good horcrux for Voldemort (sorry about the geek references), and I really don't think that this was the look that luxury brand Burberry was going for... But then again, it's not all about the packaging although I am a sucker for a nice bottle, and the fragrance itself is just beautiful. It's warm, feminine and sensual and perfect for autumn/winter. It might work in the spring/summer as well, at least for evening. Try to get a sample of it just so that you could try it on your skin and see (smell) how it settles onto your skin and if you like it.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
NK207 7/27/2011 10:06:00 AM
First a bit on my hair: I have long, super straight hair which I dye every 8 weeks or so. I do not over process my hair, but I used to in the past. I am a huge fan of this brand and loving all of their products, especially this one. I'm on my 2. bottle of this, and it is amazing. The packaging on my first bottle wasn't too great, because they didn't come with a pump when I first bought mine. On this bottle there is, and it is so helpful. I need one full pump to cover the entire skirt of my hair, which I apply to my hair when it's damp. I do not use this every time I wash my hair though, I use it every other time, and then for the other days I use the Joico K-pak leave-in-reconstructor. That way I get a perfect match between reconstruction and moisture. This leaves my hair feeling soft, silky, moisturized, as well as giving me shine that doesn't look greasy. I have not had any problems with this product what so ever, it has not made my hair brittle like someone else here had experiences, doesn't make my hair oily/greasy, it smells divine (although it is a bit strong, so either you love it or you hate it) it holds hairstyles in place...it is a miracle product. My biggest hair sin is that I love to blow-dry my hair, and with this product I can without over-damaging my hair because heat makes the product sink much deeper into the hair strand. I can't say much for how it helps save already damaged hair cos my hair was in pretty good condition when I started using it, but I like to use to prevent damage as my hair is now starting to get pretty long and needs the extra care. This is a staple in my hair care regimen, and along with good shampoos/conditioners, leave-in products and hair masks, this makes my hair look pretty good if I may say so myself :p People do compliment me on my hair, so I must be doing something right and I think this product is a huge part of that "right". The only downside as I see it, is that it is so expensive. £30 is a lot of money, especially on a tight student budget. luckily a little goes a long way and the bottle lasts for ages. This can also be used as a hair mask by just applying quite a lot and mixing it with your regular conditioner, which is great. edit: After a half-year use I found that it doesn't do anything any more... It's so weird, like it just stopped working and just sits on top of the hairstrands and wont absorb. Removed a lippy for that.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - blushcreme ladyblush
NK207 8/22/2010 3:49:00 PM
I lovelovelove this product! It is the perfect color for my, very natural looking on my pale nc10/15 skin although I'm sure that it'll work on darker skintones as well. It blends into the skin beautifully and gives the skin a dewy natural finish. I use this everyday and I haven't broken out from it or anything which is an achievement in itself as I break out from pretty much everything. I only need a little bit of it and it lasts all day. When I run out of it I will def repurchase.
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Treatments (Eye) -BeneFit Cosmetics - EyeCon
NK207 3/1/2010 3:32:00 PM
This was an impulse buy after a lady at the benefit counter asked me if I wanted to try some make up on. I was reluctant at first,because I could just feel that some of those products she had planned would give me break outs, but I really wanted to try this eyecon cream and a few other things. I did in fact break out from some of the products (which I had already guessed), but I was surprised at the eyecon. It promises to get rid of fine lines, dark circles and tiredness, which it does on me. I don't have that much of any of these (I'm only 19), but after a night out, it can always be guessed by the circles and puffiness under my eyes. So now I've been using it for a few days, and so far I really like it. The texture is super soft and a little goes a long way, I have zero fine lines (I used to have one under each eye :p) and puffiness is completely gone. As for the dark circles I don't really see an improvement, but I like how this functions as an affordable moisturizer/eye cream. I like the look of the jar, but I usually don't care that much for jar packaging, I would've preferred a tube...plus for the small opening though. So I would rec this if you need an eyecream for moisture or to get rid of puffiness; if you want to get rid of dark circles I would just invest in this and a good concealer :-) Edit: I will never ever repurchase nor recommend this product. After a few more weeks of trying it out I started getting burns and burnblisters around my eyes. When I stopped using the cream, the blisters went away. So no, I will not reuse it.
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Moisturizers -Eucerin - Redness Relief Perfecting Lotion with spf 15
NK207 1/11/2010 7:12:00 AM
So I just repurchased this. I think that says it all. I really love this product; I bought this for the first time about 9 months ago, after trying desperately to find a way to get rid of my constant blushing. And there's was results from day 1, and I feel that it has reduced the appearance of redness even when I'm not wearing it. There are two things to point to; first one is that I need to apply a moisturizer before I apply this. It does not give me the moisture my skin needs. Second, I need to apply liquid foundation on top of this (I used to have mineral powder foundation but had to stop), or else I get a greenish hue and look like the Hulk, but under my foundation this is absolutely amazing! I like the packaging 'cause of the pump so there's no free bacteria development in it (unlike if you have a jar) and it's pretty to look at. It is way overpriced, but considering that this is the only product that has helped against my blushing, I will continue to repurchase this until I find a better/cheaper alternative.
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Liquid -MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
NK207 12/25/2009 8:41:00 AM
Ugh, worst foundation I have ever tried. Was told that this was an excellent foundation for my acne-prone fair skin. On the plus side, I found my summer shade. On the minus side, horrible smell, bad packaging (why did I have to buy the pump seperately?), tricky to apply, ridiculously pricey, and it broke me out like crazy. I have always had like "normal" acne, with the marks "outside" the skin, but after using this (I only used it for two days before I noticed that I reacted t it), I started getting cyste-like blemishes inside/under the skin, that was painful and bright red, and didn't go away for weeks. And after they went away, I started having the same ones on the exact same place later on, for no apparent reason. I love MAC, but this foundation is horrible, and I will never ever buy other products from MAC than lipgloss, brushes and eyeshadows.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Glo Minerals Satin liquid fndtn
NK207 12/25/2009 8:29:00 AM
So I bought this foundation 5 days ago, and I have been experimenting with it, trying different things everyday. I found out that the best way to apply it is by using my fingers, starting at my jawline by applying a little bit, and working my way up with applying more product and smudging downwards. So far, I really like it. It has a light to medium to heavy coverage (depends on how you layer it), which is perfect for me and my acne scarring :p. But at the same time, unlike other foundations, I don't need to apply the same amount all over my face to make it look "right": I can apply light in my t-zone, and heavy on the sides of my face and on my chin (where I have scarring), and it still looks amazing. I was sceptical about buying it, 'cause their website said that this was not for oily skin, but it has worked better for me than any other foundation. It is also long lasting, 'cause I really don't need a lot of product to get the desired cover-up. But I have yet to see if it breakes me out, but so far so good :-) (unlike others that break me out immediately). But, a BIG minus for the price. Seriously!!! I paid NOK 395, which is, according to the current valuta, 47,29 Euros, or 69,93 US Dollars. I mean, I want to look good, but for that price? -Of course, it might just be because make up in Norway is really expensive, so if it's cheaper elsewhere, I might just buy it online, or have some friends over seas buy it for me. Anyways, if I don't break out from it, it's going to be the price that's going to stop me from purchasing it again. We'll see when I have finished it.
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