Concealers -Ellis Faas - Concealer
Nemea 5/10/2013 6:53:00 AM
I have tried 20+ different undereye concealers, and still, I can't resist a good hype, so I simply had to try this one when I discovered that Ellis Faas makeup was available from Beautybay. Well, it has received very good rating, but I am not totally satisfied. I fair an neutral (leaning cool, around N13 (lighter than MAC NW15), and bought the lightest colour, which supposedly is neutral in tone. However, I found it slightly too yellow, while I prefer my undereye concealers to be slightly pinky, because of its brightening properties. The texture is really light and pigmented, comparable to Guerlain Precious Light concealer, which is my HG concealer for the undereye area. But in contrast to Precious Light, this one doesn't dry down/set on me, and even with powder, I find that it creases quite badly within few minutes. I will probably use it now and then, and be annoyed that I bought it...
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Powder -Christian Dior - Diorskin Forever Flawless Fusion Compact (2011 version)
Nemea 5/2/2012 6:38:00 AM
Yet another "no" to repurchasing from me. I an drawn towards Dior make up in general, but I can't get any of the foundations to work for me for one reason: they oxidise like nobody's business! The only one that doesn't, is the loose Nude Glow, which is divine. The Diorskin Forever powder foundation was unfortunately no exception, and although the result looks good for 15 minutes or so, after some time it turns into an hideous, orange shade. Also, I find the colours quite yellow, even 020, which is normally my perfect shade, is quite yellow in this powder. Otherwise, it's your typical run-of-the-mill powder foundation; quite light, buildable coverage, skinlike finish and it is also quite longlasting on my dry skin. If it just hadn't oxidised, I would probably repurchase. Now, I'll have to continue my search, and I suspect that either Kanebo or La Prairie will be the next one to try.
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Liquid -MAC - Face and Body Foundation
Nemea 5/2/2012 5:02:00 AM
There are certain things that I like about this foundation, but it certainly also has its downsides. I like the colour selection, where N2 is close to perfect most of the year. Usually, I'm unable to find a match in MAC's foundations for my light, neutral skintone, with NC being too yellow, and with NW most of the time leaning orange. I also like the fact that F&B is light, yet buildable, and that it doesn't transfer once it's set. But that's about it. First of all, I normally prefer not to use powder on top of liquid foundation, because my skin is dry, and I find that it accentuates any dry flakes/spots, plus gives a more matte result. With this foundation, I just have to use powder on top, because the result with foundation on bare (moisturised, primed) skin is just too sticky, and feels quite heavy, despite its lightness. So I won't repurchase, and will probably test MUFE F&B, to see whether that fares better in the stickiness department.
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Mascara -Stila - Glamoureyes
Nemea 4/26/2012 6:27:00 AM
I have tried every mascara under the sun, mostly because I'm curious. My favourites are Max Factor Masterpiece, Chanel Sublime and Diorshow Extase, which fulfil different purposes. I'm mainly looking for length and the possibility of layering without getting a clumpy result, and the Stila Glamoureyes meet both of these criteria. The colour is a nice, glossy black, the mascara is neither wet nor particularly creamy, and the brush is big and dense, without getting clumpy. The packaging looks really simple; lightweight plastic, but I can forgive that, as long as it continues to perform. Will probably repurchase, but I'm notorious for forgetting about old favourites because I want to try something new and alluring.
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Cleansers -Vichy - Purete Thermale Cleansing Micellar Lotion for face and eyes
Nemea 4/22/2012 6:06:00 AM
This micellar cleanser does everything I expect it to; it removes light makeup, including non-waterproof mascara, doesn't leave a residue, and also doesn't irritate my slightly sensitive skin. I will definitely repurchase.
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Lipstick -Bare Escentuals - 100% Natural Lipstick - Gelato
Nemea 4/18/2012 6:06:00 AM
This is a perfect MLBB shade for me. I would describe it as a medium pink with mauve undertones, with just enough warmth to avoid it from looking grey on the lips. This was the lipstick I chose for my wedding day makeup, and I still like the colour of it very much. But that's the end of the love story for me. These lipsticks are insanely dry, and I can't get them to work on my dry lips. No matter what lipbalm I'm using underneath, they feel tight and uncomfortable on my lips, so they don't get any use (I have another colour in addition, I believe it's called Pink Champagne). I reserve them for my two-and-a-half-year-old to play with, she loves playing with my make up.
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Liquid -Chanel - Perfection Lumiere
Nemea 4/16/2012 7:26:00 AM
I bought this although I suspected that it wouldn't work for me (nothing longlasting ever has), so I can't really complain, but I must say: if your skin is on the dry side, stay away. I have tried it on top of different primers, with rich moisturiser, with sunscreen (Shiseido, LRP...), but nothing really works, and it sinks into my normally invisible pores before I have gotten my shoes on to leave the house, and it accentuates flakes I didn't know that I had. I really wanted it to work, because I love the feel once applied, but I can't get it to work and look nice on my dry skin. Also, I have an issue with the Chanel colour range, although I must admit that it has become better with the splitting up of the range into colour families. My skin is neutral, but the B range (B10, B20) is far too yellow, and the BR shades also don't look perfect. For this, I bought it in BR12, the lightest shade, which may seem a bit light, but which oxidised on me to a good enough colour. If only I could get it to work... I will try again in summer, but don't really have high hopes.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Guerlain - Super Aqua-Serum 
Nemea 4/16/2012 5:43:00 AM
Normally, I try to stick to skincare products from more professional brands, because I find that they offer better products for the money you pay. But I recently got a sample of this serum when buying something else, and was shocked at how good it was at providing moisture for my parched skin. My skin is quite good; small pores, fine texture, and some slight sun damage, and I use this serum underneath a moisturiser wth sunscreen or underneath the LRP Anthelios Melt-In Creme with spf 50+, which works like a breeze. I also find that it helps my undereye area stay more moisturised, which is an added bonus, because I haven't really found a hg eye cream (maybe I'm too picky?). The price is horrendous, but I bought it with a 20% off coupon, and I will probably repurchase once I get desperate enough, although I find that the Nuxe Crème Fraîche hydrating serum (not exact name) also works excellently. As for the packaging, I don't like the design of Guerlain products in general, and this is no exception, but I can live with that, as long as the product delivers as good results as I've seen with the Super Aqua Serum. I'll probably test further products from the range, also.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -La Prairie - Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening Eye Treatment
Nemea 4/16/2012 5:34:00 AM
I hate to be the one critical voice in a sea of praises, but here goes: I don't really like this one that much. I have tried pretty much every pen-style concealer/highlighter under the sun, and the best one still remains Guerlain Precious Light. But that doesn't prevent me from continuing the search, so a couple of months back, I bought the concealer pen from La Prairie in the lightest colour, 10 or 01 (can't remember what it's called). Pricewise, it may seem very expensive, but considering you get a refill in the package, it works out the same as the rest of the bunch (YSL, Dior, Chanel, Kanebo...) So why don't I like it? Well, first of all, I don't find the coverage that good (and I have moderately dark circles, and don't need an industrial strength concealer), and second, it tends to disappear very quickly on my (dryish) skin, no matter what eye cream or primer I'm wearing underneath. I also don't care for the packaging, which I find far too bulky.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Christian Dior - Rosy Glow Awakening Blush
Nemea 4/16/2012 5:24:00 AM
I finally caved in and bought this blush, although I already own sufficiently many bright pink blushes (Illamasqua Nymph, Stila Custom Color, Nars Angelika, Make Up Store Shimmer Dynasty, MAC Pink Swoon...), and it IS indeed different from the rest. In the pan it looks like a coolish pink with lilac undertones, but it changes a bit upon application, and gets deeper, while staying true to its cool colour. On my light (MAC N2, Dior 020, Kanebo 202), neutral skin, it looks really natural, and the best part is that the staying power is the best of any blushes I own. I have a bad habit of touching my face, which means that many blushes simply disappear over time, but this little gem stays where I put it. I use the Dior Blush Brush for application to avoid blocks of colour, and I would definitely recommend using a fluffy brush with this one. As for the packaging, I normally prefer more minimalistically packaged blushes without mirrors, brushes etc, which I don't use anyway, but I can live with that. *edit* i find this too chalky and the color stays a lavender-based pink, which is not too flattering. I also find that it takes a lot of work to show up even on my light skin, but that might be because I'm used to blushes from Nars, MAC and Illamasqua.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Biotherm - Biomains Complete Hand & Nail Treatment
Nemea 4/16/2012 5:17:00 AM
I didn't have very high hopes for this hand cream, because my hands are notoriously dry, and my fingertips tend to flake and crack, although I moisturise regularly, after washing my hands, and at least 10+ times a day apart from that. My favourite hand creams out of those I have tried, are Shiseido Advanced Essential Energy, and Pai Skincare Fragonia&Sea Buckthorn hand cream. But the one from Biotherm actually helps, at least short-term, and my fingertips receive the moisture that they crave, without it disappearing immediately after application. "Everyone" seems to love the L'Occitane Shea hand cream, but for me, that one also simply sinks in and disappears within minutes, so finding something which actually works fine, was a nice treat. I will definitely repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Biotherm - Beurre de Levres
Nemea 4/16/2012 5:10:00 AM
This is a decent everyday lipbalm, and I would buy it again. I have a thing with lipbalms, and tend to try them all, in hope of finding the holy grail. My lips have a tendency to dry out, especially in the winter, but this lipbalm helps protecting them, and doesn't disappear immediately upon application, as was the case with its relative, Aquasource Lèvres, which was pretty useless. FYI, my favourite lipbalms in a tube are Clarins Moisture Relenishing Lipbalm, and Guerlain Baume de la Ferté.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment
Nemea 9/29/2011 6:12:00 AM
There's nothing intensive moisturizing about this hand cream. It is thick, but siliconey, and i had to reapply constantly, because it simply disappeared, and left not a trace behind, apart from the strong, perfumed scent. The only positive thing I can say about it, is that it smells much nicer than the original Eight Hour Cream, but that's about it. I'm quite content that I bought a GWP size on Ebay instead of the full size. Will not repurchase. For me, the best hand cream is still Shiseido's Advanced Essential Energy. Yes, I'm also one of those that find L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream overrated. Now, shoot me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Lancome - TEINT MIRACLE INSTANT RETOUCH PEN
Nemea 9/29/2011 4:46:00 AM
Why do I NEVER learn? For me, the best pen style concealer is Guerlain, full stop. But that doesn't prevent me from testing out everything else on the market, mostly with little success. This is one of those tests. I was at the shopping mall, a bit bored, so I ended up browsing concealers, and the candidates were the pen style concealers from Clarins and Lancome. I thought Clarins was a bit too thick, so I bought the Teint Miracle in #1, which is a nice, light, neutralish ivory colour. The coverage is OK, the highlighting effect OK, I would say, but it disappears and creeps into fine lines within the hour, which never happens if I'm using my Guerlain favourite. Also, the click mechanism is partly faulty; it doesn't click, but it's still working. For me, it will be a relief when this one runs out, and I will definitely not buy it again. I guess I have to try Clarins next anyway...
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fusion Beauty - LipFusion Conditioning Stick
Nemea 9/29/2011 4:42:00 AM
I hoped I would love this, but alas. I'm no friend of lipsticks and glosses in general, because I find them drying and/or sticky. So when I discovered the LipFusion Lip Conditioning Stick in Berry, I thought it may fill the dual purpose of conditioning and providing a little colour. The Berry colour is a nice, sheer, cool pink, and it isn't very noticeable on the lips, which I quite like. However, I find this stick exceptionally drying, and within minutes of application, my lips feel like they're shrinking and I have to wipe it off and add a layer of proper lipbalm (thank you, Clarins, for the Moisture-Replenishing Li Balm!). In addition, I also find that as the scent develops, it smells more and more of chemical sunscreen, which is not a positive thing in my ear. So this is not a rebuy, and it will probably just annoy me until I eventually throw it out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No