BB Cream -Lioele - Waterdrop BB cream
Pendoline 4/11/2011 6:21:00 AM
This was my first foray into BB creams, and I was certainly not disappointed! The Lioele Water Drop BB Cream is specifically formulated for dry skins. I have very dry skin, and most tinted bases or foundations I use really accentuate the dryness. Not so with the Lioele. I have found that the way to apply it is to smooth it on as you would a primer, rather than rub it in as you would a cream - otherwise it tends to ball up, pulling off dry skin. The cream is advertised as producing a cooling sensation when applied, leaving little drops of water on the skin. I have not experienced any such sensation, nor have I seen any water drops, but it doesn't matter; this is a really good product. It leaves behind a beautiful sheen rather than a dewiness. It is also very buildable, so you can either use it on its own or under foundation - it works brilliantly as a primer. On its own, it does give less coverage than the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, but this is definitely buildable, and even covers redness if you apply enough. If applied properly (ie smoothed over the skin, rather than rubbed into the skin), it doesn't cake. This BB cream has an SPF of 27, which is excellent. My skin has been feeling smoother and looks less red and dry since I have been using this BB cream. It could be a coincidence, but I have not been using any other new products, and I can definitely see a difference. I just can't fault it. I chose this cream at random as I really wanted to try a BB cream. It really functions as a multi-tasking product: it moisturises, it provides protection from the sun, it works as a primer, smoothing out the skin, it seems to have helped to calm my skin generally, and it also provides coverage with a beautiful finish. I paid $22 (Canadian $) for this, which I thought was an excellent price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Rimmel - Colour Mousse 8hr Shadow
Pendoline 4/7/2011 12:06:00 PM
Another brilliant drugstore find. I am surprised at some of the more negative reviews, as I cannot fault this product. It is worth mentioning that I have extremely dry skin, so perhaps the consistency of this eyeshadow is better for my skin type. I would describe these shadows as a creamy-mousse. They are very pigmented; a little goes a long way. They are also totally buildable, so if you want a more intense colour, you can apply more product without it caking or creasing. These really do last for at least 8 hours. They are not waterproof, but they really will stay put until you remove them. These shadows last through intense workouts without being sweated off. They do dry quickly, so you have to work quickly to blend them. However, they do blend beautifully. The colours are absolutely beautiful. I started off with Sassy and Mocha, and bought a few more - something I rarely do, but I love these colours and the consistency really works for me. The textures are all shimmery and metallic. I think these are very similar to Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Colours. The Rimmel colour Glitz is a good dupe for the Laura Mercier Creme Eye Colour in Gold. When I swatched them, they looked identical, but on me the Rimmel lasts longer, and most importantly, it does not rub off on my crease - it just stays put. As with any similarly-textured products (ie creams which set), you have to be careful with the packaging to avoid them drying out. Don't leave the lid off the product. So far none of mine have dried out. An absolute bargain for a fiver - I would have paid 3x this amount for such a good product!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Garnier - Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller
Pendoline 4/7/2011 10:58:00 AM
I was amazed by this concealer. I wasn't expecting much from a drugstore brand, but I had heard good reviews, and finally bought it when it was 50% off in a sale at Superdrug. I have very sensitive skin around my eyes as well as eczema, which tends to cause stinging when I apply most products. I didn't experience any stinging with this concealer. Also, because of the dryness, creamier concealers tend to settle in the fine lines under my eyes, accentuating the dryness and fine lines. However, this concealer has a very liquid consistency, and glides on beautifully without settling into lines or emphasising dryness. The coverage is so much better than I expected - I think the coverage is pretty good, and you don't need a large amount. It also stays put once applied. I don't love the packaging; I don't think the roller ball is hygienic, but I apply some to the back of my hand first, rather than directly onto my face. I can't testify as to the effectiveness of the treatment this product claims to provide. I haven't noticed any difference in the skin around my eyes, but I don't suffer from noticeable dark circles. I just use it as a concealer, and it works very well for that. All in all, the best undereye concealer I have ever used.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Sleek - Blush in Pan Tao
Pendoline 4/3/2011 1:44:00 PM
This is such a beautiful blush. It's peachy-coral in colour, and it is nice to find this colour in a matte (rather than shimmery) consistency. It is very pigmented, and at £4.29 for a whopping 8g of product, it is an absolute bargain.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sleek - Paraguaya Palette
Pendoline 4/3/2011 1:40:00 PM
For £6.49, you really can't go wrong with this 12-shade, limited edition palette. The pigmentation is fantastic, and there is a good mix of matte and shimmery colours. The shimmery colours have quite a chalky consistency, so they work best when packed onto the eyelid with a brush, rather than by sweeping it across the lid with a brush (resulting in fallout), but once on, all the colours blend beautifully. There are a lot of peach/coral/orange/gold-orange shades, which are very pretty. One or two are slightly scary as eye colours (bright orange eyeshadow, anyone?!), but you can create a huge variety of different looks with this palette, and the quality for the price is just amazing. There are a couple of grey shades in this palette which are also very pretty. This is a limited edition palette so I won't be repurchasing, however, this is my first Sleek powder eyeshadow palette, and based on my experience with this one, I will certainly be buying more Sleek eyeshadow palettes in the future.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Sleek - Contour Kit
Pendoline 2/10/2011 1:03:00 PM
I am stunned by how brilliant this product is for such a low price. This is a duo-palette kit, with a dark contour colour and a slightly shimmery highlight colour. It comes in 3 shades: light, medium and dark. I am using light, and I am about an NW20. I usually use a lighter contour colour (I have been using Illamasqua's Rumour, which is very light), and this is darker and not as cool-toned, but it's not too dark, and it's good for a stronger look. I wouldn't use this for a subtle contoured look, and I also wouldn't use blush as well as this, as I think it would look too heavy on my fair skin. It's very pigmented, and the darker colour has a creamy consistency that blends well. I love the overall effect. The box it comes in is vile (but who cares?!), and the palette is a little difficult to open - I am sure I am going to break a nail on it one day! However, the product is fantastic, and they give you a lot of product for the money, especially considering how cheap it is. It also comes with an illustrated instruction booklet, which explains how to contour cheeks and nose.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Brows -Suqqu - Brow Pen in 02 Brown
Pendoline 2/10/2011 12:56:00 PM
A brilliant brow pen! It's very expensive, but it is the best brow product I have found. It looks like a very fine felt-tip pen, and you can use it to draw on light, feathery strokes to fill in or shape your brows. It is very natural looking, and you can build it up to a thicker look/darker colour. I use this to build the shape of my brows, and I then go over it with Laura Mercier's brow duo powder in auburn, as this looks more natural with my auburn hair. This pen is waterproof, and it once you put it on, it really does stay put! It has even survived intense gym workouts! My only criticism is that sometimes it takes ages to get any product out of the pen. However, it is so unique in being waterproof, and looks so natural that it still gets top rating from me. The packaging is very sleek and understated, but I think he large box is a little wasteful.
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Cleansers -RMK - Creamy Soap
Pendoline 1/21/2011 4:02:00 PM
This is an amazing cleanser! I received a free sample, and didn't expect to love it as much as I did. You only need the tiniest amount, as a little goes a very long way. I have very sensitive, very dry skin and facial eczema, and this is literally the only product that does not sting when I use it. It is even more gentle and moisturising than Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. My face feels really clean, soft and moisturised after using this cleanser, and it removes every trace of make up. Will definitely repurchase.
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Treatments -Kerastase - Ciment Thermique
Pendoline 1/21/2011 3:00:00 PM
I have very dry hair with damaged ends, which is naturally curly. This product helps me to tame my hair so that I can straighten it, and also helps to protect it from heat from styling tools. I wouldn't say it makes my hair silky and glossy, but without this product, my hair is a lot more dry and less managable. I have had the tube for over a year and have hardly used any product - I have long, thick hair, and you only need a pea-sized amount. Overall, I rate this very highly; I would buy it again (if I ever run out).
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Eyeliner -E.L.F. - Cream Eyeliner - All Colors
Pendoline 12/12/2010 8:05:00 AM
I am blown away by how brilliant this eyeliner this. For £3.50 I was not expecting much. It glides on easily, and is smooth and creamy. It stays put all day, and was difficult to remove, even with an oil-based cleanser. Brilliant.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Bioderma - Sensibio H2O (aka Crealine H20 Solution micellaire)
Pendoline 12/11/2010 8:27:00 AM
What an amazing product. It does not irritate my super-sensitive skin. I use it to remove eye makeup, and it is the most gentle cleansing product I have ever found. It removes everything, from the most stubborn eye make-up to false lashes, and it is so so gentle. Dirt-cheap, too. A must-have.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Lait-Creme Concentre
Pendoline 12/11/2010 8:25:00 AM
A brilliant moisturiser, well-loved by makeup artists. Embryolisse is a French pharmaceutical brand, and this is their most popular product. The moisturiser is super-hydrating, and sinks quickly into the skin, making it an ideal primer. It is suitable for all skin types, and does not irritate sensitive skin. I often mix it with foundation for more sheer coverage. Its consistency makes for super-easy application. It can be used as a cleanser, but I wouldn't really rate it highly as a cleanser. It is a staple of my makeup bag.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #217 Blending
Pendoline 12/11/2010 8:19:00 AM
A brilliant eye blending brush; well-deserving of its rave reviews. What can I say? - it just works!
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Blush -Shu Uemura - Glow On P Amber 83
Pendoline 12/11/2010 8:17:00 AM
This is possibly the most flattering shade of blush I have ever used. It is just beautiful. I have the less shimmery matt version, too. It is idea for day or night use, and is highly pigmented, so a little goes a long way.
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Blush -Shu Uemura - Glow On M Peach 44
Pendoline 12/11/2010 8:15:00 AM
I LOVE Shu Uemura blushes. They are highly pigmented, and I just adore this colour. I am an NW20, and I use this matt colour as a contour on my cheeks and sides of my nose. I would not be without this product!
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