Skincare - Face -Shiseido - Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion
Rachel1234 2/26/2013 3:35:00 PM
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this night emulsion!! I cannot say enough about how beneficial this has been for my skin. It's lightweight, yet makes my skin so soft and hydrated. I've been battling fine lines on my upper cheeks, around my eyes and between my eyebrows, plus the beginnings of laugh lines around my mouth. Other moisturizers were either too heavy and clogged my pores, or did nothing for my fine lines. I've been using this night emulsion for several weeks (all over my face, even around my eyes and on my neck) and my fine lines are looking so much better! My skin is looking firmer and smoother, and more plump. The criss cross lines under my eyes are almost non-existent now! My upper cheeks look so much smoother, my laugh lines are almost gone as well as the fine lines between my eyebrows. I have no idea how well this will work on others' skin, but it has been a miracle for mine! LOVE IT!!! By the way, I use this emulsion morning and night because it is light, absorbs quickly, and works beautifully under makeup. During the day I follow it with Shiseido's Dual Balancing foundation (which has spf17), and the finish is flawless! 10 Lippies if I could!!!
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Hair Color -Clairol - Natural Instincts Hair Color
Rachel1234 2/26/2013 3:21:00 PM
Purchased this in Dark Brown. Beautiful, shiny, healthy, rich color. Easy application. Mild, non offensive scent. Great product EXCEPT it didn't cover my grey. I love the color and all, but I need grey coverage too. So I will not repurchase this product.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Clairol - Natural Instincts in 28 Nutmeg Dark Brown
Rachel1234 2/26/2013 3:18:00 PM
Beautiful color - shiny, healthy, rich color ...... and super easy to apply. Mild, non offensive scent. Great product EXCEPT it didn't cover my grey. What a shame. I love the color, but need grey coverage too. So I will not purchase this again.
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Liquid -Shiseido - The Makeup Dual Balancing Foundation SPF 17
Rachel1234 2/21/2013 8:58:00 AM
LOVE THIS!! I so love this foundation. I wear this with Shiseido's WrinkleResist24 Night Emulsion (very light night lotion) underneath (because the wrinkleresist24 day emulsion with SPF makes me look shiny) and the finish is so nice! The combination of these two products REALLY diminishes the look of my fine lines. The fine lines on the top of my cheeks and under my eyes, and the 11 lines between my eyebrows are so much better. My skin looks smooth and younger with this foundation. It doesn't accentuate lines or pores at all. And it blends really nicely. Soft and creamy feel. I use this under my eyes as well, and it looks great - does not settle in my fine lines or anything! I love it! This foundation can be applied sheer, or built up to medium or heavy. It's not really oil absorbing, but it doesn't add oil or shine either, so it's neutral in that regard. I found a great color match in B20, which Shiseido's website lists as "cool" meaning "pink", but I find it very neutral. I wear CoverGirl "Classic Ivory", Bare Escentuals "Fairly-Light"' and NARS "Deauville" also, if that helps anyone with color matching.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Almay - Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup
Rachel1234 1/24/2013 10:39:00 PM
UPDATE: I am knocking this down to 3 lippies because I've noticed that when I wear this foundation with certain moisturizers underneath, specifically those with SPF, this foundation can start to look orangey on me. I have very fair skin, so this might not be a problem for others. But for me this isn't going to work long term because I wear SPF all summer long. ............. ORIGINAL REVIEW: This Almay Mousse Makeup is really nice. I just came off of trying a $225.00 Temptu Airbrush system (which was a huge disappointment), and this mousse makeup is everything I was hoping the expensive Temptu would be, plus more. It has a dense, whipped almost gel-cream texture ... Lots of slip .... Goes on and blends very easy .... Blurs pores ...... A satiny-matte finish that is perfect all alone, or for us oily skin gals you can use a light loose powder to set (I used Almay Nearly Naked loose powder) ...... It's buildable from sheer to full .... Color matching was perfect (not orange at all, which was one of my fears) .... Did not oxidize to a different color ..... And looked nice all day. I have light skin, and wear Bare Minerals Fairly-Light, Covergirl Classic Ivory, and I purchased this Almay Mousse Makeup in "LIGHT". The Smart Shade color matching actually perfectly adjusted to match my skin color. It goes on an almost white color, then as you blend it in, it adjusts to match your skin. Also, what I ADORE about this makeup is that is glides over my pores, fine lines, and the crepey skin under my eyes, and blurs them all! It almost has a soft silicone slip of a feel to it that just smooths everything so nicely. This actually makes my skin look airbrushed and beautiful, as opposed to the previous "airbrush system" I tried that was a dismal failure. My 41 year old skin looks even, smooth, lines softened and blurred, pores smoothed over ....... Just really pretty! I think if you pick the right shade (Light, Light-Medium, Medium or Dark), the Smart Shade technology will do really well. 5 Lippies!!! :)
14 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -TEMPTU - Airbrush System
Rachel1234 1/24/2013 6:43:00 PM
I was really excited to try this airbrush system, as I had seen testimonials from women over 40 who said that it looked so natural, and blurred fine lines (unlike traditional makeup that can settle in fine lines). But what a joke. I am 41 years old and my skin looks really good for my age .... I have worn sunscreen and kept careful attention to my skin since I was 18, and I have very few fine lines. What I have noticed is that as I get older the skin under my eyes is starting to get thinner and when I smile it crinkles and looks a bit crepey, as well as the skin on my upper cheeks which are starting to get fine lines when I smile. My skin is not as plump and smooth as it used to be 20 years ago. My normal foundation looks pretty good, but I thought that this Temptu Airbrush system might really make those fine lines fade from view. Was I ever wrong! This makeup highlighted every single fine line on my face! Lines that are invisible when I have no makeup on suddenly look huge, deep and ghastly with this makeup! Ugh! This makeup literally ages me 10 years! I look far better with no makeup on than this stuff. AND NO, I did not apply it too heavily. I tried everything from barely-there to heavy application, and no matter what I did, this makeup seriously aged me. I think it's the fact that this silicone makeup creates a sort of "seal" on your skin of makeup. And when you smile or move your skin, it moves WITH your skin ..... So if you have young, smooth skin, then it will look smooth and beautiful. But if you have fine lines, then it will "seal" into those lines when your face is motionless as you apply the makeup, (and it will look beautiful and even, as long as you don't move your face!) .... But as soon as you smile, the makeup clings to every line and crinkle ... highlighting them and making them look WORSE! So I boxed this up and returned it. Went back to my regular makeup and my skin looks better. If your over 40, beware of this system. Plus, I hated the idea of breathing in all that aerosolized silicone. Common sense tells me that can't be healthy. I didn't mind the first week or so, but after that it really started to bother me, breathing that in every morning. All in all ..... I pass on this one. .
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Olay - Total Effects Tone Correcting "CC" Cream
Rachel1234 11/5/2012 12:09:00 AM
I purchased this in "Fair-Light" (I am cover girl "classic ivory" and bare minerals "fairly light"), and I like it a lot. It is very lightweight and adds just a sheer wash of color. The color matches nicely. It does not cause any irritation and does not make me too oily or too dry. Makes my skin feel soft and look even. 5 stars!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Makeup
Rachel1234 9/27/2012 6:55:00 PM
I tried this on a whim, because I was looking for a balancing foundation. One that would keep the oil to a minimum on my t-zone, and yet not dry out my cheeks and around my eyes. PLUS it had to not settle in my fine lines, or change color by the end of the day. I had heard good things about the PhotoReady foundation, so I gave it a shot. I actually really like it! It does seem to balance my skin. I like that it looks very natural in both indoor and outdoor light. And I love that it doesn't settle in my fine lines. This a great product. I will definitely repurchase. ONE recommendation I would make to everyone interested in trying this though ... The PhotoReady foundation colors run light. Buy one shade darker than you typically buy. I am very light, and I always buy either the lightest color or the second lightest color in any foundation line. I bought the second lightest color (002 Vanilla) in PhotoReady and it was much too light, so I went back and bought the next shade darker (003 Shell) which is the third lightest shade, and that matches nicely. For reference, I wear CoverGirl "Classic Ivory" and Bare Minerals 1.5 "Fairly Light".
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Maybelline - Dream Bouncy Blush - Coffee Cake
Rachel1234 8/27/2012 9:44:00 PM
Coffee Cake is a gorgeous bronzed rose color on my fair skin. Gorgeous! It looks like it would be brown and muddy but it's not. When applied to skin the beautiful rose color comes out. LOVE! It is a cream blush dupe for NARS Lovejoy. I have loved NARS Lovejoy for years, but since it is a powder blush and I am getting older (read: fine lines don't work with powders anymore), I have switched to cream blushes for a moister, more luminous and forgiving finish on my skin. I have missed my Lovejoy so much .....there has never been another color blush like Lovejoy. But now I have it back in cream form in Coffee Cake! yay! I am buying 5 more for backup, just in case!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Maybelline - Dream Bouncy Blush
Rachel1234 8/27/2012 9:37:00 AM
Okay, I like these cream blushes. I have 2 of these (Peach Satin and Pink Frosting) and they are pretty much your standard cream blush. The texture is like play-dough, and to apply I swirl my finger in a circle on top of the blush, then dot on my cheeks and blend. I think the pigmentation is good, so not sure what others are talking about. My 2 colors go on plenty pigmented, in fact they are quite bright on my skin. I have fair skin though, so maybe that makes a difference. I would say if your skin is Medium color or darker, go for one of the more vivid colors. Anyway, the Pink Frosting is a nice neutral pink, and the Peach Satin is actually a pink-peach not a true peach. I like both colors and wear them a lot. So for $7.00, I'd buy them again because the colors are very pretty and the staying power is good. Plus the color does not migrate or settle into the fine lines on my 40 year old skin (yay for ageing!). I think I may go back and try the Candy Coral color, as I'm hoping to add more of a peachy color to my cream blush collection. EDIT: *** Okay, I am editing this and bumping the rating up to 5 stars because I have since purchased the Bouncy Blush in the color "Coffee Cake" .... And oh my goodness it's gorgeous! On my fair skin it is a beautiful bronzed rose color. Perfect dupe for NARS Lovejoy! I have and love NARS Lovejoy, and this Coffee Cake is just as beautiful! Even more so because it is so luminous and glowy (being a cream not powder). LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Bouncy Blushes get 5 stars from me just for Coffee Cake!
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Foundations -La Mer - the SPF Fluid Tint
Rachel1234 8/26/2012 1:42:00 PM
This is just okay for me. It left my oily-zone a tad too "dewy" for my liking ... Not greasy, just dewy ... But I don't like dewy on me. I have enough trouble trying to keep my oily skin matte, that I don't need anything else adding shine or dewy-ness. You know? Anyway, the coverage is very sheer, too sheer for my liking also. So although I could see how Normal or Dry skin types might absolutely love this, it's really not for me, so I wouldn't repurchase.
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Loose Powders -La Mer - Skincolor De La Mer - The Powder - Poudre de La Mer
Rachel1234 8/26/2012 1:21:00 PM
This is a beautiful, ultra-soft, ultra-fine textured face powder! And when I say ultra soft and fine, I mean you can stick your finger in it and not feel anything! It's almost ethereal! And the finish on your skin looks soft, satiny-matte and natural ... Like you have nothing on your skin - just naturally beautiful skin. So pretty and unlike any powder I have ever seen or used before. Definitely worth the extra $$$. With an oil absorbing foundation underneath, I don't need to touch up my oily t-zone very often during the day, and my skin looks perfectly natural and satiny ... not powdery. I use the color "Creme" and it's beautiful! The Translucent looked too shimmery for my taste, but the "Creme" is more of a matte-satin finish. Will purchase again!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -La Mer - The Cleansing Foam
Rachel1234 8/26/2012 1:12:00 PM
I love this Cleansing Foam! You only need the tiniest little bit ... The size of a grain of rice .... To create a huge handful of foamy lather! Love that! That means that this tube will last a really long time, which makes this super expensive cleanser not so expensive after all. I have an oily t-zone, and this cleanser gets my skin super clean but not stripped. My cheeks and around my eyes are more normal-dry, and this cleanser works beautifully there too ... Clean but still soft and balanced. I am really happy and satisfied with this cleanser. Will definitely purchase again!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -La Mer - Oil Absorbing Tonic
Rachel1234 8/21/2012 10:03:00 AM
I use this everyday along with the Oil Absorbing Lotion on my t-zone, and I love it! It has really helped refine my skin and makes my pores so small! Love!
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Treatments -La Mer - The Brightening Essence Intense
Rachel1234 8/21/2012 9:59:00 AM
UPDATE: 12/21/12 ...... Okay, it's 12/21/12 and we're all still alive (Mayan calendar anyone? Ha ha!) .....but apart from that I thought I should update this review. First of all, I downgraded this to 3 lippies because it sort of leveled out and stopped working for me. I still have the initial lightening effect that this gave me, which is good, but it hasn't progressed any further. maybe there is only so much a product can do for pigmentation. I still like it just fine, but seeing as how it's leveled off in it's effectiveness, I think I am going to try another product. --- ORIGINAL REVIEW: ....Wow. That is all I can say. I have tried so many products that claim they will lighten discolorations and not many work, and of those that do, they lighten just a little. But this Brightening Essence Intense is different. In just 2 weeks I already see a difference in my skin! My skin is so much more radiant and even-toned. I had some old, reddish-pink acne scars and a few age spots (from sun damage) on my cheeks, and in the past two weeks these have all lightened considerably ... The old acne spots are now just a very pale pink, and the age spots are a little lighter. This seems to work faster on the acne spots than the age spots, but it still works on both. And considering it's only been 2 weeks and I can see a difference already, I am very impressed! But even more surprising is just how even and radiant my skin looks overall - I could even go without foundation now. Just a few dabs of concealor and some powder to set, and I am good! This has really been transformational for my skin. I use this at night with a little of the La Mer Soft Cream over it, and then in the daytime I use the La Mer Oil Absorbing Lotion (t-zone) and La Mer Soft Cream (cheeks and eyes). My skin has never looked as good as it looks now since starting to use La Mer skincare! Love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No