Gels/Soaps -Soap and Glory - Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel
RedT 1/5/2012 10:28:00 PM
I just love S&G products. Not all the scents agree with me but this one certainly does. A bottle lasts forever making it very good value, the product lathers up beautifully and leaves your skin so soft and clean, delicious! The scent doesn't last too long which is a good thing, it won't interfere if you want to wear a different perfume but I like to layer up with the Righteous Butter and smell it on myself all day = ) Can't go wrong with S&G, very good products especially given the price.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Olay - Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System
RedT 4/11/2011 9:28:00 AM
I bought this (like many reviewers before me) because I just can't justify splurging on a Clarisonic at £150 here in the UK. I got mine on eBay as it's not available in the UK yet, I paid about £37 incl. shipping. The first week I used it I had quite a few breakouts but I honestly couldn't say if it was the cleansing brush drawing out ancient crap from my skin, or the fact that I'd cleaned out the garage the weekend I started using it and came out looking like I'd been down a mine! I started off with the higher speed and thought it a bit feeble but I'm used to the RoC microdermbrasion tool which is pretty powerful. After a few uses I switched down to the lower setting which now feels nice and soft and soothing on the skin but not over-stimulating, I don't want to stretch my skin etc. and I soon got used to the higher setting and found it too strong! Plus my cleaner was splashed about a bit on the higher setting. I find this does a smashing job of cleaning my skin, bringing a healthy flush to my cheeks. I've been using it now for about a month and my cheeks are definitely smoother and clearer, my skin looks fresher overall and my pores look smaller by a large degree. I use mine with my Aveeno Positively Ageless cleanser and will use the Olay cleanser that came with it once this is used up. If this tool did nothing else (and it does!) it makes me take a few minutes to slow down and enjoy cleaning my skin rather than rushing like I usually do. It makes cleansing like a little spa treatment every night! Highly recommended.
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Palettes -Cargo - Dare to Play Collection
RedT 5/5/2010 11:07:00 AM
I was lucky enough to get this kit from Cargo's latest colour collection for Spring/Summer. It contains 3 decent sized and differently tinted eye base products, 5 crease shades and 5 'pops' of colour. It's basically a step by step guide to doing colour for those (like me!) who can be a bit rubbish at it LOL! The eyebases go on really nicely, last well and can be used all over the lid or as a highlight colour. They work well as a primer for the other colours as it dries quickly but doesn't dry out the lids either (on me anyway, guess it would depend on your skin type?). The crease shades look a bit scary in the kit but are actually nicely pigmented without being too harsh and they blend very easily. The pop of colour is what I love most, very eye brightening and luminous with shimmer but not glitter. There was some fallout on application but it brushed away easily so I can live with it! Packaging is BRIGHT and funky, makes for a fun kit, not too big for travelling and still has plenty of choice all in the one box. I'll be using this one a lot during the summer = )
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Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Body America- Lip Butter
RedT 2/9/2010 10:36:00 AM
I recently discovered this brand on ASOS.com and can't resist a new lip balm, especially if it's called a 'butter'! The packaging is absolutely adorable and while I wouldn't usually go for a balm in a pot these are too dinky to resist. The balm itself smells divine (I went for the Toast to the Coast which is a lovely fresh mango-y smell), is very light in texture and goes on very nicely. By far it's not the most moisturising balm I've ever used and I do find myself constantly re-applying so I won't be using this long term but while I'm on a kick for the smell I'm happy to reapply 40 times a day and inhale the wonderful scent. This also looks good over lip pencil or on bare lips so might be a nice summertime look. I've ordered the body butter in the same scent = )
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Palettes -Cargo - Hands of Hope Eyeshadow Palette
RedT 1/26/2010 8:50:00 AM
A very lovely MUAer sent me this palette from the US as it wasn't going to be available in the UK and let me tell you, it was worth it! Nine humungous eyeshadows in the most amazing colours for creating all sorts of looks. The cool taupe is worth the price of admission alone! All colours are very pigmented and make great liners as well as shadows. I actually love the packaging, of course you're not going to be able to travel with it easily but I kind of like having some palettes etc that are just for setting out at home, pride of place in my stash! I've since added the Runway Palette and already have the huge shadow book so Cargo is fast becoming the biggest brand in my stash = )
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Palettes -Unlisted Brand - Easy Looks- The Collection
RedT 5/8/2009 5:35:00 AM
I bought these from beautyexpert.co.uk as I thought they’d be quite handy for travel. They’re similar in concept to the Cargo gloss blister packs that you can get except these strips of six blisters contain two cream foundations, a blush/bronzer, two cream eyeshadows and a lipgloss. I bought ‘The Collection’ which is a sample set of four different looks. I’ve tried the Sunkissed one so far. Pros: practically a whole face in one little strip which also comes with a cardboard case so you can take it with you after you’ve opened it. The foundations are good shades, the lighter one looked natural on me (pale redhead) and was a nice consistency, blended easily and lasted well (no primer used). The bronzer was lovely, looked purple in the blister pack but went on a lovely natural sun-kissed shade and again lasted well. The lipgloss was the best product in this strip, a lovely jelly-ish texture, light pink shade which felt like balm on the lips, lasted great and looked really fresh and natural. Cons: the cream eyeshadows barely lasted an hour before they creased badly and that was over Art Deco primer. They colours were lovely and they went on easily but just weren’t up to it at all. Also once the strip is fully opened it can be a weenie bit messy as it spirals backwards over the back of the strip but that’s hardly a big moan, I was able to straighten it out ok so I could use the little carrying case which came with the set. All in all I’d recommend these for travel, it was so handy having a whole face in a little strip, will certainly be taking them on my next long haul flight (to Oz!) and will probably just use the cream eyeshadows as highlighters instead (the lighter colour anyway). There are six ‘looks’ available in these kits including the collection which has a selection of four looks. There's a pic of these kits in my profile = )
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Tinted Moisturizer -Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Enhancer SPF 20
RedT 3/11/2009 7:35:00 AM
I absolutely love this product! I bought it (from eBay, it’s not available in the UK) hoping it would provide a perfect tinted moisturiser with SPF and it is just that. It’s a very light, almost sheer coverage so won’t really cover up blemishes or red marks but does even out my skin nicely. I generally use it more it the summer as I like more coverage in the winter but for summer it’s a lovely light veil of colour, doesn’t feel like makeup on my face and provides an element of SPF (although I wouldn’t rely in this as your sole SPF, I wear Aveeno SPF 30 moisturiser underneath, they seem to work well together). It sinks in quickly, is easy to blend and doesn’t look obvious on my skin at all. I wear shade 10-20 but think I’ll change over to the lightest shade as I don’t bother fake tanning anymore so can probably get away with the lighter one. I’ve tried many other high end and drugstore foundations etc but I keep coming back to this, that has to say something right?! = )
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Palettes -mark - Flip For It NEW YORK spring color kit
RedT 3/11/2009 7:13:00 AM
This is probably my favourite of all the Mark Flip For It palettes and the first one I bought. It really is the most perfect face brightening palette ever largely thanks to the wonderful pink blush. The eyeshadows are light pink and pale gold, with a hint of shimmer but not too much, especially for day. You can use either all over the lid but I highlight with the gold and use the pink up to the crease. I never thought I would wear pink eyeshadow (I’m a redhead with blue eyes) but the shade is so subtle and light that it looks perfectly natural on me, not at all jarring. The blush is divine, looks like a natural flush and blends on to the skin so easily. The lipsticks and glosses are sheer and natural, again perfect for a summery daytime fresh look. I don’t mind the quite strong bubblegum fragrance but I guess if you are particularly sensitive to fragrance then it might bother you. The smell doesn’t last on the lips once it’s been applied though so it’s really only obvious when applying the products. I have to say, I get compliments EVERY time I wear this palette, people always say I look awake and fresh and for me that really is something, I usually look knackered! = )
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Palettes -mark - Flip For It Palette Spring in L.A.
RedT 3/11/2009 6:58:00 AM
I’ve just received this and used it this morning, love it! It’s the perfect summery neutral palette. I adore the Flip For It palettes anyway, have all of them, use all of them. (I should say to anyone thinking about them that the darker looking palettes are not nearly as scary as they might seem. I hesitated on some as I thought the blushes and lip colours wouldn’t suit me (I’m very pale, red hair, blue eyes) but really the blushes work well with a light hand and the lip colours are all really sheer. I found it a great way to experiment with slightly darker but sheer glosses without too much of a cash outlay. I’m definitely using colours I wouldn’t have chosen before). Anyway, to the LA palette! The highlighter colour is a soft, goldy, slightly shimmery creamy beige which looks great all over the lid. The brown shade is a deep but soft chocolate with gold fleck, great as an eyeliner. Blush went on quite sheer and blended very well, a nice light peach colour. I used the orange lipgloss this morning feeling sure I’d end up wiping it off as it’s ORANGE in the palette! But it’s SO sheer it’s almost clear so just gives a nice shiny but not gloopy finish to the lips. The whole palette gives a nice natural soft finish. I imagine the lip colours are more pigmented than the glosses so you could definitely vamp it up a little. Same with the darker eyeshadow which could be used to create a smokier finish. Love it! Sturdy enough for travel too = )
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - A'kin Rose and Geranium Cleanser and Toner in One
RedT 1/22/2009 10:14:00 AM
I absolutely adore this cleanser! I was a devotee of Liz Earle’s Cleanse & Polish which I still love but am finding just a bit too expensive for the amount you get in a tube and the amount I need to use to remove makeup etc. A’kin is all natural, works wonderfully and is available in the UK for £12.25 for a humungous 200ml bottle! Luckily I also found that it’s stocked in a local health food store so I don’t have to schlep into London anymore! There is definitely a strong smell to this cleaner but it’s the smell of real roses so I don’t mind it so much. You only need a small amount, it will take off eye makeup (although I use a separate cleanser, just personal choice) and it removes every scrap of facial makeup. It leaves the skin feeling so soft and comfortable, not at all dry or tight. I love the fact that there are no chemicals or additives in this product, I’m gradually trying to use fewer chemicals in my skincare so finding A’kin has been wonderful!
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Palettes -Smashbox - Beauty Guru palette
RedT 1/21/2009 6:12:00 AM
This palette is the end result of the Smashbox beauty guru competition and it’s fab! It’s not officially available until Feb but I managed to score one on eBay. The packaging is very similar to GA and the palette is in three layers: Bronze/blush on top Three eyeshadows and one cream eyeliner in the middle Four lip colours on the bottom The blush/bronzer look quite scarily dark in the compact and definitely a very little is needed as they are quite pigmented and very very soft. However I’m a pale redhead and with a light touch, these colours (esp the bronze) looked very natural on my skin. Not colours you can ‘see’ but give the skin a nice warm glow without shimmer. The eyeshadows are gorgeous! They include a matt creamy white, shimmery nude and shimmery grey. All three blend beautifully and work very well together. The deep purple cream liner is what I consider to be the older (i.e. good) formula, goes on easy, lasts like a dream and compliments the eyeshadows very well. (I think the cream eyeliner used in some of the trio compacts-with two eyeshadows and one liner- don’t seem to be the same formula as the regular Smashbox liner, it doesn’t go on well and has no staying power). The lip colours are smooth, nice mix of paler and darker colours but none I think I wouldn’t ever wear which is unusual for a palette. The ‘clear’ gloss in particular impressed me a lot, it’s almost like a balm, no shimmer or glitter at all but is very smooth and lasted very well, looked great just over lipliner. Enjoy!
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Treatments -Paula's Choice - Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Gel Exfoliant
RedT 1/6/2007 11:22:00 AM
I tried some samples of this before buying the full size and it has turned around the behaviour of my skin! I had a really bad time with my skin last year, getting massive red boil-like spots along my jawline which would last for weeks. Also, being fair, the red mark left after a spot was gone would literally last for months. This product has stopped all of that! I hardly break out at all now, I have only had a few small spots since I started using it. Spots clear up so much quicker, red marks are gone within a week and the tiny blackheads on my nose are starting to clear also. You only need a tiny tiny amount of this product. It's almost hard to get used to how little you need! I was using way too much to start with, now I put a *weeny* bit on and it dries within a minute or so. My skin generally is smoother and brighter..i am never going to be without this product!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Exact
RedT 2/20/2006 12:00:00 PM
Covergirl mascaras just keep getting better and better! Multiplying was my first HG mascara, absolutely loved it and still do. Then I discovered Fantastic Lash which is even better. So, I had high hopes for Lash Exact and I’m not disappointed! Being in the UK I had to purchase this on eBay as usual but got a great deal. This mascara is the easiest to apply I’ve ever tried, it just glides onto lashes with no clumping, no sticking, no need to separate your lashes afterwards and because the ‘brush’ is small, I didn’t end up putting this over half my face which I often do with jumbo brush mascaras, esoecailly at 6am! I loaded on two coats and still no clumping- result! It lasted all day, didn’t flake or budge and even when my eyes welled up from the cold it didn’t move. The only con is that, despite what it says on the packaging, there’s no way it would come off with just soap and water. My usual cleanser which shifts most heavy mascara struggled and I find the only time it really comes off easily is if I’m taking off my make up in the bath, I guess the steam loosens it. This mascara is certainly not the best for volumising (although you can put on more than one coat which would obviously built up the lashes) or curling but if you want ‘clean’, clump free, easy lashes then you can’t go wrong with this
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Palettes -Models Prefer - Colour Wardrobe
RedT 7/27/2005 2:51:00 PM
This amazing kit was a TSV on QVC in the UK and it's the best kit I've ever bought!
It contains basically everything you need to do a full face except for foundation. The colour selection of both eye colours and lip colours is great, something to suit every skin tone and the quality is much better than I expected. E/s have good pigment and go on nice and smoothly, l/s are creamy and long lasting.
The kit also contains eyebrow pencils, lip pencils, eye pencils, nail polish, applicators....the list goes on and on! IN fact, the only thing that lets this kit down is the brushes which are rubbish and the fact the the palette containing the lip and eye colours is a little flimsy so you need to be careful taking it in and out of the care, or depot them which I intend to do.
If any of you gals get the chance to pick this up then GO FOR IT! You won't be disappointed! = )
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Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
RedT 7/27/2005 2:38:00 PM
Another product from the Jumpstarters kit and another I'd like to use again if it weren't for the smell. I somehow assumed that Philosophy products would ALL smell divine, not just the 3 in 1's. This however, honks. So much so that I'm using up the jar just coz it was relatively expensive but I'll be going bacl to Origins or Elemis once it's gone.
In terms of the moisturiser itself, it left my skin nice and soft and didn't break me out or anything but if I used it over the eye area at all it stung like HELL! So that combined with the honk means I won't be buying this again.
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