Blush -NARS - Orgasm Blush
alicebignami 9/19/2012 8:24:00 AM
Blushers are my favourite piece of makeup and of course I ended up buying this one too and I am not disappointed. I love it is sheer but buildable so that it is fool proof to apply. The peachy pinky colour and the sublte golden sheen left by the shimmer look very flattering on my pale cheeks.
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Treatments -Decleor - Aromessence Ylang Ylang Night Balm
alicebignami 8/23/2012 12:04:00 PM
I recently bought this balm after having enjoyed a Decleor facial at a spa and I love using it simply because it reminds me of the pamper experience. The lovely scent is subltle enough for night time and makes me feel relaxed and happy. The balmy texture makes my skin feel cocooned. I was worried about using essential oils on my skin but I have been absolutely fine with this product (neither irritation nor clogged pores). My skin feels soft and looks clearer in the morning. I guess the oils help clean inside the pores. It might not be a "miracle" product but it definetely boosts my mood and sense of wellbeing! Moreover the balm has been reformulated in 2012 and here are the ingredients: corylus avellana (hazel) seed oil, camellia kissi seed oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, cera alba (beeswax), passiflora edulis seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), theobroma grandiflorum fruit extract, copernicia cerifera cera (carnauba wax), citrus medica (lemon) peel oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, limonene, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, linalool, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, salvia sclarea (clary) oil, tocopherol, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil, eugenol, citral, benzyl benzoate, geraniol, benzyl salicylate, farnesol.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Bobbi Brown - Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer (Spring 2011)
alicebignami 10/4/2011 11:57:00 AM
I am soon going to be mother for the third time and I was looking for a product which can make me look good and feel better in no time and this tinted moisturizer is it! It has got good coverage for a tinted moisturizer but still looks very natural, like my skin only better. It is long lasting as well. My skin is combination and I found that this moisturizes it well. To start with I had tried the "regular" tinted moisturizer but I found it to be too sheer and dewy for my skin. The oil free version is just right. Shade Extra Light is perfect for my skin (I am usually a Sand/Warm Sand in BB foundations). The only thing which could be improved is the smell, due I think to the sunscreen (it is otherwise fragrance free) . The smell wears off pretty soon though so it does not really bother me.
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Eye Shadow -Bobbi Brown - Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow - Rose Gold #8
alicebignami 9/30/2011 4:21:00 AM
The first time I tried this eyeshadow I applied it on bare eyelids with an eyeshadow brush and I found that the colour looked quite intense (which was good) but unflattering because too "reddish" on my fair completion/dark brown eyes. Second time around I put it on a base of BB Bone powder eyeshadow with BB eye sweep brush and the result was much more subltle and flattering. In the end it is all a matter of application...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Bobbi Brown - Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba
alicebignami 7/28/2011 3:59:00 PM
I was looking for a bronzing powder with subtle shimmer for my fair skin and after trying a pinkish shade like Antigua and loving it I wanted to try a golden shade like Aruba as well. Unfortunately the shimmer in Aruba is not as subtle as the shimmer in Antigua and if you wear it during the day it may look rather glittery if you are not careful when you apply it. It may make a nice bronzer for the evening though. It is a shame I cannot pull it off easily during the day because in fact the shade is beautiful and fool proof for fair skins. I could probably wear it during the day only on my cheeks with a matt blusher to illuminate it. Edit: I tried to apply the bronzer with a lighter hand and the result was much better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer
alicebignami 12/16/2010 11:44:00 AM
I bought both the corrector (in Light Bisque) and the concealer (in Sand) on line but I found the concealer to be a tad too dark even though my foundation shade is Warm Sand. Next time I will go for either Warm Ivory or Cool Sand. Both products have got the same formulation (identical ingredients) so I do not see the point in buying both, you just have to find the right shade for you in either the Corrector or the Concealer and that will do. The only difference in my opinion is that the Corrector, with its pinkish or peachy tones, has got more of a brightening effect, whereas the concealer with its more natural tones has got more of a concealing effect. If I blend them toghether I simply end up changing the shade of the concealer but as I said if you get the right shade in one or the other product you do not need to own both. Texture wise they are both creamy but they tend to crease a bit and you need to experiment with a moisturizer underneath.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Chanel - Pro Lumiere Professional Finish Make-Up ] [DISCONTINUED]
alicebignami 11/21/2010 11:45:00 AM
It is winter time and I decided to swap my Mat Lumiere for Pro Lumiere just for adding a bit of extra hydration to my skin and I am quite happy with it. My skin looks softer and more glowy. My skin is also on the oily side (my nose tends to get oily even when wearing Mat Lumiere) but if I wear Chanel Base Lumiere as the only base under Pro Lumiere I do not get any excessive oiliness. My shade is Clair. My only "regret" is that the sunscreen is not UVA proof like the Mat Lumiere one...but it is winter and quite dark so I am not terribly concerned.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Paula's Choice - Skin Balancing Carbon Mask
alicebignami 8/19/2010 4:20:00 AM
I do not have sensitive skin but even in my case this mask burnt like mad soon after I applied it. I waited for a couple of minutes in the hope that the burning would wear off but it just got worse and I had to wash it off. I guess there must be some ingredient which is irritating for most people. What is Paula waiting for before reformulating it?
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Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco in Orchidee 17
alicebignami 7/5/2010 12:21:00 PM
I like the way this slightly shimmery red rose shade makes my dark brown eyes pop but I do not find it to be as wearable as e.g. Estee Lauder in Apricot Sun (a warmer shade), already mentioned below...I do not know whether it is because this shade is too bright or too cool for me...
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Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco in Organdi Rose 09
alicebignami 7/5/2010 12:10:00 PM
Lovely shade of delicate rosewood (mauve rose) with a hint of shimmer to add dimension to the lips. Easily applied straight from the tube. No need to use a lipliner (that can often change the colour of the lipstick). Very longlasting. If applied with a lip brush it will looks more subtle and natural but it will not last as long. When it starts wearing off, after hours, it may feel a bit dry on the lips but it will not actually dry them. I also own Legende and Orchidee but this is my favourite one.
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Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco in Legende 11
alicebignami 7/5/2010 9:36:00 AM
In my opinion this shimmery violet pink suits blondes or people with blue or green eyes better. I have dark brown eyes and brown hair with caramel highlights and fair but warm toned skin (Chanel foundation in Clair) and I find that this shade is not "deep" enough and probably too violet and frosty for my present hair colour (if I was my usual dark brown hair colour it would look better). I like the fact that I can skip the lipliner with this shade.
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Toners -Paula's Choice - Skin Balancing Toner
alicebignami 5/14/2010 12:02:00 PM
When I bought it the first time two years ago I liked the way this toner worked together with the balancing cleanser and the BHA 1% exfoliating gel to keep my skin clear of blackheads and supple. Then I used other products from other brands (e.g. toners for dry skin from Estee Lauder, Clinique and Clarins) and when I recently went back to this toner I found it to be too sticky... Edit: I bought it a third time and I did not find it sticky anymore...
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Paula's Choice - Clear Targeted Acne Relief Toner with 2% Salicylic Acid for all skin types
alicebignami 5/9/2010 3:53:00 PM
After using this toner+ the Clear cleanser at night for a week my combination skin ended up very dehydrated with a few tiny bumps around the nose and the chin area in particular. I found that this toner removed my blackheads and dead skin cells very well but it probably removed a layer too much with consequent loss of moisture and defense. On the other hand I found that the Clear cleanser, which contains tryclosan, not only killed the bad bacteria on my skin but also the good ones to the point that I ended up with more breakouts. If you have combination skin and want to give this product a try, maybe start using it only a couple of times a week and follow with moisturizer...I personally will go back to Paula Choice's exfoliating gels which have never given me any problem.
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Liquid -Chanel - Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup SPF 15
alicebignami 4/9/2010 11:07:00 AM
I had wanted to try this foundation for a long time but I was put off by the shades thinking that they were either to light or too dark. In the end I got it in shade 20 Clair and I am very happy with it. What I love most is that I do not have to use powder on it and it looks luminous mat as promised. It has also got a reliable SPF 15 which allows me to wear it on its own or with just a bit of serum underneath. Last but not least I found it offers good natural coverage (medium), good lasting power and it removes fairly easily (e.g. more easily than Estee Lauder double wear). Love it
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Hydrating Makeup SPF 10 [DISCONTINUED]
alicebignami 11/25/2009 11:27:00 AM
After buying Bobby Brown Skin Foundation and thinking that it was "not bad" I also wanted to try this one to see whether it was better. This review is a comparison between the two foundations. What I liked most in the BB foundation was that I could wear it on its own because it was moisturizing enough for my combo-oily skin, it offered enough slip for effortlessy blending and it had a reliable SPF15. What I liked less was that it was not very long lasting especially if worn with a moisturizer under it, but that was easily solved just by, as I said, wearing it on its own. On the other hand I love the soft matte but luminous finish of the Dior Skin Nude better (BB is more dewy). It also lasts slightly longer than the BB one but I need to put a moisturizer under it otherwise it does not have enough slip because it tends to dry quickly. Moreover its SPF is only 10. Overall I like both of them to the same extent for different reasons and I alternate them depending on how much time I have got in the morning and wheather my skin is more or less oily. My shade is 023 but I also used 030 in summer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No