Toners -Unlisted Brand - Melvita Rose Extraordinary Water
andreacaracortada 6/13/2012 3:42:00 PM
HG product for me. I am 33 and have combination, but dehydrated skin. I went into the Melvita store in Covent Garden and the therapist recommended this. The Melvita site has it under serums, but I would describe it as a toner-serum due to its consistency. It has a gel-like transparent consistency, which can really refreshes skin and keeps it fresh. It includes hyaluronic acid from soya (yup, interesting) and it really feels like you have splashed water on your skin. For a quick pick me up, ie when you suffer from dry skin days, it is excellent in giving the skin a glow. I really love this product and although it is small (and costs 14 quid here), it lasts very very long. I love it and will def. repurchase.
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Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain (All Shades)
andreacaracortada 6/11/2012 4:34:00 PM
I have Camel Croisiere (7) and Pourpre Divin (16). The first one is medium coral, great for the office during summer, and the other is more mauve, more winter-y and very chic and different if you are a brunette. They are ok. The packaging feels cheap, which is a contrast to the other YSL packaging of the Pur Coutures and the Rouge Voluptes. It is also VERY drying, that is because it has a lasting, long-wearing formula. The only thing is the texture: in the beginning it feels like a pigmented gloss, shiny but not shimmery and as time goes by, it becomes a stain.AAA for the interesting texture gloss-cum-stain, yet CCC for the drying feeling. I would prefer to invest in a Rouge Pur Couture.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Melvita - Argan Oil
andreacaracortada 6/11/2012 2:53:00 PM
A great, amazing oil. It moisturises body very well, providing excellent hydration and leaving it baby soft. Even though it is an oil, it absorbs EASILY, leaving no traces, so you can get dressed fast. I really love it and it is one of my favourite products from Melvita. It does smell like olive, but I find that Argan oil generally smells like that. A must buy for me all year round.
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Lipstick -Christian Dior - Rouge Dior - Fall 2010 - Haute Couleur Voluptuous Care
andreacaracortada 6/11/2012 2:47:00 PM
Ok I normally hate the Dior make up range but, hello, this lipstick is a gem. In general the Haute Couleur range is of the highest quality. Great, luxurious packagin (no plasticky stuff), great texture, great pigmentation and great feel on the lips. It contains hyaluronic acid, which hydrates the lips and doesn't dry them out, smt that I normally experience with long-wearing lipsticks. Now onto the colour: wow, a nice coral-ey pink that is suitable for NC20 skins and brunettes. Really beautiful, chic and great for summer. Even for winter I would add. Just great. I also recommend Tulip Pink, Pink Junon and Blazing Red. They are just amazing lipsticks
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Treatments -Sarah Chapman - Skinesis Overnight Exfoliating Booster
andreacaracortada 6/11/2012 2:42:00 PM
I hated it in the beginning. Not any more though. It is supposed to be a serum-like, easily absorbed gel, used three times a week, just before you go to bed. It claims it unclogs pores and softens wrinkles, evening out blemish marks. I have been using it religiously over a month now and all I can say it is that I love it. It doesn't unclog pores, nor it clogs them, but for an exfoliating treatment it is so gentle on the skin (it is paraben free after all) and leaves your face SUPER BABY SOFT, improving its look. That is its high point. This result makes me wanna check the whole range a bit more. It may be super expensive, but I thoroughly recommend it if you want to see baby soft and thoroughly relaxed and healthy skin.
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Treatments -Clinique - Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector
andreacaracortada 11/26/2011 8:58:00 AM
I bought this at Heathrow duty free as it is was the cheapest spot corrector. I am 33 and I have couple of freckles on my nose which I suspect are due to some sun damage in my 20s. I have to say even the most ''innocent'' looking sun damage (in your 20s), in your 30s it transforms into freckles. So we are not talking here lots of brown spots and freckles all over but couple of them on my nose. I was annoyed by them so I decided to invest in an anti-dark spot treatment. The bottle lasted me for over three months so my review is based on this amount of time. Generally I found out that it takes time to get rid of light freckles or fade acne scars. And still you need to be extra careful and use high spf all the time. If you can, avoid the sun. After using this mine have now faded, almost disappeared, so I would recommend it for ''light'' freckles. I didnt experience oiliness or greasiness either. It was easily absorbed by my combo skin Am not sure if you have a bigger problem (like my 50 year old mum who is full of them), whether it d be still as effective. Yet I would defo buy it again especially during the summer. As a final thought, I d say you need to be persistant with these things and above all patient.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Decleor - Aromessence Neroli
andreacaracortada 11/26/2011 6:29:00 AM
I find this a more affordable solution to the Darphin tangerine facial oil. Both are good for combination skin, for first signs of ageing as well. I like it cause it is a good ritual for the cold season. It plumps and soothes parched skin and generally doesn cause any break outs even though I am prone to break outs. I use (or try to use) the recommended technique - and I would say consult the sales assistant so you can understand the technique as it is important - morning and night before my moisturiser. I use circular movements if my skin is parched or I rub it in my palms and pat it on my face, if I feel my skin is hydrated. It is very nice re: moisturisation. Inhale the smell, it is uplifting. Yet it is also a bit dominant, more citrusy floral. Compared to the Darphin tangerine one, I prefer the darphin smell though, which is more fine and delicate. Still a good oil and also eco cert-certified.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Darphin - Tangerine Aromatic Care
andreacaracortada 11/26/2011 6:20:00 AM
I have several samples of this and I quite like it. I am also using Decleor's Neroli oil and would like to draw a comparison between them. Both of them get absorbed very easily. They dont leave any greasiness and even though I have combination skin I have never encountered breakouts. So they get absorbed easily and are great for first signs of ageing. Using the Darphin one , I have noticed, that my skin is well moisturised right now (it is quite cold) and looks more fresh and plump. Even though the Darphin is more expensive, I like the tangerine smell which is uplifting and more pleasant than the Decleor one which is also citrusy but more dominant. I think that is the downside with the Decleor one. Even though the Decleor is still a good oil, (yet I see better results from the Darphin one), the smell is quite floral, dominant and sometimes it makes me itch. But nevertheless Decleor is more affordable and still a good facial oil. I would say if you can afford it go for Darphin: it is an exceptional choice for the winter season. Finally it is ecocert certified.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Plush Lash
andreacaracortada 11/16/2011 8:11:00 PM
One of the worst ever. Short thick bristle that does nothing, no lasting power ( after a couple of hours it runs under my eye and my eyes sting. It gives a very natural effect and I would only recommend it for that. If you can avoid it though, even better. one, if not the worst of all. nothing compares to YSL faux cils.
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Lipstick -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupte - Lingerie Pink
andreacaracortada 11/16/2011 8:09:00 PM
one of the worst lipsticks out there. If you are nc20 with dark/brown hair do not buy. It washes you out or you look like that woman from There is something about Mary. Even worse is the quality: it has not staying power what so ever, it transfers and you need to prep your lips with a matte pencil to give it a bit more staying power otherwise it feels like it glides away from your lips. If you pair it with a gloss (i used a pale one YSL) it is just disaster. It is too creamy to be paired with a gloss (it just transfers). the worst ever. not too keen on the volupte's any more. I prefer the sheer candies. i rate it 1 and I am being generous.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Decleor - Phytopeel
andreacaracortada 11/13/2011 9:44:00 AM
all I am saying with this one is try the instructions very well before you buy. i would recommend reading the other make up alley reviews on how to use it as it is not the typical exfoliation cream. it doesn't contain any beads. It is just a thick shimmery cream that you apply on dry skin and then before it dries you massage. You remove it using cotton pads and lotion. Not water. I can't say I am head over heels with this product. The method of use is kind of confusing and I would say this is its downside. Then because I don't know how to use it properly, I can't see any results. I would stick to my korres thyme and honey scrub. Much cheaper and more straightforward.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Lancome - Hydra Zen Eye
andreacaracortada 2/3/2011 8:00:00 AM
This is an eye contour gel cream, good for as it says tired, puffy eyes. NOT. it is a white-ish gel cream with a very good texture i d say but no results. major disappointment from lancome, one as well that costs around 30 quid. i bought this as my eyes get tired from sitting in front of the pc, so I need a quick 'pick me up' for eyes, something that at least gives me the feeling of rested, hydrated, sparkly eyes. if you want that, just don't buy this. rodial's glamtox eye is much better, even the origins one for tired eyes. no result in the morning either, especially when your eye area feels swollen and you want to feel like human. no result with the calming effect, either. NOTHING. and I don't even suffer from major puffiness problems. worst of all, i bought this is december and it has just finished. it only lasts for two months. quite unbelievable.
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Blush -NARS - Zen
andreacaracortada 12/7/2010 6:59:00 PM
This was my second Nars blush (the first being Orgasm of course). It is a matte tan-like blush that can double up as a bronzer. I am NC20 and I normally wear it with nude or coffee coloured lipstick but you do need to have a light hand as it can look streaky, otherwise. Better suited for darker or tan skins, especially during summertime. Also good for contouring, if you can do that (I can't). It is nothing special ( I'd prefer the guerlain terracota bronzer for contouring, for example) but it has good lasting quality. I also hate the nars black packaging: for some reason it feels sticky.
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Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
andreacaracortada 12/7/2010 3:54:00 PM
I got this as my Deborah matte foundation finished. It is a matte foundation, ideal of oilier skins. It has a good feel, for example you put it on and it feels like a mousse, ie it disappears and settles on the skin fast as with all similar mousse-y foundations. It is a bit more moisturising than the average matte foundation, I 'd also say. Yet it is also streakey and ok, it doesn't provide the most amazing of coverages. I am not won over, yet, if you are tight for cash, it is an ok foundation.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Body -Guerlain - Terracotta Huile du Voyageur
andreacaracortada 12/6/2010 5:35:00 PM
A bit expensive but an excellent product with excellent quality and an amazing scent (which reminds me of summer). It is very cold as we speak and the average body moisturising lotion doesn't cut it. For those days that you need that extra TLC, this is an amazing body oil, that dries very quickly if you are impatient (great alternative to the body lotion that makes me feel cold), is moisturising enough and has a slight, very slight shimmer, which is so chic for winter. My skin is super soft, i can;t believe it, smells great and the best? no stains on my clothes, no spending hours for the body lotion to sink in. I am a convert! I love this.
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