Lip Liners -Boots - Perfect Lips Pencil in 20 Nude
annkelly 2/28/2013 12:22:00 AM
Oh, the disappointment!! I hunted this pencil down across three countries after seeing Lisa Eldridge using it and wearing it (love her). I have similar coloring so I had such high hopes it would be a pale neutral/nude. But on my very pink/red lips, it's a bright, burnt orange. It's not nude, it's not neutral, and it's not even a little bit attractive. It looks very muddy and turns every nude lipstick I put over it orangish. I begin to wonder if I even have the right pencil. It's No. 7, marked Nude, Precision Lips (can't seem to find Perfect Lips, even on the Boots Web site)....The quest for the perfect nude lip liner continues..... Sigh.
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Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Galderma - Benzac AC 2.5 (benzoyl peroxide water-based gel 2.5%)
annkelly 2/27/2013 9:23:00 PM
This is a really effective acne treatment. I have sensitive, oily skin and have always had constant breakouts along my jaw and neck, and lots of bumps, clogged pores and blackheads on nose, chin and forehead. I have been using a 2.5 percent PB product nightly for about four months and the change in my skin has been dramatic. I've had only one new pimple on my jaw/neck in this time and my pores are so much less clogged and congested (I'm not even tempted to pick at my skin any more as there's nothing left to pick at!). The blackheads on my nose are now barely visible (totally invisible with foundation). Never thought I would find anything that would get rid of the blackheads. I used Proactiv PB for the first two months (left over from a kit I'd purchased months before but didn't use because the cleanser and toner were way too harsh and drying) and have been on the Benzac for about two months since then. I haven't had any undue peeling or drying with either (I use Cetaphil for cleansing and a rich moisturizer morning and night). I can't say there's been any difference for me between the Proactiv and the Benzac, except that I much prefer the fact that the Benzac is fragrance-free and it's much cheaper (I can buy it over the counter here in Hong Kong for about $10 USD).
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Eye Shadow -Revlon - Illuminance Creme Shadow Quad - Precious Metals
annkelly 2/27/2013 8:48:00 PM
These cream eye shadows are very sheer, with almost no color payoff. They set up really well, however, and have a very pretty shimmer. They don't work for me whatsoever as eye shadows (I need more definition around my eyes), but I love them as primers. I wear one of the colors from this palette every day under my powder eye shadows (I used the gold and copper under brown/sepia shadows and the burgundy under a pinky shadows). I apply just a really light dusting of powder eye shadow a few minutes after applying the cream. The result is a really pretty, shimmery wash of color. The texture looks more modern than a powder alone, but has more color and staying power than a cream. LOVE it!! So, I give it only two lippies as an eye shadow, but would give it five as a primer.
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Liquid -Bourjois - Flower Perfection Youth Extension Foundation
annkelly 2/27/2013 8:34:00 PM
I'm a big fan of Healthy Mix, so decided to give this a try as I needed something more mat for warmer/humid weather. This foundation provides medium to heavy coverage and sets up with a satin, almost powdery finish on my oily skin. I get little or no shine with this foundation, which is much less dewy than HM, and I don't need to set it with powder--both big pluses! I find it goes on better with fingers than a brush. It's a pretty dense liquid (about half a pump covers my entire face), and I was ending up with way too much on my skin when using a brush. I do love that I don't need much if any concealer with this product (I find I need lots with HM). I think this is a good mat foundation for oily or combination skin and for anyone who wants some serious coverage. It's definitely not a "second skin" type foundation. My least favorite thing about it is the scent (I guess that's where the "flower" part comes in). It's sweet and cloying and smells really old-fashioned to me.
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Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Foundation ] [DISCONTINUED]
annkelly 2/22/2013 2:02:00 AM
This stuff is the bomb! Leaves my sensitive, acne-prone, oily skin looking smooth and radiant, and dewy. It blends in to the skin instantly. I can work it in in seconds with either fingers or a brush and even with my super-magnifying mirror I can't see it on my skin. Coverage is light to medium, so I do have to take extra care with concealing, especially around my eyes. It lasts all day, and more importantly, looks good all day (I've never had so many compliments on my skin!). It never gets flaky or blotchy. My only quibble: No SPF. Other than that, it's nothing short of totally fabulous. Sadly, Healthy Mix is too dewy for my oily skin in really humid weather, even with a mattifier underneath, so I won't be able to use it in the warmer months. I'll miss it!
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Blush -Max Factor - Miracle Touch Creamy Blush
annkelly 2/21/2013 11:32:00 PM
This is worth its weight in gold. Such a beautiful texture! It's almost like a gel. It adds color and sheen, but no sparkle. It gives you that dewy, expensive looking skin, for a drug-store price! This product really blends into the skin and has a moist finish. I apply it with a dense, medium-size powder brush, which give me a thin coat, then I blend out the edges with my fingers and my foundation brush. I have oily skin and this seems to stay put. It may not stay in place during the really warm, humid weather, but it's been a perfect way to add freshness to my skin during the winter months. I have super-pale skin and the Soft Pink and Cardinal (which is a coral) are great. Tried the Murano but it's too dark.
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Liquid -MAC - Matchmaster SPF 15 Foundation
annkelly 2/21/2013 11:15:00 PM
Bought this last summer on the recommendation of a salesperson at MAC after telling her I had very oily skin and wanted lots of coverage. Used it on an off for a few months and then decided I didn't like it at all. It was so hard to blend and just seemed to sit on top of my skin. It also got stuck in the dry patches and highlighted them like crazy. It went to the bottom of my makeup bag, where it's been since September. In the meantime, I've been using Bourjois Healthy Mix, which I love beyond words. Makes my skin so dewy and fresh and is so easy to apply with fingers, a brush, whatever. But over the last few weeks the weather where I live (Asia) has started to become warm and really humid and the Healthy Mix is leaving my oily skin waaaay too dewy, even with a mattifier underneath. So I pulled out the Matchmaster and decided to revisit it--and I'm finding it amazing. The difference? My skin is in ten times better condition than it was last summer. My skin is now totally clear of blemishes (thanks to nightly use of Benzac) and super exfoliated (thanks to prescription retinol twice a week and weekly use of a lactic acid exfoliating mask). It's also much more hydrated. I'm also really, really, really working the foundation into my skin with a flat foundation brush, which makes a huge difference, and creates a beautiful satin finish. So, I'd say if your skin is in good condition (pretty clear and well exfoliated), this is a great foundation. It's definitely not suitable for dry skin or skin with flaky or dry patches. It seems best for oily or combination skin and does keep the shine under control. I'll probably revert to Healthy Mix next fall, but looking forward to using the Matchmaster as weather gets warmer.
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