Blush -Smashbox - Idolize Me Blush
baronchow 4/16/2013 2:07:00 PM
A pretty deep-toned pinky/peach powder blush in the Love Me Collection. No shimmer which I prefer. This is very highly pigmented and lasts on the skin (over tinted moisturizer is how I use it). One of those 'clear' colors that gives a brightness to the face ... just go light on the application or you'll have clown cheeks. I use a super light sweep with a fan brush. Is it just me ... the latch of many of the Smashbox compacts (blush and Halo Powder for example) just don't last ...
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Toners -Garnier - Pure Astringent Toner
baronchow 10/18/2012 1:42:00 PM
I believe this a new product ... there are reviews for Pure "Purifying". This one (in an aqua blue bottle) definitely says "Astringent". An alcohol-based astringent with Salicylic Acid as the 3rd ingredient - SA is what I wanted to try for my hormonal messed up, zitty skin. This was the only toner that I could find at the drugstore with SA high up in the ingred list. Good price for 200ml, so worth trying out. Has a cucumber-y/eucalyptus strong scent that disappears quickly, but that I actually liked. Yes, this is drying out my skin a bit ... but it is clearing up my zits big time!! I'm using it twice a day, followed by moisturizer (Roc at night and tinted moisurizer in the morning) ... and the existing blemishes are healing quickly with very few new ones appearing. The ones that are coming up are smaller too. Also does seem to tighten pores (hey, alcohol is the 2nd ingred!) temporarily. NOTE: says on the bottle that it "is not recommended for dry or sensitive skin". My skin is fairly sensitive and mature ... but it's holding up fine. I avoid (or use minimally) on my sensitive areas. I plan on cutting back to nightly use soon.
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BB Cream -Maybelline - Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream
baronchow 7/13/2012 1:13:00 PM
The BB Cream rage ... tried so many in all price ranges and disliked them all for various reasons. The major one being that they left me looking flat/matte and seemed to accentuate every fine line and blemish. And most had low spf (if any) ratings. Now Maybelline ... you hit it out of the park for me. I want light coverage (check), the dewy finish (check), good moisturizing (check), no melting (check) and at least spf 30 (check). Not bad for $10.99. Tried 2 shades (medium/tan and medium) and neither changed on my skin once applied. 2 warnings: (1) if you want moderate or more coverage, this isn't for you. Very light coverage - think tinted moisturizer not foundation. (2) you will tan with this. I put alot on ... spf 30 is not high enough (for me) if I'm planning a day in the sun. But for most every other day ... I'm a big fan.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Essie - Lapiz Of Luxury
baronchow 5/18/2012 3:35:00 PM
Beautiful cool blue shade. Streaky application -- like many essie polishes, I find the application (re streaky) hit and miss, Needed 3 coats for the opaque look I wanted.
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Sunscreen -Skinceuticals - Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50
baronchow 4/30/2012 10:40:00 AM
Hubby and I wore this before a walk ... we looked like extras in the Twilight cast. Blended, rubbed - I even put makeup powder on top. This stuff has a heavy white cast. Kinda heavy/greasy going on but then sets and is white and doesn't move. Matte, slightly powdery finish. At the end of the day, my skin had some dry flaky spots -- moisture sucked dry -- so I'm thinking this would be great for oily skinned folks. Apparently, it's a good idea to use a moisturizer, and/or primer with this ... sheesh -- way too much stuff on my skin. In the summer, I like to limit my routine to serum, bit of concealer, spf and a touch of bronzer. Teeny bottle. Add to that - Skinceuticals tests on animals :-( Too many negatives for me. For an Spf 50 - I'll stick to Sheseido.
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Lipstick -Christian Dior - Addict- Model #564
baronchow 3/31/2012 8:14:00 PM
The color has been described perfectly by TacoFK. Love that it's still quite sheer for a creamy lipstick. Lasts better than some of the 'butter' formulations ... but still isn't one that will last hours (at least on me). Isn't bleeding into lip lines. Color may be a bit 'young' for my mature age ... but it's a color I love and always gravitate to and buy. Had to throw out a bunch of lippies ... had them around for ages - this is now my go-to pink everyday choice. The Addict line is great.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Burberry - Body
baronchow 3/20/2012 4:15:00 PM
Received a generous sample. Love the fragrance ... soft, floral, not too sweet, bit woody. Don't smell the cheapness or 'old' that some other reviewers do. To me, it's comforting, easy to wear and a close-to-the-body type scent. Only downside - and why I'll probably not buy it ... it doesn't last on me at all.
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BB Cream -Smashbox - Camera Ready BB Cream SPF 35
baronchow 3/19/2012 8:16:00 PM
Tried this because I love (HG) Smashbox Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer spf15 ... but wanted a higher spf rating. It's a whole different beastie ;-) Bought 'Light' - same shade I use in the TM - but it's WAY lighter in the BB cream. So much so, that I look ghostly. Settled into every line on my face - and seemed to find new ones! Masky and dry feeling. No glow. Accentuated every flake or imperfection. I don't understand people who say to just use the product lightly ... if you are hoping to get the spf benefit from the product (which I want), then you will have to use approx 1/2 tsp. For me, that amount made for a very artificial look. Where it touched my eye cream - it pilled. I didn't realize that one of the benefits is oil control - and I can see where it would do that. On my skin it was very drying. I would only recommend this for someone with oily/very oily skin. Even in the correct shade for me - which might be 'Light-Medium', this is not moisturizing enough. Sure I could use a moisturizer under ... but trying to limit the amount of products on my skin. I like my skin to look moisturized/somewhat dewy - but the look was very matte and lifeless. So gave to sis who has oily skin. The shade is probably too light for her too ... but she can see if she likes the texture. I'm back to my Smashbox Tinted Moisturizer spf15 and Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinte SPF 30. The Lancome is heavier than the Smashbox TM, but has a nice glow (compared to Smashbox BB).
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Smashbox - Sheer Focus Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15
baronchow 3/16/2012 4:41:00 PM
HG for me. As a tinted moisturizer it's a solid '5'. Very light coverage that still seems to even out my skintone. You can still see my acne scars and a bit of discoloration, but everything is softened just enough that I feel better for having it on. Does not accentuate fine lines/wrinkles/dry spots/zits. Have Fair, Light and Medium. Light is good for most of the year ... and I mix a bit of one of the others for lighter or darker shades. Gives a glowy but not sparkly look. Enough moisture for the daytime for me. I think of it as my daytime moisturizer that gives me a no-makeup but better look. The spf15 is nice ... but I don't think I use enough to rely on that spf. So for summer, an spf30 or higher applied before is necessary. Then the TM doesn't go on quite as nice. Going to try Smashbox BB creme spf30
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Lancome - Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinte SPF 30
baronchow 3/16/2012 4:33:00 PM
Edit: Added 2 lippies after trying Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream spf 35, which made my skin look very matte and lifeless (could be great for oily/very oily skin). Buying this - although the consistency may be heavier than I want, the finish is natural looking and it works on my mature/acne scarred skin. ------- Working thru a generous sample of color 1 which is yellow based and the lightest color in the range. Color 2 is very orange (haven't seen 3 or 4) ... 1 is the only color that is near my skintone. Doesn't settle into fine lines/wrinkles. Doesn't accentuate dry spots/zits. Although I like that this has spf30 (reason I tried it), I have to use alot to get an adequate spf coverage ... the result is a rather heavily madeup look. Definitely not as natural or light-reflecting as my fave Smashbox Sheer Focus spf15. I feel and look I'm wearing makeup with this TM. Add maybe a bit of bronzer or a bit of blush and the result is too made-up for me - but looks good. Hasn't irritated my sensitive, breakout prone skin so far. The heavier coverage is actually appreciated right now as I'm healing from a bad bout of hormonal acne. Perhaps this is ok for winter/spring. But for summer, I need more than spf30 anyways ... and I can't see sweating in this. Just a light perspire and it feels and looks a bit yucky. Going to try Smashbox BB Cream spf30. EDIT - tried the Smashbox BB and it's a no-go.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -SkinMedica - TNS Recovery Complex
baronchow 10/10/2008 2:07:00 PM
This works for me. Used it a few years ago and saw improvement in the tone and texture of my skin. Then I stopped (probably the price). I'm back using it again - aging skin and hormonal breakouts made me re-evaluate my skincare. Most products just seem to irritate my skin - some alot, some just a bit. This product doesn't. It's not a miracle, but my skin does look better for using it. And it's the kind of improvement that comes "from the skin" as opposed to looking better because there is product "on the skin". So many treatments just make the skin look better thru silicones, etc. IMHO. Not much product for the price (you do have to use twice daily to begin with) and you can't see when you're going to run out. The scent used to be an issue for some people -- the product has been redone and the scent is negligible.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -DDF - Sensitive Skin Cleansing Gel
baronchow 10/10/2008 2:00:00 PM
Holy Grail. Hands down the best cleanser I've ever used. I remove my makeup first with a makeup remover and then use this lightly foaming gel. My skin is left clean, not tight. Repurchased many times.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Shiseido - Benefiance Revitalizing Eye Cream [DISCONTINUED]
baronchow 3/10/2008 1:08:00 PM
This is a heavier creme (too heavy for day even with a very light application) that did moisturize my eye area and plump it up. I used it as a night eye treatment. However, it gave me milia big time. All of a sudden - there were the bumps and they are aren't going anywhere fast! From the reviews - not all get the milia - but if you are inclined to form them, I'd stay clear of this eye cream. And it's in a jar - ugh.
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Fragrances -Escada - moon sparkle
baronchow 3/4/2008 12:28:00 AM
Another reviewer asked "why did they (Escada) even bother". The answer is because they do this type of fragrance better than everyone else. And it's fun for the Escada fans to see what each new LE will reveal. Moon Sparkle is the latest offering in their fruity floral LE treasure chest and it's great. If Ibizia Hippie was your fav -- then you'll like Moon Sparkle. Warmer, more berry than citrus (Rockin Rio) with a soft richer drydown (amber?). To me, there isn't the initial sharpness that their last couple of LEs had. There is something very comforting about it. Bought the small bottle -- will go back soon and get the larger one too. OBTW - Like all these scents -- it's supposed to be a "young" fragrance. Since when is a light, fruity, sweet, warm, uncomplicated, mouthwatering fragrance not for us older broads?
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Peter Thomas Roth - Environmental Repair Hydrating Gel
baronchow 1/27/2008 2:41:00 PM
Been using this for just over a week and it's doing what I want it to. Giving me just enough daytime moisture with no side effects. My skin is going through a horrendous bout of hormonal acne. Any product with 'cones' (which I'm sensitive to at the best of times) or too many additives causes more breakouts -- this doesn't. It's gentle, spreads easily (use very little - you don't need much), no scent that I can pick up. This may not be moisturizing enough for people with dryer skin, but for me it's working so well. I'll always have it on hand.
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