Skincare - Face -Chantecaille - Vital Essence
beetee 7/29/2012 5:01:00 AM
Love this serum. It sinks right in and plumps up my skin getting rid of any dryness yet doesn't feel like I've put anything on my face. It looks and feels the way it does right after I've washed it, clean and fresh. I have reactive skin but this hasn't bothered it. I use this only in the daytime and usually mix it half and half with their Just Skin tinted moisturiser to give my face a wash of colour which is virtually undetectable but improves the look of my skin 100%. I guess it's the same idea as the Giorgio Armani Face Fabric only natural. The added colour gives my face a subtle glow and covers up any uneveness and the Vital Essence makes it look....well... 'younger' is the word I guess Im looking for. Because I need to use such a small amount of this serum it lasts a long time so what seemed an expensive purchase ended up to be a bargain. I can't use some of the Chantecaille products but this one is a winner.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -La Mer - The Radiant Concealer SPF25
beetee 2/20/2012 3:08:00 PM
This is the most expensive yet the best concealer I have ever used. If you are past a certain age and find that most of them sink into the "fine lines" around your eyes- or cake or disappear- please give this one a try....only if you are prepared to pay the exorbitant price. Yes there isn't much of a colour choice but the No2 Medium is perfect for my light-medium skin. I use a generous dab of Clinique All About Eyes gel first. Let it semi-sink in and then use my finger to press on the concealer then smooth it over with a brush. I've used the one that comes with it and I've used my own concealer brush and I've even used my foundation brush. It's easy to blend with any of them if I moisturise well first. I also use it on my lids under shadow..infact I use it all around my eye and it really helps brighten and make me look wide awake. It doesn't sink into my lines ( and believe me there are quite a few of them) and it doesn't budge until I take it off. It has a satin finish that looks like skin and is a great find if, like me, you are a fan of the no makeup look. The packaging is chic and judging by the small amount I have to use each time it will take quite awhile before I need a replacement......and I'll definately be buying this little gem again regardless of the high price.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Redken - Hair Cleansing Cream
beetee 2/6/2012 6:02:00 AM
I'm a big fan of Redken shampoos. I normally use the So Soft range which is perfect for my hair. I've tried various clarifying type shampoos from drugstore cheapies to high end professional brands and they all worked pretty much the same....they would over strip my hair and in the end make it look worse than when I started. This one is different. It doesn't dryout my hair and the shine is back! I wear my hair long and straight (thanks to my t3 iron) and it's also naturally silver. The shine is ultra important to me as it makes the difference between my hair looking my age or like it did when I was a kid. This shampoo helps me achieve both the shine and squeaky clean hair. I use it once a week but I can see me using it more in the summer heat. I hope they continue to make it forever and never change the formula. It's the best!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Lancome - Teint Miracle
beetee 2/4/2012 7:34:00 AM
This foundation goes on very easily. It seems to blend into the skin and even though I thought the colour match was slightly light it was close enough. Then my husband came into the room and said to me "Why are you wearing so much makeup?" And that's all I need to hear. I had a closer look in bright sunlight and my skin looked as if it had a greyish beige tinted mask on it so he was right to say what he did. As I had taken the time to apply all rest of my face and since we werent going anywhere in particular I thought I'd leave it on to see how it would wear just for the fun of it. I'm afraid I can't give that a good report either. My T-zone was shiny in about an hour I'm afraid and the shade darkened to an even more unflattering greige. I'm normally a tinted moisturiser type of girl. My skin has lines that most foundations sink into but the TMs don't emphasise and I like that. However the TM doesn't last very long without becoming shiny. Because this foundation seemed to go on sheer I was hoping that it would look like but last a bit longer than a TM. Sadly this isn't the case. I read a lot of good reviews of this product but it's not one for me. On the plus side you can't feel it on your skin. But that's the only good thing I can say about it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Chantecaille - Rice and Geranium Foaming Cleanser
beetee 1/18/2012 12:11:00 PM
You certainly don't need to use very much to get a creamy lather with it and I admit that it seems to cleanse well ...BUT...on me it leaves a residue. One that clogged my skin up really badly after only 3 uses. It smells nice and feels luxurious while you're using it but I'm afraid it's not the ticket for my aging/ combo/ finicky skin. The worst thing is that this product reminds me of a Clinique Foaming Cleanser that I've had samples of in the past. It was the same deal. Skin felt squeaky clean when you were rinsing but had the same residue afterwards. Though I'm sure the Clinique one cost quite a bit less as well. Not happy with this one at all.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -The Body Shop - Facial Buffer
beetee 4/28/2010 3:22:00 PM
I am shocked that there aren't pages of praise for this little buffing sponge. I've only been using it a week and I can't believe the results I've had just by using it with my regular cleanser. Let me tell you a story..... Back in November I bought myself a Clarisonic as soon as they became available in the UK. I used it for 4 months during which my skin became more and more flakey and irritated. I finally gave up on it and passed it on to my neighbour. Meanwhile I still needed something to help with my daily exfoliation and I noticed this little gem when I was in the Body Shop with my husband who was stocking up on their Aloe toner. Over the years I've tried so many of these type of things. You tend to use them for a while until something new and seemingly better comes along and then you try that. I guess the quest for the perfect cleansing tool is what made me buy the Clarisonic but had I known that I could achieve perfectly smooth, clean and flake free skin using a little sponge that cost me £3, I could have saved myself a good deal of money and my skin a lot of stress. Like I said - after one week of use and my skin is clear, smooth and my expensive night cream sinks in better than ever. It doesn't irritate nor does it feel abrasive to my face. Mind you I have fairly tough skin and I'm at the age where exfoliation is an absolute must. I have to say that I certainly prefer this buffer rather than use a mask or scrub every day. Will I buy it again? I already have. Five of them in fact!
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Pro Skincare Brush
beetee 3/25/2010 5:53:00 AM
I think the Clarisonic will go down as my worst purchase of 2010. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure it works well for the majority of you and after reading ( and re-reading) the reviews here I bought one as soon as they became available in the UK. When I used it as directed, 2 times a day..etc, my skin became very irritated. I cut it down to once a day...the same thing. I tried it every other day and then once a week. No good. I tried different cleansing products. No good. My skin was dry, peely, irritated no matter how I used it. The worst thing was it made me break out like a teen (I am 63!) and my pores seemed even more clogged than they normally are. I stopped using it at the beginning of this month and my skin has just started to get back to normal. I still have a few red spots from the breakouts but the irritation and the dryness has finally gone. I normally have combination skin and skin that - up until it met the Clarisonic - could withstand most scrubs and cleansers without any problems. You would have thought that this machine would be made for me but it turned out to be my skins enemy. My neighbour has it now. She tells me she loves it. I say she's welcome to it.
6 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Clinique - CX R+ de-aging cream
beetee 12/31/2009 6:00:00 AM
This is Cliniques new high end cream with "encapsulated retinol" .Harrods were generous enough to give out a 24M sample jar of this in their last GWP. I've just finished it and although I hate to spend this type of cash on cosmetics I'm afraid I'm going to have to shell out for the full size. Why? Because I can actually see the improvement it has made to my skin and I don't think I've ever been able to say that about a product before in such a short amount of time. My skin is firmer, has more clarity and looks far more even in texture that it did 2 months ago. And the bonus is that it hasn't caused any sensitivity or breakouts or clogged up my pores. I use it only at night and I don't use a lot of it. When I first massage it in it feels peculiar. I can't say that it tingles or burns or anything radical but you can definately feel it doing something. This feeling doesn't last for long and the cream absorbs into your skin like most others. My skin actually glows in the morning which is a treat for me given my advanced years. I might go as far to say that it has diminished some of my lines. It has eliminated any dryness that I normally have this time of year and my skin certainly looks plumper. I'm not sure if a younger person would see the same benefits that I have with this cream but my 62 year old skin hasn't looked this good for a long, long time. An (expensive) winner from Clinique.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Clinique - repairwear intensive lip treatment
beetee 10/30/2009 3:27:00 PM
This is the best! I've been using it for the past two years and haven't had a flake on my 62 year old lips since. I've always had trouble with chapped lips in the winter but this stuff is a miracle worker. I've tried every balm/salve/treatment under the sun but this is unbeatable.
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Pressed Powders -Laura Mercier - Pressed Setting Powder - Translucent
beetee 10/21/2009 1:33:00 PM
This powder is magic! At my age I really have to watch that I don't accentuate my....er, ahh..."fine lines". That said, I have the same oily T-zone that I had when I was 16. What can a girl do? I've tried finishing powders in the past and none of them looked right at all. Some were too sparkly..some would cake...others lasted about 15 minutes and then made me even oiler. I was hesitant to shell out for this one but I just get sick of blotting all the time and the reviews here for this powder sold me. This is definately the HG of setting/finishing powders for me. It works best if I apply it with the included sponge. Swipe a bit and massage the sponge so the powder is evenly distributed and then press and roll it onto my face. I also use my kabuki if I'm in a rush but the sponge method really makes my pores vanish. I'll admit that for the first few minutes my skin can look a little dry-ish but it quickly takes on a glow. No shine...just a soft glow and my oily T-zone doesn't trouble me for hours. Fabulous! One more thing....I have an odd light-neutral colouring. Not quite olive, not quite yellowy and definately no pink. Foundations are hard to match, always a slight tint off and generally will turn too yellow as the day wears on. For instance I use Clair in Chanel foundations and it's a close match but not perfect . This powder, although it doesn't lighten anything, somehow makes my Teint Innocence exactly the same as my own skintone. Like I said..magic!
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair Color -Unlisted Brand - Hairmarker Temporary in Dark Brown
beetee 8/16/2009 10:09:00 AM
This is wonderful stuff! I use it in a rather unconventional way, though. My hair is probably about 70% silver now. I like it that way but I don't like the fact that I don't have any of my dark brown natural hair left in my fringe/bangs. This is where the hairmarker comes in. I simply paint a few stripes of brown where I want it and presto! - my hair looks superb. It's amazing how adding just a small bit of my natural colour makes a difference to my complexion, but it really does. It looks like the real deal too! You can't tell the difference between the painted brown and the real. I've not been caught out in the rain so I don't know how it would last through that but it doesn't rub off on your face or pillowcases and never looks dull or fake. It's a terrific product but unfortunately I can't find it anywhere in the UK . I bought mine at Sally's when I was visiting the States this summer and since then I've had friends bring it over whenever I can. I go through the little bottle quickly and I wish they sold it in a larger size. It's quite expensive for the small amount that you get but it's worth every penny!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sonia Kashuk - Enhance Eye Color Whisper
beetee 7/13/2009 11:17:00 AM
This is an inexpensive shadow that looks and feels like one that costs much more. Whisper is a natural matte nude shade that has been perfect for my summertime "no makeup" made up face. It's a fine milled pressed shadow that goes on smoothly and covers and brightens up any imperfections on my lids. At my age I'm always on the lookout for shadows without glitter or shimmer and this one is perfect. I've had many department store shadows of the same hue that were more than twice as expensive as this one but didn't perform any better. It's rare to find a bargain these days and this is one of them.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
beetee 7/13/2009 10:29:00 AM
You only need one eyelash curler at a time so you might as well buy the best........at least that was my reasoning when I bought the Shu. All the pros seem to recommend this brand and judging by the reviews here at MUA you all like it too. It works perfectly fine on my right eye but pinches the left one. I can't remember having this problem with any other curler but it's been so long since I've had a different brand. I don't like the fact that you can't buy replacement pads for it but, that said, I've been using the same one for nearly a year now and have just changed over to the second of the pads that came with it and I guess it will be time to buy a new curler when this one wears out. I'm lucky enough to have longish and thickish lashes that curl easily and most curlers that I've had in my lifetime have worked pretty much the same - so I'd say the Shu is more of a status purchase for me than for any other reason. It's also a well engineered little tool and the pads are plump and give your lashes the perfect curl. I might buy it again...I might not.
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Treatments -Clinique - Turnaround Concentrate [DISCONTINUED]
beetee 7/4/2009 3:26:00 PM
This is one of those products that I didn't realise how good it was until I stopped using it for a few days. It seems to normalise my overly oily T-zone and smooth any dry patches. On these hot summer days I've been using this in place of moisturiser and it makes a great base for foundation. My skin looks altogether brighter and clearer when I use it and it seems to keep my pores from clogging up. The downside is the price since I go through it pretty quickly. But as the results are definately worth it I'll continue to purchase this.
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Lipstick -MAC - Cremesheen - Creme d'Nude
beetee 7/4/2009 12:44:00 PM
I rarely buy lipstick. I'll buy gloss or balms and I seem to get so many free gift with purchase lipsticks each season that I just don't have to. But every so often I go on a mission to find the perfect nude lipstick....one that can completely block out my natural lip colour. I normally use it as a base so that the true colour of any lipstick/gloss I put on top shows rather than having the overly reddish pigment of my lips wreck it. Creme d'Nude is too good to hide under anything, however, and it's my current summertime favourite. The colour is perfect, the finish is excellent - not too shiny and not too matte - and it keeps my lips suitably pale yet doesn't make me look like a corpse. No caking either (Thanks Dr. Hanuska lip balm! Thanks Clinique Repairwear!) ....and is easy to apply on the go without needing a mirror. I'd go as far as saying it's one of the best nude lipsticks out there.
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