Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - TCA Peel
bgraceg 3/24/2012 6:11:00 PM
Kierdim, since youve been using acids on your face that strength may not be enough for you. I have used 25% tca on myself and others with good results (for from 2-5 minutes), feels very strong, then a lot of peeling at about day 3 or 4. May take several spaced a month or more apart to see best results. If the product is good, you should see a 'frost' on your most damaged areas of skin. Everyone's different how they respond and to what strength, but generally if you've been using acids or Retin A you will have a better result. Doesnt sound like the product was strong enough for you.
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Fragrances -Ava Luxe - No. 23
bgraceg 2/15/2012 4:34:00 PM
Recently got sample size in oil version from the perfumed court; it was the components they described that attracted me. Thank goodness I hadn't read these reviews first, that mention powderiness or sandalwood, or I wouldnt have tried it. On me, this is one of those scents where you can't stop smelling yourself, not just because it smells lovely, but it has a compelling mystery. It is spicy, woody, yet subtle, and not at all sweet on me. It doesn't smell like anything else. I've layered it with Lostmarch's Lann-Ael and that is yummy too, adding warmth and coziness.
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Powder -Korres - Mineral Powder Foundation
bgraceg 8/28/2011 4:34:00 PM
I have become a Korres devotee and love this foundation. It has a slight learning curve on the application, and can make a mess if you're not careful (when you dab off the powder off your brush), but my skin has become radiant and glowing use this and their other things. I am fair, sensitive skin, tend to be reactive and redden, tend to oil/clogging in the t-zone, and am in middle age (but my skin looks decades younger). I have used all the other mineral foundations out there, and liquid, powder, etc, this is my favorite. I use the medium because I like a little color and not to look too pasty. It gives decent coverage, but not total coverage. I have a few broken blood vessels around the nose and on the cheeks so I have to put a dab of concealer (I use their concealer too, along with a bit of dermablend). The brush you use with it is important; you must use a quality brush designed for this kind of product to get best results (I use the sephora one). You dip the brush in some powder, tap it off, then I press it in then go in circles. As another reviewer said, it looks better after it sits a bit. I do a lot of other things for my skin (professional grade TCA peels, good sunblock, quality products, etc), but I think this foundation has helped me immensely to look more radiant. I am complimented all the time on my skin, and I do give some credit to this product for that.
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Masks -Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask
bgraceg 8/28/2011 4:22:00 PM
I have fair, sensitive reactive skin but with some tendency to clogged pores in the T zone, and redness. As other reviewers have said - you MUST put on a thick layer for it to work well. It is not cheap. But by my sights as a veteran product user and skincare fanatic (even went to aesthetician school for awhile though I don't practice), of many many decades, this is the best facial mask I have ever used. My skin looked clear, calm and bright after. I did not notice a huge 'pulling' of pore material, but even the Biore strips don't work on my pores (only manual extraction does anything for me - but that is hard on the skin so I avoid it). I also used this mask on my 20something daughter who has some acne as well as early sun damage and she looked radiant after it and much clearer. I do recommend a good cleansing FIRST (good makeup removal like boscia oil etc, then steam or heated towel on the face, followed by a good cleansing, then an exfoliant.) That will give you a better final result. If you're prone to irritation and feel less than radiant, and follow the pre mask guidelines, and apply generously, you should like the result (and put some vaseline on your eyebrows and keep your hair away from it).
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Carnival Wax - Sugarwitch Perfume Oil
bgraceg 3/12/2011 5:54:00 PM
I got this as a sample from the perfumed court, and I wasn't sure what to expect, but the from the review I expected very sweet, but eccentric (due to the name!). I loved it in the sample, but when I bought the full sized, for some reason it was overwhelmingly vanilla and sweet and I don't like it as much..maybe the sample was diluted and the regular size wasn't, but you need to be aware to go really lightly with this stuff, or you will overwhelm people around you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Carla Fracci Giselle Eau de Parfum
bgraceg 5/19/2010 9:40:00 PM
I was searching for a new HG scent, and for the time this is it - with a dab of L'Ann Ael lostmarche mixed in -- It is hard to describe, sort of spicy and sweet, not too sweet, warm, but not overbearing, cozy, but not too foodie. I do not like vanilla scents, so to me it isn't like that, but there is a touch of gourmand in it. When I put it on, I feel special and like I am doing something indulgent, which I don't always feel like when I use other fragrances. It's funny, seems like I get the most compliments on it when it's layered with something else! To me it is scrumptious. I got a small amount from a niche perfumerie online, (the perfumed court, great site), and will definitely be trying more.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Graftobian - High-Definition Glamour Color Creme Foundation
bgraceg 5/19/2010 9:29:00 PM
I stumbled on this product somewhere - I was using Cinema Secrets and needed to re-order the Graftobian oxygen cream I had purchased and found this line of foundation comig in a palette. I am using neutral palette #1, I am sort of ruddy fair, pink in my skin, but not ultra fair, and finding I am mostly using Glamour Girl, with a little Sweet Heart mixed in. The colors on the left are light for me, I use them for the area around my eyes and lids. I don't like to look too pasty and these two shades make me look even toned without being mask-ish. It is good coverage - medium to heavy. I first put on the oxygen cream, (great stuff too), then some primer (i use sally hansen or the 24 mineral one), and then I spray my foundation brush with cinema secrets moisture spray, and then DAB the brush into the pans and dab it on the skin, pressing in not swiping, as another poster mentioned. Then I will use a smaller brush to go over any blemishes. I put some creamy blush on sometimes or bronzer, then mineral veil powder - voila!! I am dewy and looks so natural yet my redness is covered well. (I really liked CS but could never find just the right color.) No pore clogging so far (used it about a month), no breakouts, fairly easy to remove, unfortunately does contain parabens - unlike CS - but I am hoping I will absorb less of them by using the non paraben containing primers! And what a steal. I would like to try some other colors too ! I love this stuff.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Cinema Secrets - Foundation/concealer
bgraceg 12/16/2009 12:49:00 AM
I got this on the basis of some of the reviews here -- having been on a foundation search for years, trying the high end dept store brands (chanel lancome, shiseido, some french brands, and many drugstore brands. Not only do I love the way I look after I apply this (over my primer, using the moisture spray recommended), but also after just a few days my blotchy skin looks much clearer and calmer. I live 2 hours from the Burbank store so I just ordered a few pots online, from the camera ready site someone here had mentioned -- great online retailer -- they had my stuff to me in two days. I am fair (medium fair), with a lot of pink in my skin, blonde hair. I have to say the colors online are very deceptive so be careful. I ordered 516, 509, and 404. Turned out the 509 was almost perfect, but the others way too deep, seemed more appropriate for a deep olive skin tone or light skinned black skin. That's how misleading the colors were online. Currently I have a primer I like (Sally Hansen, the Carmindy healthy stuff..pretty great stuff for drug store), not their brand, but I will get theirs when I run out mine. I also got the oxygen moisture , sample size, and I dont know if that is contributing to my skin looking so much clearer, but I am continuing this regimen and will update since I'm so new to this. I am really anxious to go to their store next time I'm in LA I apply the spray to the applicator and dip it in the pot, and it goes on so smoothly -- what is hard to fathom is how something with this much coverage and pigment can look so natural and non cakey! If youre a person with stuff to cover -- blotches, discolorations or broken blood vessels - you'll really like this -- be sure to get the moisture spray too. And its so affordable compared to the department store brands with vastly better quality. also forgot to mention -- big selling point for me - NO parabens in the formula..l.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ormonde Jayne - Champaca
bgraceg 12/9/2009 3:04:00 AM
Delicious, subtle, spicy and dries down to something deep and fascinating, evokes Marrakesh, a silken room draped with purples and reds and cozy sofas and pillows. Something exotic and dreamy. I can't stop smelling myself when it's on. A wonderful pick me up, I shove my nose down my shirt or in the crease of my arm, to inhale it and dream a bit.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jean Patou - EnJoy
bgraceg 12/9/2009 2:57:00 AM
Well I thought this would be some kind of cousin or sister scent to Joy, which I used to love, but it wasn't. I guess I am not a fruit person after all if that is the reason I disliked it so much. It actually smelled cheap and overbearing on me.
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Cleansers -Boscia - MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil
bgraceg 12/9/2009 2:35:00 AM
I have skin that tends to clog and flare up easily with irritation from various products, and I wear makeup almost daily, so need a good product to remove that; most oil based products clog my pores..but so far - after about two weeks of use - it has become my HG cleanser. As another reviewer mentioned, you don't need a lot, and it is slippery, but how amazing it is to have an oil actually emulsify on your skin and dissolve makeup, oil and dirt, and yet not leave the skin feeling too tight and stripped dry. Definitely not cheap, but I will pay the extra to feel like my skin is really clean, and still dewy.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Maybelline - Dream Matte Mousse
bgraceg 12/4/2009 6:33:00 AM
I love this airy soft foundation that makes my skin look nearly flawless, and I have also used high end brands too. I have chosen a shade that is a touch darker than my own fair skin tone, and apply it on top of one of my other lighter colored foundations, then blend with a sponge. It makes my skin look sun kissed and creamy, instead of pinkey blotchy which it can look. I don't use it all the time, but when I want to look more golden, and I also have several other foundations in my drawer that were up to 10 times the price of this one, but I find myself using this more than the expensive ones. I know the ingredients (at least in my older version) aren't ideal (silicones, parabens, etc), so I recommend a primer or moisturizer first to protect your skin and to keep the dimethicone from drying you out (I always do that anyway unless it's a purely mineral makeup).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Cream Shadow Paint in Nervy
bgraceg 12/4/2009 6:08:00 AM
A fantastic eye shadow, goes to show there are some great products in drugstores. Other reviewers here have referred to it as 'brown', or 'bronze', and I have to say is neither of those -- this line does have a more bronze/champagne product though. It most definitely has a slight tint of purple (subtle eggplant tone, not a lurid purple), taupey-plum is probably accurate. But could be different skin tones it may look more brown. Some have mentioned it being expensive for a drugstore brand, but I am thinking this could last a year or more, because it takes so little to cover your lid. I recently gave my tube away (after giving someone a makeover), thinking Ill just go to the local CVS and replace it..and couldn't find the line at all! I was panicked thinking it had been discontinued - finally found it at another store. That's how much I love this product. On me it has a plummy tinge, slightly, not just taupe, and a lovely sheen that has depth to it, you can build it to a beautiful smoky eye, that is not overdone too, if you are fair skinned. I think its best on lighter skin tones, but I did put some on a hazel - eyed, olive toned friend, and it looked good on her too. Creamy, non creasing, and just super flattering to blue or green eyes, especially with a dark liner and deeper in the crease (I used the similarly colored HiP stick, wetted, in the crease with this cream, if I want more drama). You only need a little, but it tends to come out in larger squirts than you need if you don't squeeze carefully. Great product, gorgeous color.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -T. LeClerc - Compact Foundation
bgraceg 12/4/2009 5:52:00 AM
This is actually a nice quality product, medium coverage, best applied with a little kabuki type brush. I would have given it a higher rating, but the color choices were limited and the one I picked turned out just too light and makes me look a little washed out (and unfortunately got it from a high end cosmetic store that does not do returns). It is nice in texture, and I have not broken out from it or become irritated as I am prone to do. I don't think the cost is justified for the small amount, and the limited colors.
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Fragrances -Frederic Malle - Le Parfum de Therese
bgraceg 12/4/2009 4:51:00 AM
This was recommended to me by a fragrance expert, based on the history of other scents I have enjoyed. The opening was much like those scents I have enjoyed (Cristalle, Calyx, Antonia's Flowers). I was initially excited that I had maybe found my new mainstay scent. The opening is a bright, greenish fruity floral, it smelled gorgeous to me initially. It reminded me a lot of Valentino (long since discontinued). Then it wore down to something less intoxicating, and more ordinary...too fruity, lacking in delicacy and subtlety, on me..I know especially in good scents with quality ingredients, they can vary tremendously on each individual. This is probably beautiful on lots of people, and it was on me..just for 20 minutes or so..
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No