Skincare - Body -Weleda - Sea Buckthorn Body Oil
blahiffy 8/12/2009 8:17:00 AM
What can I say other than that this is an absolutely amazing body oil! I bought it on a whim after reading up on the cosmetic benefits of Sea Buckthorn oil, and I'm so glad that I did! After I shower I combine this with a vitamin e lotion, and I massage the mixture into my skin. The oil soaks right into my skin and leaves me smooth and soft for days! The only downside to this is that it has a rather strong smell to it (very citrusy), which can be a hassle if you are putting it on before you go out. However, the smell does wear off. Anyway, I will definitely keep repurchasing this!
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Treatments -Mario Badescu - Healing Cream
blahiffy 8/12/2009 8:10:00 AM
When I first started using Mario Badescu's Healing Cream, I thought it was too good to be true, and in the end, it was. In the beginning, it worked perfectly: it took any redness from my skin and seemed to calm down any inflamed, irritated patches I may have had. However, after a week, I started getting these small bumps on my jawline (which I never, ever get). The only new product I was using was the Healing Cream, so everything pointed to this being the culprit. So, while I was using this to soothe the redness from any blemishes, it was also causing new ones. I think that there is an ingredient in this that is pore-clogging, which is a shame.
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Eyeliner -Guerlain - Loose Kohl in Noir
blahiffy 9/6/2008 4:01:00 PM
This is my HG eyeliner. I love it! The packaging is really cute and once you get the application down, you get the most amazing smoldering look. Many people seem to have trouble with the application. I really recommend that you use the Eastern method when applying. The wand that comes with the product is perfect for that. Basically, all you do is take the wand (the wand is designed for even application) and tap off the excess (this is important if you don't want powder fall-out). Then, place the wand on your lower eyelid, pointing towards your tear duct. Then, close your eyes so that the wand is between both eyelids, and drag the wand out towards your outer eye corner. Some powder might go into your eye, but that's fine. The powder isn't irritating at all to me (and I have blepharitis!), so I just blink it away. The eyeliner stays FOREVER. No tears, sweat, or water can make it budge. But, a good eye makeup remover will take it off immediately (I remove it cleanly with a q-tip). This method gives me very intense Cleopatra-esque eyes; it's amazing!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Cle de Peau - Concealer - Beige
blahiffy 9/6/2008 3:54:00 PM
I love this concealer! It's so expensive, but so worth it, in my opinion. This applies smoothly and never creases or settles into fine lines. Plus, it covers like no other - blemishes, dark circles, hyperpigmentation, you name it! I really recommend it! Note: I'm a NC20-25, and this is a perfect shade for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Urban Decay - Eyeshadow Primer Potion - Original (UDPP)
blahiffy 9/6/2008 3:50:00 PM
With over 1800+ reviews, there is nothing much that I can say that hasn't already been said. ;) But anyway, I love this product! I have blepharitis, so my eyelids get really oily. This is the only thing keeping my lids looking matte all day! Plus, my eyeshadows never crease or wear off with this under them! My only compliant is the packaging.
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Primer/ Corrector -Cinema Secrets - Ultimate Foundation Primer
blahiffy 9/6/2008 3:46:00 PM
This is a great primer (and trust me, I've tried a lot)! It is basically a silicone-filled clear gel that comes in a pump dispenser. The gel is rather thick (sort of like the consistency of aloe vera gel, but less wet), but it applies like a dream. A little product goes a long way, and I find that one pump is enough for my whole face. Basically, I apply this after my moisturizer and before my makeup. I just use my fingertips to rub the primer into my skin in a circular motion. The primer absorbs into my skin really quickly and makes my skin feel so smooth. Then I wait 60secs (as recommended) before applying my makeup. This has really made my makeup application easier and my concealer/foundation/tinted moisturizer look so much better. Also, there is some fragrance in it, but it pretty much disappears after a few seconds. But, if you are really sensitive towards fragrances, then you may want to do an allergy test beforehand. If you are looking for a primer to control oil, by the way, this isn't it. Overall, I recommend it!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Kose - Medicated Seikisho Whitening Mask
blahiffy 5/28/2008 5:40:00 PM
Oh my god, this product is amazing! It smells pleasant, and every time I peel it off, there are tons of blackheads stuck to the mask. It's both fascinating and gross (haha). It leaves my face feeling smooth and soft, and it gets rid of the peach fuzz on my face, which is a plus! The first couple of times I used this mask, I didn't really see much of a difference, but I figured out a method utilizing this to its fullest extent. I think that the effectiveness of the mask has a lot to do with how you apply it. I first either steam my face or apply a mud mask to draw all the blackheads. Then, I apply this mask to clean, damp skin and wait for it to dry. I then slowly peel it off. It is important to make sure that you apply a rather think layer of mask, because if it is too thin, it will hurt a lot when you peel it off! Anyway, this mask is definitely worth the money.
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Foundations -SKII - Air Touch Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
blahiffy 12/5/2007 4:27:00 PM
This foundation is seriously the most amazing makeup product ever. Oh wow. It has seriously changed my life. I no longer have to worry about taking the time to applying powder/tinted moisturizer in the morning. I have this foundation in OC-3, and it's a pretty good match for my golden/fair skintone. Most of the color choices for this foundation, however, tend to be on the light side. So, I would mainly recommend this for people of medium to lighter skin tones.
This foundation comes in a circular, compact red applicator that is very sleek, but rather bulky. There is definitely a time period of trial and error because you have to hold the applicator at a certain distance (around 5 inches) away from your face, or the foundation will end up looking heavy, which is difficult since you have your eyes closed. Once you've mastered the distance, everything else is a breeze. All you have to do is hold the button (you'll know it's on because it will flash green) and glide the noozle of the applicator along the contours off your face. The applicator will disperse a light mist of foundation, which you should be able to feel. Don't worry too much about the mist, though, since the ions in the foundation are only attracted to your skin, not your clothes or hair (or peach fuzz, for that matter). Glide the applicator across for around 15 seconds and wait for it to dry. If you need more coverage, then go over your face more times. I would recommend that you only apply the foundation when your skin is dry (or your moisturizer has completely set in) because if your moisturizer hasn't set, it will take your foundation more time to set, which will ruin the seamless finish. Thus, don't touch your face in any way when the foundation is still wet!
Although the foundation looks really natural, the coverage is rather average, so you have to have pretty clear skin to use this. In order to cover large blemishes, you have to go over a certain area longer, which makes this look like any other foundation. On the other hand, this foundation has fantastic staying power. I've worn it for 48+ hours, and the foundation didn't budge at all. Plus, I've had the foundation on while I was outside jogging (I forgot that I had applied it earlier), and the sweat didn't even mess up the makeup. I've even slept with this foundation on (usually not recommended with makeup) and when I woke up, the foundation was still in place and looking natural. Even rain can't ruin your makeup! So, you don't have the bring the applicator around for touch-ups during the day because it is unnecessary (unless you're going swimming, or something). But, I would love to see the faces on my friends when they freshen up their makeup in the restroom with their powder compacts and small concealer tubes, while I whip the bright red applicator out of my purse. :)
Aside from its hefty sprice tag (US$150 for one refill with the applicator), I love, love, love this foundation. It is really light, and it feels like I don't have any foundation on at all. It erases all your pores and helps uneven skin tone. It also never oxidizes, so you never get the dreaded orange look. Also, I've never broken out from this. In fact, I think that it's been helping my skin because I no longer have to wear the heavy powders/tinted moisturizers. Furthermore, the foundation never gets on your clothing because the ion technology is attracted to the moisture in your skin, not your clothing material. So, this foundation is white shirt friendly! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a natural look or anyone who doesn't want spending a lot of time applying foundation in the morning. HG!
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23 out of 23 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - The Queen's Salon
blahiffy 12/1/2007 3:31:00 PM
The Queen's Salon is a August 2007 Bat's Day exclusive fragrance. Strangely enough, I can't pick apart the most of the fragrance notes in this oil. The Queen's Salon is an overall good scent, but there is something generic about it; something about The Queen's Salon reminds me of another perfume (not BPAL) that I had tried before. The only notes that I can really pick out are jasmine and plum, which is probably due to the fact that I love plum and jasmine scents. Also, The Queen's Salon is somewhat reminiscent of Queen of Spades, but it is distinctively less sweet and has more florals. I would recommend that lovers of the King of Spades or the Queen of Spades try The Queen's Salon. In the bottle, The Queen's Salon smells like ripe, juicy plums (yum) in a backgrond of beautiful florals with a splash of booze. Once applied to my skin, the plum note lingers for a short while before the jasmine begins to take charge. After a couple of hours, the plum mostly disappears and a more regal scent of florals and musk moves forward. The throw of The Queen's Salon is rather strong, so use sparingly in case you get a headache! The staying power of the florals is great as well. However, if the plum stayed longer, I would definitely grade this higher, but alas, it does not. Unlike most of BPAL's fragrances, The Queen's Salon is something that is great if you are looking for a more conventional perfume that will make you feel confident and in-charge. I can see myself wearing this for a formal event since it is very sophisticated, so I'll definitely keep my bottle.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Dorian
blahiffy 12/1/2007 10:31:00 AM
Oh, Oscar Wilde, how much do I love thee? Apparently enough to purchase a bottle of Dorian without testing it first due to my love for Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (which is absolute genius, by the way). Dorian is part of the Sin & Salvation collection. The fragrance notes are: Refined, elegant, and lovely, with a noble bearing and seemingly gentle air. This blend is an artful deception: a sweet gilded blossom lying over a twisted and corrupted core. A Victorian fougere with three pale musks and dark, sugared vanilla tea. Oh, love! I knew that once I read the fragrance description, I had to have Dorian. And - thankfully - it is a great oil! In the bottle, Dorian smells like herbal, lemon tea. Wet on my skin, the musk comes out and the herbals seem to go into the background. Then, after the oil has dried, everything seems to be overpowered by the delicious note of vanilla, which I absolutely love. In general, Dorian has average throw and good staying power. I still get whiffs of vanilla 7+ hours after I first applied the oil. All in all, I adored Dorian. But, I can see why some people would relate this to lemon-scented cleaning solution (because of the herbal lemon tea notes). On me, though, the dry-down of Dorian was pure creamy, honeyed vanilla tea. I would repurchase, but I think that my bottle will last me a while. :)
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Snake Charmer
blahiffy 12/1/2007 10:18:00 AM
Snake Charmer is part of the dead-and-buried Carnaval Noir collection. Fragrance notes: Sensual, sibilant, sexual and hypnotic: Arabian musk and exotic spices slinking through Egyptian amber, enticing vanilla, and a serpentine blend of black plum, labdanum, ambrette, benzoin and black coconut. Snake Charmer is definitely one of the more coveted BPAL oils, so I consider myself lucky to have a bottle of it in storage. (A 5ml bottle of this oftentimes goes for over US$75). Snake Charmer is definitely an interesting fragrance. In the bottle, all I smell is heavy incense, which I attribute to the Arabian musk and Egyptian amber. When applied wet to my skin, the incense and musk are still going strong, and I also detect a faint wood note. Once the oil has dried, the musk seems to fade into the background, as the plum and vanilla (from Snake Oil?) begins to come out. Snake Charmer is a very complex oil that evolves many times. It also has great staying power, which is fantastic! Snake Charmer is more incense and musk than fruity on me, which is okay, but my friend onced asked me if I had burned a few sticks of vanilla incense recently, haha! Overall, Snake Charmer is an interesting oil, so I might repurchase in the future!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Fae
blahiffy 12/1/2007 10:03:00 AM
Fae is part of the Bewitching Brews collection. Fragrance notes: A brilliant, ethereal scent: white musk, bergamot, heliotrope, peach and oakmoss. Oh, Fae is quite a happy scent. When I open the bottle, I don't smell the individual notes, but rather I smell something sparkling and bright. Once I apply the oil onto my skin, the peach note is detectable. The peach is very light and - yes - ethereal. However, peach is not exactly the dominant note in the oil. It is not a peach scent that you would immediately identify since Fae is very well-blended. Later on, Fae smells like sparking peach-flavored water. It's very crisp and fresh; thus, I believe that it would be perfect for spring and summer. Unfortunately, Fae doesn't stay very long on my skin and the throw is below average. Perhaps if it stayed longer, I would give it a higher rating. And although I do love peaches, I wouldn't wear a peach scent everyday (I'm more of a plum/vanilla/lavender/mint person). So, I'm afraid that I won't be purchasing a 5ml bottle. I will be keeping my imp though!
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Snow White
blahiffy 11/30/2007 8:03:00 PM
This is a review for the 2005 version of Snow White. I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but this scent simply did not work for me at all. I received an imp of Snow White a while ago, and I just decided to test it yesterday since there are many raving reviews for this scent. I really wanted to love it like everyone else, but something in it does not agree with my skin chemistry. Snow White was not especially appealing to me in the bottle, and when I tested it on my skin, I was immediately mauled by a major headache. It definitely smelled like a winter scent - it smelled like ice (if that's possible). Others mentioned how it smelled like vanilla, honey, milk, mint, snow, etc; however, all I got was plastic. Plastic snow. I finally experienced the dreaded "play-doh" phenomenon that everyone was talking about. Unfortunately, even thinking about Snow White gives me a headache. So, I'm definitely not going to buy a bottle of the new 2007 version. I'm glad that Snow White seems to work for many people, but it's just not for me.
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Fragrances -Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Green Tree Viper
blahiffy 11/30/2007 7:52:00 PM
Green Tree Viper is part of Carnaval Diabolique's Snake Pit. The fragrance notes are: Snake Oil with four mints, bergamot, and green tea. It is a nice scent (emphasis on the nice), but I'm not completely taken by it. I usually love, love, love mint notes, and Green Tree Viper is definitely a primarily minty scent. However, when I open the bottle, I'm attacked by the overwhelming scent of spearmint chewing gum, which I'm not a complete fan of. It's too sweet for my tastes. My skin amps green tea like crazy, so I could definitely smell the green tea note, which is also nice. The throw of this oil is rather average, but it lasts pretty long on my skin. It definitely evolves over time. First it smells strongly of spearmint, then the green tea note gets stronger. Later, the mint and tea notes fade away, as the vanilla from the Snake Oil begins to come out. This is my favorite stage! Although I'm not in love with Green Tree Viper, I've received lots of compliments on it today, which I found really surprising since I practically couldn't smell it on me at all (I had applied it the night before). I will not be purchasing another bottle. But, I think I will keep my current bottle for the compliments. ;)
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Lancome - Le Magnetique Vernis Star Design – Bordeaux Esmee
blahiffy 11/30/2007 7:29:00 PM
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Oh, this nail polish is so eye-catching! :)
I bought this on a complete whim since I usually don't paint my nails, but I thought that the concept behind the nail polish was interesting. But, wow, the price is rather high for the amount that you get.
Bordeaux Esmee is a very pretty wine-ish color that looks great with my fair/golden skin tone. The directions tell you to paint two coats of polish onto your nails before you make the star design with the magnet, which does work better than one coat. However, I'm afraid that I'll run out of polish soon since it's practically sold out everywhere!
Anyway, I always receive compliments on this polish (even from people who never notice anything), so I'm pretty satisfied with it.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No