Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Baby Lips
blyss 10/17/2011 10:36:00 AM
Overview: I wanted a nice pretty shiny MLBB for every day. I was recommended this shade and I purchased it after it was applied in the store. When I got back home, the shade wasn't as 'soft' as I wanted to be and that's ok. The worse part is that the lipstick turned bad after 4 months! The waxy crayon smell was really strong and the texture was not smooth. It had uneven application and soft/hard pockets. :( My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This is meant as a MLBB shade with a sheery shiny texture. With the name Baby lips, I guess it's to evoke the idea of brand new fresh skin that says 'youth'. On me, it didn't really bring that out. It's sheer and shiny but the colour is pulls a rosy-red on me instead of that perfect medium pink that is a true MLBB. There's no obvious shimmer or sparkles as well. Results: This is where I became pretty disappointed in this product. I used this occasionally in the spring and then packed it away for the summer. i pulled it out to use in September and I found out the lipstick already turned within 4 months of use! Perhaps I got an old tube or one that has been sitting a while but this was VERY disappointing! The waxy crayon scent was very obvious and the texture was off. It had uneven colour application and some of it felt harder (not quite waxy but close). Very disappointing! Cost: This was $20 and comparing against most ME/HE brands, it's darn affordable. Why I Like it: The colour wasn't a true MLBB but it was pretty for everyday use. Why I don't like it: It turned within 4 months and became a crayon :( Would I buy it again? No... it turned so quickly. Perhaps I had a bad tube but this was not a good lipstick.
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Blush -Bobbi Brown - Powder Blush - Peony
blyss 10/17/2011 10:25:00 AM
Overview: BB often gets the rep for being boring but I find this blush shows the brand can do fun bright shades as well. The pigmentation of the blush is just right to show up on the skin without requiring a fan brush. It's a bold bright cool tone pink and works for my warm skintone. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This is a matte finish blush with zero shimmer or sparkles (yea!). I find the colour to be bold but also quite complimentary to my warm skintone. It's not a harsh cool unwearable barbie pink... it's rather a wearable cool pink. Think of your skin when you come in from the cold outdoors. How your skin just picks up this light pink flush... that's the colour! Results: I liked the colour a lot for me and I was surprised consdering I'm warmed toned. This would not be the first shade I would pick. The reason why it works is because it is easy to blend so it doesn't look harsh or clown like on the skin. It also doesn't have any shimmer or obscene sparkles so though the colour can be bold, there's no competing finish that makes it look unnatural. I've worn this without any break outs and it's lasted an entire business day. I've also used this for weddings as a guest. I will say it didn't last into the night. It did require a touch up after 7 hours or so. Cost: This was C$27 and though that does sound expensive, this is a very large blush so it's a good value. I've yet to hit pan on this and I've had this over 2 years. Why I Like it: It was nicely pigmented, the shade was pretty, complimented my skin, and it was easy to blend. It had decent wear time and didn't break me out. I love how it had a natural finish. Why I don't like it: It would be great if it didn't fade after 7 hours. That's a minor detail. Would I buy it again? Yes. It's a great bright colour to warm up a face!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - Diorshow Mascara
blyss 10/13/2011 2:03:00 PM
Overview: I judge mascara quite harshly because I have so many requirements for them. I have stick straight lashes of medium length and oily lids. It requires a good mascara to work with my lashes and skin. This one didn't quite meet my needs and I would not recommend this to others. I know some people love it but for the costs, it's too expensive for something that is alright. It couldn't hold a curl, it left little black spots under my eyes, and became dry/clumpy after 2 months. My Skin and Mascara Requirements: I'm really particular about mascaras. I have stick straight medium length lashes. They're not voluminous nor sparse. My lids are super oily so it's not a surprise when mascara smear around on my eyes and become the ill fated racoon look. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): I really wanted to like this as the MA told me it was a great defining and volumizing mascara. I tried it and it had a nice light floral scent that had a soothing quality to it. Maybe I was lulled because it didn't really volumize as much as most DS mascaras. I will say it never clumped badly. That was always a plus so it definitley defined better than the average mascara. The black wasn't the blackest mascara I tried but it wasn't a gray. Results: In general, the mascara didn't live up to the hype. It didn't hold the curl, it left little mascara black bits under my eye throughout the day, and the mascara became very dry and clumpy after 2 months. For the price, I would at least expect 3 months of use! I will agree that it's easy to take off. No tugging or rubbing is needed. It also didn't smear that much. Just only a smidge. Cost: This is REALLY expensive. With taxes, this was just over C$30! OUCH. Why I Like it: This was easy to take off and didn't smear that badly on me. Why I don't like it: It was WAY too expensive for an ok mascara. It couldn't hold a curl, it left little black spots under my eyes, and became dry/clumpy after 2 months. Would I buy it again? No.. onto to trying more affordable and better mascaras!
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Brunette Degradé (Brunette Blonde Redhead)
blyss 10/12/2011 1:58:00 PM
Overview: I've had this sitting in my traincase for a few years and I ended up swapping this away. I bought this hoping it'd be a nice warm bronzy pink to use but in reality, it a bit more chunkier on the shimmer than I was hoping for and the shimmer was a bordering on a sheen. It probably looks great on deeper skintones but it was a bit too much for me. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This MSF is not the usual design of swirled bake disk. This has 4 vertical ombre stripes of varying shade from champagne nude, nude, rose nude, and a pinky mocha. It doesn't have any veins like traditional MSFs. This is a baked finish and it is a fairly large blush so it is good value. Results: This was identified as the brunette MSF and I found this MSF a bit too deep for me at NC25. It wasn't muddy but was a mocha bronze with a touch of pink. It was still pretty but the shimmer was bordering on a straight sheen on my skin. I wanted something a bit more natural looking and the shimmer wasn't into being 'au natural'. I also found the shimmer to be somewhat chunky. I was hoping it would be a bit finer. The pigmentation is very good on this one. It's not a highlighter at all... this one is packed with colour. It was easy to blend as well so there's no issues with applying it. Cost: This was C$35 and though that does sound expensive, this is a very large blush so it's a good value. Why I Like it: It was nicely pigmented, the shade was pretty (a pinky mocha bronze), and it was easy to blend. Why I don't like it: The shimmer was bordering on a solid sheen and it was a bit too much for me. I also found the shimmer to be a bit on the chunky side. Would I buy it again? No.. unfortunately this went into the swap pile.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
blyss 10/12/2011 12:59:00 PM
Overview: I judge mascara quite harshly because I have so many requirements for them. I would not recommend this to others. I know some people love it but it couldn't hold a curl, gave me racoon smeared eyes, and became clumpy after 2 months. The mascara was more a bust than a blast. My Skin and Mascara Requirements: I'm really particular about mascaras. I have stick straight medium length lashes. They're not voluminous nor sparse. My lids are super oily so it's not a surprise when mascara smear around on my eyes and become the ill fated racoon look. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): Touted as a volumizing mascara, Drew Barrymore editorials show a glam set of BIG lashes. Did this happen to me? Not really but it did provide some volume without clumping. I bought this in the darkest black shade and it was a nice glossy black when I first used it. Results: Though I'd like to say great things about it, I really can't. It gave me really bad smudges and smears within 2 hours. It had no ability to hold a curl. Though the first month was decent in creating defined volume, the mascara formula became clumpier after 2nd month and really almost a pain to use in the 3rd month. It was very clumpy at that point. I will say this is pretty darn easy to remove so that's a plus. Cost: I got this on sale at SDM for only $5. It goes on sale often so it's pretty affordable. Why I Like it: When I first used it, it did have a nice glossy black colour to it and it was easy to use. It didn't irritate my contacts. Why I don't like it: It didn't hold a curl and it smeared and smudge badly :( It didn't last 3 months without getting clumpy. Would I buy it again? No.. onto to trying more DS mascaras!
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express One by One
blyss 10/11/2011 9:54:00 AM
Overview: I judge mascara quite harshly because I have so many requirements for them. After using high and low brands, I'd say this is a solid good mascara. It's not great or HG but for those who are looking for a good defining mascara and not oily skinned, this might be the one for you. My Skin and Mascara Requirements: I'm really particular about mascaras. I have stick straight medium length lashes. They're not voluminous nor sparse. My lids are super oily so it's not a surprise when mascara smear around on my eyes and become the ill fated racoon look. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This was advertised as a defining mascara even though it has the Volum' Express title with it. Did it achieve it? Most certainly. I love how this mascara nicely defined without any clumping. I bought this in the darkest shade and it was true to the description. It is an inky black with a hint of glossiness. Results: Though I think this is a good seperating gloss, I wouldn't say it's HG or great. It didn't hold my curl and it didn't last an entire day without smudging either. It smudged after 3 hours but racoon eyes. Just enough to be a bit of a mess. I also think this isn't the mascara if you're looking for volume. I was surprised it was linked to the Volum' Express brand. It did very little for volume and when I tried to use 2 coats, it helped a bit more but not by much. Cost: I got this on sale at SDM for only $6. Pretty affordable so no complaints there. Why I Like it: Nicely defines without any lumps and it has a nice dark slightly glossy look. Why I don't like it: It didn't hold a curl and smudge after 3 hours :( Would I buy it again? No.. onto to trying more DS mascaras!
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Powder -Unlisted Brand - Geisha Ink- Pressed Mineral Foundation
blyss 9/21/2011 2:47:00 PM
Overview: I was hesistant to try this because I've never really loved a pressed foundation. I usually love LM MMU but this one blew it out of the water. This has wonderful wear time. I have oily skin but this lasts at least 6 hours without a touch up. It's so easy to apply and it has great silky texture. I absolutely love this and changed my mind about mineral foundations. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I can be sensitive to SPF products and I will have a strong reaction. My skintone is MAC NC25, Shu 764, and Shiseido O20. I have true golden undertones in my skin instead of the usual peachy that you normally see in foundations. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This foundation leaves a wonderful finish. It's not a dull matte but a natural matte that is close to a freshly washed normal skin. There's none of the obnoxious glowy shimmer that usually plagues MMU. I just use a flat top and just quickly buff it in. Within minutes, my skin looks even and perfect. I normally prefer liquid but lately my schedule has been hectic and I just need a quick application in the office before my day starts. This product is so easy to blend that it doesn't take a lot of time to apply. I will say that I do find the packaging a bit weak compared to the costs. It's a typical black matte clamshall but something about it screams 'drug store'. to me. I got this foundation in the shade 3 Etsu. It really works well with my face. It's a great match. Results: With a full business day and running around, I get at least 6 hours of wear with zero touch ups. I can easily get a medium coverage with a few strokes. It never cakes up and always look natural. I use a natural pony hair flat top to buff this on. Cost: It is on the pricey side. I paid over C$45 for this. Considering I normally pay that much for foundation, it doesn't seem so bad to me. Why I Like it: It's my favourite powder foundation. Great wear, looks flawless, easy to apply, great colour match, and lasts a good while... so many positives to this. I highly recommend you try this if you're looking for a powder foundation. Why I don't like it: The packaging is a bit 'drugstore' or cheap looking for a product that costs much higher than DS. Would I buy it again? Heck yes!! I love this.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Beaute Cosmetics - liqui-gel stain in Fever
blyss 9/12/2011 3:18:00 PM
Overview: I hate to be the only one with an issue with this! I really did want to like it. I bought this based off of reviews and raves on the boards. I wanted a beautiful rose-red stain that stood up to a full day at work or night out. After trying this for a few hours, my lips were a bit chapped. On the second day, my lips were peeling and a bit of my lip split. This dried out my lips really badly. I wish it didn't because the colour is so pretty. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This stain is quite unique as it's not a liquid. It's a liquid gel that has much more flexibility than traditional stains. There is some time that allows you to blend to your preference and you don't get stuck in an unsightly uneven streaky stain. The scent is a lovely light rose and it's not a horrible artificial rose. It's quite fresh. The colour is quite beautiful. In the vial, it's a deep reddish rose. When placed on the cheek or lips, it can be as sheer as a soft pink rose. I had no issues blending it on either lips or cheeks. Results: I found it to last at least 6 hours with no issues or fading. I did pile it on the lips to keep that vibrant rose pink shade and it held even with eating! The doe foot applicator made it easy to dot it on to blend away. The bad thing is that this made my lips crack and bleed a bit by the second day. I found the first day to have some dry lips but nothing alarming. By the second day, my lips were peeling and it did split. This really saddened me as I do love the shade so much. I even used this with By Terry Balm on the second day and it did not help :( I promptly stopped using it and 3 days later, my lips were healing up. Cost: It is more expensive than other stains but you do not need much to have a wonderful pigmented lip stain. It would last a while. Why I Like it: The gel like texture is great for blending. It's easy to use and the colour is quite beautiful. It can be as bold as a reddish rose to a light rose pink flush. Why I don't like it: It killed my lips. *cries* Would I buy it again? Unfortunately no. I would love to but I can't risk splitting my lips again.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Full Cover Concealer
blyss 9/9/2011 10:24:00 AM
Overview: I've been using this tube for 3 years and I only reached the 50% mark on it. It's a great value and good all around face concealer. It's not my HG but considering it's an easy brand to find and it's so easy to apply, it's probably one of my top department ME brand concealers. It looks natural, stays for the entire day, and doesn't break me out. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): For me, there was only one shade that would work for my skintone. The colour 6 is the only light true golden undertone concealer. There are no other light golden undertone concealer in this line. All the other shades are either neutral or pink. This is probably best suited for NC30 but I can still use it as a NC25. The concealer comes in a fairly big clear tube that is easy to control and dispense. I love how it's not in a pot and it's more hygenic that way. As for the texture, it's a creamy thick fluid that does tap easily into the skin. It is on the drier side so I would never use this under the eyes. It would not do well in that area. If I'm having a good week, I can use this medium coverage concealer all over the face. I have used this in layers for extra coverage and achieved a medium to full coverage with it. It still looks fine with 2 layers but it starts to be apparent if you try with 3 light layers. Results: This doesn't cover super red spots or strong discolourations. It's a good all around concealer for minor issues. It photographs ok and it is fairly easy to apply. It does look natural and does not break me out. Cost: This is a great value. I'm still working on my first tube and it's been 3 years! Why I Like it: It's a super convenient packaging to bring with me to the office if I have to go out at night afterwards. It's a solid concealer for minor issues. It's easy to pat on and look natural. I've had no break outs and it doesn't crease on me. You can put on a second thin layer to increase it's coverage and it still looks natural. Just gently pat it on the area. Why I don't like it: It has limited colours for Asian skintones. Would I buy it again? It's not my HG but I wouldn't hesistate to buy it if my HG wasn't available.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Make Up For Ever - HD Concealer
blyss 9/9/2011 10:14:00 AM
Overview: For me, this concealer is better than average. If I could give it a 3.5, I woudl. It has good coverage, it does not break me out, it lasts a whole business day, and I like how it's quite hygenic (pen dispenser). There are some negatives though. The price is ridiculous for the amount you get and the shades are disappointing considering how many they have for their HD foundations. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): For me, there was only one shade that would work for my skintone. 330 is the only light true golden undertone concealer. 315 is a light peachy undertone instead of golden so this may work for someone who has light-medium dark undereyes. 325 is incredibly peachy and I can't see anyone using this for the face (it really is peachy). And anything darker than 330 is a HUGE 2 to 3 tones darker. The dispenser is unique because it has a clear flexible rubber tip. I have never used this rubber tip for anything other than transfer the concealer to my fingertips or a concealer brush. It's a bit pointless to me. As for the texture, it's a creamy thick fluid that does tap easily into the skin. If I'm having a good week, I can use this medium coverage concealer all over the face and the undereyes. This concealer does not do much for the undereyes if they're very dark. It isn't a full coverage concealer. A positive is that it's not overly drying so it can work for under eyes provided you do not cake it on. When caked on, it's just a mess. It looks horrible (obviously). Results: This doesn't cover super red spots, discolourations, or dark undereyes. It's a good all around concealer for minor issues. It photographs ok and it is fairly easy to apply. It does look natural and does not break me out. Cost: I almost feel like it's a rip-off because you get a tiny tiny amount for the costs. Why I Like it: It's a super convenient packaging to bring with me to the office if I have to go out at night afterwards. It's a solid concealer for minor issues. It's easy to pat on and look natural. I've had no break outs and it doesn't crease on me. Why I don't like it: Expensive and limited colours for Asian skintones. It's not full coverage so I wouldn't recommend it for covering dark discolourations, undereyes, or breakouts. Would I buy it again? It wouldn't be my first repurchase if all my concealers were to finish up. I may consider it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
blyss 9/9/2011 9:49:00 AM
Overview: I'm a foundation junkie and I am in a constant search for my HG foundation. I tried this one off and on for a month and realized this was not ideal for me. The foundation undertone wasn't bad but wasn't a perfect match. The texture was probably the worst thing about it. It sat on my skin and didn't really dry down. It felt heavy. The application also required a bit more work than I wanted to do first thing in the morning. It can look good but requires more work to get it looking good. This foundation also didn't last long on my oily skin. Even with the HD powder on top, this maybe lasted 3 hours before breaking down and sliding on my skin. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I do react badly to chemical sunscreen and my skin is prone to break-outs to certain ingredients. I can guess you can say my skin is sensitive! I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), and Shiseido O20. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): I tried a few shades before I settled on 120. 123 was too dark and was olive, 125 was neutral golden but I needed more golden undertones and it was also a tad bit too dark, 118 was peachy on me, and 120 was the best match. It had the most golden undertone (though it still wasn't a perfect match) and it seemed to be the right colour depth. It comes in a pump bottle which is a marked improvement over the old F&B bottle. Mine still dispensed a bit too much each time but it was still handy to have the pump. The liquid consistency is a bit thicker than most foundations I prefer. It still was easy to spread but you really needed a good damp sponge to make this look great. You cannot just easily brush it on in the mornings. In order for this foundation to look great, I had to use a damp sponge, stipple it on, and then buff it with a flat top after it dried down a bit. It requires a lot of work. Even after doing that, it requires a powder. A good foundation can opt out of one but not this one. This foundation did not work with my combo oily skin. The foundation started to break down after 3 hours. And if I was to use this to go out at a club, forget it. It'll break down faster with sweat. I know it claims to be waterproof but I don't believe that holds true. This foundation does not set on my skin and I can feel it being quite heavy. The coverage is a medium - full with a dewy satin finish. It cannot be layered as it will look incredibly cakey. Results: After 3 weeks of trying it out, I gave up on it. It's too much work and it doesn't last the day. I swapped this one away with no regrets. Cost: In Canada, this is a bit on the pricey side but not unreasonable for a ME - HE department store brand. Why I Like it: Kudos to MUFE to have a vast range of foundations. It's nice to see more than 8 shades for a foundation line. Why I don't like it: It felt awful on the skin. It took way too much work for it to look good and to only have it breakdown and look like a mess only 3 hours later. Would I buy it again? no no no no no no. NO!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Loose Powders -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Loose Powder
blyss 9/9/2011 9:30:00 AM
Overview: I have so many loose powders from my many years of purchasing make up and I bought this one after being introduced to it from a friend. I think this powder is better than average. It keeps my oily skin matte for longer periods than most powders. It leaves the skin with a nice silky texture. It doesn't cake up my make up or skin and it doesn't cause problems with make up application after I apply it. It's not my favourite but I do like it! My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I can be sensitive to SPF products and I will have a strong reaction. As for my skintone, I'm a Shu 764, Shiseido O20, and MAC NC25. I have golden undertones so most brands do not match me. They're either too pink or too peachy. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This powder comes in a small pot with a built in filter to help dispense a smaller amount of powder. I prefer a bigger and flatter pot so I can use the lid to swirl the product around and distribute the powder better on the brush. The powder has no pigmentation and can be easily buffed into the skin without leaving any apparent colour or sheen. Though I do not see any large claims to be mattifying, it does keep my oily skin more matte longer than other powders. This is a nice bonus as it keeps my make up looking fresher longer. Results: I've used this powder off and on for about 2 years. I've been using the same pot so this has lasted quite a long time. There is probably 90% remaining in the pot still. I've used this as a bridemaid and also when I go out at nights. In pictures, it does not create a 'white panda' or 'ghost' effect on my skin. My skin looks matte, skinlike, and does not affect any skin colour at all in the pictures. As for business day, this works great as it keep my foundation looking great and I need less powder touch ups during the day. I've had zero reactions which makes me very happy! Cost: In Canada, this is a bit on the pricey side but not unreasonable for a ME - HE department store brand. It does last a long time so it's a good value. Why I Like it: It keeps my foundation looking fresh longer and matte much longer than most powders. I have no reactions to it and it does not look like anything in pictures. Why I don't like it: There's nothing wrong with it. I prefer other brands because it has better results or they have better packaging but overall, it's a good solid loose powder. Would I buy it again? It might not be my first choice to repurchase if all my loose powder was used up but I would consider repurchasing it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -La Roche Posay - Mela-D Serum
blyss 9/9/2011 9:07:00 AM
Overview: After having my LO, I had dark spots and darker sunspots from it. After a month of looking at my skin like this, I wanted to do something about it and used Mela-D serum for 6 months with great results. The darker spots lightened up and the really light spots was nearly gone. My skin clarity was improved and it was noticeable. Unfortunately I develop some sort of reaction to the serum after the 6th month and I cannot use it anymore. It now causes a scaly rash on my chin, cheeks, and hairline. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I can be sensitive to SPF products and I will have a strong reaction. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This serum is a watery consistency with minimal scents. It comes in a very convenient eye dropper dispenser in a glass vial. It's great as I can control the amount easily. It is easy to spread on the skin and it absorbs quickly without leaving a trace. It does not affect any make up application as well. The product contains Kojic acid (1% concentration), LHA (2%), and glycolic acid (I was told it was higher than 5% but I can't find a source to verify). Results: I didn't see any major results for the first month of use and I was a bit disappointed at first. I continued to use up the first bottle and after the 2nd month I saw a noticeable improvement in the pictures. My skin clarity was improved and my skin texture was smoother. This product did not drastically improve my oldest sun spots but it did seem to lighten them a bit. Considering this was an over the counter product, I was very happy with the results. I continued to use this for 4 more months and I did see my skin improve constantly with each month. At the end of the 6th month, my skin was back to being a nice more even tone with some light sun spots. Unfortunately after 6 months of use, I developed a serious reaction which caused a scaly rash on the cheeks, chin, and hairline. I stopped all products and slowly reintroduced them one by one. This serum was one of the 3 items that caused a reaction when reintroduced. It's unfortunate because it really helped. Cost: In Canada, it does go on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart and makes it more reasonable for purchase. Regular price is $50 so it isn't cheap but considering it works, it's much cheaper than any dermatologist! Why I Like it: It definitely made a difference on my skin. After 6 months of use, my skin clarity was improved and sun spots were significantly lighter! Why I don't like it: Unfortunately after 6 months of use, my skin developed a serious reaction to it and I cannot use it anymore. Would I buy it again? No because my skin hates it for some reason :(
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neostrata - Smoothing Cream (all concentration levels)
blyss 9/9/2011 8:47:00 AM
This review is for the Smoothing Lotion Level 3. Overview: I've been using glycolic acid products for nearly 7 years with varying results. Some products are better than others. This one is not great and it leaves much to be desired compared to the claims. I found it to soak in quickly to the skin, leaves no film, and not be irritating. It also mattifies a bit and help prevents flaky skin. It does help renew the skin quicker so my acne scars go away quickly but it does minimal for my black heads and uneven skintone. My skin is no better and no worse when I started using it a month ago. My Skin: I'm combination-oily with a bit of acne. I did have a few years of being acne free but that's long gone. I can be sensitive to SPF products and I will have a strong reaction. Product Characteristics (Colour or Textures): This lotion was fairly watery but did absorb very well into skin. It left a bit tiny tiny bit of mattifying film on the skin but it was barely noticeable. It has no scent which is great. I chose one with SPF as I know I will react badly with the SPF version. The SPF version does leave a stickly film that does not absorb into the skin or disappear with time. Level 3 has 10% glycolic acid and it recommended to use once or twice daily. Results: I would say this is where the lotion disappointed me. I like how there was no annoying scents, irritation, or film left on the skin but this formula did nothing for my skin. I have mild acne and this did not help it at all. I continued to have the same amount of acne after 1 month of use. This lotion did not help speed up the removal of old dried acne or help with old acne discolouration. This item did not help with any black heads either. Supposedly this lotion is made for oily skin and acne prone but I really have to doubt it's claim. Perhaps this is better for others but this did nothing for me. The only good thing is that it didn't make my skin worse. The good thing was that it did help prevent and get rid of flaky skin. I never had an issue with that. It also help renew the skin quicker to at least get rid of the dry acne scars. Cost: In Canada, it does go on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart and makes it more reasonable for purchase. The price isn't steep but I would say it's steep for a lotion that does nothing for me. Why I Like it: It didn't make my skin worse. It helped with prevent flaky skin and get rid of old acne scars quicker than usual. Why I don't like it: None of the claims happen. My skin didn't get clearer, didn't reduce acne or blackheads, didn't look smoother, didn't clarify, didn't even out, and it didn't renew it faster than normal. Would I buy it again? I would not buy this again and I would not recommend it.
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Nails -Joe Fresh Style - Wave Nail Polish
blyss 6/26/2011 9:51:00 AM
Overview: I usually never write a review about nail polish as I'm still learning what is good or bad but this one was so bad!! I wanted to warn people about it. The colour was so enticing for the summer. I've never had such issues with streaks and wearability till this one! My Skin: I'm a NC25, Shu 774 (winter) or 764 (summer), BB Sand, and Armani Lasting Silk 4.5. I have warm undertones that are golden and not peach. Product Colour or Pigmentation: This is a slightly cool but mostly neutral light blue. It does not have any green undertones nor does it have any of the gray undertones to make it murky. It's a bright light blue. It's in the same family as a robin egg blue except not as vivid or as deep. The pigmentation was decent. It got to full coverage in 3 layers and was decent at 2. It is a creme finish with zero shimmer. Shine is mediocre. Texture: Oh gosh, this really stunk. Super ridiculously streaky. It was so hard to work with. Dry times were average. But holy cow, really difficult! Smell: Nothing unusual for nail polish Cost: I got this for pretty cheap. $3 Canadian but the bottle is about 3/4 the size of normal bottles (like ChG). Why I Like it: It's a nice clean blue and I wanted one for the summer. Why I don't like it: For the love of make up, please do not buy this. It's a great colour but the formula makes this so hard to use! Would I buy it again? Oh gosh no.
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