Foundations -Smashbox - High Definition Healthy FX Foundation
breatheformusic 8/5/2012 3:00:00 AM
I absolutely loved Smashbox's Studio Skin. Everything about it was amazing and it made my skin look flawless. Except it made me break out...and a lot. I was so sad when I couldnt use it anymore for everyday use because I loved it so much. After figuring out I couldnt use Studio Skin anymore though, I saw the Healthy Fx sitting on the same Smashbox display in Sephora. I looked it up, read some reviews, and decided that it was worth a try. I was trying to find something that might sort of mimic the Studio Skin without completely breaking me out. I'd say this is pretty damn close. This has a thicker consistency to it (A bit more like Hourglass Immaculate) but surprisingly stills spreads pretty well! It also keeps me matte for a long time (one of the things that I loved about the studio skin) without falling off my face or becoming shiny. No need to blot. The best part so far is that it DOESN'T break me out. Or at least it hasnt yet over using it consistently a few times. Im really happy with this so far. I found my color in L1 and that works perfectly for me. Definitely does a good job at controlling my really oily skin and has a great overall finished look. I'd definitely recommend this to people with more oily skin. I dont know how it'd work on dry skin though, considering it keeps my oily face matte for so long, but I can definitely see it working well with other oily or combination skin. Also, I have REALLY sensitive skin and finding something that doesnt break me out is always a pretty big thing for me. So if you have more sensitive skin, you might want to try this out as well. The only thing I will say about the Smashbox foundations is that they all seem to have a more orange tint to them. It doesn't come off as a fake spray tan or anything extreme like that, and if you blend it out properly, it can work really well. But some people have a big problem with things that have a more orange tone, so I figured I'd point that out. It works extremely well so far for me though. Will continue using.
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Liquid -Kat Von D - Lock-It
breatheformusic 8/3/2012 10:33:00 PM
I REALLY hope this foundation continues to work for me! So I got a sample of this from Sephora and so far I've used it twice now. I find it easier to list out the pros and cons that I find with each product, so I'm going to list out all of what I've discovered about this foundation so far. PROS: 1. Super full coverage. I don't even need concealer with this. This rivals MAC's Studio Fix Fluid as far as coverage goes (Although, there were a hundred and one problems for me with that foundation.) 2. Gives a nice matte finish that surprisingly keeps me matte, even with my oily skin, for awhile. I didn't experience this getting shiny or falling off my face like 99% of foundations tend to do with me after a certain amount of hours (usually 5-6 with me because my skin is so oily.) So that was actually a first! 3. I used setting powder with this both times- but I'm thinking it really doesn't need any. I used the powder because it's more force of habit, but I find the powder doesn't seem to stick to the foundation very well and builds up more easily in certain places than with other foundations (even after using a few techniques in application that's supposed to prevent that a little more.) I'm listing this as a pro though because it seems like this foundation would do fine without powder- and that's less money for me to spend. I haven't yet tried not using a powder, myself, but someone else here in the reviews said it worked nicely for them and I can see that being true. 4. The selection of colors seems to be pretty good. I'm the Light 48 in this foundation and it's my exact color. Even when I was colored matched, the woman at the store was almost kind of surprised sounding in saying "Wow, this matches your skin color completely." My skin usually doesn't match most foundation colors exactly (I just have to make it work) so I too was a bit surprised. So, personally, I have found my exact color and the color range I saw seemed pretty good. 5. Doesn't make my face dry or tight feeling like some mattifying foundations that control my oil. It feels pretty natural on my skin. 6. Doesn't contain any SPF, which I actually enjoy, because that way you don't have to worry about flashback in photos or anything. If I want an SPF, I usually just use an SPF primer. 7. It's oil free, which is always a good thing for my already really oil skin. I always appreciate seeing that in foundations. CONS: 1. I noticed the second time wearing this, I took it off and I had one little new tiny pimple on my cheek. I have extremely sensitive skin, and there's a whole three foundations or so that I've found I can use every day that wont break me out. I'm REALLY hoping this wasn't caused by the foundation, but I'll have to keep my eye on it. For now though, Ill continue wearing it. EDIT (8/6/12): I've been using this for maybe going on two weeks now and I have noticed that every day use will break me out slightly. So I stay away from using it every day. Going back to any other foundation now seems more like a pain than anything else though, because I find myself having to keep building to get coverage like this. The only other thing I don't like about this is that in combination with my oil control primer, it keeps me matte and controls my oil really well. But sometimes since I have all these things controlling my oil, the foundation will cling to dry patches. So I actually use a moisturizer before my primer and all that- and that usually helps prevent it clinging to dry patches. Im used to having such oily skin that this has NEVER been an issue for me- but it's also great because you know the foundation really does keep you really matte. A friend of mine also says they mix the moisturizer in with the actual foundation. I haven't tried that, but it could work for some people I suppose. Either way, I think everyone could benefit from hydrating their face a bit before they put this on.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Kat Von D - Tattoo Concealer
breatheformusic 7/27/2012 1:30:00 AM
I've only used this once so far, but here are the pros and cons in my opinion. PROS: Definitely full coverage. Actually, I'd say this covers blemishes better than anything I've tried. I was stuck on MAC studio sculpt for awhile but it comes off way too easily. Seems to stay put and have good lasting power. Spreads very easily. Isn't too thick like some concealers that blend out horribly. Has a nice finish. I dont find that it looks cakey AT ALL. CONS: Color selection is a bit limited. The light works for me when I blend it out, so I dont really have any issue finding my color, but other people might. Just for kicks and giggles, I tried layering it on my tattoo a bit. It didnt really cover it too well. But maybe if you have a smaller, dull tattoo, it might work better. Im not sure. ..And I havent really found any other cons yet. Like I said, I havent used this more than once now, but so far, this is what I've seen. I like it at the moment, honestly. I think it works very well for blemishes and scars and what have you (maybe just not actually for tattoos.) EDIT (8/6/12): I changed my rating from 4 to 5 lippies. Ive been using this consistently for about two weeks now and I LOVE it. It stays put amazingly well, has awesome lasting power, doubles as a face and under eye concealer, spreads out really easily, has great full coverage, and most of all doesn't break me out! I'd honestly say that this is my HG concealer by far. Love it.
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Liquid -Smashbox - Studio Skin 15 Hour Wear Fdt.
breatheformusic 7/25/2012 12:02:00 AM
This foundation is so wonderful but makes me so irritated that I can't use it for everyday use. I was recommended this at Sephora for something that would be more full coverage and look great in pictures. I dont really need full coverage and usually stick to medium coverage foundations, but I was kind of curious to try this. Anyway, when I tried the sample I got, I was a little skeptical because so far nothing has been able to keep me matte like the Hourglass Immaculate foundation I like to use while looking just as good. It went on with a kabuki brush very easily and was easily built for a full coverage. I needed only a tiny bit of concealer to finish off. It matched my skin color extremely well and had a natural skin tone looking finish. But the real test was when I went out for about 6 or so hours and realized that my makeup didn't look shiny or dewy and that I didnt have to blot the whole six hours (usually Ill have to blot within a few hours with practically every foundation I've used, even after oil control primers and setting powders.) It looked practically the same as when I put it on and kept me completely matte. After about two days of using the sample and noticing that not only did it seem to work well for my skin but really did look INCREDIBLE in photos, I decided that I loved it so much that I went out and bought a full bottle from Sephora. I used it for about 5 more days, but realized that I was starting to break out. I usually start to naturally break out if I don't wash my face twice a day or when my sensitive skin doesn't agree with a new product. Although, when I do break out, it's usually not too bad- maybe one to three tiny blemishes scattered on my face (probably because I do a lot to prevent break outs and take care of my skin.) But I noticed that I had at least seven or more blemishes on my face after a few days using this foundation, some a lot bigger than Im used to. This is the only new product Ive been using in months, so it didnt take much to figure out what the cause of my sudden breakouts were. I was so upset and still am though because this literally is the best foundation that Ive tried, otherwise. I love the look it gives my skin, how it keeps me matte for so long, how awesome it looks in pictures, etc. But I guess it doesnt agree with my skin for every day use which is a total bummer. Ive seen some other reviews on here saying that it broke other people out as well, so Im wondering if it's something in the ingredients. So I'd probably recommend that people with acne prone or sensitive skin stay away from this, at least for use every day. I suppose if you dont really have a problem with acne or sensitivity, you could try this and see how it fairs. Like I said, besides breaking me out, it's a great foundation. Im still so aggravated that it doesnt agree with my skin that much!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
breatheformusic 7/23/2012 11:06:00 PM
I bought this tonight on a whim just to try a MAC foundation to see if I might like it. I wore this for about three hours out, went out, took it off, and saw that it broke me a lot. Within three hours, I developed about 3 or 4 new pimples, with some seeming as if they were starting to develop on and around my nose. And I dont usually break out that much unless I'm not washing my face twice a day or my more sensitive skin isn't reacting to a new product it doesn't like. Maybe a few pimples here and there, but nothing too much usually. Someone even commented how much I looked like I was breaking out after I took it off. Usually I'll wait a little while if I'm using even just two different new products so I can see what's breaking me out, but this was almost instantaneous. And my skin also felt somewhat itchy when I took it off and looked slightly red and irritated. So, it's not that hard to figure out what the culprit was. I wont be using this again, especially after reading other people's reviews saying the same things. One positive thing I will say is that it is VERY full coverage and covers just about everything. But that's not worth my whole face breaking out. I think Ill just being going back to be old foundation. Edit: Returned this product the day after. Happy that I did so.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream
breatheformusic 6/28/2012 2:59:00 AM
I've only used this once now but it seems to work really well so far! Obviously I cant comment on daily use yet, but so far it has done what it advertises and doesn't appear to have broken me out at all. It's not greasy at all and dries matte. It feels refreshing on the skin and actually has a nice smell to it in my opinion. I was in search of a mattifying cream or moisturizer that I could put on before my makeup to help control some of my oil and I saw this and got it on a whim. I put it on tonight before my primer and foundation and all of that and went out for a few hours. When I got home, I looked in the mirror and my makeup looked just as good as when I put it on. I use an oil control primer and Hourglass Immaculate foundation, which is awesome at helping me stay matte for a long time, but I ALWAYS will still have some shine on my nose and a bit on my forehead for whatever reason. After using this though, I only had a very small amount of shine on my nose. Not even enough to blot. And this was after being out for 5 hours or so (my skin is always shiny by then.) So I was pleasantly surprised. Ill be using this a lot more! EDIT (8/6/12): Still using this and still liking it. Hasn't broken me out still and is still doing its job.
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Foundations -Tarte - Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full-Coverage Foundation SPF 15
breatheformusic 6/25/2012 11:11:00 PM
I really liked this foundation. I really really want to 100% completely love every aspect of it though so I could finally say I found my HG...but unfortunately I don't. Let's start with the pros though: This goes on VERY smoothly and with a little amount. Very easy to blend overall. Looks AMAZING when you first apply it. I absolutely loved the finished look when I first applied it- more than any other foundation I've ever tried. I even saw a friend about 15 minutes after I put it on and immediately they said "Wow, your skin looks amazing today." Hasn't seemed to break me out or anything like that, which is always good because I have sort of sensitive skin. I'm not sure about daily use yet, however. Looked very natural for the most part. It wasnt at all cakey on me at all either. It also provided pretty good coverage. I only need really a light to medium coverage and this actually provided me with maybe even a little bit more than I really needed. So when they say full coverage, I'm not doubtful that it probably works all right as that. CONS: Even with using an oil control primer and setting it with powder, after about an hour and a half or so, I started to shine. Didn't work too well at controlling my oil. At hour three or so, it seemed to almost be coming off a bit. It wasn't TOO noticeable but it didn't look nearly as good as when I first put it on. -I'm giving this 4 lippies mostly because of how amazing it looked when I first put it on and for the first hour and a half or so. It isnt a bad foundation...I've definitely experienced worse as far the staying power and shine goes, but like I said, it doesn't do much for my oily skin and seems to wear down maybe a bit quicker. Im used to using Hourglass Immaculate which controls my oil a lot more and seems to have a better staying power, but I liked the look of Tarte a lot more. So its sort of disappointing that it doesnt work as well for me. Update: I wore this out yesterday for about 4 hours or so. I didnt get a chance to really look at or touch up my makeup during the day so I kind of just put faith in the fact that it said 12 hours. I got home and looked in the mirror and this stuff had melted off my face. I looked shiny and only parts of my face were still actually covered because the rest of it had just come off. It looked slightly ridiculous. It really bothers me too because this foundation looks the best on my skin when first applied. Oh well :( I need to change my rating down to 3 lippies though.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Hourglass - Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation
breatheformusic 6/22/2012 4:35:00 AM
For the most part, I really liked this foundation. It was 99 degrees yesterday where I live and extremely humid. I was thinking about not even applying any makeup because Ive known most foundations and whatnot to melt off my oily skin in that type of weather. But I used Hourglass once before and remembered that it had pretty good staying power. The only thing I didnt like was how it didnt really help the appearance of my enlagred pores on my cheeks. But I gave it another shot, since I did buy it. I applied this over a primer with a brush and this time, I used a powder after to minimize the the look of my pores. The makeup looked a lot better this time and my pores definitely didn't seem as noticeable. I went out for about 4 hours or so in the hot sweltering weather, and honestly I was expecting to return home to see that this stuff had fallen off my face. To my surprise though, it had stayed put! I had to blot it maybe twice during the night to get rid of some of the shine, but after that it looked fine again. And if blotting for a second is the worst thing I have to do in 99 degree weather with oily skin, I'll take it! I wouldn't recommend this for people who have dry skin, however. When I put it on, after a few minutes, my face felt a bit tighter and more dried out. It wasn't uncomfortable for me and the foundation did keep my skin from getting oily for the most part, but Im assuming that it might get uncomfortable for someone who has dry skin. This foundation works for me. It gives the medium coverage that I need and helps combat my oily skin. And it stays put for the most part. It does, like I said, have some shine after a bit, but blotting it away is easy. It doesnt get cakey or fall off my face by the end of the night. And it has a really nice finish when applied. It also doesnt make me break out at all, which is always a good thing. EDIT: Honestly, this seems to be the best foundation Ive found so far that control my oil for so long too. Ill have to blot sometimes here and there, but in comparison to the other foundations Ive tried, which is a good amount, this seems to work the best.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -L'Oreal - magic smooth souffle
breatheformusic 6/19/2012 12:16:00 AM
So when I first put on this foundation, I thought immediately I had found my HG. I was amazed at how well it spread with how little I had to use, how the coverage was just enough to meet my needs, and how my skin looked so smooth and glowing after I applied it. It also blurred my pores perfectly. I was so excited that finally I had a foundation that just seemed perfect. I even went on raving about it to a friend after I put it on and said that compared to other drug store brands AND higher end brands I tried, this looked the best yet. I spoke too soon. I decided to wear it out because I felt so good about it, and about two hours later or so, it had practically all faded off my face- and this was with primer and powder. I was so horribly disappointed because it looked so good in person and in photos (Im always also looking for foundation that can look natural in photos as well.) This foundation looks INCREDIBLE when you first put it on. And you dont have to use much at all to get your whole face. The coverage is really good at first and it does a great job at diminishing the appearance of pores. I wouldnt say its practical for every day use though, seeing as it wears down so fast. Im still disappointed. Sigh.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
breatheformusic 6/19/2012 12:05:00 AM
I really don't need another foundation, but Im always on the look out for something better than what Im using at the time since I havent exactly come across my HG yet. I've used Colorstay liquid in the past and Im not a big fan of that. It always looked cakey on my skin and turned me into a grease ball. But I figured since I was hearing good things about this, Id try it on a whim. I put it on today earlier before I went out and I was actually sort of surprised. It gave me all the coverage I needed (a few blemishes and acne scars were covered) and it looked really smooth on my skin. It took really well to a picture I took as well, if anyone cares about foundations that look good in photography. Also, Im very pale (Im usually the lightest color of the foundations I get. For example, in my Hourglass Immaculate foundation, Im "porcelain.") So it's hard for me to find a color that matches me 100% all the time. I can usually get away with just using the lightest color, but it isnt always the EXACT color of my natural skin tone. But like I said, I can usually get away with it. Anyhow, I feel like the Ivory in this line fit me exactly. It looked completely like my actual skin color, which is something I dont come across all that often. So that was a positive. I didnt wear it out for a long time, so Im not sure yet how it holds up. The liquid colorstay always held up well, despite turning me greasy though, so Im hoping that this holds up well without so much of the grease factor. I'd say the one con so far I've found about this however is that, like the liquid, it does look a bit cakey upon closer inspection. It's definitely not as much so as the liquid, but there's still a slight cakiness here. Although, I find you can only really notice if you're really looking close up. So you can get away with it- especially since from at a good standing distance, it looks pretty smooth. Im going to continue to use this product, however, as it's actually one of the better looking foundations that I have. I really love the smooth look it gives to my skin. I also love how I can match my color exactly. Again, Im not too keen on the bit of cakiness it gives, but its FAR better for me than the liquid. Overall I think it actually gives a lot more of a natural look than the liquid. So, Ill keep using it for now and see how it fairs.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Matte Foundation spf 15
breatheformusic 6/18/2012 1:17:00 PM
While I was out yesterday, I came across a Bare Minerals store outlet. I was curious about it, so I went in and asked some questions about the products. The lady asked me if I wanted to try it, so I said yes and she put the works on me (primer, foundation, bronzer, and the mineral veil.) When she handed me the mirror to look, I thought it looked really good. It hardly felt like I was wearing anything, it looked very very natural, and gave my complexion an overall even tone. Against my better judgement at the end of the day, I ended up going back to the store and buying the starter kit (Includes brushes, bronzer, mineral veil, and a few other things) and the foundation which is separate. Now, when the lady was putting the makeup on, she told me I had really good skin in general so that this would be good for me. She's not exactly lying either. My skin does get oily, but other than that, my complexion is usually very even. I break out occasionally but only in small amounts (nothing too bad anymore like when I was a teenager.) Im happy with my natural skin. The reason however that I like to wear foundation is because I have a bunch of acne scars from when I was younger if you look closely, and also the pores on my cheeks are enlarged. Also, if I do happen to break out or have any blackheads (mostly on my nose), foundation and concealer help take away the appearance. I don't like tinted moisturizers or anything because I feel as if they don't conceal the scars and whatnot as well as foundation. Anyway, this means that usually when I look for foundation, I look for a medium coverage or so. Back to this Bare Minerals foundation- there's a few things I like and a few I dont like. As far as the pros go, I love how this foundation keeps me pretty matte for a long period of time. I have oily skin so its always surprising when I find a foundation that can do that well. Also, I love how natural it looks. You honestly can't really tell Im wearing anything but it gives my skin this overall sort of glow that I enjoy. Plus, it feels very light. Nothing like a heavy liquid which Im used to. The cons: The coverage is awful. Upon closer inspection, it barely covers my acne scars and you can still make out some black heads that I have on my nose while wearing it. I've tried taking the advice of others and applying more pressure when buffing it on as to break up the minerals and whatnot, but that didnt make too much of a difference. It is also supposed to act as a dual concealer...I dont really see that is conceals well either. I'll try using the concealer brush to put some under my eyes and I don't see that it makes that much of a difference in the appearance of my under eye. It also works horribly to conceal blemishes. I do, however, enjoy the bronzer and the mineral veil that I purchased. The mineral veil does blur the appearance of pores as it claims and the bronzer is also very light and natural feeling. So, all in all, I dont hate the Bare Minerals line. But as far as the foundation alone goes, I'm not too much of a fan. I think itd be good for people who dont have too much to conceal and dont have really dry skin. But other than that, I would not recommend this if you're looking for medium to heavy coverage or have dry skin. I may or may not buy this again. For a foundation, it's a bit cheaper compared to the fifty five dollars Im used to spending. The only reason I might buy it again though is because of how natural it looks. If I do buy it again however, I will have to deal with the fact that my scars are not well covered and any blemishes or anything won't be concealed that well. I might just use the mineral veil and bronzer with another foundation. Im not sure yet. But for now, I think Ill continue looking for other foundations to do the job.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Clinique - Perfectly Real Makeup
breatheformusic 5/20/2012 5:40:00 AM
So I've tried this foundation out for two days now. It's okay but Im not super impressed. PROS: It goes on really smooth and matches my skin pretty much perfectly. It also looks very natural. Also, it doesn't make me break out at all so far, and I have pretty sensitive skin. CONS: It doesn't get good coverage at all, especially for being thicker. I had to use more than I expected I'd have to. Also, it seems to wear down pretty quickly. I went out tonight for a few hours and was in a sort of hot environment and sweating a bit, and when I got back and looked to see if it had held up, it looked like most of it had worn off. I might buy it again, however, just because it's the most natural look I've found so far and it doesn't make me break out (or at least it hasnt yet) like so many other foundations seem to. However, if I find a better one, I probably will not be picking this up again.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Garnier - Nutritioniste Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Night Cream
breatheformusic 5/17/2012 10:09:00 PM
I tried this product once when I was in search of a good night cream. I woke up the next morning and had broken out a lot and didnt notice really any positive difference in my skin. After I saw how much it broke me out, I never ended up using it again.
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Treatments (Eye) -Aveeno - Active Naturals Smart Essentials Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment
breatheformusic 5/17/2012 10:05:00 PM
I've only been using this product for a few days, because I had very slight darkness under my eyes. Whenever I put it on, my under eyes seem to be a bit more illuminated looking. The darkness under my eyes have reduced a little bit since using it, but I dont see too much change honestly. Also, I havent experienced any stinging sensation like everyone else is describing. I dont feel anything, honestly, when it goes on. Its very easy to apply though and Ill continue using it for a little bit to see if I get anymore positive results. EDIT: I changed my rating from 3 to 5 lippies. The other night I didn't have a lot of sleep at all and today I have something that I want to look good for. I woke up and after an hour or so of being awake, I noticed that my under eyes looked VERY tired. I had slight dark bags under them as if I hadnt slept in a few days and I really didnt want to look like that today. So I remembered I had this product and figured Id try it to see if it would do something for me. Within an INSTANT of me putting it on, the darkness was gone. My under eyes immediately looked illuminated and awake and I had absolutely no darkness or bags left whatsoever. I was looking in the mirror when I applied it and I literally could not believe the change I saw right in front of my eyes. I actually kept saying to myself "Omg, that's so great!! It worked!" It literally worked like magic. So five lippies for doing EXACTLY what it says it does within a split second!! Will definitely be getting this more often.
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Treatments -RoC - Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream
breatheformusic 5/17/2012 9:52:00 PM
I'm only 21 years old, and didnt really buy this product to look like I did 10 years ago. I did however smoke since I was 15, and in the past year and a half had become a pretty heavy smoker. I was starting to have a lot of potentially serious issues though so I decided to quit and havent smoked for 75 days. It left me with pretty damaged skin though and I had REALLY defined frown lines (due to the muscles you use when you smoke) and lines under my eyes. You'd think being younger, smoking wouldnt have had such a huge effect on my skin, but really, no one is exempt. Anyway, since Ive quit Ive been doing a lot to try and take care of my skin and when I mentioned the lines to someone I knew, they said they used Retinol Correxion to smooth them out. Her skin was beautiful for an older woman too, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've only used this product twice now, but honestly, I've noticed even already that the lines are smoothing out a lot! They're a lot less noticeable than they were even four days ago! I also have very sensitive skin but this product doesnt make me break out at all. Whenever Ive used it, I've looked in the mirror in the morning and my skin has this overall smooth look to it. I really enjoy what this product has been doing already, and Ill continue to use it until I feel necessary.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No