Self Tanners -Banana Boat - Summer Color Sunless Lotion Deep Dark
cccchloe 3/5/2013 1:41:00 AM
I bought this countless number of times many years ago when I use to be addicted to being tanned. It's cheap, you get a good amount of product and it "works". I say "works" because essentially, the color was a little too Jersey Shore for my taste. I may be biased because I now sort of see fake tanner like foundation: no matter how "natural" the product claims to look, it's still unfortunately going to show that you've used it. I've come to realize that self tanner is just another product pushed down our throats as cosmetics companies try to make us all believe we're never good enough or beautiful the way we are (whitening creams are sold where people actually are naturally tanned, what a coincidence). In any case, if you are considering this product (because to each their own), I strongly believe the light-medium version of it to offer a much less orange tan. It is much harder to overdo that one, whereas the deep dark version would have that embarrassing patchy effect around the wrist when it started to fade after 3 days.
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Liquid -Estee Lauder - Double Wear 
cccchloe 3/1/2013 6:09:00 PM
I love this foundation, the color, the soft focus finish and the extreme durability of it, but every time I wear it during the day, my fiancé has that look on his face like, "woah, that's some heavy makeup she's wearing...". I can tell he doesn't like it because he prefers the no makeup look and although he never says anything, it's just one of those foundations that really LOOKS like makeup. Definitely not natural looking, unfortunately.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser
cccchloe 2/8/2013 11:03:00 PM
If you are considering spending money on this product, you can get the exact same effects by washing your poor face with grapefruit-scented dishwashing soap. There is no exaggeration here. It is pretty much just as strong, harsh and horrible for skin. Please save your money, even if your skin is dripping in oil, there are much better cleansers out there that are actually MEANT to be used on your face.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Face and Body Foundation
cccchloe 1/20/2013 12:47:00 PM
Can someone say cystic acne? This foundation has potential and good qualities, which is why I gave it a 2 rating, but the ingredients are unfortunately not friendly to skin that is prone to breakouts. At the end of the day and the day after using this foundation, without fail, I would get painful large pimples on my otherwise extremely clear skin. I could not make this work for me, which is unfortunate because it is one of the few foundations that does not leave a powdery silicone finish on the skin that I really dislike. I have since discovered MUFE's Face and Body foundation which is EXCELLENT and even better than MAC's in terms of coverage and finish. Of course, no cystic acne from that one. I definitely recommend MUFE's formula, it is superior in so many ways to this one.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Phyto - Phytodefrisant
cccchloe 12/26/2012 5:19:00 PM
Funny enough, I use this for my very fine, limp virgin hair. I usually use volumizing products, like some kind of intense mousse, but after staying at my parents over the holidays, all I could find in terms of styling products in the bathroom was this. I don't even put conditionner in my hair and have to use clarifying shampoo every time I wash it (once every 2 days), so for the most part, anything labelled for frizzy or coarse hair is usually a no-no for me. I gave it a shot anyway, i squeezed out a quarter sized amount and applied it to the bottom half of my mid-length hair. It doesn't have a greasy, siliconey feeling, which I was very thankful for. It actually made my hair feel instantly "healthier" and have more substance, if that makes any sense. After blow drying, my hair was so shiny and full of body. I used it over the past week every time i washed my hair to see if it was a fluke and it was not! Even my mom commented how healthy and great my hair was looking. I'm definitely purchasing a tube of my own as soon as I get back home. It does to my hair exactly what I've always wanting the volumizing mousse to do, with the added bonus of shine and healthy looking body.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Urban Decay - Naked Basics
cccchloe 12/26/2012 3:47:00 PM
If I lost this palette or used it all, which I can see myself doing, I would definitely repurchase. It is exactly what I've always looked for in a eye palette. Yes, I can see how the choice of colors is geared specifically for fair-to-medium skintones, but that is just something that people will have to keep in mind, just like some palettes/eyeshadows/blushes are geared towards cool skintones, others for warm skin tones or some for tan-to-dark skin tones. I don't think it deserves a lower rating just because it doesnt work for your skin coloring in particular. NARS Desire looks awful on me and my particular skin tone but that doesn't change the fact that it is a high quality pigmented product that deserves a high rating. In any case, the quality of shadows is excellent and I have absolutely no problems creating a neutral defining sexy eye look with these. The first shade is a highly pigmented shimmery off-white shade. I usually dislike shimmery highlight shades but I do love this one for the inner corner. It is so opaque that it actually completely covers the darkness that I have in the inner corner of my eye. The two light mattes shades are exactly like powder versions of Soft Ocre and Painterly paint pots. I love those two paint pots and I love these two shadows. Two great options for all over lid colors. The two darker taupe colors are like lighter/darker versions of Wedge. Excellent crease colors depending on how much definition you're looking to add. The last shade is a very pigmented, surprisingly blendable blacked-brown. It's actually more black than anything else,but it doesn't have that cool blue-grey undertone that tends to look dirty on my warm skin tone. I love this. This is actually something I will use everyday. My ONLY complain is the shape of the pans. I prefer a wider, more square shaped pan, but it really doesn't matter that much. That's only because I'm trying to nit-pick. Also, I love the compact. No finger prints yet no dirty looking powder build up like NARS packaging. This palette is what I thought/wanted Dior's Incognito palette to be, but failed, and for half the price!
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Revlon - ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup
cccchloe 12/12/2012 2:54:00 AM
I prefer the original Colorstay to this a million times over. This feels like I'm spreading clay mixed with chalk all over my face, even though I tried to use a very tiny amount. And yes, the colors are also lighter than the original. The liquid Colorstay can be sheered out with a Beauty Blender or built up to full coverage and is much less siliconey feeling. I just did not care for this stuff. It also leaves a very dry look to the skin, like the skin is dehydrated, thirsty and dead, whereas the original liquid just has a regular soft matte look. I would only wear this again if I had absolutely nothing else to use, which is probably not going to happen. It's a pass for me. If you want a fabulous long lasting full coverage foundation with an amazing shade range, try Estee Lauder Double Wear. Nothing beats it. Or else the regular Colorstay can be almost as good if you can find a suitable shade for your skin tone.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
cccchloe 10/23/2012 8:18:00 PM
This mascara is almost identical to Lancome Hypnose (original) except this one is a fraction more clumpy if you're not careful. You just have to be careful to not go to town with this one, or else it will start leaving clumps on the ends, like one of the pictures someone posted. I remember with Hypnose, you could just pack it on and on and it would layer beautifully, so that's the only downfall of this one. The brush is excellent, not too big and not too small, maybe a hair thicker than the Hypnose brush. Like everyone else has mentioned, it is only 3 or 4$, so it's just a no-brainer for me. I don't see any reason to spend a ton more on other mascaras unless you are looking for a really really natural barely-there look, then this isn't for you!
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Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Long Wear Even Finish Foundation Spf 15
cccchloe 10/18/2012 3:43:00 PM
A warning to everyone, especially those who are prone to breakouts... do NOT use this foundation, it will likely provoke acne. Please read the review from beautypedia.com: Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 is a medium coverage liquid foundation with a satin finish that leaves skin looking smooth and hydrated. This foundation also provides broad spectrum sun protection, and is available in an extensive range of colors from alabaster to ebony. With all those positives, why the poor rating? The nose knows! The pervasive lavender scent that wafts from this foundation’s bottle is a sign of potential skin trouble, as we explain below. Although lavender oil is often touted for its calming properties (and indeed, inhaling the scent can be therapeutic), as a cosmetic ingredient it’s a problem. In fact, the use of lavender oil prevents us from recommending this product. Even small amounts of lavender oil (0.25% or less) can be problematic. Lavender leaves contain camphor, which is a known skin irritant. Because the fragrance constituents in lavender oil oxidize when exposed to air, lavender oil pro-oxidant. This enhanced oxidation also increases its irritancy on skin (Source: Contact Dermatitis, September 2008, pages 143–150). Like we always say: fragrance isn’t skin care! We hope Bobbi Brown will make a fragrance-free version of Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15, but in the meantime, check out our list of Best Foundations with Sunscreen for our current picks. Note: Although the ingredient list for this foundation doesn’t specify the form of lavender used, we confirmed with the company that it is, in fact, lavender oil. Pros: • Available in a remarkable range of shades for light to very dark skin tones. • Provides broad spectrum sun protection. • Smooth, easy-to-blend texture. • Satin finish leaves skin looking smooth and hydrated. Cons: • Includes lavender oil—a known skin irritant. • Highly frangrant. • Pricey. Ingredients: Octinoxate (2.9%), Titanium Dioxide (1.6%) Other: Water, Dimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Sodium Chloride, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavendar), Glyceryl Oleate, Lecithin, Methicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Alumina, Stearic Acid, Citric Acid, Talc, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Mica, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Estee Lauder - Invisible Fluid Makeup
cccchloe 9/17/2012 1:36:00 AM
I love this foundation for a true no-makeup look. I have good skin (thanks, Paula's Choice!) but I like wearing a base just to have a more even complexion and this fits the bill. It's a better version of Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua. I would say it has slightly less coverage than VA, but I actually prefer it, since it really looks like no makeup. Like others have said, if you have things to cover up, this is not for you. If you're a tinted moisturizer kind of girl, if you like VA but don't like the fragrance, don't like the alcohol content, there is a good chance you might also like this. For reference, I am a MAC NC25 and I bought 2WN1 and it is perfect. Nicely yellow-toned and blended into my skin like a dream. I use a beauty blender for every foundation and had no problems with application. I have oily skin and the lasting power was surprisingly decent. Will definitely purchase again!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Tom Ford - Cheek Color 03 Flush
cccchloe 8/9/2012 11:09:00 PM
I've been wearing this blush every day since I got it a few weeks ago, even though I have so many others that I love. It's exactly what I've wanted every other peach/coral blush of mine to look like on me. It is not matte nor shimmery, it just gives the perfect amount of life to the skin. I use a Chanel blush brush, tap both sides of it in the pan, and brush off almost all of it off on the back of my hand. That way I guarantee a natural, non-blotchy application. I'm an NC25 for reference.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bourjois - Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation
cccchloe 8/9/2012 1:35:00 PM
I consider this product my old standby. It just goes with every look, it's not too sheer, not too done-up, definitely not a mask, not too matte and not too dewy.. it's the perfect everything foundation. It looks amazing for an everyday no-makeup look to keep your skin looking fresh and it looks good for a night out to keep your look modern and not cakey and done-up while still giving you a pretty flawless looking complexion. Even on days where I've tried a new face cream or something and gotten massive breakouts, I realized that i looked MUCH better wearing this foundation with some heavy duty concealer only on the areas that needed, rather than slathering on ELDW all over my face. This stuff lets your skin's natural luminosity shine through yet doesn't get too oily. It has a very "natural" finish. I have three shades: 51 for the dead of winter when I am an NC15 52 for fall/spring when my skin starts seeing the light and I am NC20 53 for summer when I am NC25/NC30 Just a note, there is more of a jump between 52 to 53 (53 is about 1.5-2 shades darker than 52) than there is between 51 and 52 (only one shade difference). The shades are nicely yellow toned which I LOVE because the only thing pink I will ever put on my face is blush (and even then it will probably be peach!). Hope that helps anyone who was considering the purchase! It is a great foundation, everything about it is modern.. the packaging, the shades, the finish, the texture!
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils
cccchloe 8/5/2012 10:53:00 PM
I like dramatic bold mascaras because good ones are hard to come by. This one seemed promising at first, but it was the first mascara ever to smudge on me and give me raccoon eyes. I actually have very dry skin under and around my eyes, so i never really understood the whole raccoon effect that others would talk about when referring to mascaras, until this one. 2 stars for the very deep black color which impressed me at first.
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Treatments -Neutrogena - Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment [DISCONTINUED]
cccchloe 8/3/2012 11:11:00 PM
I really wanted to like this product after reading about it on beautypedia.com. If i take good care of my skin using the right products, i can have beautifully clear healthy skin. If not, I can be plagued by pimples and cystic acne that take forever to go away, not to mention the marks they leave behind. I noticed my skin responded really well to acne.org's AHA lotion, so I bought this when I was at the pharmacy because it is cheap and I wanted to try a BHA. This ranked at one of Paula's top BHA products. First, the scent. I know scents are not good in skincare, but i have to admit that i enjoy them and they are a guilty pleasure of mine, to be honest. The scent of this product was gag inducing. It smells like bad artificial watermelon gum. It's not a deal breaker for me if the product works, but wow it is nauseating, so I can't even imagine what it would be like for someone who gags over more "enjoyable" scented products. The big problem with this product for me is the silicone in it. Paula Bedoun seems to love and encourage silicone in every product, and she includes it in her serums. My skin just does not agree with it. The more I used it, the more subsurface bumps I could feel appearing under my skin, just like every other silicone based skincare product I've used. I did not see any benefit whatsoever from the salicylic acid. I can only tolerate foundations with silicones (do they even make foundations without silicones?) maybe because I wash my face really well at night. If you are looking for an affordable exfoliator for acne-prone skin, try acne.org's AHA lotion. It stings the first few times (but I've learned to associate that feeling with the product working), and every morning you wake up with clearer and more even skintone. It comes in a much bigger bottle, and dare I say it is actually moisturizing? For me at least. I don't need to use a separate moisturizer after. The Neutrogena one did nothing for exfoliating.. it did the complete opposite. Clog my pores.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Biotherm - Aquasource Non Stop (combination skin)
cccchloe 7/9/2012 2:32:00 AM
This line of Aquasource gave me the WORST case of cystic acne of my life. I discovered it in my mom's stash of stuff she doesn't use anymore, and unfortunately I found out why for myself. It gave her very bad cystic acne too. I just read up on Biotherm on beautypedia.com and this stuff is obviously not "natural" as they would like consumers to believe!! It is FULL of awful ingredients that are bad for skin!! I avoid this entire brand like the plague because every product I've tried has given me depression-inducing painful cystic acne, and I have otherwise great skin. Well, at least now I know why and it's not just me. There are obviously a lot of other reviewers who've had the same unfortunate experience. Even to those who don't have bad reactions to this.. why not put something with healthy ingredients on your face instead of something that has ingredients known and proven to cause harm in the short and long term? I just don't think companies who sell such products should be in business.
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