Masks -Eve Lom - Rescue Mask
cemjay 8/25/2011 7:09:00 AM
My review for this Eve Lom mask is based on up using a 15ml travel size sample but I do intend to purchase the 50ml size soon. First of all it looks and feels just like any other clay based mask I have ever used in an attempt to suck up oil and keep my skin clear. It feels like a thicker version of the now-discontinued Origins Get Down clay cleanser. At the moment I am blemish free but still oily and still have not found anything to keep my open pores clear and minimised or even just to perk up my complexion. This mask contains some questionable ingredients (alcohol, parabens galore etc) but it WORKS for me (that said some Dr Hauschka items contain plant alcohol too). My skin is left matt, pores are smaller on my nose (woohoo) and I love the scent (I love camphor, smells like it should work). It calms down any irritations my skin has and it just leaves it looking and feeling better-much smoother and softer and my lotions/potions sink in beautifully. I normally would not pay £30 for a 50ml tube of face mask but this is my only exception. I would only recommend people try this if they buy the travel tube 15ml or a sachet from ebay first as it is such a lot to pay for something that is essentially a glorified clay based mask. It has a very thick consistency and contains crushed almond meal so has a mildly exfoliating action. You apply to dry,cleansed skin and leave on for 15mins. It will set and dry and can feel warm on the skin. Then you gently rub off the mask in an upward and circular motion to scrub. Apply a damp warm cloth to remove and splash with cold water to close those pores. I do not use any cream or serum after this (I do it at night) but I do disobey Eve's philosophy and use a toner. I will be using the Eve Lom Cleansing Balm as soon as my current cleanser runs out so I will probably skip the toner then. Try it you might like it. INGS:kaolin, aqua (water), glycerin, alcohol denat., mel (honey), prunus amygdalus dulcis (almond meal and extract), camphor, magnesium aluminum silicate, sodium chloride, allantoin, aluminum chlorohydrate, propylene glycol, magnesium chloride, methylparaben, phenoxyethanol, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, calcium chloride.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Elemis - Melting Cleansing Gel
cemjay 6/22/2011 3:55:00 PM
This is the latest addition to Elemis' cleansing products. It is a clear gel that smells of oranges, it comes in a tube with a flip-top lid (so easy to use) and full size comes in 125ml. It is targeted at challenged, dull, stressed or tired skin. I have oily/combination skin and currently use Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish day and night. I love that but was getting a little bored to be honest. So I decided to slip this into my morning routine and see how it fared. I really enjoy using this, its quick and easy (can be used in the shower) and works well to keep my skin clear and fresh looking. It does not strip my skin, it simply leaves it comfortable and feeling clean. You massage about a 5p-10p size dollop all over your face (avoid the eye area) until it starts to feel slippier, this is the product melting into your skin. Then add drops of water until it turns into a milky fluid and massage the rest in. I then use a face cloth or muslin cloth to remove it and splash with cold water. This will not remove eye make-up nor I imagine a face full of make-up and so is ideal for morning use or no-make-up days and for men. Ingredients include Argan Oil, mattifying Rice Silk,purifying Rosemary Leaf, Assai fruit and Moringa Peptides.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - alpha-h liquid gold
cemjay 9/28/2010 4:12:00 PM
Alpha H are a cosmeceutical brand, for use by estheticians and so the packaging is far from fancy. Would you rather buy a product for its contents or its packaging? Liquid Gold is my first foray into this brand which I have wanted to try for a long time but been scared of using any glycolic acids (no idea why). It smells slightly off, its not unpleasant but its not pretty. The smell fades fast though and if used overnight who is going to notice? My husband certainly hasn't! You soak a cotton pad and sweep over your face, neck & decollete 2-3 times a week (for those not used to glycolic acids use a dampened pad). I am only using this on my face as this is purely for de-congesting my skin. It will also help brighten your complexion, help smooth out fine lines, add firmness, eradicate blackheads and spots,fade discoloration and pigmentation and in some cases address open pores. For me its all about the lumps, bumps, spots and clogs that pop up daily and cannot be extracted (by mask or tool). I have been loving and using Avene Cleanance K (the results just kept on getting better) but it seemed to stall and those darn lumps & sebum plug clogs came racing back :( I got this and within a week the lumps have smoothed out. Overall texture is better and concealer glides on. I will report back when I have used this for a month. You MUST wear an SPF daily when using such a resurfacing product. I use a SPF30. So far great stuff :) and I will definitely buy more!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Liz Earle - Botanical Shine Shampoo
cemjay 9/17/2010 6:05:00 AM
The latest addition to the ever expanding Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare range, this shampoo is SLS and SLES free. Using natural botanical ingredients to foam and clean the hair without stripping this colour safe formula also contains aloe vera, shea butter, apple&orange extracts, vitamin E, cedarwood, lemon & geranium to name but a few oils and extracts. Applying the same philosophy as their Cleanse&Polish of one shampoo to suit all hair types, this shampoo is a pleasure to use. It smells very fruity, very fresh and foams well. Apply a little water to pre-lather and add more as required, do not be tempted to load up with more product. This left my hair feeling light, fresh and lively. It had good (ie managable) volume and as a test I left it for 4 days before washing again to see how long it would last and if I developed my usual day2 itchy scalp. I did not and for me that makes the £7.50 for 200ml worth every penny :) Its not cheap by supermarket/drugstore means, there are more expensive shampoos out there which have not worked for me (aveda,ojon,philip kingsley,kerastase) and there are cheaper ones which have also not worked for me. I am switching to this from Lush and hope that I can wave bye bye to itchy flakey scalp :) I used this in conjunction with each of the 3 conditioners (like their 3 Skin Repair moisturisers, one for each type: dry, normal, oily) to see which suited me best (dry). I will buy again. There is a 50ml travel size available to try but if you sign up for their latest newsletter you may be sent a sachet duo of the shampoo and conditioner to try (7mls each). If you are switching from silicone based haircare this make take a couple of weeks to detox from your hair, be patient and you will be rewarded!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Avene - Cleanance K
cemjay 9/3/2010 4:14:00 PM
I'm on my 5th week of using this daily (for the first week I used it once a day, at night but for the last 4 weeks it has been morning and night). I do not experience any irritation nor redness, nor does it tingle (unless on a open spot/extracted pore - I can be heavy handed). It has taken this long for me to see any benefits and I know that experts recommend giving skincare at least a month to see a change or difference and this had a lot to contend with I am just impatient really. I was getting a lot of clogged pores (sebum plugs) on my cheekbones, in the hollows of my cheeks and all over my forehead, pus filled spots, red lumpy spots and nothing was working. I had lumps that I couldn't conceal and I was so self conscious I just wanted to wear a bag on my head. TTOTM made things worse and I didn't know where to turn. I came across this after considering a AHA/BHA approach (rather than switch cleanser again). So far I have fewer new clogs and overall congestion is significantly reduced. Any clogs I have now are easier to extract and fewer new ones are appearing so far. My red lumpy headless spots are gone, they have been reduced and removed and no new ones are appearing at all. My overall skin tone is clearer and smoother and looks so much fresher. The worst congested area under my cheekbone looks so much better I hardly need any concealer (just for some scars). I cleanse with Liz Earle, tone with Lush and apply this on dry skin morning and night. In the morning I follow with Dr haushcka Moisturising Day Cream morRose Day Cream Light or Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser and if I am going out then I use Spf 30 instead. I hope I continue to experience improvements and I look forward to the day when I can put aside my extractor tool and using a pore mask is a novelty not a daily occurance. I would say this is preventative not curative, give it time, be patient and do not expect it to heal existing spots. You may experience some purging at first and my skin did get worse within the 1st week as the layers were being exfoliated by the AHA/BHA and the gunk was coming out. If you can stick with it, I hope you get the same levels of improvements I am experiencing. If you fill in Avene's customer questionnaire to find your products for you skin type they will send out a couple of complimentary 5ml samples - I got the Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser and Cleanance K so I recommend this if you don't wish to buy the full size straight off.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Tweezerman - Blackhead/Blemish Extractor
cemjay 8/13/2010 11:17:00 AM
OK so I've used this for the last 3 days so far and I know I am way too heavy handed and I should give up when those clogs don't surrender their evil contents but on those that have & the spots that were ripe enough, I cleared them out and OMG I didn't think there was that much inside them EEEEEWWW but yippeeeee!! I have been left with the noted red horsehoe shape from pressing too hard but that isn't the fault of the tool - its me, my technique (I am still learning) and how heavy I press and how much I persist. How my skin fares after clearing and how well it stays clear will depend on how gentle I am and what products I use after purging with this tool. I would recommend caution and reserve and to only do it when you don't hate your skin that much that picking and hacking is all you can do. Do this when you feel the bud of the clog is ready to come out, be gentle in persuading it and keep your tool sterilised and clean with every use. Prick a headed spot with a sterlised pin or needle once only and the roll the loop over it slowly and gently. Give up if it won't give it up. Only you are responsible for how well this works not the tool, be careful and it will reward you! Press and roll and lightly hook away from the clog lump/spot. I would re-buy if I lost this!
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sarah Chapman - Overnight Facial
cemjay 8/10/2010 6:49:00 AM
I really wanted this to work for me, I am 36 with oily skin with fine lines, open pores and lacklustre skin (due to ill health). I lusted after this product for some time and when I had a code for QVC UK for any item on 3 easy pay (so one payment each month for 3 months) and figured with their 30 day money back guarantee as well, this was the perfect opportunity to SPLURGE with a safety net :) It was £38 on QVC but is normally around the £42 mark, available direct from Sarah Chapman or Space NK. The packaging is divine - the leaflet is detailed and helpful with great massage techniques and the product smells so beautiful!! I would wear it as a fragrance! It is a thin runny serum and I needed 2 pumps for face, neck & decollete. It went in very quick and smoothed in easily with no greasy residue. I didn't wake with a radiant complexion as some people say but I had high hopes it would start to help with my little issues. Plus it is a divine pleasure to use! I used this for the 2 and half weeks I had it, not on consecutive nights to see if I could any changes and then for 5 nights in a row and it was nice to use but really I still didn't see any visible evidence I had used this product. Worse still I have unsightly, uncomfortable clusters of & lumps of clogged pores on my cheekbones & a spotty jawline & chin :(!! Such a disappointment. I returned it today. Shame, but I am not paying for no results & worse skin!!!! Perhaps its not suitable for oily skins, perhaps I am even too young or have a bright enough complexion (yeah right lol). I know you are supposed to give some products a month to work but this promised instant results mimicing a facial so on that count it failed. Plus the clogs and spots (not purging or getting used to a new product) are a major "side effect" for me. I had to select 1 lippie as it would not allow me to pick 0 otherwise I would have done! I will go back to my Forest Secrets iRejuvenate Serum Step 2 (30ml for £36) which produced better results with no clogging or breakouts - I should not have been distracted by shiny new things or products hyped up by magazines/celebs and QVC :( Lesson learned, at least I "only" lost out on the cost of postage!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Studio Kabuki Face Brush
cemjay 7/28/2010 11:02:00 AM
I love this Kabuki from ELF. It blends my mineral foundation brilliantly but more importantly it makes applying my Chanel bronze Universel really easy - airbrushed finish!! Its a soft brush that buffs to perfection. For someone like me who is not the best at applying make-up this makes its easy! It was £6 and well within what I consider a decent amount to pay for brushes. While I long to be able to buy HE brushes, until my budget will stretch (ie I can spare the £££ from my MU and skincare budgets lol) buying from ELF is ideal: its affordable and you get excellent quality product! EVen though I doubt I will need to buy another one, I have selected yes! :)
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Toners -LUSH - Breath of Fresh Air
cemjay 7/7/2010 9:34:00 AM
I really like using this toner water. Its so refreshing, soothing and hydrating and is packed full of goodness. It works wonders as a refreshing spritzer on sun parched skin as well. I have oily congested skin and found this to help keep my skin balanced and hydrated. how did I know this made a difference? I used another toner while keeping my other products the same and noticed oil breaking out earlier than when I used BOFA! Its a lovely scent, sort of fresh herbal with a hint of floral. 100ml lasted me 4 weeks with me using it all over my body while on holiday. I would re-purchase this without hesitating as its effective and affordable.
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Pressed Powders -E.L.F. - Studio Translucent Mattifying Powder
cemjay 3/25/2010 6:30:00 AM
This powder from ELF is amazing. From their Studio line this pressed owder comes in a plastic black oblong compact (reminiscent of NARS without the rubberyness) with an an excellent mirror and rubbery style sponge applicator. It goes on smoothly and easily. The matifying properties last on me for up to 5 hours on my oily skin and then I just sweep a little more on top to refresh and I am good to go again. This particular powder sets my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (I am SC2) like a dream with no caking. It smoothes out over my pores making them appear less noticeable (better than anything else I currently use). It gives a light coverage (which I am happier with) and removes the need for me to use any foundation!! At £3.50 it is superb, superior value for money and well worth experimenting with before shelling out for more high end versions. I did adore my MAC Blot Powder but I won't need to buy that again and I am not even thinking about trying the Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder. I'll save my pennies and stick with this indefinitely.
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Scrubs -Origins - Modern Friction
cemjay 3/21/2010 4:19:00 PM
I have oily skin, prone to spots, enlarged and congested pores and I am 36. During an Origins phase, I tried a sample of this many moons ago and thought it was an ok scrub (sorry paste), pleasant to use but nothing outstanding. Yes well some 5 years later, I now realise I had no need for it then, I do now! I LOVE this and I do not say that lightly. As I am finally getting my skin under control (thanks to Dr Hauschka!) I felt I needed something extra once a week (maybe more), to help with the fine lines, the enlarged pores and maybe even the spot scars. Well...after 2 uses (yes just 2) I saw and felt the difference. My skin feels smoother and more even. It looked clearer, brighter and more refined. The kind of results the SAs and the beauty mags talk about. I have never experienced this before so I was highly sceptical. My pores are less enlarged (in other words looking at them in the mirror didn't make me sigh with despair) and my spot scars looked less red. My Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer goes on like a dream (and I need less of it, always a good sign) and my Lily Lolo MMU blended in effortlessly (now I skip it...). I am hooked. Consistency wise, it is a white thick sticky paste and yes it will sting like hell in your eyes so be VERY careful how you remove this. I work it into dry skin as directed, then add drops of water so it mousses up and lightly foams. Then carefully I wipe away with a wash cloth, splash rinse with cool water and then add a cold compress. I will re-purchase and I will cut back on other products (well I won't need them if my skin keeps on improving) to pay the RRP £28 for 125ml. EDIT TO ADD - I have now used this for the last 8 weeks, twice a week and each time my skin feels super smooth and even afterwards. There is some mild redness due to my heavy handedness but there is no irritation and no increase in spots or any negative reaction on my skin; each time I follow with toner and then Forest Secrets Skincare's iRejuvenate Serum Step 1 (I use step 2 in the am). The persistently clogged areas are definitely clearing up and easier to extract, without doubt I have fewer spots and the red scars are fading and as my skin is more even, refined and smoother it makes it much easier to conceal. I haven't loved a product this much in a long time! <3 FURTHER EDIT- So for me a test of a product is if I notice a negative change when I stop using it. I stopped using this 2 weeks before my holiday and for the 2 weeks I was away. Within 10 days I was clogging up again and it was not pleasant. Immediately upon returing I cracked open my tube and re-started my twice weekly treatments and hey presto within a week all congestion had cleared up and minimum new ones around TTOTM!! RESULT! This just proved to me it is worth every penny.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Camouflage
cemjay 2/12/2010 9:42:00 AM
I recently bought this to cover red spot scars, blemishes and pimples. The lovely and helpful SA at the Laura Mercier counter in Selfridges, Trafford Centre, Manchester (UK) tried it on me after I asked about it for concealing spots on my oily skin. She deftly applied SC2 after matching it to my skin and when she was done I was sold! I have had just as equally impressive results applying it myself with my own concealer brush. It was £25 and although this exceeds what I have ever paid for a concealer this is well worth it and it will last a very long time (you need very little product and the 2 pans are generous sizes). The mirror is great too and I love the sparkly maroon packaging! This product makes me look almost back to me pre-spot nightmare days - its blends easily and covers EVERYTHING! It does not cake, it does not dry out and my oily skin seems to love it. I dust a lighter layer of mineral foundation on top (I used to have to use more) and some matifying powder and I am done. My next LM purchase will have to be the Pressed Translucent Finishing Powder! Great product and I will have to buy again and again.
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Bath Treatments -Dr. Hauschka - Lavender Bath
cemjay 2/3/2010 9:09:00 AM
Divine. This uplifts me in the morning and soothes me at night. Like everyone else I use this in my face washing water morning and evening - just a couple of drops into the basin filled with hand hot water and I splash my face, then apply compresses. Next I use their amazing Cleansing Cream, top up the water with cold water and splash and cold compress. Its a convoluted, time consuming regime BUT its working and it makes me calmer and feel better about myself in general. This is a very holistic skin care regime working on your whole not just your areas of concern. My oily, blemished, pale, congested skin is slowly improving, my skin tone is better, the colour livlier and fresher. The Lavender is a strong genuine lavender scent (no synthetics here) and is very green in tone; its to help balance troubled skin, nurture senstive and dry skins and overall provide a refreshing addition to your face washing water. This bath is therapeutic in all senses and one for every bathroom shelf! I will try it next in an evening bath to relax me from top to toe. I never want to be without this. I have previously used and adored their Spruce and Lemon baths and they are next on my shopping list and a re-purchase of this one.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Liz Earle - liz earle spot on
cemjay 1/10/2010 10:40:00 AM
I use almost all of Liz Earle's range and have great results from everything I use - sadly this is one thing that has let me down. Unlike many reviewers here it did nothing to clear up my spots and in fact it caused more clogged pores and under skin lumps!! As soon as I stopped using it these cleared up (nothing else about my routine was altered). I like the strong tea tree aroma as it smells clean and fresh and I would use it as an antiseptic on cuts or bites. The roller ball bottle is hygenic and convenient and a little goes a very long way. 6ml bottle costs GBP7.50 I will not buy again.
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Mascara -Bourjois - 1001 Lashes
cemjay 1/8/2010 5:20:00 PM
This is a good mascara, it is not outstanding nor would I consider re-purchasing it because I am sure there are probably better ones to be found! I do like it though and although the first few uses it was a bit clumpy (the usual wetness of a new mascara) I find it works as well as my Rimmel Sexy Curves or L'Oreal Telescopic. It lengthens and catches my lashes adequately and as time goes by, it becomes more and more effective - I have learnt how best to use the brush and I now happily use this mascara daily. It comes 2nd to my Maybelline Falsies but I still like it more than I did when I first bought it!
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