Primer/ Corrector -Clinique - Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector 
clare1976 11/6/2008 12:04:00 PM
I'd like to thank the people who reviewed this product. After reading them, I bought a tube and Wow!! It really does smooth out large pores and imperfections. It's now 5pm and I've been wearing make up since 9am and my oily skin isn't shiny! No nose-powdering needed. I also have some old acne scars on my forehead, which I had been seeking a coverage solution to. Thought I was gonna have to invest in foundation but nope! This stuff is all I need, plus some face powder to achieve a significantly smoother appearance. The cream is actually very light on the skin, which is amazing when you consider the heavy coverage it gives. The only downside is, if they stop making it, I won't be able to live without it! :oP
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Concealers -Lily Lolo - Concealer
clare1976 10/31/2008 5:58:00 PM
Gives a good coverage, when applied to my under eye shadows, although it did look cakey. Same thing when I used it to banish the shadows in the line from the side of my mouth to the side of my nose. Seems to slip off too easily when applied to spots and is fiddly to use. My normal Touche Magique concealer and/or face powder does a much better job. I won't be buying this.
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Powder -Lily Lolo - Flawless Matte
clare1976 10/31/2008 5:53:00 PM
Still too shimmery for me and highlights pores and lines I can't normally see. My Boots 17 and Rimmel Stay Matte face powders give a much better, flawless coverage. I tried the sample, but won't be buying a full pot.
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Foundations -Lily Lolo - Mineral Foundation
clare1976 10/31/2008 5:49:00 PM
After reading all the positive reviews about Lily Lolo, I so wanted to love this foundation. I tried applying some samples with a Kabuki brush, but it made my pores look huge - It even highlighted pores I can't normally see. It also looked cakey and too shimmery for my liking - I have some old acne scars, and shimmer makes them more visible. Whereas a matte texture hides them. I tried the matte finishing powder, and the blondie concealer, too, but had the same problem with them. I hardly have any lines on my face, but this powder highlighted them and made them look worse than they are. I tried several different methods of application and make-up combinations, but it just didn't look as good as my normal Boots 17 face powder - or my Rimmel Stay Matte one. One positive thing I can say about it, is that the colour range is excellent - I have very pale skin and Porcelain and Blondie concealer were a great colour match. This would be best used on someone with very smooth skin and small pores.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Clean & Clear - Blackhead clearing scrub
clare1976 10/31/2008 5:35:00 PM
I use this morning and night, and it's been brilliant on my blackhead and spot-prone skin. I currently do not have any blackheads on my nose, which is a miracle, as I usually have loads (yuk!). The effect comes from the Salycylic Acid in it, which helps to cleanse inside blackheads, and encourages the skin to renew itself, removing the dead cells from the surface, which cause blackheads. There are plenty of little blue beads in it to scrub the skin, but there seems to be a misconception that more beads will exfoliate better - This isn't the case, as it's the salycylic acid which does the exfoliating. The beads do tend to get everywhere though... Up my nose, in my mouth, in my hairline. But the effects are worth it. I've even been rubbing a tiny amount of this scrub into my spots and leaving it overnight - The salycylic acid acts as an anti-inflamatory and reduced the size of the pimple (Yay!) This makes my skin feel so smooth and velvety.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -L'Oreal - Touche Magique
clare1976 10/31/2008 5:21:00 PM
If I was only allowed one item of make-up for the rest of my life, it would be this one! It's the best concealer I've ever used - much better than stick concealers, which can be fiddly and time-consuming to apply. Touch Magique is quick and easy to apply. It illuminates shadows, making my skin look refreshed and younger. Covers my dark eye rings very well, although I do have to pat it on in 2 or 3 layers (depending on how much sleep I've had!). It's excellent for covering spots and blemishes - pat it on in a thin layer, and then repeat to increase coverage. Blend it well, as putting just one thick layer on probably would look cakey. You only need to use small amounts of this. I like to set it with face powder, afterwards. Although I do regularly wear nothing but this concealer on my face - the colour is such a good match, that it's undetectable. It's great for pale skins, as I'm very pale and use the lightest colour. EDIT: Oh yeah, and it lasts ages!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Avene - Hydrance Optimale SPF 15
clare1976 10/31/2008 4:17:00 PM
I got a free sample of this from Boots. Have been wearing it under my face powder all week. I love the fact that it doesn't seem to clog my pores. The consistency seems a bit thick and greasy and needs to be rubbed in well. If worn alone, it would make my face too shiny - But, with face powder it's a good base. I would definitely buy for the non-comedomic and SPF elements.
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Sunscreen -Avene - Ultra high protection cream SPF50
clare1976 10/31/2008 4:06:00 PM
I didn't realise you can buy this in 3 shades. I bought the clear one ages ago and wore it every day under my face powder. It seemed to act as a good primer and made my skin appear smoother. Probably because face powder sticks to it and becomes more like a foundation. They seemed to stop selling the clear version for awhile in the UK, as I couldn't get hold of it for love nor money. Ended up buying the next colour up which has a pale pink tint. I don't notice the colour when I apply it (rub it in well), but it seemed to make my face powder darker. Have just found out they're selling the clear version again, so I'm snapping it up like a shot! It doesn't clog my pores (Avene products are great for this!), which is a miracle since I usually get blackheads. Protected me really well from sunburn too!
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Lipstick -Ruby & Millie - Purple
clare1976 10/31/2008 3:55:00 PM
Have been wearing this lipstick for years and I love it! I tend to dab it on lightly and then smear it for a sheer coverage of colour, under lipgloss. The shiny silver tube is funky and a pleasure to use. Mine is listed as purple, but it's more of a deep plummy colour. I also had a pale pink one years ago, which I loved. But, alas, so did my sister as she nicked it! :oP
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Lip Gloss -Bloom - Lip Gloss
clare1976 10/31/2008 3:46:00 PM
I adore this lipgloss and won't wear any other brand. The mandarin and vanilla smell is divine and the texture is non-sticky, unlike some other brands which can be gloopy. It glides on smoothly and gives a glassy sheen. It stays on for a couple of hours (provided I don't eat, drink or kiss!). But it does seem to fade a bit from when I first applied it. I wear Bordeaux - a dark berry colour, which has been discontinued (Argh!)... It gives a nice tint to the lips, without being too dark. Am currently searching for a similar colour from Bloom - Perhaps Tint will be similar, although I haven't tried it yet.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
clare1976 10/31/2008 3:36:00 PM
I love this moisturizer, and don't understand all the negative reviews it's been getting. It makes my complexion bright and glowing. I really notice the difference - when I don't use it, my skin looks dull and tired. I bought it because research I did said it was first developed for the medical field as a skin healing cream. That probably explains the slightly medicinal smell - although it also smells of lavender and I quite like it! The consistency is very thin and watery, and a little goes a long way. It also contains anti-oxidants, which is another reason I bought it. Can be expensive from shops, but I buy it cheaper on ebay for around £10 a jar, which isn't bad.
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