Treatments -Kate Somerville - Exfolikate
dawnsch 3/10/2012 7:03:00 PM
I honestly have no idea why there's so much hype over this product. It can be a little irritating and drying, but no more so than other scrubs and acid products. It's just too expensive, and not a very sensitive way to treat the delicate skin on my face. Absoultely will not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Sephora - Smoothing Primer
dawnsch 2/7/2012 12:23:00 AM
I've tried lots of pricey primers, and none of them did much for me -- they didn't extend the life of my makeup or cover pores/fine lines. This Sephora primer does both, and for just $16. Granted, my skin is drier than that of some younger skins who don't like this product (I'm 40), but I can still get greasy with the wrong product. I just a tiny bit of product (even less than pea-sized) and apply just to my nose and cheeks. My Dior makeup glides on smoothly after the primer has set for a minute, and it still looks good many hours later. It may be that I'm not getting greasy because it's winter -- I'm curious how this will work in summer -- but right now, my skin is looking good with the primer.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -MAC - Buried Treasure Powerpoint
dawnsch 6/7/2011 11:28:00 PM
This is the first eye liner pencil that hasn't left me looking like a crazy racoon by mid afternoon. I've tried using primer with my MUFE liner, and it still smudged on my lower lash line; same for any other pencil. But this MAC pencil went on smoothly, was easy to smudge, then set so well it's still on as I watch the 11pm news. Today was a good day for a humidity test as well, especially since I didn't use a primer. I also love the shade: a soft black with a hint of green and a smidge of shimmer. I was afraid the shimmer would look silly on me (I'm 40), but it's so subtle and flattering. This color brings out the green in my hazel eyes. I'd definitely buy this again, and would try other colors as well. This is my first MAC eye liner purchase, and it's a keeper.
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Styling Products -Aveda - Be Curly Curl Enhancer
dawnsch 5/13/2011 9:09:00 PM
At first I used the Be Curly enhancer without another styling product, and the enhancer didn't do a thing for me. However, when I combine it with my Tresemme volumizing mousse, I get a great result, better than with the mousse alone. I put a small amount of the Aveda product in my damp hair (I find it works without using on dripping wet hair), then follow with the mousse. I scrunch my hair gently, then use my dryer with the diffuser. My hair is done in 3 minutes, total. I'm growing my locks out from a Carey Mulligan short style, and having the wavy curls and frizz under control makes the process a little easier. Wish it weren't so expensive, though.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Christian Dior - HydraLife tinted moisturizer (all shades)
dawnsch 5/7/2011 9:05:00 PM
I've been using a Dior foundation, so for summer I decided to try the TM. I think the TM provides more coverage than the foundation! It's definitely moisturizing, and a little thicker than I thought it would be. I can see how the color range might be limiting (there are only 3 shades), but the lightest shade worked for me (light-medium skin tone). Since it's kind of thick, the only way for me to evenly apply it was to use more than I wanted to, but once I smoothed it on and blended it in with a brush, it looked really good. A friend told me that my skin looked perfect, and she thought I was going bare-faced. It didn't leave me greasy during the day, which was a surprise due to how moisturizing it felt going on. Not sure how this would work on a very hot day...I might stick with the Laura Mercier for summer, and give this another try during the winter. I don't need the moisturizer so much right now, but the coverage makes it worth trying if you do.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Stila - SPF 30 oil-free tinted moisturizer TM
dawnsch 5/5/2011 9:35:00 PM
This TM was one of three samples I tried from Sephora (the others were from Dior and Laura Mercier), but it was my least favorite. It was very sheer, and though I don't need much coverage, I would like a bit more than this offered. Also the "light diffusing particles" were very evident in my bathroom mirror -- I can only imagine that the shimmer would be more obvious in daylight. At age 40, shimmer on my face isn't my best look. I do appreciate the use of physical sunscreens over chemical (not easy to find), but this isn't the right one for me (the winner in my TM search was the Laura Mercier).
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Tinted Moisturizer -Laura Mercier - Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - Oil Free
dawnsch 5/5/2011 9:19:00 PM
Because this TM is so expensive, I was almost hoping not to like it. At Sephora yesterday, I picked up 3 samples: the Laura Mercier oil free TM, the version from Dior, and the TM from Stila. By far, my fave was the Laura Mercier. It went on flawlessly and blended perfectly with my skin tone (I chose the Bisque). It didn't make my face shiny, and it looked so natural -- my skin, only better. It wore very well throughout the day, and I only need to blot once (and that was after an hour's worth of pilates). I applied it with my fingers, then swept over it with a foundation blush. I wanted to see how it would wear on its own, so I opted not to top it off with powder. Perfection. It had more coverage than other TM's that I've tried (Aveda comes to mind), but it felt lighter than my usual foundation (Dior). Not sure how it would work to cover blemishes -- foundation and concealer might still be needed -- but for someone with good skin, it's wonderful. I'm glad I squeezed an extra generous amount into my sample jar!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Bare Escentuals - Rock Candy
dawnsch 3/18/2011 8:10:00 PM
My basic problem with this lipstick is really the color. It's very mauve-y, but the lighting in Sephora didn't pick it up. I was horrified when I tried it on at home in natural light. It also tends to dry my lips, a problem I've had with other BE lipsticks. I gave it two lippies just because it's really not the worst lipstick. Glad I saved my receipt, this is going back.
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Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Mat Black 0L
dawnsch 3/18/2011 8:06:00 PM
I usually check the board for reviews before purchasing a new product, but I bought the MUFE pencil in black on a whim. Bad idea. The color is very pigmented and lovely when first applied, and doesn't irritate my waterline. However, by mid-day, the color has lost its power, and my waterline has faded to grey as well. It especially fades at the corner of my eye where I slightly wing it out. It doesn't smudge when applied, but doesn't last the day either. As another reviewer mentioned, I don't know how this can be waterproof if it fades during normal wear. I'm also bummed that it doesn't work with my regular sharpener. I think I'll use it till it needs to be sharpened, then get my $17 back from Sephora. Not worth the money.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Cover Girl - Line Exact
dawnsch 3/18/2011 7:56:00 PM
I think this is a pretty good drug store liquid eyeliner. I keep one in my purse for occasional touch ups during the day. It does tend to wear off at the corner of my eye, which kind of bugs me as I like to wing it out just a touch. Shaking the marker (which is all it is) several times gets the flow going if it gets a little dried out. A basic product, will repurchase though I wouldn't count it as my hg liner.
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Crème -L'Oreal - magic smooth souffle
dawnsch 2/3/2011 2:52:00 PM
I just tried two color samples of this product, and all I can say is "yikes"! The colors seemed unnatural -- unless I was jaundiced or salmon colored, the shades weren't going to work. The consistency of the mousse was extremely drying, and it seemed to roll right off my skin. No coverage at all, either. I ended up just washing it right off and put on a drop of my D'ior foundation. I sometimes like to try drug store brands for unexpected treasures, but this foundation was a miss.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HiP Kohl Eyeliner in Brown Kohl 803
dawnsch 1/24/2011 11:33:00 PM
IF you have a steady hand...IF you have lots of time and patience...IF you don't mind making a mess...THEN this product may be for you. I love other HIP products, so I gave this a try when it was on sale at CVS. After two uses, it went into the trash. It took too much effort for what I got out of it, which was a sparkly mess on my makeup table and on the skin under my eye. Also, the wand that came with it was a joke, if you give this a try, I suggest using your own brush.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Korres - Wild Rose 24-Hour Cream
dawnsch 12/27/2010 6:46:00 PM
I got this in a value package deal from Sephora (full size). I've been using the moisturizer for about 3 weeks, and I can say that my skin is much softer and more comfortable than before, when I was using Perricone's Super line. I do find the scent a little cloying (Hello, Grandma!), but it disappears quickly. A little goes a long way, so at $35 a jar, I think I'll get my money's worth (price is one reason why I knocked it down from a 5 -- that and the ridiculous SPF of 6). My skin does have small areas of dryness late in the day, but I live in the northeast and wind here has been brutal. Is this a perfect moisturizer that leaves my skin like a baby's bottom and reverses signs of aging? No. But, it does boast more natural ingredients than most lines, it does do a better than average job at keeping my skin soft, and it comes in a generously sized jar. Will likely repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Perricone - Face Finishing Moisturizer
dawnsch 11/28/2010 9:33:00 PM
I purchased a sample jar of this moisturizer from Sephora, and I'm glad I didn't spring for the full price version. This is my first time trying a Perricone product, and I'm not impressed (I'm also trying his Super line -- also a disappointment). My skin is dry in my east coast environment, and while this moisturizer sinks in quickly, it does NOTHING to help with dryness. The product itself doesn't feel as thick as I thought it would. All in all, I'll finish the jar, but will probably just use it as a spare moisturizer. Nothing special for me, unfortunately.
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Treatments -Clinique - Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle and UV Damage Corrector
dawnsch 10/4/2010 10:18:00 PM
UPDATE: Well, after using Repairwear for 12 weeks, I've got nothing to show for it other than very dry skin. No change in my fine lines, no improvement in a couple of discolored spots (used a hq product to solve that instead), no brightness. I saved the packaging and the receipt, so I think I just might send this bottle back to Clinique. I'm disappointed that I'm the only reviewer (so far) who hasn't gotten any results from Clinique's new serum. I've used the product twice a day for 5 weeks and don't notice any difference at all in my skin. At 39, I'm very lucky to have just a few very fine lines around my eyes, and I thought I'd see them fade with the Repairwear. But since this didn't make a dent in my lines, I can't imagine how it would work on someone with deeper lines or wrinkles. On the plus side, the product sinks into skin immediately without any stickiness or residue. Still, it's an overall disappointment.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No