Cleansers -Vichy - Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel
deeburnbridge 1/8/2012 3:25:00 AM
This Vichy cleanser, as compared to some other cleansers I use depending on my skin condition, is probably the most inexpensive and I only recently started using it because I was getting a bit of a breakout on my chin, cheeks and forehead (due to some change in cosmetic products I believe). I was freaking out and was a bit unwilling to repurchase my Kiehl's blue cleansing gel again because well, honestly, the price point isn't that appealing. Vichy Normaderm came to my rescue. First, their spot cream is really great and helps reduce redness and swelling of any spots on face. I find this cleansing gel does its work as well and helping to clear up the breakouts and restore clarity to my skin. Hasn't yet helped with the skin texture yet as I think it'll still take a while for the skin to heal. Not very drying although if you're using this twice a day, 7 days a week I recommend you might feel some dryness in your cheeks. I noticed mine did when I was using it twice a day when the breakout was in its peak. Nonetheless, a good moisturiser and night cream for bedtime seems to sort it out. If your skin gets too dry, I reckon using it once a day shows its effects...hence, the 3 stars.
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Mascara -Kanebo - kate mascara base
deeburnbridge 12/31/2011 2:27:00 AM
So far, I have not found a mascara base that can replace this and whenever I purchase these things, I tend to get an extra as well even though one tube lasts me ages. Anyhow, a new mascara base has been released. I believe the formula is the same but instead of white fibres ~ you've now got BLACK FIBRES. To be honest, there's no difference to me whether its white or black as going over my lashes with a mascara covers it all black anyhow. I do really like this base though because its the only thing that's light and doesn't weigh it down, hence undoing my lash curls, it thickens and lengthens but still looks very natural. My lashes are not that long, neither do I have them very luscious; really, they're just very decent lashes but Kate's mascara base really helps prep and prime them so they look pretty amazing, almost like I've got falsies on, after mascara. HG. Nothing can replace this. (I recently purchased a Coffret D'or mascara base. But somewhere in me, I know I'm going to keep turning to KATE because of the price and quality of this product). You can get these at Asian drugstores or Adambeauty.com - he's certainly selling them at the best price possible online.
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Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
deeburnbridge 12/31/2011 2:17:00 AM
Ok I am a bit of a sucker for packaging but when it comes to lip balm, I really need good solid packaging as I take it everywhere with me and it tends to bang around inside my bag along with electronics, books, etc. So my lip balms need to be fairly sturdy. Previously, I was using Bobbi Brown's lip balm which comes in a mirrored round tin. I love that one as you can sort of use it as a mirror as well. How very handy. But the formula is quite thick and it does have SPF so you can smell just a hint of that sunscreen in there. Also, it doesn't glide onto your lips quite as smooth but I'd say its a really great lip balm - all protecting and nourishing - for winter time. I've used Burt's Bees and also Carmex but find that the latter made my lip crack up a little more. I have a very bad habit of biting the right corner of my lower lip as well so once it cracks, the urge to bite is annoyingly in my face. With Fresh lip treatment, I'm glad there's spf cause that's really key to protecting it and it glides on smooth. Lips feel a lot plumper and less tight and stressed. Its expensive but the packaging is great for my lifestyle, looks pretty stylish as well. It doesn't stay on all day so you got to reapply but I think that's pretty much the case for every other lip balm I've tried. Ok so, expensive but works and will repurchase.
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Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
deeburnbridge 12/31/2011 2:10:00 AM
I really really adore this cleansing oil. My nightly cleansing routine is pretty long drawn out. First I start with my eyes with Cleansing Express (under Mandom Corp) eye makeup remover to take off all eye makeup, waterproof mascara and tightlined eyeliner. Then I use 1 pump of DHC Cleansing Oil to clean off all the rest of my makeup. After rinsing it off, I follow it with a face wash or a Yamano white clay wash to get everything off as I do put on quite a few layers in the morning : moisturiser, sunscreen, makeup primer, etc. etc. etc. I do like this because the smell is mild and its very comfortable on the skin. After rinsing it off the skin isn't tight but feels smooth, moisturised and bouncy. However, the past few days, due to stress and lack of sleep my skin has been breaking out and I have also started using a foundation that is a little more longwearing. Have therefore now resorted to using 2 pumps of cleansing oil. Should work in cleaning everything off quite thoroughly as I normally don't see anything on my cotton puff when I go over my face with a toner. Will definitely repurchase. It doesn't break me out like Shu Uemura's cleansing oil does. Price is on the decent side. My skin just generally has an eversion to any of Shu Uemura's skincare products. Breaks out like nothing ever before. However, if DHC can release another cleansing oil that is MORE deep cleansing than this, I'd go for that. I'm just paranoid like that.
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup (new - 2011 version)
deeburnbridge 12/30/2011 9:17:00 PM
I've been reading many reviews of this product because I was searching for a foundation to suit some of my requirements. And I've decided to add one of my own should it help anyone who's interested in this. I'm not a foundation junkie; I've only a Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation in #20 Clair and a Giorgio Armani Luminous Skin Foundation in #5 that I both love except I needed something in between for daily work wear. The thing with Chanel's Mat Lumiere is that it runs a little yellow, it looks great initially on but it oxidises throughout the day and strangely enough (!) it doesn't do much for my combi skin that gets oily in the T-zone. About 2hrs or so and I'm greasing up. By the end of the day, my face looks little muddy and just generally, for me, very unattractive like 'dead skin'. Nonetheless, Mat Lumiere has great texture etc. On the other hand, Giorgio Armani (my HG) is too expensive (with not as much coverage not that I like foundation with medium coverage; I really like foundations which sit very light, meld to the skin so you can't really feel that it's there) for everyday use. And my Sulwhasoo Whitening BB Base doesn't have enough coverage if I've got a blemish spot that day or something. So I turned to Diorskin Forever (new formulation) - many raves and many gripes but so far I'm in my first week of using no problems as yet. I swatched 020 and 010 on my hand but couldn't quite tell the different so I got the SA to colour me in at my jawline. Both have a little pink undertones to it. She recommended 020 (I'm neutral skin tone) though I tried 010 as well. The latter is certainly a tad fairer on my skin but that was only INITIALLY. 020 seemed almost a perfect match although it appeared dull and that is a big sign to me that its just gonna oxidise and turn brown and gross. Anyhow, didn't notice much oxidation with this foundation (so unlike MAC's Face & Body which just didn't do anything spectacular for my east asian skin). It did change a little but after that not much, doesn't really budge either and a little more coverage than I'm normally comfortable with so I reckon that's pretty good for work as I want to put a good face forward. I took the 010 and today am wearing it with NO PRIMER or MAKEUP BASE. Have set it with Chanel's loose powder in Peche Clair. Sits very well on skin. I normally have an SPF50 PA+++ under my makeup but with Diorskin's SPF25 PA+++ I'm thinking I'll live a little today. Would just like to see how this holds up for longer hour(age) wear. In comparison to Chanel's MatLumiere I have already high hopes for this controlling my face oils a lot better. •••UPDATE••• Morning to evening wear: pretty much stays on. Morning to afternoon 6hr wear: stays on, coverage still there like when I put it on in the morning. Does shine up midway so blotting is necessary although my face is not greased up very much, only visible shine (I believe that's partly due to this part dewy-part matte formulation) so powdering down with a touchup powder is sufficient. Mega like this. A noticeable difference to other supposedly mattifying foundations.
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