Highlighters -Clinique - Fresh Bloom Allover Colour Almond Blossom
ellyray 11/14/2010 1:32:00 AM
This product is so beautiful. I sweep up a tiny corner of the blush and a healthy load of highlighter, then buff into the apples of the cheeks - it results in a warm, glowy blush with a hint of peachy bronze that is just right when I have a light tan. It looks fantastic with Clinique South Beach eyeshadow and Impossibly Glossy in Firefly on the lips (a bit of a signature look for me this Spring!).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Goldwell - Style Fix Hair Lacquer - Super Firm
ellyray 10/20/2010 7:16:00 AM
I hate product of any kind in my hair, so when this hair spray was recommended to me as a 'light, brush-out' spray, I was pretty dubious. (And only buying in the first place because I recently got a fringe, and need to hold it in place when I pin it back on dirty days. It's my first hairspray ever, at the ripe old age of 32.) Well, I'm happy to say that it is awesome. With a light spritz, it does the job and looks natural, not hard and shiny - just like my real hear, except tamed! It keeps all the stray hairs in place, but I am still able to move the hair around after spraying to get it where I want it to go, it isn't frozen into place like a helmet. And it does brush out instantly with no flakiness. I now feel like a dork for resisting 'product' for so long. Especially as this huge 400g can was under $10 AUD, and at one spritz every few days is going to last me forever!
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Lipstick -Clinique - Different Lipstick - A Different Grape
ellyray 8/28/2010 2:08:00 AM
Wow, what a BEAUTIFUL lipstick! I don't even wear lipstick, but I got this as a freebie with a recent eBay purchase and have fallen in love. So far I have only worn this over Revlon's Blush Shine pencil (my HG lip pencil, by the way. I bought ten from the NYC outlet in 2004 and they're still going strong!). It is a deep, raspberry-pink with a cool hint of purple when worn with the pencil, and the texture is smooth and not at all drying. Ideally, I like to finish with a swipe of Blueberry Blast Juicy Tube to enhance the cool finish. :) I imagine it would be a more definite, striking purple without the pink-coloured base. This is an extremely pretty colour, something a bit different to your everyday pinks and neutrals, and may even convert me into a regular lipstick user. I even find myself wearing it more often than the glosses I actually paid for!
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Polishes -OPI - Light My Sapphire
ellyray 1/30/2010 5:52:00 AM
Okay, I've tried to love OPI polishes. I desperately want to, because they come in such incredible colours, and they go on like the shiniest vinyl - it's a very sophisticated finish unlike any other brands I've tried. However... the staying power is just awful. And I'm talking, one day before it starts peeling off (or sliding off in complete nail-shaped pieces), with very basic activity such as washing hair and washing dishes. NO other polishes that I own, even the $2 chemist ones, have such poor wear resistance. Plus, I use Seche Vite topcoat, so I feel like I'm doing everything right - after three OPI failures I've now come to accept it's the brand that's the problem. And that's extremely disappointing, becuase I love the colours so much! If I want to keep wearing them (and I do), I guess I just have to deal with one day of perfection before a new application is required... sigh. In regards to the shade 'Light My Sapphire' - I think it's a bit dark and murky for my taste, I would like it to be more obviously blue. Will probably try Russian Navy next.
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Primer/ Corrector -Rimmel - Recover Perfect Skin Primer - Brightening
ellyray 1/30/2010 5:44:00 AM
I bought this product after very careful research on the MUA boards. At the same time I also bought Natio's Ageless Primer for my sister... I hope her results are better than mine. Overall, I can't say this product does much at all for me. It goes on a little dry and chalky (best on bare unmoisturised skin actually - have tried it with and without), but in my opinion my makeup looks and feels exactly the same as it always does. I don't tend to wear makeup for longer than 4-5 hours at a stretch, so I can't really comment on staying power and oil control. It certainly provides no more of a 'flawless' look than regular foundation does, but I do have terrible skin (acne scarring) and I wasn't expecting a miracle, so fair enough I guess. I also notice that if I don't wear a reasonably heavy foundation, it makes my (very pale NW15) face look very pink. I will continue to use it in combination with different types of makeup, maybe it will have a more obvious impact with other products. So far I wouldn't say it's a bad product, just a pretty pointless one.
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Conditioner -Burt's Bees - More Moisture Raspberry and Brazil Nut Conditioner
ellyray 1/30/2010 5:33:00 AM
A conditioner that dries your hair out? - I can't say I'd ever used one of those before, until I tried this product. It is just awful. My hair felt brittle during and after use, and dried into a tangled frizzball. I believe using no conditioner would be preferable if you are after a silky, well-moisturised result. Frankly I can't find a redeeming feature here - even the price is ridiculous (around $17 in Australia). Very, very disappointing! :(
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Lotions/ Creams -Bath and Body Works - Breathe Happiness Deep Moisture Healing Hand Cream
ellyray 10/19/2009 10:32:00 PM
The citrusy smell of this product is divine - if I'm being honest, it's what I like best about it. I can't comment on how it stands up to the wear and tear of a typical day because I apply this cream before bed, quite liberally, and I feel that it does a great job of moisturising through the night. It feels lovely and rich (but not greasy) and I love putting it on!
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Blush -Clinique - Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Cupid
ellyray 7/2/2009 3:29:00 AM
Let me put it this way - I started wearing Cupid a couple of months ago, and suddenly (and for no other apparent reason) I was getting asked for ID whenever I bought my partner's cigarettes at the supermarket. I am 31 tomorrow. Yes, I love this blush!! :)
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Lancome - Juicy Tubes in Sun Bronze
ellyray 7/2/2009 3:25:00 AM
This is a gorgeous, shimmery plum, that you can build to intense effect or smudge on lightly for a natural bitten-lip look. It's a fairly similar colour to Clinique's Black Honey. My tube of Sun Bronze has sat untried in my cupboard for a couple of years, I've always thought it looked a little too bold for me, but I'm so glad i finally gave it a go - it is a seriously beautiful colour, perfect for autumn (fall) and winter. Classic Juicy Tube slickness and shine, with medium wear.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Rimmel - Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Make Up - Light
ellyray 12/12/2008 6:47:00 AM
I am reviewing this product in the 'for face' range. Went on bright orange, looked disgusting, I'm quite shocked at the colour actually- I didn't know cheap and nasty 'tans' like this still existed! Very disappointing, especially after the rave reviews here. My skin is NW15-20 and generally responds really well to face tanners, but I wouln't touch this one again if you paid me.
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Blush -Max Factor - Max Factor Natural Brush On Satin Blush in Pink Dream
ellyray 9/9/2008 8:47:00 AM
After years of using gel and cream blushes, I'm on a powder blush spree right now- and this one is GORGEOUS! Quite a finely-milled powder in a versatile, buildable hue that lasts all day- well, a good 8 hours anyway- before it starts to fade. That's a long time for me! The shade looks a bit candy-pink in the pan, but is actually a pretty, everyday matte pink that really flatters my NW15-20 skintone. In fact, this product is part of my current `perfect look in 5 minutes' makeup routine- Nivea Aqua Sensations day cream, Clinique City Block in Golden, this product on the apples of the cheeks, Clinique High Impact Eyeshadow in Sunkissed, a sweep of the highlighter colour from Stila's Warm Trio eyeshadow palette under the eyes and brows, Clinique Double Impact Mascara, and Clinique Impossibly Glossy lip gloss in Loveable Plum. Needless to say, my favourite blush of the moment!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Herbacin - Kamille + Silicone Glycerin hand cream
ellyray 9/9/2008 8:35:00 AM
Have just used this product for the first time after reading the great reviews on this board. (I don't think it is available in Australia, I purchased it from a UK eBay seller). After a couple of hours I'm very impressed- it sinks beautifully into the skin, leaving a silky lustre and a subtle, pleasant scent, and no greasy residue. My hands definitely look younger and smoother. I don't know yet if this will be a serious contender for HG status, I'll give it a few days and see how it stacks up against my long-time favourite Nivea Age Control Creme Q10 Plus- so far it's the closest a hand cream has come to a serious challenge so that's a huge endorsement! UPDATE- I've been alternating this product with my regular Nivea cream, and have decided I don't love the thick, almost waxy feel of the product as you rub it in- it you almost have to `work' it into the skin, and it feels a little tacky to the touch for quite a while afterwards. It does have excellent staying power though, and keeps my hands soft and supple-looking for ages, so I'm sticking with 5 lippies.
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Eye Shadow -Clinique - Color Surge Duo in Strawberry Fudge
ellyray 8/24/2008 10:29:00 AM
A really beautiful duo that I have been coveting on eBay for months (finally picked up 2 for US$10- they are AUD$35 each retail!). Firstly, I should say that I don't wear eyeshadows in `pairs'. Despite my near-obsession with makeup and four deep drawers filled with every cosmetic imaginable, I actually like to keep it pretty simple- as far as eyeshadow goes, I pick one colour for the day, brush it on the lid over some base, blend with my finger, maybe add a touch of highlighter in the socket, and I'm good to go. So I haven't tried these shades together- all that blending and contouring- way too fussy for me :) The pink is surprisingly warm and has a gorgeous glowy gold finish that packs a punch with thick black lashes. I love the pigmentation of High Impact eyeshadows and this shade is no exception. I find that it wears very well too, it may fade a little by the end of the day but it doesn't slide off or become patchy, which low-quality powder shadows can do. I am usually a little too pink-toned to get away with pink eyeshadow (NW15-20), but I find the gold in this makes it surprisingly flattering- and ideal for day or night. The brown is also lovely, a little more subdued and low-key and also perfect for both casual daywear and a smoky-eye look at night. It's more dramatic and less shimmery than the pink, and is just as highly pigmented. My favourite brown in the High Impact range is Foxy (cooler-toned and more shimmery), so I probably wouldn't go to this shade if it weren't stuck conveniently in its little pan next to the gorgeous pink, but it is definitely a flattering neutral colour.
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Mascara -Clinique - Naturally Glossy Mascara
ellyray 8/24/2008 10:11:00 AM
This has been my favourite mascara for years. It has a silky and extremely glossy feel (hence the name, I guess), darkens and lengthens the lashes without clumping at all, and if you're not after a thickening mascara, this is about as pretty and natural-looking as it gets. Now that I think about it, this product's name is really perfect- unlike most cosmetics it's actually 100% accurate!
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Eye Shadow -Clinique - High Impact eyeshadow in South Beach
ellyray 8/24/2008 10:04:00 AM
Possibly the most flattering, beautiful, neutral shimmer eyeshadow ever invented. My daytime HG for years- and its been DISCONTINUED!! Ok so I know it's been unavailable for ages, but it's only now that I've finally run out of my stockpiled GWPs that I'm comprehending the tragedy of it all! This pale, warm gold shadow gives eyes a bright, clear, smouldering look, making the iris pop and somehow brightening the whole face like no other shadow I've ever encountered. (Another Clinique High Impact ES, Sunkissed, comes close.) Looks sensational on my lids whether naturally pale NW15-20, or spray-tanned NW30. It works perfectly as a base or on its own for daytime, or for a fresh-faced `I'm not wearing makeup' look for the beach or a casual night out. It has fantastic pigment, lasts FOREVER (both on the lid and in the pan), and for a shimmer shadow, manages to look incredible even on more mature eyes. I honestly never look so good as when I'm wearing this eyeshadow, it just transforms the whole face. It's 10/10, HG, never-fail, five-star material! Bring it back, Clinique!! (And while you're at it, bring back the Smudgesicle too!)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No