Bronzers -NARS - Laguna
evemarie2 3/4/2013 9:29:00 AM
I really like this bronzer and can not say anything about it that hasn't already been said. The only thing I will say is that, for the price, it is not very long lasting and it ALWAYS breaks as soon as you hit pan - I am on my third compact and all have fallen to pieces long before they were used up. I use Laguna 4-5 days a week and a compact only lasts me about 4 months which when contrasted with the longevity of Benefit Hoola (which imo is equal in quality to Nars Laguna) is not very long as Hoola lasts me about a year and a half with the same amount of use. So, if anyone is torn between these two products and is on a budget or just looking for a bit more bang for their buck I would suggest Hoola over Laguna but otherwise Laguna is a great product that I would highly recommend.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Liz Earle - Sheer Skin Tint
evemarie2 10/15/2012 6:56:00 PM
I really like this product. I bought it to wear during the day (after I realised that Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B20 is too pink for me!) with the intention of saving what's left of my (discontinued) Chanel Pro-Lumiere for evenings. I actually think it's better then the 'pro' and would happily wear this out at night! The colour I wear is 'Beige' and it's slightly darker than my skintone (Chanel 20, Mac NC 20) which I like because it gives me a healthy glow without looking fake or orange. It also doubles up as a sunscreen because it has broad spectrum physical sunscreen (zinc and titanium dioxide) - most foundations only contain a chemical UVB sunscreen which is practically useless because chemical sunscreens need to have contact with the skin to work properly. I wear this over my La Roche Posay Redermic UV and feel safe in the knowledge that my skin is doubly protected. It also has vitamin E so there is a bit of anti-oxidant protection there too which is always a bonus. Coverage wise, this has similar coverage to Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua but with a more dewy finish. The Skin Tint feels very moisturising when it is applied - it is not a modern 'light as air formula' like Dior Nude or Vitalumiere Aqua but instead feels like a more traditional foundation. I apply it with my fingers and it needs a good bit of blending but doesn't streak and always applies evenly. I am deducting 1 lippie because after a few hours this gets a bit shiny and sticky at the sides of my nose - a bit of powder usually helps but I have to rub the area with my finger first to 're -blend' or it looks cakey.
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Liquid -Chanel - Perfection Lumiere
evemarie2 4/18/2012 10:50:00 AM
This has a very 'flat' finish when compared to other Chanel foundations (I've tried them all!) so while it might be ok for oily skin it is no good for dry skin like mine or for anyone who wants a radiant look to their skin. I would recommend the Vitalumiere Aqua over this because it 'sets' to the skin in a similar way to the 'Perfection' and has a similar light feeling and good coverage but with a little more 'oomph'!!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Urban Decay - Shadow Brush
evemarie2 7/28/2011 7:39:00 PM
This brush has already been described very accurately by other reviewers so I just want to point out one thing that makes this a great eyeshadow brush in my opinion. I got this with the Naked palette and the silky, firm texture means that I can use it with every colour in the palette, even going straight from Creep (black) to Virgin (cream) without any of the previous colour transferring into the new one. I just rub my thumb across the brush to shake off any excess colour and continue on with my eyeshadow application. This makes it the perfect brush for anyone who likes to use a few colours at a time or who, like me, are too lazy to wash their brushes regularly!
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Lotions/ Creams -Palmers - Palmers Cocoa Butter Massage Stretch Mark Cream
evemarie2 7/16/2011 4:03:00 PM
I used this twice a day throughout both of my pregnancies and I have no stretchmarks. During the last month of my second pregnancy I was hospitalised for a few days after getting an electric shock (long story!) and when one of the nurses noticed my stretch mark free bump she called others over to have a look. They told me it was very unusual to see someone in the last trimester of pregnancy with no stretchmarks and I told them it must be because of the Palmers stretchmark cream. They said that no cream could prevent stretchmarks and some people just have more resilient skin. While I kind of agree with them in theory the fact of the matter is that I have a few stretchmarks on my hips from gaining a couple of stone over a short period during my early twenties so obviously my skin is prone to stretchmarks! Based on that evidence I would highly recommend this cream for preventing stretchmarks and even if you are sceptical you have nothing to lose by trying it because it is a lovely product that smells divine - even now the smell of cocoa butter reminds me of being pregnant and happy and excited about the future! Good luck!!!
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Treatments -Olay - Regenerist Filling + Sealing Wrinkle Treatment
evemarie2 7/16/2011 7:57:00 AM
I'll start by saying that I am not and never have been a fan of 'supermarket' skincare products and generally prefer high end or natural/organic ranges but this product has totally changed my mind. My undereye and lip wrinkles while still not very deep have recently become much more noticeable and don't fade after a good nights sleep or a facial the way they used to - in other words, they have become permanent. My sister and I were sitting at her kitchen table yesterday moaning about our aging skin and discussing our latest purchases when she handed me a mirror and a tube of the Olay Regenerist wrinkle treatment and said 'Try this'. I put a tiny amount of it over my makeup on my most wrinkly area which is under my left eye and I could see the difference immediately! It reduced the appearance of the wrinkles by about 70% and also created a nice matte, light diffusing effect on my skin. I was ecstatic and we went straight to her local Tesco (it was on sale for half price) where I bought one and she bought a back up! I have it on today, under my eyes and around my lips (I applied it in a downward motion from about a centimetre outside my top lip in towards and slightly on to the lip) and I look as fresh as a daisy - I can't stop looking in the mirror and am quite tempted to put this all over my face the next time! I would recommend this to everyone but please be aware that it will not reduce your wrinkles as it only produces a cosmetic effect - that's fine with me though as given a choice between a product that claims to reduce wrinkles and doesn't and one that claims to dramatically reduce the appearance of wrinkles and DOES I'll go with the latter every time!!!
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Clinique - Long Last - Blushing Nude
evemarie2 7/15/2011 6:51:00 AM
This is the nicest lipstick I've used for a long time. For the past couple of years I've been using coral or orangey coloured sheer lipsticks with no lipliner, thinking that's what suited me best. My mother kept telling me that I needed a 'darker' lipstick paired with a lipliner as opposed to the 'bright' colours I'd been wearing but of course I paid no heed. She gave me this one to try and I dug my old Mac Spice lipliner out of storage to go with it and my lips look great! While it's not 'dark' it is darker than my own lips and it goes really well with Spice even though the lipstick is slightly cooler. The more neutral tone brings out my eyes and makes my skin tone look a bit fresher - I've even noticed that men are more flirtatious with me since I've been wearing it so it must be an improvement!!! The texture of it is lovely - it's slightly shiny but not shimmery or pearly - it's also surprisingly long lasting. If you like neutral coloured lipstick, try this, it's quite natural but also gives your makeup a touch of polish and sophistication making you look like you've made an effort. Blushing Nude gets a big thumbs up from me!
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Masks -Liz Earle - liz earle intensive nourishing treatment mask
evemarie2 9/15/2010 4:59:00 PM
Lovely mask - it leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft and 'plump'. I alternate this with the Brightening Treatment and the Ren clay mask (not crazy about the Liz Earle clay mask) depending on how my skin feels. That's the great thing about LE masks, they're gentle enough to mix and match without your skin being 'overloaded' with products. Will continue to purchase!
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Moisturizers -Ren - Omega 3 Nutrifying Facial Serum
evemarie2 8/31/2010 2:09:00 PM
I just used this product for the first time and although I know it's a bit soon, I just wanted to give my initial reaction. I got the sensitive skin trial pack and this was in it - it came in a 15ml pump. It's a pleasant smelling, silky, golden coloured oil - I needed two pumps for my face and neck and it spread really easily. Immediately after application, my skin looks smoother and softer and my fine lines look less deep. I have been using Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair for the past few weeks and while the Ren serum has a far superior cosmetic effect I doubt that the antioxidant levels are as high as in the Estee Lauder one. I have a touch of rosacea and while there is a hint of pink on my cheeks (possibly due to rubbing the serum on) it doesn't see to have irritated my skin. Overall, I really like it and can't wait to use it again! I'll let you know if it's good enough to warrant purchasing the full size when I've finished the sample! Update: Unfortunately this made my cheeks flare up after a few days, I think my skin could have reacted to the rosehip oil in it as I've had a similar reaction to other products containing it. I've been using it on my neck and chest (not sensitive there for some reason) and they've felt as smooth as a baby's bum! I would highly recommend this for non sensitive skin but if you have reactive skin, try the sample size first.
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Skincare - Body -Liz Earle - Liz Earle Superbalm
evemarie2 7/12/2010 9:30:00 AM
I'm not crazy about Superbalm - I love the smell (nerolli,lavender) and it's great for cuticles but I don't find it very moisturising on elbows, knees etc. I'm a big fan of Liz Earle products and use most of the range but this particular product does nothing for my skin. It looks like Vaseline in the pot but it changes to an oily texture as soon as it makes contact with your skin. I will continue to purchase the small size as it is a lovely product to rub into nails and cuticles - it doesn't realy soften the cuticles but it gives my nails a nice healthy sheen and it seems to have an exfoliating effect on them, leaving them really smooth and shiny. Try the small size first and see how you get on, it is a good quality product so give it a try.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Lancome - Hydra Zen Teinte Tinted Moisturizer
evemarie2 7/3/2010 6:59:00 PM
Hydra Zen Teinte is a fabulous tinted moisturiser! The coverage is not as sheer as most similar products but that suits me fine as I like a little bit of coverage - I have dry skin so use this over my usual moisturiser but those of you with combination or normal skin could easily use it alone. It comes in a generous size which will last a few months with daily use as you don't need to apply a lot. I don't know what it is about it but it gives the illusion of flawless 'glowy' skin without the use of any light reflecting particles etc - it has a satin finish that evens out the complexion without looking 'made up'. I apply this before concealer (Mac Studio fix on blemishes and YSL Touch Eclait on under eyes) and finish with Clinique loose powder in Transparency neutral. The colours are 01 Naturel which is a fair, neutral/ warm tone, 02 Sable fair, neutral/pink and 03 Dore medium, warm/tan. I started off using 01 but found it a little too pale (I like to use sheer formulations in a slightly darker colour than my skin tone) so I tried 02 which was very pink on me. The sales assistant suggested 03 and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it blended really well with my skin tone even though I am pale - it looked dark coming out of the tube but it gave me a nice healthy glow. I intend to continue to purchase both 01 and 03 and mix them or use 03 alone depending on how my skin looks, eg with or without fake tan. I would recommend this product to any age group but particularly to those who (like myself!) are finding that their foundation is giving their skin an aged appearance - I can honestly say that this product makes my skin look about 5 years younger and that can't be a bad thing! My only complaint is that the UV protection is not broad spectrum (which unfortunately is the case with most Lancome products) as the only sunscreen ingredient used is Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate which only offers UVB protection so please don't rely on this to prevent skin ageing. Overall though an excellent product which I hope is never discontinued!
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Loose Powders -Elizabeth Arden - Ceramide Skin Smoothing Loose Powder
evemarie2 12/5/2009 4:30:00 PM
Fabulous product!!! I'm fussy about powder because it's an essential part of my makeup routine - my favourite powders before I tried this one were Clinique and Lancome but lately I've been trying to spend less on makeup so was on the hunt for a cheaper alternative. I went shopping and tested a few cheap powders but they didn't cut the mustard - I used to work for Elizabeth Arden and haven't used their products since so I had a look at their stand just out of curiosity and tried a bit of the ceramide powder on my hand - it was gorgeous - the colour (light) was perfectly pale and golden toned and there was a slight subtle shimmer which I loved (I've never liked 'shimmery' powders but this was very subtle and sophisticated looking). I asked the assistant the price and she told me it was 35 euro - that's around the same price as Lancome so I reluctantly declined to purchase it. I couldn't get the ceramide powder out of my head and I was thinking about it and coveting it so much that I went back the next day and bought it!!! I'm delighted with it, the coverage is great and it's nice and matte without being drying or cakey. I use the puff to apply it over foundation (the puff is a bit stiff and thin for my liking but it does the trick) and then use my fingers to rub it in a bit (I've never rubbed a powder on before but this is so silky that it just glides across my skin). It gives my skin a lovely smooth healthy look and doesn't need to be touched up very often (I would usually reapply powder a few times a day but this only needs one touch up, if that) Best purchase I've made in a long time and well worth the money - a big thumbs up from me!!! Update: Am back to Clinique because I noticed that this powder was a little bit dark on me but couldn't find it in the palest shade (I like powders that are slightly paler than my foundation). I would still give it 4 lippies though but would recommend it more for medium skintones or for those of you with fair skin that like their powder to give a bit of colour as opposed to just set foundation. If I could find a shop that stocked the translucent shade I would definitely repurchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Boots - No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour
evemarie2 7/21/2009 7:07:00 PM
I agree with pandoraboxes about the shade 'Temptress'. I bought it on a whim today because I was waiting ages at the checkout in Boots and was checking out the nail polishes while I was standing there - it caught my eye because it looked like a lovely Rouge Noir type colour but when I put it on, the first coat looked like a kind of rasberry pink - I put the second coat on and not only was it still a horrible old fashioned looking pink it was also see through and very smeared. Two coats later and it finally looked like the colour in the bottle but was still see through in places! I put another coat on just now and while the colour is gorgeous (can't stop admiring it!) I don't know if it's worth putting five coats of nail polish on when I could just buy Chanel Rouge Noir or Essie Wicked (which I heard was another lovely black/red) and get a similar result with less hardship!
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Moisturizers -Nuxe - Creme Merveillance Enrichie Visible Expression Lines Cream (for Very Dry Skin)
evemarie2 6/18/2009 5:43:00 PM
Wow!!! I used this product for the first time today and I can't believe how good it is! I vowed a couple of months ago to stop paying extortionate prices for beauty products - I've been on a mission to find reasonably priced,good quality products. I have previously alternated between Estee Lauder Daywear and Lancome Hydra Zen and while they are very good moisturisers they never produced the visible results that Merveillance has and they are almost double the price. The first thing that struck me about it was the lovely dense texture - it was thick and rich and when I applied it didn't feel greasy like most dry skin moisturisers - it was almost sticky but in a pleasant way! It sunk in quickly and the effect was immediate. My complexion looked radiant and when I put my make up on it glided on and looked perfect,my skin was so smooth and plump. The radiant effect lasted all day - nearly crashed the car cause I couldn't stop looking in the mirror! I haven't looked this good in years! The only test it has yet to pass is the long term hydration one - I have dry skin and if a moisturiser is not rich enough for me my skin gets tight and cracks and peels on my nose - not a pretty sight! So I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I've a feeling this could be my (and I swore I'd never use this expression!!) HG!!!!!! I'll keep you posted! Well I've been using this for about a month now and while unfortunately the dry skin on my nose is back I can't actually say it's because of this product because I've introduced alot of new products into my skincare regime. For a couple of weeks I was finding it a bit sticky and not as easily absorbed as it was at first but I tried putting a bit less on - it worked a treat - I had been using way too much! I've noticed that it has a firming effect on the skin, which is an added bonus considering it's not promoted as a 'firming' product. I've also noticed that the reason for the 'soft focus' effect is that it leaves a nice 'film' on the skin (almost like a primer) and this seems to be why it makes a good make up base. Still think this is a great product that I'd highly recommend and I've just purchased the Merveillance serum for under it - which I'll review when I've used it for a few days. Try this moisturiser - you won't regret it!!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Liz Earle - Liz Earle Sun Shade SPF 24 Face Protector
evemarie2 5/19/2009 1:27:00 PM
I just used this product for the first time and I'm very disappointed with it. I usually use Clinique City Block but wanted to try this because I just recently started using Liz Earle products and wanted to try the whole range. It is very thick and white and when I put foundation over it it gathered into white patches on my face - it looked dreadful.I've only had it on for about three hours so I can't really judge it's sun protection qualities but I know just by looking in the mirror that I won't be buying it again - I look like wax dummy! My face has a weird looking sheen even though I put a good coating of powder over my foundation - it looks like I've got sudocream on it, it's so white and shiny! I'm pale skinned so if it looks like this on me I dread to think what it would be like on darker skin! I love Liz Earles ethics and the customer service is excellent but I'm on the fence about alot of the products - I think they're good but most of them seem more suitable for normal skin (mine is dry with occasional breakouts). A big thumbs down from me I'm afraid - I wouldn't recommend this sunscreen - sorry Liz! Update, 07/05/10: This product has been reformulated - I haven't tried it yet but from what I have read on the LE website and Facebook page it is much lighter in texture and now has a slight tint (similar to Clinique City Block). Will definitely try the new formula and will keep you posted! Edit: I tried the new version and while it's better than the original it's still not great - might be worth trying the small tube to see what you think. I'm 'upping' the score from 1 lippie to 3!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No