Moisturizers -BeneFit Cosmetics - b right triple performing facial emulsion
gna 4/2/2013 10:38:00 AM
Although I'm not a sunscreen wearer, I've used this on days I've run out of my regular moisturizer. In my opinion, this is a nice SPF 15 lotion that won't dry up skin--for those with oily or combo skin in their thirties. I can't imagine being a user of this in my teens or twenties with my skin type; it's that moisturizing on me. If the SPF were higher, I'd have broken out from clogged pores or irritation. This is a cheaper, less heavy version of Estee Lauder's Daywear lotion. I'd much prefer scentless product, but my real rant is the packaging, which is not exactly portable. However, Benefit sells kits of their skin care which are great for travel.
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Treatments -Kiehls - Midnight Recovery Concentrate
gna 4/1/2013 11:06:00 PM
Because my skin is combo-oily and prone to clogged pores, I use oils seldomly, about 3 days out of a year when my skin is beat up by wind and cold. Given that oils are not for me, I'm reviewing this based on irritation factor, and not greasiness. This serum caused a few sore, red bumps on my cheeks and nose. Later, I found out this contained irritating oils including lavender, which have caused negatives in the past. As for the soothing effects on my skin, it's no different than any other facial oil I've tried. I would've rated this a 1, but am giving it a 2 because Kiehl's allowed me to sample before buying.
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Top/Base Coats -Zoya - Anchor
gna 3/31/2013 12:54:00 PM
I didn't like this base coat. Polish takes longer to dry when wearing it. Anchor also dried out my nails and was not easy to remove. The base extends the wear of certain polishes for a day or two, but not significantly. One good quality is that it did not yellow my nails.
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Moisturizers -Tatcha - Moisture Rich Silk Cream
gna 3/31/2013 10:01:00 AM
This is a decent cream. On me, it works fine on really cold winter days. Otherwise, I find it too heavy. Problem is I didn't find it special enough to warrant the price tag. It's certainly not better than other high-end Japanese face creams that cost around $10-$20 USD less.
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Embryolisse
gna 2/5/2013 5:26:00 PM
Awful for my skin. It left a film and caused cysts and pimples. Nowadays, there are far better, and many more moisturizers on the market that do what Embryolisse is supposed to do.
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Treatments -Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex
gna 12/26/2012 8:59:00 PM
The product dried out my skin even after I applied moisturizer over it, made my pores look worse, and caused pimples. From reading all the raves, it works for some with sensitive skin, but not for sensitive types like me. The only positive point about the serum is that it did make my skin (oily with surface dryness) oilier. I'll stick with just a moisturizer.
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Blush -Becca - Mineral Blush
gna 10/21/2012 1:29:00 PM
This blush made me break out, but it's likely due to my sensitive skin rather than the formula. However, there are other qualities I dislike. I have the rose-mauve color, which turned darker on my skin after a few hours. Also, the product made my skin oily, and the overall effect was too shiny; The product is shiny enough by itself. The shimmer is ground up, but it's there.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Illamasqua - Katie
gna 5/22/2010 1:48:00 PM
Nice color for medium-light olives like me, who find that many pink blushes turn coral on the skin. It's cool enough to stay pink, and light enough not to appear doll-face pink. For reference, Shu's M Pink 31 turned into an ill-looking warm color on me. Katie looks chalky and pale in the pan, but does not appear that way on my face. Quality of Illamasqua blushes is good. The are smooth and last all day, but appear more powdery than other high-end matte blushes (e.g. Nars, Shu) if skin is not well-moisturized. However, I like the formula because shimmer particles and emollient powders are more likely to cause sensitives and break outs. Also, I feel the pigment of Illamasqua's POWDER blushes is exaggerated. I don't need to use a light hand with many colors, including this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Lancome - Color Design Matte Lipstick
gna 5/17/2010 8:54:00 PM
I have three colors, and I regret purchasing all three at once. The lipsticks sucked. Initially, they seemed great--moisturizing, not too dense, pigmented, and vivid. But it's how they wear that makes them good or bad. And these wear horribly. After less than 2 hours, they caked up on lips, and made lip lines more apparent than other mattes I've used. I'm no MAC fanatic, but I have to say I like Mac's Amplifieds much more. I've never liked Lancome lipstick formulas (I like Lancome eye shadows), and this turns me off for good. When a lipstick that costs $$ wears horribly, I call it false advertising.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Shiseido - Ultimate Cleansing Oil
gna 5/6/2010 2:01:00 PM
My favorite cleansing oil. Cleans and rinses off easier than most--without irritation or breakouts. I've tried Shu, Boscia, Softymo, Shiseido Perfect, Fancl, DHC, etc. I always follow with a foaming cleanser. Wish they'd make a small one in a squeeze bottle for travel.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock spf 70
gna 5/5/2010 10:25:00 AM
Elegant, non-oily formula, but it made my skin very dry and uncomfortable. I slathered this on and got small, red, bumps on face which resembled acne--nothing extreme that did not disappear after 2 days--definitely irritation. Did not use long enough to know if it clogs pores. Very portable bottle. I can understand the raves, but not for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Shiseido - Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion For Face & Body, spf 60 PA+++
gna 5/3/2010 6:04:00 PM
The new formula is great. I'm combo/sensitive, and this formula does not break me out, or suck me dry like the older one. The finish is natural: It's not shiny, but definitely not powdery and matte. Mattifying products usually break me out, and look fake on me. I don't wear foundation so don't know how this would wear under makeup.
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Mascara -Shiseido - Perfect Mascara
gna 4/29/2010 12:49:00 AM
Far from perfect. I bought this believing it was a tubing mascara. It does not perform or feel like tubing mascaras I have used. I don't think this is a tubing mascara, but I'm not sure. Product smudged and flaked off after 5 hours, thereby irritating my eyes. Unlike other tubing mascaras, this one is easy to wash off--almost too easy. I do like Shiseido's thin texture. It also gave my lashes a very glossy, black look. However, unless they change the formula, I will most definitely not repurchase. Prior to this, Shiseido's mascara offerings were nice, but too difficult to remove. This one is gentle and easy to remove, but smeared like crazy. YMMV.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Illamasqua - Lipstick
gna 4/25/2010 4:09:00 PM
I love most of Illamasqua I've tried, including the eye shadows, which I feel blend and wear like second skin. However, the lipsticks are another story for me. I owned Flicker, Underworld, and Climax--all unique colors I like. I loved the dense pigment, and the fact that they did not cake up on my lips. But they were super drying and did not apply smoothly. Staying power was great, but I could not deal with the layers of lip balm and gloss I had to add.
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Lipstick - Sunstone
gna 4/25/2010 2:31:00 PM
I also received this in a GWP, and love the color. It's rosier, deeper, and less peachy/warm than Sugar Honey, another GWP favorite, so it's prettier on me. The lipstick is not drying, and the fig scent, which I like, dissipates quickly. Lipstick has good pigment, and the gold shimmer seems subtle to me. This lipstick brightens my face while still being MLBB. I have always liked EL lipsticks, and preferred them to many higher end brands. This is no exception. (A few Pure Color lipsticks have been drying on me, but not this one. Maybe the formula is better now?)
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