Eyeliner -Kanebo - KATE super sharp liner
ingenue 8/15/2011 12:35:00 AM
Having bought this after reading multiple rave reviews, this is definitely one of the easiest liquid liners I have ever used, as well as one of the most portable. I don't have the steadiest of hands, and this little pen allows for super easy application...I don't get crazy wiggly lines anymore, and thin lines are now a breeze! Ultra slimline and lightweight, it's easy to pop into even the tiniest of clutches for touch-ups. Which brings me to its much lauded staying strength. While it is pretty easy to remove - soaking a Q-tip with an oil-based remover does the trick with no stains - it just isn't as smudge-proof as Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner. Perhaps my eyelids are just oilier than the average person's, but a faint smudge on my upper lid is visible after a short period of wear. Then again, it is heaps easier to remove than BB's gel eyeliner and it DOES last a lot longer on me than the average liner, so I deal with it by carrying around a Q-tip for touch-ups. Price-wise, it is very affordable and widely available in Asian drugstores. Definitely a repurchase item!
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Treatments -Malin & Goetz - Replenishing Face Serum
ingenue 7/28/2011 9:19:00 PM
Bought a bottle of this on a whim as I was experiencing a really dry patch on my eczema while I was out, and it worked on the spot to soothe and hydrate. Easily absorbed without any sticky or waxy residue, it does a wonderful job balancing out my combination skin...I don't usually need to layer a regular moisturizer over it due to the humid summers here, but will probably do so when the weather turns dry and cool. Also, the bottle travels really well, thanks to the fitted cap and its cabin-friendly size, so no more dry skin on planes! Love love love it....I've just gone through my first bottle and am out the door to buy my second :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bath Treatments -LUSH - Butterball Bath Bomb
ingenue 12/26/2008 12:50:00 PM
It smells deeelish, and yes it does soften my bath water, but I just can't help feeling like a dirty grease ball when I get out - I just *have* to soap off afterwards to get rid of that layer on my skin. Maybe it's just me.
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Lipstick -MAC - Slimshine in Gaily
ingenue 2/26/2008 11:49:00 PM
A pretty, sheer berry pink on my NC35 complexion...it's YLBB. Very comfortable to wear, and it keeps my lips hydrated and moist. Doesn't last very long though, and 1 lippie off for the slight ring that it leaves on the edge of my lips as it wears off. Smells faintly like vanilla, but that doesn't bother me. Will probably repurchase if only because of its sleek packaging, ease of application and moisture for daily use.
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Treatments (Eye) -Shiseido - Bioperformance Super Eye Contour
ingenue 12/3/2007 2:24:00 AM
Excellent eye cream for both day and night...it's helped plump up fine lines, sinks in quickly and doesn't cause my concealer to crease. Packaging is also well designed, in a hygienic pump container that travels well and dispenses just the right amount per pump. No white milia oil spots anywhere to be seen either, so I reckon this is pretty much the best eye cream for my use until I get older and need something stronger. Hopefully this holds off the visible signs of aging for a good while longer!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Aesop - Damascan Rose Facial Treatment
ingenue 12/3/2007 1:55:00 AM
An absolute treat for my sensitive, eczema-prone skin, all it takes is a couple of drops of this amber liquid mixed in with my moisturizer to deliver beautiful results. I had a scaly, dry eczema spot above my eyebrow that was extremely persistent, despite religiously applying La Mer The Concentrate on it for four months. Within two days of using this facial oil - a couple of drops mixed with moisturizer, plus an additional drop rubbed directly into the problem spot itself - it's cleared up completely, and there is no longer a tell-tale redness. This result alone is enough to make me repurchase this item forever, not to mention the lovely natural rose scent and silky soft skin that accompanies it. A definitely HG item for me!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Shiseido - The Makeup Mascara Base [DISCONTINUED]
ingenue 11/28/2007 10:42:00 PM
Discovered this by accident when a similarly stick-straight lashed Asian friend of mine lent it to me one night. It holds a curl like no other - I find it works best for me when I let it dry before applying mascara - and there's no whitish residue experienced with other mascara bases that I've tried. My only complaint is how difficult it is to remove...even with an oil-based eye makeup remover, I still have to tug a bit. The easiest solution is to use Shiseido's The Skincare Eye & Lip Makeup Remover: non-oily, and gets the job done cleanly without oily residue.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Dermalogica - Ultrarich Body Cream
ingenue 11/27/2007 4:15:00 AM
Even for my ultra-dry, eczema-prone skin, this cream leaves an oily film on top for quite a while before sinking in completely. To be fair, it *is* ultrarich, so at least it does what it claims to! And my eczema doesn't flare up on this, so double plus. My advice is (a) use this during winter months, where it's especially great on legs, (b) and use this at night just before bed, so you wake up in the morning with ultra-silky soft skin, without grease marks on tables/newspapers/anything your skin gets in contact with immediately after application. I find L'Occitane's 25% shea butter ultra rich body cream does the same job with a much more pleasant scent and less greasy evidence...
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Lip Treatments -The Body Shop - Grapeseed Lip Butter
ingenue 8/27/2007 9:32:00 PM
Great smell, terrible product. It goes on smooth, but does nothing to actually moisturize my lips...in fact, it dries it out after about 20min or so, causing me to constantly reapply. It's got a plasticky finish to it as well...yeeeech.
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Gels/Soaps -L'Occitane - Grape Seed Shower Oil
ingenue 8/5/2007 11:20:00 PM
Mildly scented with a warm grape scent (I much prefer the scent of this to the sickly sweetness of the Almond shower oil), this oil lathers nicely while cleansing skin gently...rinses clean, doesn't dry me out, and doesn't leave a nasty oil film on my sensitive eczema-prone skin. Love the twist top too...no fumbling with runaway bottle caps or wastage due to pumps that don't reach the bottom.
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Highlighters -NARS - Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross
ingenue 8/5/2007 11:14:00 PM
A sheer golden shimmer that gives my face a wonderful glow...I use it as a highlighter on cheekbones (over blush), temples, and nosebridge. Also sweep it on collarbones and cleavage for night...so beautiful! I'm NC35, but it should work well on most skin tones, it's that neutral.
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Powder -MAC - Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
ingenue 8/5/2007 11:10:00 PM
I've been using Studiofix consistently for the last 10 years, and though I've strayed occasionally in the hopes that others measure up, they never do and I come back to Studiofix with my tail between my legs. I never use it wet, yet it gives me incredibly beautiful coverage (it even covers up the dreaded Asian flush from drinking!)...I get complimented on how flawless my skin looks all the time. It never looks cakey either, and I've never broken out from it, mainly because it feels so light on my face. My only rant is how it seems to shatter so easily once I hit pan (which is very quickly)...I've had powder bits all over my bag more than once! But I will be buying this again and again for years more to come.
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Lip Gloss -NARS - Foul Play
ingenue 8/5/2007 10:59:00 PM
I wear it over Barbarella lipstick for the perfect face for a night out, paired with smokey-eyes (NC 35, dark eyes/hair). On its own, it looks like a pinky-nude gloss with a slight purplish cast, so I much prefer it sheerly layered over lipstick. Texture is a tad stickier than I like, but it does last ages so I guess that's the trade-off...
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Lipstick -NARS - Barbarella
ingenue 8/5/2007 10:52:00 PM
The perfect pink-toned nude lipstick for my NC35 (dark hair dark eyes) skin...it looks absolutely beautiful on its own or under a gloss, and is so comfy to wear. I pair it under NARS Foul Play lipgloss for night, when I go all smokey-eyed. Took me ages to find a nude lippie that didn't make me look deathly washed out, so this truly is a HG find for me!
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Scrubs -The Body Shop - Cocoa Butter Body Scrub
ingenue 5/20/2007 4:42:00 AM
Love the chocolatey scent, love the creamy texture, but one lippie off for not having as many scrubby bits as I'd like (it's a personal preference). Not a bad scrub though!
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