Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer
jadorelechoc 1/9/2013 11:33:00 AM
Again, as goes for the BB Corrector, I must say I appreciate Bobbi Brown's colour palette, so I find her colour variations beautiful and truly universal. However, while this concealer covers well due to its fairly good pigmentation levels, it does not stay put, not even if you set it with powder. Any powder. The accompanying Bobbi Brown powder or the MAC Prep+Prime translucent powder, the Essence loose setting powder, the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder and so on. No powder has so far been of help as far as this concealer is concerned. I find the Laura Mercier hard textured, waxy Secret Camouflage concealer and the Vichy Dermablend stick concealer a lot better in both coverage and staying power for blemishes, and the MAC Pro Longwear one in the little vials a lot, lot better for under the eyes. Like I said in my BB Corrector review, I am giving this 3 lippies because it's not a bad product, but it's not great either, given its reputation, price etc. In fact, it's not even "good", it's merely "not bad". I expected more and I will not repurchase.
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Concealers -Bobbi Brown - Corrector
jadorelechoc 1/9/2013 11:27:00 AM
I appreciate Bobbi Brown's colour palette, so I find her Bisque and Peach colour variations beautiful and truly universal. However, colour aside, the product itself I find is mediocre. Although it covers well without being too heavy, one- it still looks like makeup and two- it slips away very fast and it settles into fine lines under the eye in the first 5 minutes of application. Therefore, I have limited its use to the inner corner of the eye on the side if the nose, where I get dark, and no longer use it for under the eye. I find the MAC Pro Longwear concealer (the one in the vial with the stupid pump that always pumps out too much) in NW20 a lot better in terms of staying power without settling into lines and looking lighter on the skin, and also a very good Light Bisque colour equivalent. 3 lippies because it's not a bad product, but it's not great either, given its reputation, price etc. In fact, it's not even "good", it's merely "not bad". I expected more. I would not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Liz Earle - Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
jadorelechoc 10/6/2012 9:55:00 AM
This is not a bad cleanser, but it's pretty much average. I surely cannot see what all the hype is about. It feels fresh upon application and a little while after you wipe it off, but it certainly does not remove 100% of makeup. I have not seen a noticeable change in my skin's glow or texture like others have reported. I have combination, acne prone skin and this cleanser does not clog my pores, which I find is very positive considering it is a creamy product, however, I do not feel it cleanses well enough and I have not seen the benefits that are attributed to it. Sadly underwhelmed.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Ren - Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
jadorelechoc 9/15/2012 7:54:00 AM
At first I like its texture and consistency, mostly while applying it. Seconds later though, it felt too greasy on my oily/combination skin. It does smell nice, but its scent does not linger too long. I left it act for about 20 minutes (they recommend 10) and felt no tingling, just a little bit of warmth around my nostrils when I was breathing in and out. I wiped it away using a warm muslin cloth. Did not do much. I find that this mask is in the same group as the Elemis Papaya Enzyme peel mask, and the Elemis one is by far superior to this one, as far as texture and results go. It even smells better, in my opionion, and it does tingle a wee bit (even though I do not really have sensitive skin), whilst when using the Ren Glycolactic I felt nothing move. The Elemis Enzyme Peel leaves the skin smoother and softer and it does feel like it's doing more as far as the unclogging pores business is concerned. I tested it using a sample that was generously given to me by a friend (contained enough for 3 applications) and I would not purchase. I do appreciate the pretty packaging, but the actual product does way too little and costs a fair amount of money. There's better options out there.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Tom Ford - Violet Blonde
jadorelechoc 9/7/2012 5:41:00 PM
I smell violet, I smell iris and apricot, I smell leather and sandalwood, I smell something heavy but not overpoweringly so, and very, very sexy. If I smell it I cannot take it off my mind for the whole day. It agrees so much with my skin. If I want to make a statement, this is one of the top 5 perfumes I would choose from.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Caudalie - Vinoperfect Complexion Correcting Radiance Serum
jadorelechoc 9/7/2012 5:35:00 PM
Ok, for now I will judge this product on its texture and short term behaviour on the skin, and I will come back later to update for results concerning its pigmentation correcting capabilities. This serum is runny and milky, it smells very nice and fresh. It gets absorbed fast and leaves a wee bit tacky feeling on the skin for about 10 minutes, but then completely sinks in. It moisturises my combination/oily skin very well and I find it is an excellent makeup base/primer. I have quite some post breakout hyperpigmentation and acne scarring to battle with, but no sun spots or dark patches on my skin etc. I am hoping that this will help soften them or, more optimistically, get rid of them. I believe I am already seeing some difference, but it is too soon (a couple of weeks) and I should probably wait a bit longer to conclude. I do use this twice a day, morning and evening, and in conjunction with the rest of my skincare regime, which includes enzyme and AHA masks, so I assume that any result will be the outcome of a product collaboration. So far I really look forward to using this every day and night and I love how it makes my skin feel.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Illusion d'Ombre
jadorelechoc 9/7/2012 5:25:00 PM
Another hype I do not get. Yes, the shades are lovely and the effect is too, but I will never know why these are being marketed as budge-proof. Give them a couple of hours over primer and they start melting and creasing. When applied with fingers the result is denser, when you use a brush I find they apply a lot more sheer and they last a wee bit better, but this way they do lose a big chunk of the impact they make and they don't look too special. Too glittery, too. I enjoyed wearing Epatant a couple of times on the lid with a matte khaki or olive green colour blended in the crease, or a matte mauve. It would not last long though so I eventually just stopped using this product. I would not repurchase.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Unlisted Brand - the lip scrub by sara happ
jadorelechoc 9/7/2012 5:06:00 PM
Nothing to rave about. It is a good scrub, and I find it is better than the lip scrub by Lush, simply because it's sticky and the sugar granules do not fly around and away the moment you start scrubbing, but they stay put and do their job. It is delicious and housed in a cute pot which is itself housed in a cute little box with a cute little bow- but that's it. Not worth the price tag for sure. If at some point I wanted to treat myself, maybe I would repurchase. Not bonkers about it though. Demystified!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Omorovicza - Complexion Perfector BB Cream SPF 20
jadorelechoc 9/7/2012 4:48:00 PM
This is such a crazy expensive product so, not having it available in my country to test it at the counter before buying, I made as good a research as I could before ordering. Turns out, people are either writing sponsored reviews or they are sooooo excited to finally get their hands on super expensive products, that they are temporarily blinded because of the thrill of acquisition, which leads them to sing its praises. I tried to give this zero lippies but the system just would not let me. This cream is *not* universal, it is PINK. I would say it suits NW15/20 skin and that's that (I am NC20). It has a very strong scent of citronella, I really think I could go out and repel mosquitoes wearing this on my face. It just sits on the skin, looks pink, does nothing in terms of coverage, hydration (and I have combination/oily skin!) or illumination. It does not adapt to the skin tone either, at all. This is too expensive a product to purchase without having the chance to try it and feel it before dishing out the hefty 80 pounds. Never again.
11 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Yves Saint Laurent - Matt Touch Radiant Base Colour Balance Primer with SPF 12
jadorelechoc 9/4/2012 1:10:00 PM
This primer very thick, very siliconey and smells very nice. The tube it comes in is practical and you can control the amount you squeeze out, which should be VERY little. It leaves a velvety finish and does have some filling action, as well as a mild oil control. If you, however, use too much of it (ie more than a light film on the skin) then say hello to a dry, flaky mess when you apply your foundation on top. The foundation just sits on top of it, looking thick and anything but natural, and it also starts rubbing off after a while. All in all, this product is not for me, I prefer primers that sink in and give a glowy result along with oil control.
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Cleansers -Nuxe - Micellar Cleansing Water with 3 Roses (Eau Demaquillante Micellaire aux 3 Roses)
jadorelechoc 9/4/2012 1:00:00 PM
This smells so good and leaves the skin feeling fresh and plumped. I am happy with the way it removes my mascara and foundation, but then again I never use waterproof mascara (hate it) or oily ultra thick foundations and I always double cleanse. I have acne prone oily/combination skin. I find it ideal to use this when I return home after a long tiring day, its smell instantly lifts my mood and keeps me from crumbling down. It does not leave the skin feeling tacky and I appreciate that. This is certainly comparable to Bioderma's micellar water in terms of effectiveness. The packaging is pretty and simple, though I would appreciate a different nozzle instead of the screw top.
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - P80 Precision Flat
jadorelechoc 9/2/2012 4:23:00 PM
I solely use this brush for stippling concealer on my spots and it delivers excellently. Has a convenient long thin handle and very soft hairs and it is very well loved among my brushes. It covers blemishes and blends the concealer at the same time, it's wonderful and well priced and has never shed. I have nothing like it and I am very happy I have it. I use it almost every day for the past year and a half maybe.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Sigma - F80 Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki (was SS197)
jadorelechoc 9/2/2012 4:18:00 PM
Excellent brush for liquid or creamy foundations, ultra soft and buffs in foundation really well. Has never shed hair or disappointed me in any way. Helps apply a thin, even layer of foundation and the result is lovely. I have heard people slightly complain about the time this brush needs to dry when washed, but for me, being located in Greece, this is not the case. It has never taken more than a few hours to be completely dry all the way in and ready to use. What I dislike about it, is its fat handle that I find is not very convenient for a good grip. I have had this for approximately two years and it looks brand new. If it falls apart, I would most probably repurchase.
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Makeup Brushes -NARS - Smudge Brush 15
jadorelechoc 9/2/2012 4:04:00 PM
I *love* this brush. I use it for smudging eyeshadow or liner and I even use it with gel liner! Has never failed me. Very well made, the hairs are densely packed and smudges evenly whatever it's supposed to smudge. A definite repurchase if I had to. Give me this and the NARS 16 Wide Contour brush and I am set for my eye makeup. I cannot seem to be able to find any second cut hairs in mine, therefore this is not a scratchy brush. It is as soft as it should be to get the job done well. True love.
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Makeup Brushes -NARS - Wide Contour Brush 16
jadorelechoc 9/2/2012 3:58:00 PM
An exceptional multi-purpose and versatile brush, I use it to get into my crease or soften harsh lines, but also for shadow application of the lid. If you have this and a liner/smudger brush (for me it's the NARS #15) then you're set for your eye makeup. Does the job for you and does not require any kind of expertise. I would definitely repurchase it in the unlikely event of its falling apart one day (I am not too vigorous a user!). Two thumbs up.
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