Liquid -Chanel - Perfection Lumiere
joanofarc 4/2/2012 10:48:00 AM
I have been using this for a month now and have decided this is almost identical to the Double Perfection liquid foundation Chanel had several years ago (I really loved DP)..DP was a complete matte, light coverage foundation that was replaced by Mat Lumiere. Now, they are back to a version of it in leu of Pro Lumiere, which I began using after DP was discontinued. I do have to say, I prefer Perfection Lumiere over Pro, but it still could see some improvement. It's touted as long-wear....I don't find it to be and that it's a light-med coverage. For me it's surprising at how well it does cover with just a light application, but it can be built to a medium coverage. I think it doesn't fade away completely, but the look you have the first few hours is not going to hold til evening...and it's not even summer yet. It definitely does nothing to control oil either...however it does meld into your skin more than the Pro, which tended to just slide around on oily areas. I set it with loose Chanel powder, though was told by the SA I didn't need to so it's just habit for me to, and touch up with the Double Perfection powder during the day as needed-or I use my handy brown napkins to blot the excess oil : )- and this seems to make it last longer. I do agree with the others your skin needs to be in good condition with no dryness or flakiness, though mine is debatable at times. I can't say this is the best foundation out there. But for me I prefer not to feel a foundation, which I don't with this, and the way it blends into my skin makes it seem to enhance it and not masque it-it photographs well btw. It also seems to be forgiving for aging skin, any crepiness or fine lines aren't exaggerated with this and has not caused any breakouts, milia, or blackheads so that's a big plus...a few days wearing EL or Lancome and my skin is revolting. The smell is a rose-scented, kind of strong at first, but after a few times of wearing it, I no longer notice it. I will likely buy again unless the ever changing Chanel changes again before I run out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Paul Mitchell - Tea Tree Styling Gel
joanofarc 1/25/2012 6:27:00 PM
I was given a trial size of this, otherwise I never would have tried it. I have used this 3 times as of today, and regret those days I have. I have naturally curly hair that is med-length, fairly healthy that easily styles and holds its style all day without much fuss or product. Oh my...this stuff is like tea tree scented glue. The first time I used it I was out of my regular gel(aussie volume gel) and used the same amount of this as I do the aussie...thought that was my mistake that time. The second time, thinking I needed to use a lot less, it left my hair the same. Today, weeks later I used it, out again of my gel, and soooo regretting it. This leaves my hair so coarse, crunchy and dry feeling that I can't wait to wash it out!! Not to mention the shine that is usually in my hair is gone! Agree with other reviewers, this is likely best for a short pixie style or for a man, because if you want touchable hair this isn't it. It also leaves a buildup after only one use. No way would I buy this. Sticking with my cheap aussie which gives hold with softness.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup SPF 15 
joanofarc 2/7/2008 9:38:00 AM
Am I the only one who thinks there is a Chanel perfume mixed into this foundation?? After reviewing DP just a few weeks ago--had been using beige 40 for almost 2 yrs and absolutely loved it--went last Friday to get another bottle. Found it's no longer available now and was offered this. Same shade, obviously better packaging, and was hopeful that it would indeed last longer the DP (which tended to fade a bit on really humid days). Tried it Saturday morning and immediately thought I would die when I smelled it! The smell is soooo strong it's all I smell for hours after putting it on! Now the other things, me personally I am not in love with this at all. But I am giving it a full 2 weeks before returning it. I am going to try every way possible to apply it. BUt so far each & every way my skins feels this makeup, it looks greasy from the beginning and only gets worse from there, and it's dead of winter here, and it does look like I am wearing foundation. The glow others talk about is only greasy feeling & looking to me, and I am so ill that Chanel took a really great foundation and "improved" on it by making it worse. I don't know what I will try now, since DP just melted into my skin and made it look flawless, yet completely natural.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Chanel - Purete Mat
joanofarc 1/4/2008 10:57:00 AM
I have used this for 2 years now and have never been happier with a pressed powder. I use Chanel Double Perfection liquid foundation, then their loose powder to set that, and use this throughout the day for touchups. It always gives me an airbrushed look, and never feels dry. My skin is a lot less oily than it use to be unless it's the dead of summer here in NC, so maybe the other reviewers are oilier than I am now. This really evens out my skin, even without the foundation. I am happy with it overall and when I finally run out of it, I will buy another.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Double Perfection Fluide [DISCONTINUED]
joanofarc 1/4/2008 10:44:00 AM
I have worn this foundation just under 2 years now, and don't know why I haven't reviewed it yet. This evens out my skintone, without making it look like I am wearing foundation. I hate the 'look at my foundation look" or worse yet, being able to feel it on your skin all day. If your skin is dry, stay away from it, since it is a very dry foundation. I personally thinks it's best applied with your fingertips..the heat of your skin helps the foundation to blend. I have the Chanel foundation brush and do use it some, but it tends to put too much on. If you're looking for foundation to cover flaws, this won't help much in that area, but it will even out redness and add a glow to your skin. Chanel made me realize how off-matched I have been with all the other brands' foundations...this is perfect for my med-olive skintone. 2 downsides--the container it comes in does have a small opening and you literally have to turn it upside down to get product, sometimes causing too much to come out & in the summer, with a lot of sweating it does seem to fade a bit, but I just use Chanel's Purete Mat shine control powder and it brings back the airbrushed look I love! $38 or so for the bottle, but it usually last me 6 months with everyday use. My HG foundation!!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Duo in Mocha Buff
joanofarc 12/28/2006 9:06:00 PM
I absolutely love this eye shadow duo. I believe I have found my HG. In my teens and early 20s I only wore liner, but now feel like I need an eyeshadow to help out my eyes--just turned 31 2 days ago. Well, after months of buying so many other drug store brands and so many dept store brands I was sick with myself that I had to find the eyeshadow for me. I hate feeling shadow on my eyes, and with all the others I did, or they would change colors on me. I tried this on a whim, seeing it was less than $4. I fell in love instantly. The lighter buff color is very sheer with a hint of sparkle, nothing overwhelming at all, the darker taupe-brown is a wonderful crease color than can be worn lightly or darker--depending on my mood. I wear this day and night, just change the intensity. I add a dark brown liner and I am done. It was at first hard to get the e/s on the applicator, but after a few tries it now goes on easily. I find that it lasts all day with a primer as well, and doesn't travel to other areas of your face. LOVE IT!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Masque Visage
joanofarc 3/16/2006 9:30:00 AM
This is a great mask. Really helped my skin's blemishes. My skin felt great the day after. My only peeve with it though, it's a bit pricey for a small amt, esp if you want to use several times a week and since it's in a squeeze tube if you squeeze too much out you can't get it back in the tube. Otherwise, feels great, and really helps my problem, sensitive skin.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Eye Creme
joanofarc 3/16/2006 9:25:00 AM
Ok, comparing this with other Dept store brands it's far superior. It really moisturizes my eyes and leaves them looking brighter--terrible dark undereye circles--and feeling softer. It doesn't take you tugging on your skin to apply it, glides on easily. Has a nice smell to it also, the whole line does. Has not irritated my sensitive eyes even when I got a slight dot in my eye. Compared with an average $40 price for other dept store brands, this is less than $30 on its own if you are a club member of G.R.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Skin Softening Cleanser ( aka Nettoyant Adoucissant)
joanofarc 3/16/2006 9:19:00 AM
While I love every other product in this line, this is the least favorite of mine. There's just not a lot of product, IMO, to last the entire time you are suppose to be able to use it. I don't like to skimp on my cleanser, probably due to the fact that I love Pond's Cool Cucumber Classic Makeup Remover & Deep Cleanser. The MB cleanser is gelish and on my skin dries before I have finished putting it on my entire face. It does come off easily with a warm wash cloth, and it does leave my face feeling clean. But it doesn't remove eye makeup, waterproof or not, like my Pond's. I am now using my Pond's at night to remove my makeup and using this in the morning when my face is already basically clean. This isn't the worst cleanser by far, didn't strip my skin, smells really good, but I prefer the lotiony type cleanser that I get with Pond's. UPDATE---I decided to really give this cleanser a try for more than a day, and I have really started liking this better than before. I have noticed an even better improvement in my skin since using this with the rest of the system. It doesn't do too well at removing eye makeup but other makeup is a breeze.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Day Moisture
joanofarc 3/16/2006 9:01:00 AM
I am reviewing the whole line...this is a great moisturizer. It absorbs fairly quickly, which in the rush of morning is a big plus. My skin is loving this line, it is healing from bad dryness around the mouth and nose area. My pores do seem to appear smaller, no joke. I love the smell, it's almost fruity. Some may wish it had a higher SPF but my foundation covers that part. You can see my review on the night moisturizer to find out what a difference this has made for me. And for those of you not familiar with the Guthy-Renker system, they automatically ship a supply every 3 months. I have always found that you can customize your shipments by time and which products you use more of. I am not in love with the cleanser like the rest of the line, so I plan on not having them ship that out next time. Just an FYI. update..1.25.12....I have stopped using the MB line, except for the mask, in the last 7 months. The products changed, but even more the reason I stopped is that I found after using the products for years, the only real claim I see was an even skin tone. I am now in my mid-30s so I have just a few not quite noticeable lines. Using these products faithfully every day should have prevented these for a little longer, but I began noticing more and more changes in my skin. Not one product really moisturized well enough any longer, and the anti-aging benefits clearly didn't exist for me. Wasn't expecting miracles, but if when I started there were no fine lines, shouldn't the ones I now have not have been there? I have found, like others, products at the drugstore which have all but faded my fine lines, and the ease of buying those is better. So for what it's worth....I think one shouldn't expect to see aging put off with the use of this or the entire system, just maybe an ok moisturizer. Oh well...
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Night Fluide
joanofarc 3/16/2006 8:49:00 AM
I finally broke down and ordered this set from Guthy-Renker. During my pregnancy with my 2nd child about 3 years ago my skin became really sensitive to so many products that had never bothered me before. I was left with painful dry patches around the corners of my lips and all over my chin. The skin around my entire nose and mouth area became really painful with all of the Estee Lauder moisturizers and makeup, and it took me until last week to realize that my face was trying to tell me something. I thought I had mild Roscea. Then I started using this skin care line and my skin, in a matter of a few days, is losing its redness, has never felt smoother, and all the dryness and irritation around my mouth is almost completely gone! I am prone to acne during that time of the month, and happened to have a few when I started using this. The next morning, they were almost gone. I love the smell of this, I could eat it! I cannot believe what a difference I have seen in my skin in a matter of days. I will update this if I find any changes.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No