Blush -Sleek - blush - Rose Gold
lilmi 5/6/2013 9:40:00 AM
I've had my eye on Nars Orgasm for a while as it's so hyped but I just couldn't justify the price tag. So instead I decided to buy this. Quite pigmented so a little goes a long way, I'd say it's very easy to over apply if you're heavy-handed so build up lightly until you get the effect you want. It doesn't last all day for me so I do need to touch up every few hours. When you look at the product, it might seem like it'll be a bit glittery and annoying etc but the gold doesn't come out in 'chunks' it's really more of a high-lighter and gives you a two-toned pinky coral/gold effect which looks great on the cheek bones. It also doubles as eye shadow pretty well. It's nicely packaged and the compact comes with a mirror which is handy for touch-ups. Priced at £4.50, it's also really quite cheap considering how long it's going to last you and the quality of the product. I bought mine from Superdrug but I think you can also order it directly from Sleek's website.
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Polishes -Essie - Case Study
lilmi 4/2/2013 10:45:00 AM
Great camel color which will flatter most skin-tones, though I'm not sure about very dark skin-tones. The only thing that puts me off is that it's not a great wearing nail-polish, you'd need definitely need a top coat and even then it'll chip quicker than some other nail polishes. I'd consider this quite poor performance. However, if you like to change your nail color often anyway, this probably wont bother you. The price isn't bad, £7.99 for a 13.5ml bottle, although do shop around as I have seen it much cheaper in other places especially online. If you can't manage to get your hands on this shade or the price puts you off, I find Geography Teacher from Topshop to be a pretty close dupe.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipstick-Mink
lilmi 3/29/2013 11:33:00 AM
About me: NC37-40 I really like this shade. It's super pigmented and I find I only need one swipe to get the colour I want. I find it to be a flattering nude shade for darker skin tones; on me it pulls a pinky orangey brown lol but it compliments my natural lip-tone giving me a MLBB with a subtle hint of colour. Plus there's no frost, sparkle, shimmer. You can of course layer it on for a more obvious look. The consistency is nice, not super creamy but enough moisture not to make your lips feel dry. I like to wear it with a clear lipbalm to give it a subtle gloss. The packaging etc is classic Revlon, £7.99 each but can frequently be found on offer (3 for 2) etc in Superdrug, Boots so I think it's definitely a bargain. As for lasting power - a few hours before I need to re-apply but it doesn't fade in an obvious 'where's your lipstick gone?' way especially if you use it with a clear lip-liner. I wont be reaching for it as often now as in Spring/Summer I prefer brighter hues but this is definitely my go-to for the autumn season.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -MISSHA - M Perfect Cover BB Cream
lilmi 3/25/2013 10:42:00 AM
Wasn't great for me. As far as coverage goes, you'd definitely need to use concealer with this. I didn't like the texture, it felt so thick and sludgy. It broke me out, even when I used it sparingly and my skin isn't majorly acne-prone. Left a weird cast on my face, I found it difficult to blend and it ends up oxidizing on me anyway. In all honesty, I can't attest to whether or not it lives up to all the 'skin improving' properties because this went straight in the bin after a week. I'm dubious, though. Definitely one to sample before you purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Patisserie
lilmi 3/22/2013 9:05:00 AM
Purchased for £14. I totally agree with the reviewer below me. After reading rave reviews on this product I decided to purchase it online (I'd have to travel all the way into London to visit my nearest MAC counter) I was expecting a 'my lips but better' shade, the swatches looked promising etc. Upon application, although the color itself is quite nice the chunks of glitter ruin it for me (we're not talking about subtle shimmer here but full on sparkles) I tried wearing a light layer and then multiple layers but the issue still remained regardless. The lipstick itself felt very drying and I don't mean in the 'it's a matte lipstick' sense. The longer I had it on, the dryer my lips felt and I constantly had to reach for the lip-balm. Even drug-store lipsticks haven't had that effect on me. I gave it 2 lippies because I liked the packaging and the actual color minus the glitter, was nice. All in all, I'm quite disappointed. I definitely wont be purchasing another MAC lipstick on a whim again. If glitter is your thing, then you'll probably love this but if you're looking for a subtle, natural look I certainly recommend you test this lipstick out before purchasing.
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Polishes -Essie - Neo-Whimsical
lilmi 3/18/2013 12:17:00 PM
Essie nail polishes tend to be quite thin/watery so they usually need at least two coats to get the best out of them. Saying that, I really like this colour. I'm around NC37 and pastel colours can sometimes be a bit tricky for me to pull off. Neo Whimsical is a very pale pinky lilac - perfect for Spring! Two coats were all that were needed for full opacity. Plus a top coat, as Essie tends to chip within a few days on it's own. I purchased this at a sale price, (around £3) I wouldn't buy it at full price (£7.99) but on sale, I'd definately repurchase despite the cons, at 13.5mls I'd consider it good value.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - A'kin - Vitamin Masque
lilmi 12/20/2012 4:42:00 PM
This is the only A'kin hair product I actually like. Price: around £10 at a local health food store. Packaging: Squeezy tube, 150 ml, flip cap. Application: Once a week after I've washed my hair, I put this in for about half an hour. Alternatively, you can also leave it in overnight. It smells lovely (if you like geranium that is.) Results: My hair does feel smoother and looks shinier. It also smells nice too but the scent does fade after a while. It's not something that makes me think 'wow' after. It's not a miracle product i.e. you will probably get similar results from most decent conditioners but I like the fact that this one is natural. I may repurchase this when I run out if it's on a special offer but it's not amazing enough to buy at full price.
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Lip Treatments -Carmex - LipBalm
lilmi 12/15/2012 4:00:00 PM
Great for winter. When my lips are constantly chapped/dry, Carmex is literally the only thing I've found that heals them instead of just providing temporary moisture. So even though I use different lipbalms etc I will always make sure I have a pot of this around. The smell is pretty strong (menthol, camphor) but not unpleasant to me, gives you a tingling sensation upon application. Affordable and available at pretty much any drug-store. Glossy finish and long-lasting. It literally stays on for hours. The only gripe I have with this product: Wish it had SPF (I've tried the SPF carmex tubes, they don't last as long on the lips and aren't as moisturising IMO) The tub is pretty narrow and deep instead of being wide and shallow. So when you get to the middle can be a challenge to get the product out without it getting all over the place. I'll always restock when I run out though because for me, it is a great product and the only thing that totally heals my lips.
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Concealers -MAC - Pro Longwear concealer
lilmi 11/26/2012 7:21:00 PM
I have a love/hate relationship with this concealer. Pros: -You get a good amount of product for the price you pay. -It lasts absolutely ages as a little goes a long way. -Good range of colours - the only one I've found thats the closest match for me. -Thick enough to minimise the appearances of dark marks Cons: -I agree with some of the others that it is not buildable, it dries quickly and can easily look cakey if you're not careful. -Its good for dark circles but if you have any fine lines etc this WILL accentuate them. -Even when I moisturise my eye area beforehand, when I put this on it can still make the area look dry. Also it has a sticky finish which isn't pleasant. -I don't use it on other areas of my face because it usually breaks me out/makes blemishes worse. -I don't like the fact that a single pump dispenses much more of this product than you really need. I'm willing to try other concealers from the MAC range but I wont be repurchasing this when it runs out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -LUSH - Cosmetic Warrior Mask
lilmi 11/22/2012 9:34:00 AM
Ingredients: Kaolin, Fresh Green Grapes, Fresh Free Range Eggs, Honey, Cornstarch, Glycerine, Fresh Garlic, Tea Tree Oil, *Limonene, Perfume - My skin type: Sometimes sensitive, Combination (Oily T-Zone, Dry Cheeks), Blemish prone. - Price: £5.95 for 75g. - Maybe it was just the one I recieved but I could barely smell the garlic in this, the tea tree seemed to be the most obvious scent. It is a little over-powering but not eye-watering. When my mask arrived I was really surprised at the size, for £6 I thought the tub might be a bit bigger but the contents really does go a long way. It would last through 6-8 uses I reckon, depending on how thickly you prefer to apply it. I haven't noticed a huge difference in my blemishes but it did make my skin feel softer and my complexion look a little bit brighter. My spots didn't magically shrink overnight but the next day they did seem less angry. In terms of storage, you must keep it in the fridge and there'll be a use by date on it anyway (usually around a month from the date it was made) I wouldn't mind purchasing it again but I am keen to try out the other lush masks first. My only real gripe with it is that it contains perfume. It doesn't exactly do wonders for the skin. I feel it's unneccesary especially as everyone reports just smelling garlic and/or tea tree anyway.
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Cleansers -Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser
lilmi 11/22/2012 9:21:00 AM
Ingredients: Water, cetyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearyl alcohol, methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben. Price: £8.99 for 236ml at Boots. Though I'm sure you can find it cheaper if you shop around online. My skin-type: Combination Oily T-Zone, dry everywhere else. Sensitive and blemish-prone. I've tried the whole natural skin-care thing and I have to say it didn't work for me. Essential oils and moisturising butters etc seemed to irritate my skin even more. Even so, I was a bit apprehensive (as I'm sure many of you are) about the list of ingredients in Cetaphil. Alcohol, parabens, SLS etc not exactly the first thing you'd chose to put on your face. However, I was tired of wasting money on numerous skincare products that didn't work and left my skin feeling clogged or stripped. Cetaphil isn't a miracle worker, I don't think it does much for my acne so I use something else for that. But it doesn't make my sensitive skin react which is a huge plus for me. Besides it must be recommended by so many dermatologists for a reason. It has quite a thin consistency, I prefer to use it with water although you can use it without (haven't tried that). I personally don't feel like it's left a 'film' on my face once I've washed/dried my skin, my skin feels fine. It isn't great for removing make-up so I normally use make-up wipes first and/or team this with my clarisonic in the evenings. For those of you who are looking for a cleanser which will address issues such as acne, skin-tone etc then I wouldn't recommend this to you. It hasn't been formulated to address these skin issues. However if you just want a basic cleanser at an affordable price that isn't likely to cause any skin flare-ups then I'd suggest you try this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Paul Smith - Rose EDP
lilmi 10/29/2012 8:31:00 AM
Top notes: violet, rose and green tea. Heart notes:Turkish Rose and magnolia. Base notes: Cedar and musk accords. I think it's the green tea and cedar that stop this rose scent from becoming too powdery/old lady-like. It is a versatile scent which would suit most ages. Very easy to wear, I find it has moderate sillage and lasts for about half a day before I need a small top-up. I've also realised that this perfume has slipped under the rader somewhat as none of my friends, family etc have ever owned a bottle although as soon as I wore it they all complimented it and asked what it was. I'd shop around, in some places you can get a 100ml EDP bottle for around £20 on sale whereas typically it'd sell for £57. The only thing I'm less than impressed with is the packaging. The bottle has a clean, simple which is fine as I believe it suits this uncomplicated perfume but I really don't like how heavy/bulky the bottle is.
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner
lilmi 5/28/2012 4:59:00 PM
Great product! Super pigmented and didn't smudge or fade during the day. It comes with a small brush aswell but I use my own. I used to use liquid liner but I prefer this, I feel it gives me more control over the type of line I want to create. Can be a bit of a pain to remove because it has real staying powder but that's my only gripe.
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Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation Matte Formula
lilmi 5/18/2012 2:07:00 PM
So disappointing. I ordered a good variety of samples to try out as I wanted to consider switching to mineral make up. Everyday Minerals was very disappointing, a lot of them left a 'grey' cast and the very few that didn't just went on orange. They also emphasised imperfections, even minor ones. The biggest issue I had with this was that it irritated my skin so badly. I must have had an allergic reaction which surprises me because my skin isn't very sensitive and I've never had that issue with other mineral make-up. It literally caused my blemishes to flare up, swell and go red after about ten minutes. Will definately stay away from this range's makeup.
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Treatments (Eye) -Nivea - Q10 Plus Wrinkle Control Eye Cream
lilmi 5/17/2012 10:24:00 PM
Don't waste your money! This is one of the worst eye creams I've ever come across. It actually DRIES your skin out, it's not moisturising at all. It makes no difference to fine lines etc It doesn't make any difference to under eye circle, it just coats your eyes in a horrible white cast. This product went straight in the bin; other eye creams may not give great results but at least they don't make things worse.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No