Moisturizers -Clinique - Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
lilyorchid 2/15/2012 1:43:00 AM
Skin type: oily/combination (very oily t-zone, very dry cheeks) No, no, no, no. This irritated my skin so badly that it felt as if my skin was being burned, and that is no exaggeration. At the time, I was using a mild Retin-A treatment, so I thought it was the Retin-A that was causing me problems. For the first couple of weeks, the Retin-A really was the problem - I was a dry, flaky, peeling mess. My skin was so irritated and red all the time, and it felt as if something was burning my skin every single time I put moisturizer on. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and stopped using Retin-A for awhile. The problem persisted. One by one, I slowly started taking away things from my skin care routine, and the only thing left was my cleanser and moisturizer. I stopped using the gel moisturizer, and the burning sensation/irritation FINALLY went away. I decided to use Retin-A again without the moisturizer just to be extra sure, and while the Retin-A did dry out my skin and cause me to peel a bit, it was nowhere as bad as it was with Clinique's DDM gel. Never repurchasing again. And looking at the lowest reviews for this moisturizer, it looks like I'm not the only one with this "burning" problem.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 224 Tapered Blending (Windshield Wiper) Brush
lilyorchid 1/28/2012 9:49:00 PM
For about eight dollars cheaper, you can get a superior brush with the #217. If you have a large lid space and a deep crease, this brush will probably be amazing for softly blending colors. However, if you have a small lid space like I do (think double eyelids but without a deep socket/crease space), this brush will over-blend your shadows and make the colors go everywhere instead. Also, for $30, I would expect this brush to be super soft, but I find that it's a little scratchy on my lids. I definitely prefer the #217 because it is softer and offers much more control.
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Blush -MAC - Mineralize Skinfinish in Blonde Degradé
lilyorchid 1/27/2012 6:03:00 PM
On my NC20 (yellow undertones) skin, MAC Blonde MSF shows up as a wonderful warm, shimmery pink. I use the darker gradient as a blush and the lighter gradient as a highlight. The combination creates the sweetest, glowy flush for me. Yes, it can be a little glittery because of all the shimmers, so I definitely recommend you steer clear of this if you have any fine lines, wrinkles, or enlarged pores. I also don't recommend you putting this on the apples of your cheeks - just sweep it along your cheekbones toward your temples and you should be fine. The only downside to this blush for me is that it does not last very long on my combination skin (oily t-zone, dry cheeks) skin. I can maybe get 5-6 hours of wear with it but no more than that. And reapplication is a concern since it'll just add more shimmer particles onto my face. Other than that, this is my go-to blush for a glowy, everyday look. Not perfect for a whole work day, but perfect for errands or just going out to brunch. This blush will be absolutely lovely in the springtime and summertime.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Chanel - Perfection Lumiere
lilyorchid 1/26/2012 10:33:00 PM
For reference, I am NC20 with yellow undertones and combination skin (oily in the t-zone and dry on my cheeks.) During the winter time, my skin gets even drier and flakier. The MA matched me perfectly to B10 (the lightest shade in the beige family), so paler ladies might want to skip this foundation altogether. I wanted to really like this foundation because aside from their foundations, I absolutely love Chanel cosmetics. Plus, I'd heard that it was a good matte, medium-coverage foundation, so I was excited to try it. However, I had the same problem with this foundation as I did with Vitalumiere Aqua. It sucked all the moisture from my face, emphasized any flaky/dry spots I had, and it left my skin an irritated mess (must be due to the fragrance in the foundations in conjunction with the high alcohol content.) And even though it is definitely a matte finish, it is NOT long wearing. I'd say this lasted me a good 5-6 hours, maybe 8 hours if I used primer. Also, I really disliked the application of this foundation. Since I have oily, sensitive skin in my t-zone area, I try not to use my fingers as I feel it stimulates even more oil production and spreads the oil present on my hands all around. But that's really the best way to apply this foundation. If you apply this with a denser, buffing foundation brush, you'll waste the product (same with a sponge), and if you apply this with a typical flat foundation brush, you'll get a cakey mask. And I hate stippling brushes, so that was a no go as well. So, I used my fingers, and found that it did not spread as smoothly as I would have liked it to. The only good thing about this foundation is that it dries down quickly (maybe too quickly?) and doesn't leave a sticky feeling behind. I can't say I recommend this foundation at all, and for the price, I really expected more out of it. Definitely get a sample first before you purchase this.
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Fragrances -Christian Dior - Miss Dior Cherie L'eau
lilyorchid 1/26/2012 10:17:00 PM
I'm one of those people that detests the original Miss Dior Cherie. I'm very sensitive to scents, so a perfume must not only be pleasant to me but also subtle. Miss Dior Cherie seemed too bitter and old-smelling (not like old ladies but more like musky dust on my skin), so it was definitely not the girly-fresh scent it tries to present itself as in the lovely commercials. Not on my skin, at least. Miss Dior Cherie L'EAU, on the other hand, is just that. Fresh, girly, and very subtle. I'd describe this as a green, floral, citrusy-scent. I definitely smell a bit of orange and gardenia in it. There are just some perfumes you instantly connect with, and this is one of them for me.Yes, it doesn't last long, and for $85, that's just unacceptable. I took a lippie off for that reason alone. However, I adore the scent and it's one of the very few that I can tolerate. For some reason, this smells heavenly on my skin and dries down very pleasantly. All in all, this perfume is perfect for the springtime and the bottle is just so very pretty. Definitely HG perfume for me.
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Lipstick -Milani - HD Advanced Lip Color - Classy Nude
lilyorchid 1/26/2012 1:50:00 AM
First of all, the packaging is a real dupe for Dior's Serum De Rouges and it's also one of those moisturizing, balm-like lipsticks. The color 'Classy Nude' is really pretty and is definitely a MLBB color. UNFORTUNATELY, the smell is just awful. If you're like me and you're very sensitive to scents, then you might not like this product. So, no matter how pretty the color is, I cannot bring myself to try another one of these because I just can't stand the scent. It smells way too sweet and synthetic, and it lingers far longer than I would like (it eventually disappears, but not soon enough.)
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