Sunscreen -Unlisted Brand - Devita Daily Solar Protective Moisturizer spf 30
lushorchid 4/17/2013 1:06:00 PM
For reference I have combo/dry clog prone skin, somewhat sensitive.Unlike previous reviewers I've never tried the old formula so this review is for the new formula only. I wear sunscreen most days and have a hard time finding a sunscreen that doesn't make me cloggy after a few days. Surprisingly after a few weeks of wear I have had no clogs or breakouts from this one, a seriously rare situation for my skin. The price is on the high side at $20 - 24 for 1.7 oz. Formulation is decently elegant as far as physical sunscreens go, but still not perfect. This sunscreen has to be patted/rubbed in relatively quickly or it starts to flake/ball up if you over rub. At NC30/35 I see no white cast other than spots that aren't fully rubbed in. For 19% Zinc oxide (non-nano) this feels quite light, little to no mask like feeling that can come from physical sunscreens. Finish is luminous matte on my skin, one of the few sunscreens i don't have to seal with powder to get a wearable finish. I don't wear a full face of foundation, usually just spot conceal so I'm not sure if this plays well with buffing/rubbing or adding any other layer.
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Blush -Becca - Beach Tint in Watermelon
lushorchid 4/12/2013 8:40:00 PM
For reference I'm NC30 (leaning olive) with combo/dry clog prone skin. Let me just start with this; I wanted to love beach tints but it wasn't meant to be. Beach tints come in a small tube (0.24 oz) and sell for $25.00, obscenely expensive for a small amount of sub-par product. The formula reminds me of gauche/watercolor, formula looks pigmented but actually comes out as a watery gel tint. Watermelon is one of the more pigmented shades and appears slightly orangey red on my skintone. The tint is fairly natural in terms of finish and melting into skin... and then melting away entirely; staying power is terrible. The tint lasted only an hour or two before fading completely from both lips and cheeks My not-so-rigorous test included walking, and taking a low impact pilates class. If these at least stained or lasted I would gladly pay $1 per 1/100 of an ounce but my Bonne Belle gel blushes outstay Becca. I can't imagine someone with normal or even oily skin getting any wear considering they slide right off combo/dry skin.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Clump Crusher mascara
lushorchid 3/21/2013 5:12:00 PM
So the rollercoaster ride with this mascara... I actually loved it at first... to my surprise. The tonka toy plastic wand turned out to work well, the blackest shade is quite black, and my lashes looked long and separated, and even somewhat lush. After using this a good month or so I noticed my lashes were thinning and getting shorter!!!! Not sure if the formula pulls at my lashes during application or perhaps removal? I generally use thick/dry formulas with teddy bear wands and have never had this problem. Tossed this mascara about 2 months ago and my lashes are slowly but steadily coming back.
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Bronzers -Sally Hansen - Airbrush Legs Lotion - Deep Glow
lushorchid 2/11/2013 11:39:00 AM
For reference I'm NC 30 - 35, golden olive/neutral tones, and do not tan so I rely on tanners & bronzers for my summer "tan". I've been using the Sally Hansen airbrush legs spray version since it came out, love it except the mess of fine mist.. so when I saw the lotion version I snapped it up. Lotion comes in a thin tube, and is rather expensive for the amount. (12.00 - 14.50 US/4 oz). Comes in 4 shades, all of which appear to be matte, neutral tones of tan. The finish of the lotion is far more realistic than the spray version, not as foundation-y. The lotion is surprisingly pigmented yet somehow sheer enough to show skin. I mix a thin dime size with a few pumps of lotion for each limb. The color set and lasted through the entire day including a fitness class and I got several compliments on my "tan" and skintone the first day I wore this. Came off with a sponge and soap in the shower. Definitely a spring & summer staple. Ingredients: AQUA/WATER/EAU, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, TALC, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, TRIBEHENIN, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL, BISPEG/PPG-14/14 DIMETHICONE, DIMETHICONE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PANTHENOL, SILICA SILYLATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SODIUM CHLORIDE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, GLUCONOLACTONE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, SALVIA OFFICINALIS (SAGE) LEAF EXTRACT, SALVIA OFFICINALIS (SAGE) OIL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, SORBIC ACID, GLYCERIN, SODIUM BENZOATE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, SILICA, CALCIUM GLUCONATE, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, PALMARIA PALMATA EXTRACT, [May Contain/Peut Contenir/+/-:IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), MICA].
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Cover Girl - Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation
lushorchid 2/10/2013 12:42:00 AM
For reference I'm NC30 - 35, olive/neutralish toned, with combo/dry clog prone skin. My match is within the range of Creamy Beige (840) and Soft Honey (845). I use self tanner here and there so the darker match is with tanner. I generally dislike covergirl face products and have never had success with them so this foundation is a total surprise. My super clog prone skin rarely puts up with foundation, much less covergirl. I only wear foundation in specific areas so the coverage, skin-like texture, and wear have to be amazing... and it is! This is a thin but solid medium bordering on full coverage foundation. Sets to a semi-matte natural finish without looking cakey, seamless from covered areas to bare skin. Some surprisingly neutral shades considering CG previous history of comically cool toned pink foundations. I apply over still dewy sunscreen and haven't had any problems with my skin looking or feeling dry. No clogs or breakouts after 1 month of use. This one has quietly snuck into my daily MU bag, and I don't think it's leaving until I hit pan.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Milani - Color Statement (all)
lushorchid 2/1/2013 12:36:00 PM
For reference I'm NC30-ish with olive undertones, dark hair, and combo/dry skin Milani color statement lipsticks are a new addition to the Milani line as of Jan/Feb 2013. Color statement seems to be replacing the Color perfect line so if you have favorites form that line grab em while you can (I've spotted the line for 75% off at the time of this review). The Color statement line has a range of nudes, reds, pinks, a few vampy shades, and a few super brights. Lipsticks come housed in shiny gold tube. Scent is exactly like watermelon lipsmackers with a hint of plastic-y my little pony. If scents bother you, no worries, its relatively subtle and fades fast. The formula is creamy but still on the dry side, though no tugging on lips or chapped/dryness. Worn full on, these are definitely full coverage with one swipe. But even better... these make an amazing lip stain. I've been dabbing on the color and it melts in and stains perfectly.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clean & Clear - Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser
lushorchid 1/18/2013 1:19:00 PM
For reference my skin is combo/dry clog prone, somewhat sensitive. I typically am super picky and only use very gentle cleansers, but gave this one a try when I broke out like mad from a new supplement. The cleanser is very thick and creamy, with a small scattering of exfoliating granules. I'm against physical exfoliation, in favor of chemical exfoliation, but there aren't enough granules to be a problem. I use this only at night to avoid over-drying my skin. Post cleanse my skin feels slightly tight but for the results I'm happy to slather on moisturizer. After about 2 weeks of use my skin is crystal clear.. to the point that people are asking what I'm doing differently; even the slightly cloggy areas have cleared. The only downside is that this leaves enough BP on my skin to bleach the pillowcases, even when I rinse well. Will update when I finish the tube but so far this is looking like a keeper.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Pink in the Afternoon
lushorchid 11/25/2012 2:20:00 PM
For reference I'm an olive toned NC30/35 I can see why Pink in the Afternoon has been around so many years, it's a classic universal shade. Most pinks turn washded out chalky, too cool lilac, tacky fuschia, or even muddy beige against my skintone. Pink in the Afternoon is a pure midtone rosebud pink on me, perhaps slightly warm toned. It looks a bit bright when I first apply but then seems to melt in and turn into a flushed rosy wearable pink. Think innocent pouty Victoria's Secret in spring sort of lips.... clearly a pink lippie but somehow also natural. Texture is comfortable, slightly drying but nothing a swipe of balm can't fix. This is truly the only pink I've ever found that works for me. I can see using it right down to a nubbin.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Boots - Lifting & Firming Foundation SPF 15 [DISCONTINUED]
lushorchid 11/18/2012 1:32:00 AM
For reference, I'm combo/dry clog prone. My fall/winter skin tends to be dry, uneven, and red, most foundations either sit on top, fade away or sink into the dry spots and make my skin look so dehydrated. I've been test driving this foundation and I may have finally found my cold weather foundation. I'm an NC30/35, olive toned, with dark hair and Almond is a great match. The coverage is medium, with a satin dew finish, a hint more elegant textured than skin but not unnaturally so. Even coverage with a sort of softening/blurring effect, and stays fresh and radiant, no cakey or patchy fading by the end of the night. Wears like a high end foundation. I barely need half a pump to cover redness ( I use fingers, not a brush/full face). Price is expensive for drugstore and I'm not a fan of the glass bottle for transport but the product works so well I'm glad to deal with both. Will update if this clogs me as I continue use.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Physicians Formula - Happy Booster™ Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in rose
lushorchid 11/3/2012 1:52:00 PM
For ref. I'm NC 30 ish with olive tones, brown eyes, combo/dry clog prone skin. Picked this up while on a girly pink makeup streak, and I'm disappointed. The packaging is a bulky compact with a mirrored section containing a scratchy, useless brush. The blush itself is average, aside from the superficial but sweet heart pattern. The powder is hard enough that I have to use quite a few pressured sweeps with a super dense brush to pick up enough pigment. Shade appears a sheer clear midtone pink, no brown, chalky, or neon tones, decent texture. Price is high for a drugstore blush (12 - 13) especially considering there are blushes with far better pigment for half the price.
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Lip Treatments -Burt's Bees - Tinted Lip Balm - Hibiscus
lushorchid 10/14/2012 11:42:00 PM
My overall feeling on this is... meh. I paid $7 at the drugstore for this and I can't say it was worth it. I love tinted balms and buy them like crazy, this one is below average. For some reason this lip balm feels like play makeup once I ignore the unnecessarily complex packaging. The formula feels cheap, thin and doesn't moisturize at all; if anything it dried my lips a bit. Has a my little pony plastic fruit scent that might pass as passionfruit. While there is a slight corally rose tint, it's not enough that I could even overlook it's meh factor and love it just for color. There are far better tinted lipbalms out there, I'll be returning this one.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC) - Radiance Peel
lushorchid 10/7/2012 1:12:00 AM
For reference: I have combo/dry sensitive clog prone skin, no deep wrinkles, just creases by EOD if I don't moisturize well, sundamage from years as on outdoor athlete. In the fall/winter my skin gets dull/dry and uneven and with more pale olive toned skin, sun damage from years as an outdoor athlete shows up. I love MUAC products overall because they're effective, simple and they carry the most pure, high strength at home peels I've found that work for my skin. I've previously tried MUAC 50% glycolic (didn't like, post-peel breakouts) MUAC TCA 15% (flakey skin, minimal results) MUAC 25% Mandelic (love it, even toned skin, use 1-2x/month) MUAC Radiance peel is the strongest of the 4 and it definitely is in the permanent skin arsenal. Product comes sealed in a simple white plastic bottle with a slanted lever flip top. The opening allows the perfect small amount of product to come through. Product is the texture of water, no noticeable scent. I apply for about 5 minutes and experience immediate increasing tingling/slight burning sensation and post-peel temporary redness. My skin literally glows post-peel, it appears shiny happy, toned, fresh and rested. The effect is very clearly noticeable, sun damage is decreasing and my skin is so much more even. I often get questions about whether I went on vacation, or had a great nights sleep, got something done etc. the week or so post-peel. For once the product name actually indicates the result.. this makes my skin truly radiant. I will buy this peel as long as they make it.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Exuviance - Performance Peel AP25
lushorchid 9/29/2012 11:54:00 PM
Don't even think of wasting your money.. seriously. This product is $72/12 peels. If they were higher quality I wouldn't hesitate but there are much better products at way better prices. Each peel comes as a skimpy soaked cotton round in a sealed packet, along with a second packet of a cotton round in neutralizer. I have relatively sensitive skin and I found this to be a very light peel, I left it on for 30 minutes and forgot I had it on at all, no tingling, nada. My skin is somewhat more glowy, but otherwise not a bit of noticeable difference. I would rec. Alpha Hydrox 14% AHA swipes ($15/24 ct) for sensitive skin or Makeup Artists Choice Glycolic peels for those who are used to peels. Both gave so much better results for far less it's ridiculous.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clearasil - Ultra Acne + Marks Wash and Mask
lushorchid 9/9/2012 11:53:00 AM
For reference I have combo/dry clog prone skin occasional blemish usually related to to TOTM, or diet. I purchased this as a mask and it was terrible. Irritated and overdried my skin, emphasized redness, and to top it off turned my 2-3 small blemishes into full on inflamed pimples. Even if it would have agreed with my skin, the quality was poor, thin/watery, and overly scented. Don't waste your money.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream
lushorchid 8/4/2012 12:35:00 PM
For reference: I have combo/dry sensitive clog prone skin. I'm constantly on the hunt for basic rich moisturizing treatments that don't clog my skin. After finishing embryolisse, I finally gave in and have been trying eight hour cream the past month. The product comes in a tube, and is the texture of soft thick honey translucent vaseline (it's 58% petrolatum). The herbal scent reminds me of weleda everon balm, not a hint of sweet or floral just slightly bitter smelling medicinal but fades relatively soon after application. I use around my eyes and on lips overnight and wake up with moisturized skin. I'll finish the tube, I'm not sure I'll repurchase because I've found other similar products more effective. For lanolin based products: lanisoh (unscented, thicker balm texture) and bag balm (best bang for buck, slight lanolin scent, similar texture) work as well if not better and I can always mix in a bit of my standby, vaseline. I don't find the extra ingredients noticeably effective enough to justify repurchasing (Mineral Oil, Tocopherol, BHT, Salicylic Acid, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil (Castor), Vegetable Oil, Zea Mays Oil (Corn)... etc. (preservatives)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No