Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Penny Lane
mabel2026 6/3/2010 1:29:00 PM
I've been away from NARS blushes for a couple of years because I wanted to try other brands. About a month ago I came back and bought Orgasm and Penny Lane. It's funny because I used to wear Orgasm all the time - it was my favorite daily blush! But I tried it again and for some reason just didn't like the color on me anymore...it seemed too peachy/orangey. But but but...I am in love with Penny Lane! I've been looking for the perfect pinky nude color and this is absolutely IT. I'm a light skinned Asian with yellow/beige undertones and the problem I have with most blushes, regardless of the color is that they end up looking too reddish/orangey on me. Not Penny Lane...it stays the perfect pinky nude color :-) I apply with my fingers and the cream is a perfect texture, not too hard or soft & is buildable so I can have a really sheer wash of color or add more if I'm going out at night. I put a light dusting of powder over it and it does seem to last all day.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Bioderma - Photoderm MAX Fluide SPF 50 PPD 35
mabel2026 1/8/2010 4:51:00 PM
I have an oily nose and chin and am super dry everywhere else. I am also a light skinned Asian with beige undertones. Over the past year and a half I really noticed some hypopigmentation developing on the sides of my cheeks to where it became very pronounced white circles on several spots on each cheek. I tried all sorts of exfoliators, acids, peels, serums and nothing seemed to make them go away. I've also been an avid sunscreen wearer since I was in my teens (I'm 34 now). After reading the Skincare Board and how they many of them repeat how a high ppd sunscreen is so important I decided to give Bioderma and Avene a try. Previously I only thought a high spf mattered. I tried Avene first but it made my skin even drier even with moisturizer underneath. Then I tried the Bioderma Photoderm MAX Fluide SPF 50+...have been in love ever since. Within 2 weeks I noticed a significant difference in the white spots on my cheeks...they were so much less noticeable! My foundation actually covered them up whereas before nothing concealed them. I'm on my 4th or 5th tube of this sunscreen and my white spots are almost gone. I don't have any problem putting this over my moisturizer, and it doesn't bother my eye area either. It can have a slight white cast at first, but I just pat it onto my face until it almost dissappears. Nothing a little powder won't fix...and my liquid foundation goes on nicely over it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Korres - Wild Rose 24-Hour Cream
mabel2026 1/8/2010 4:32:00 PM
I have an oily nose and chin and am super dry everywhere else. I also get the occassional blemish. I had already been using the Wild Rose Brightening Serum for awhile before trying the Wild Rose Cream. Love the Serum and wanted to see if I would see even better results paired with the Cream. For 2 weeks I absolutely loved it. My skin was soft, my face had a wonderful glow, and it seemed to be moisturizing enough for my super dry skin. However, I developed some kind of allergic reaction to this Cream and had to stop using it. Just to make sure it was the Cream I tried it 2 more times...both times had the same reaction. Also don't like the jar...would prefer a tube or pump bottle.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Korres - Yogurt Velvety Moisturizing Mask [DISCONTINUED]
mabel2026 1/8/2010 4:15:00 PM
I have a fairly oily nose and chin and am dry everywhere else. I also fly frequently for work (20 days out of a month) and have really noticed my face getting dryer over the past couple of years. So far, this is the most hydrating thing I have ever used on my face! After reading reviews here, I decided to use this as a night/day moisturizer instead of simply a mask. My skin is uber soft and the product amazingly does not make my nose and chin any more oily...I actually think it's making those areas less oily and helping to balance out my skin. I'd give it 5 stars, but every once in awhile it'll pill a tad when I put my sunscreen on over it. Oh...and I'd much prefer a bottle or tube instead of the jar :-)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boscia - MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil
mabel2026 6/15/2009 10:14:00 PM
I have an oily nose and chin and am dry everywhere else. Love that I can use this around my eye area without any irritation. It rinses off milky and very clean. It's got the menthol and eucalyptus that bother some people but in combination with the oil it doesn't irritate my skin at all. Really takes off every trace of makeup and sunscreen! I probably don't need to, but because I still can't get past the idea of using oil on my face I still use my regular cleanser afterward. Best of all I really like the super hygenic container and sterile manufacturing process. And the container does not leak if tipped over like some of the other oils.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Revlon - ColorStay Blemish Concealer with Soft Flex
mabel2026 6/15/2009 9:36:00 PM
I use the light/medium and after blending a tad it's a pretty good match for my skintone (light skinned w/ yellow & beige undertones). I like the sponge tip applicator...I usually put the tiniest dab on the blemish or mark I am trying to cover and then pat it into the area with my fingertip. The texture is a bit runny but I do like that you can layer it without it looking cakey. It would almost be HG status if it had a higher % salicylic acid it in to help heal blemishes faster.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Masks -Caudalie - moisturizing cream mask
mabel2026 6/15/2009 9:24:00 PM
I have an oily nose and chin and am dry everywhere else. I'm on my 3rd tube of this and it as a moisturizer and eye cream instead of just a mask. Tried it b/c I sometimes felt La Mer Creme didn't absorb completely and I would still feel dry. But the Caudalie is super hydrating...my skin soaks it right up and loves it. Keeps my skin SOFT, supple, flake free, and glowy. It doesn't clog my pores and feels very soothing. It's the perfect consistency...not a heavy cream but not too light. As an eye cream it's wonderful also :-) EDIT 2/8/10: Like the La Mer Creme this seemed to stop absorbing completely and I still felt dry. Stopped using it several months back...have tried a number of moisturizers since then but for now am very happy with argan oil and First Aid Beauty's Ultra Repair Cream. Bumping rating down to 2 lippies.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Caudalie - Gentle Buffing Cream
mabel2026 6/15/2009 8:55:00 PM
Used this for about a month 2x's per week. I have oily skin on my nose and chin and dry skin everywhere else. Bought it thinking it would be good for my dry skin areas. Made my skin soft and did not leave me feeling dry. However, the buffing beads were a little too gentle for my liking and I did not feel like it gave me the exfoliation I was looking for. It felt good, but that was about it for me.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
mabel2026 6/15/2009 8:43:00 PM
This is my #1 go to for lips...gives them just enough natural shine and is not sticky, unlike gloss. Lasts on the lips longer than any other balm or shine I've tried, and keeps them incredibly soft and flake free. Every once in awhile I'll use Aquaphor under my eyes if I'm feeling extra dry...fantastic for those bits of dry body skin here and there. I also use this on little cuts and scrapes and it really seems to speed the healing process, not to mention healing with little to no scarring. I get the smallest size that come 2/pack and keep them all over the place so I'm never without! EDIT 1/8/10: Kept reading on the Skincare Board to put Polysporin and a band aid over any blemishes you might have not been able to help yourself to pick. Well I tried Aquaphor instead! Have been using it for about six months on those occassions when I can't quite keep my fingers off my face and it really helps to speed healing and minimize the redness/scarring.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Caudalie - Creme Gourmande - Hand and Nail Cream
mabel2026 6/13/2009 11:12:00 PM
Love this stuff...I have one stashed everywhere! I am a somewhat compulsive hand washer so I always need lotion. This is so super moisturizing it's not even funny. I've tried different butters and oils and other concoctions but many of them felt like they never really absorbed. It absorbs quickly, isn't greasy, and has improved the appearance of both my hands and nails...ha! what a concept :-) Plus I the miniature size is ideal for stashing in your smaller purses.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Pro Skincare Brush
mabel2026 6/13/2009 5:33:00 PM
Before using the Clarisonic I had an oily nose and chin and dry everywhere else with only the very very occassional blemish. I've always been into skincare from the time I had my first facial at 14, so I regularly exfoliated, did masks, scrubs, peels, moisturized, sunscreen, etc. I was very happy with the shape my skin was in but was looking for something to give me that little extra glow...well...ok...that and after reading all the awesome reviews I just wanted to try it out. I was 99% sure I was going to love the little machine, but did purchase at Nordstrom just in case! I started out with the sensitive brush head with my regular cleanser, just at night for the first 4 days then 2x's a day. My skin felt even softer than it was and super clean. My products also seemed to sink in better. The honeymoon did not last, however, and after a little over a week I started to notice little red bumps. I went back down to just using the Clarisonic at night. The bumps turned into full-blown blemishes, along with a couple of painful cystic ones. I thought...ok...just purging...so I kept using it. Then I went down to the delicate brush head. Same thing and the blemishes kept on coming. After almost a month, I finally stopped using the Clarisonic for a week and my blemishes seemed to get a little better. I was bound and determined though to love the machine, so I started using it again. I started getting new blemishes and decided maybe I needed to change cleansers. Tried that and they just kept coming. After another couple of weeks I stopped using the Clarisonic again and started healing. My boyfriend said...see...it's that machine! I told him no way...it got such great reviews. Another couple of weeks later I gave it one last go...ugh...should have stayed away. I finally admitted defeat and returned it. I've never had more blemishes/acne/pimples/zits whatever you want to call them in my entire life as I had during the the 2+ months with the Clarisonic. My skin just exploded and it's been a frustrating and slow recovery. 2 months after making the return and I am *finally* *hopefully* almost clear of the blemishes. I know this has been a miracle product for a lot of people, and for them I say Yeah!...but for me it was not right. Lesson learned: don't be stubborn and keep using something if your skin doesn't like it!!
15 out of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Korres - Pomegranate Cleansing & Demake Up Wipes For Oily & Combination Skin
mabel2026 6/13/2009 4:57:00 PM
Love these wipes! I keep them on hand for those nights when I'm too lazy to do my regular routine and am have not worn makeup that day. I have an oily nose and chin and am dry everywhere else. These don't dry me out at all. These are gentle enough to use for my eye area, which is a definite plus! Downsides: sometimes be hard to find when I go to Sephora (usually just order them online), and they can dry out quickly if you are not careful about replacing the "lid" (keep mine in a ziplock baggie).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Clarins - Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm
mabel2026 6/13/2009 4:38:00 PM
This product really hydrates and moisturizes your lips instead of sitting on top like so many other lip products do. The tube lasts forever, and I love the slight tint - really compliments my natural lip color. This isn't too shiny or sticky. One of my top three lip balmy products!!! Others are Aquaphor (multifunctional) and EA Eight Hour Cream stick w/ spf15 (for use during the day or when not indoors).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Clinique - anti-blemish solutions concealing stick
mabel2026 6/13/2009 12:34:00 PM
I am on my 6th stick and just found out it's being discontinued which makes me very sad. Until then I have ordered a bunch from the Clinique website. I love the consistency of this concealer, like a very soft eyeliner pencil, which makes it cover my blemishes very well. I don't find this drying at all like some of the other reviewers. I like that it's got 2% salycilic acid as opposed to the .5-1% in most other blemish concealers I've tried. Plus I really like the pencil point because it gives you precise application. Only downside is there is not much product in the stick so I go through the sticks pretty quickly.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
mabel2026 6/13/2009 12:27:00 PM
I don't need foundation all over so I only use this on my cheeks where I have uneven skintone. I dab it on with my fingers, blend and then go over it with my kabuki brush. Then I lightly dust my whole face with Nars powder foundation. This HD foundation is amazing...gives me absolutely perfect skin. It can go on really sheer or thicker if you need it. Best of all it looks really natural on me and my blush goes on so nicely on top. Plus they have so many colors I was able to find a perfect match. I don't mind the pump, but do wish they would improve it. The current pump is hard to get just the amount I need, so the best thing I can do for now is to just press the pump very very slowly...
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No