Treatments -Fresh - Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum
melissap1 1/7/2013 1:04:00 PM
This was not mattifying on me in any way. It made me oilier and greasier than ever. Granted, I do have oily.combo skin, but I expected this to at least not make me an oil field. It smells kind of like pickles, and was more moisturizing than I expected, but it certainly was not mattifying.
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Treatments (Eye) -Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology - Intensive 3-in-1 Eye Cream
melissap1 7/25/2012 10:38:00 AM
This product doesn't get great reviews, and I almost didn't try it. I got a generous sample of it at Bath & Body Works, and I used it for about 3 weeks. It has a beautifully creamy texture and works really well under makeup. After about two weeks, I seriously noticed a tremendous decrease in my fine lines under my eyes and crow's feet. I didn't know what to attribute it to. I kept using this Wexler 3-in-1 eye cream and the lines almost disappeared. Now I've stopped using it for about three weeks, and my under-eye area feels really dry and the lines are coming back. I just ordered another tub and it can't come soon enough. This completely surprised me, but I can attest to the results. I've tried a TON of different eye creams and this one was surprisingly great.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Estee Lauder - Signature Silky Powder Radiant Peach
melissap1 6/13/2012 3:31:00 PM
This has stood the test of time and become my favorite blush. It's what I wanted NARS Orgasm to be, but so much better. It's got nice pigmentation and a little shimmer. I have been using it for two years and I can't seem to hit pan, as much as I try. Unfortunately I believe they have discontinued it in favor of their new blush line. Fortunately, I bought a backup right before they discontinued them, and if I ever use this up, I'll break it out. Overall a beautiful blush on my NC15-20 skin. You can build it to whatever intensity you desire. It's my go to blush and it seems to go with just about everything.
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Treatments -Kiehls - Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution
melissap1 3/16/2012 10:58:00 AM
Finally a spot corrector that actually works. I have been using this for two weeks and it has really made a difference in my dark spots. I have a lot of hereditary pigmentation and sun spots and I have been trying products to fade them for about four years. I tried lemon juice, Kate Somerville clinical dark spot corrector, Lancome Bright Expert, PTR De Spot, Philosophy Dark Spot Corrector, Alpha Hydrox Retinol ResQ, high level sunscreens, and several others. None of them made much of a difference. But this Kiehls serum is really fading them quickly. I apply it twice a day on clean skin before moisturizer. It's clear and not sticky and doesn't add any oil to my skin. My husband is now using it.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -The Body Shop - Hemp lip conditioner (stick)
melissap1 12/30/2011 12:29:00 PM
There is just something about Hemp Oil that is so soothing and healing. I've got my whole family hooked on this balm now. It's very moisturizing and treats/prevents chapping. I don't really notice a scent. When I use it overnight, my lips are in much softer condition in the morning when I get up. I even wear this over lipstick sometimes in the winter when things are really dry.
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Lip Liners -NARS - Papua
melissap1 12/30/2011 12:27:00 PM
I can't believe this product doesn't get more attention. It's by far the best lip pencil I've used. It's kind of a nude/rose color that is neutral and blends with pretty much all of my lipsticks. I am NC15 and I use this almost every day. It is very smooth, easy to sharpen and applies very evenly. It holds a point well and has never broken. I have very little lip definition, so this gives me a lip line to define my lips. I agree with everything the previous reviewer said, and I do find it is like a less orangey, more rosy version of MAC Spice, which was my HG before this one. This one lasts a long time on me and requires very little touch-up. At the same time, it's not really noticeable that I have lip liner on. It just kind of melts into and blends into the lipstick I apply. I highly recommend this one.
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Concealers -La Mer - The Radiant Concealer SPF25
melissap1 12/30/2011 12:22:00 PM
One of the problems I had with this is I purchased the wrong shade. I got light which is extremely, extremely light. I can use it under foundation in the winter, though. When I apply this under my eyes it looks patchy and kind of flaky. It's dry and doesn't have a nice consistency that I would expect from La Mer. I do like that it has SPF 25, though. Basically I just use it as a highlighting cream eyeshadow under my brow at this point, and even then it doesn't really apply smoothly, but is kind of patchy, dry and flaky. I guess I would have expected more.
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Treatments -Dr. Brandt - Pore Refiner
melissap1 12/30/2011 12:17:00 PM
Bottom Line: With this, my foundation looks great, without it, it looks terrible. I'm on my fourth tube of this, and I don't really go without it because whenever I do, my pores look like craters, my foundation is uneven and it fades in hours. I put one pump in my palms, distribute it and then pat it on my face after moisturizer and sunscreen. I have fairly oily skin, but this keeps it balanced. My foundation applies smoothly and evenly and lasts a long time when I use this. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the scent, but it fades really quickly. I highly recommend this.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Guerlain - Rouge G De Guerlain - All Colors
melissap1 12/30/2011 11:58:00 AM
Initially, the price held me back from purchasing this product. However, a sales associate at my Guerlain counter gave me a free tester tube, and I've been hooked ever since. I've purchased five of them (I don't even want to add that up in my head). My favorite is Gaby 07. It's a shimmery copper color with just enough red. It seems to go with almost everything. I also have 06 which is a gorgeous neutral, 08 which is a pink/coral with slight shimmer. I also have 23, Geisha, which is a nice orangish red that I wear under 07 to mute it a little. The best thing about these is the formula. It conditions, plumps and makes my lips so smooth and healthy. I always got chapped lips in winter, and nothing seemed to help, but I only wear these and my lips feel fabulous and moist with no chapping at all. I highly recommend these if you can afford them.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Dolce & Gabbana - Perfect Finish Creamy Foundation
melissap1 11/15/2011 10:17:00 AM
After 7 years of searching, I've finally found this HG foundation. It is by far the best foundation I've ever used (and I've tried most of them). It goes on so smoothly and covers extremely well with just the lightest application. It doesn't feel heavy, doesn't get cakey and definitely doesn't settle into fine lines. It lasts all day and then some. It gives my skin the most flawless airbrushed quality. I'd say it's medium to full coverage, but very light feeling. It does well with my sensitive skin and doesn't irritate it at all. I'm so excited to have discovered this. I had to get color matched over the phone, and I got Beige 078 and it worked perfectly for my NC15 skin. Call Nikki or Isaac in the Houston Saks store and they will set you up. I can't say enough good things about this. My skin has never looked so good.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -Kate Somerville - CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream
melissap1 11/11/2011 8:18:00 AM
This was disappointing. It is not really moisturizing at all, doesn't seem to affect fine lines and doesn't seem to do anything for dark circles at all. It just kind of sits on your skin, and easily balls up and falls off if you touch it. There are such better eye creams out there. I don't think it's worth the price.
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Concealers -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer
melissap1 8/31/2011 10:21:00 AM
I don't see this product talked about very much on the boards, but it's the best concealer I've ever used. I am NC15 and I use #02. It goes on very smoothly and has good coverage. It lasts all day until I take it off at night. What I like most about it is that it doesn't crease, doesn't look dry and doesn't settle into fine lines. It's more expensive than some, but it seems to be lasting me forever. I have had it for about a year, and have used about half the tube. It just blends right into my skin and you'd never know I had concealer on, but it makes my under-eye area look so much better. I also use it as a spot concealer and it works great. I highly recommend it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Chanel - Rouge Coco Satin
melissap1 6/10/2011 1:57:00 PM
I love this lipstick. It's very moisturizing on me and a great neutral color. It's sort of a rose/red with a little bit of coral. It's not in-your-face at all and looks great with Beige Guitare glossimer. I can wear this color with just about anything.
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Concealers -Clinique - Airbrush Concealer
melissap1 1/21/2011 11:01:00 AM
Lisa Eldridge uses this on a lot of her videos, so I had to try it. It goes on pretty light, but has medium coverage. I don't have really bad circles so it's just right on me. It also has a brightening effect. I like it much better than YSL Touche Eclat because it covers and brightens and costs half the price. One of the major things I like about it is that it doesn't irritate my eyes. My eyes are really sensitive and many products irritate them, but not this. I'd highly recommend it.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Nepal
melissap1 1/21/2011 10:58:00 AM
I am blonde, fair-skinned with blue eyes and this shadow is fabulous with that combination. It actually comes across as a light tan/bronze on me. It really makes my blue eyes pop. It is not super pigmented, and I like that because it blends really well over TFSI. I use Abysinnia as an overall wash and this in the crease for a nice neutral everyday look. I add MAC Espresso in the outer V to give it a boost sometimes. This is nice with a dark bronze eyeliner. It lasts a long time over primer. It's one of my first NARS shadows and I will have to buy more.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No