Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverPure Volume Shampoo
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 7:27:00 PM
I've also reviewed the conditioner that goes with this -I really like them both, separately but weirdly, I don't think they work as a pair I really like this shampoo. It smells gorgeous (fresh, slightly minty), and feels like a lovely luxury to apply -despite being a sulphate free cleaser, you only needed a teeny tiny amount of it to lather & cleanse really well. However after a few weeks I was somewhat disappointed to see that my hair was quite a bit flatter -it wasn't exactly limp, but it didn't have the amount of life it had before, and didn't feel as 'swishy', plus I was getting odd spot-like bumps in my scalp quite often. It took me a while to work out what probably happened is that because the shampoo doesn't have sulphates but the conditioner that goes with it does have silicones, they weren't being washed out (as only harsher sulphate cleansers get rid of them properly) -so unfortunately the fact that this is lovely and gentle means they don't work together for me, despite being a pair. As with the conditioner the is packaging attractive -not ridiculously girly, not bulky and easy to open in the shower. It didn't open in my wash bag when I went away & wasn't too hard to get the last of it out, with a bit of persuasion. If I bought this again (I'd be tempted, as with the conditioner, if it was on offer) I'd try teaming it with a silicone free conditioner (mostly found in the natural organic ranges)
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Conditioner -L'Oreal - EverPure Sulfate Free Color Care System - Volume
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 7:15:00 PM
I loved this conditioner at first: it smells gorgeous (fresh, slightly minty), and feels like a lovely luxury to apply. I also didn't need a whole load for it to really excellent at it's job of volumising my coloured, fine & wavy hair. However, after a few weeks, I was somewhat disappointed to see that my hair was quite a bit flatter -it wasn't exactly limp, but it didn't have the amount of life it had before, and didn't feel as 'swishy', plus I was getting odd spot-like bumps in my scalp quite often. It took me a while to work out what probably happened is that because the shampoo that goes with this doesn't have sulphates (again, lovely to use, smells great and lasted ages as I only needed a teeny tiny amount) but this conditioner does have silicones, they weren't being washed out (as only harsher sulphate cleansers get rid of them properly). The packaging is attractive -not ridiculously girly, not bulky and easy to open in the shower. It didn't open in my wash bag when I went away & wasn't too hard to get the last of it out, with a bit of persuasion. If I bought this again (I'd certainly be tempted, especially if it was on offer) I'd probably team it with a sulphate based shampoo.
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Liquid -MAC - Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 6:54:00 PM
Lovely foundation -goes on like a dream: not too runny nor too thick. I blend with my fingers to get a soft dewy look. It's got lovely light-reflecting qualities (although I end up with slightly sparkly hands, it isn't at all as obvious on my face!) which, for me, means I use it much more as an evening foundation -when it is super flattering. Good coverage, evens out my skintone pretty well (very easily buildable depending on the amount of cover you want) -and hides uneven skintone and diminishes scarring/dark areas from eczema/spots. The finish isn't too matt or too greasy on my oily t-zone and sits really well on my dry areas without caking or flaking. Super comfortable on my sensitive skin -I don't wear it all the time but it has never made me break out in either spots or eczema. My skin looks lovely & luminous when I'm wearing it, plus it feels gorgeous on; quite light & comfortable. Very gentle scent, not overpowering at all. Really feels like a lovely luxury to put on. It lasts pretty well, better than many foundations I have tried. You don't need loads to get good coverage. I do re-apply to keep the coverage & freshness after a long day or if I get very warm, but on the while I am really happy with the staying power. I apply a little light pressed powder on the top which helps. As for the packaging, it's very attractive -all matt glass & a black top. The pump dispenses a perfect amount each time. It has a handy twist bit where you click it to one side so it won't push down, which has never failed & accidentally pumped expensive foundation onto the contents on my make-up bag. This also means there is no fiddly lid, which I like. Considering how I'm always chucking said bag around, I'm impressed with how robust it is. I'd buy this again -it'd be a big treat for me at £22.50 but I do find mac stuff lasts well, so combined with the quality of the product, it's a good buy.
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Posietint
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 6:27:00 PM
I do really like posietint. It gives me a lovely colour, which I much preferred to the original benetint; that just made me look a bit ruddy whereas posietint gives me a lovely fresh and youthful glow. Blends easily for a lovely soft dewy look which lasts much longer than creme blush although I have put on a second coat during a long day or night out to freshen my makeup. The colour is easily buildable, depending on the depth of the tint you want. Be warned, you have to blend this as soon as you put it on as it stains almost immediately. I was also left with slightly pink fingertips (if you wash them straight away it usually goes) The bottle lasts for quite a while, and the colour lasts on my cheeks too. It's super quick to apply; a really easy way to give a brighten up my face & give me a healthy dewy glow. Anybody who is familiar with benetint will know the slightly odd packaging -a glass bottle with a nail-polish like brush to apply. The brush actually does deposit about the right amount but it's hard to get it out once it is running out, as the brush doesn't quite go all the way to the bottom, and you end up swishing the brush round trying to get enough out. The outer packaging is cute, but the pink metallic coating on the bottle wore off really quickly after a couple of months rolling around in my makeup bag (leaving pink metallic blobs on everything) which looked really scruffy -especially considering how expensive it was. it's only the expense with the poor packaging that ends up putting me off buying another bottle, although I reckon I'll cave if I get some money to treat myself with.
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Eye Shadow -Stila - Convertible Eye Color in Stone
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 6:07:00 PM
Fairly new to this, but I really like; it's already permanently in my make-up bag. I have pretty sensitive eyes, but this has not irritated them at all. It also stays put really well. Makes soft smudgy eyeliner and a low-key smokey eye really simple. I've got it in stone, which is a soft mid-dark browny taupe. It's not totally matt, there's a slight sheen in it, without it being too shimmery. The eyeliner is lovely and soft -it goes on without dragging but isn't so soft you end up putting more than you intended on. It's also got a soft smudger, which is great at it's job as it is slightly pointed at the end so you can smudge it right into the eye line. The eyeshadow is a shimmery and slightly paler version of the eyeliner colour. It's great for going from day to night makeup. I don't know how long it will last, as it's only a bit longer than a normal eyeliner and it has 3 parts to it. Just hoping it'll be a while. It's fairly pricey at £14 (I found it on ASOS here in the uk) -although I got it from TKMAXX for less, I'd definitely consider shelling out for it again.
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Lip Treatments -MAC - Tinted Lip Conditioner- Fuchsia Fix
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 5:51:00 PM
I love this! I use it loads, and have had it for years, it lasts ages. Super moisturising & slightly glossy -I use it in the day to add a bit of colour and to protect & heal my lips, and in the evening instead of lipgloss, to look polished. Lovely colour -looks pretty full on in the pot, but gives a gorgeous tint when on lips which brightens up my face; more colour than most the other of so-called tinted lip balms I've tried and more moisturising than most lip balms I've tried too. My packaging is the old white pots (I really have had it for ages, and the consistency is still the same as ever) which weren't great -the white lid got a bit dirty and the colour printed in the top wore off, so it looks a bit scruffy when I pull it out of my handbag. That said, I've chucked it in allsorts of bags, taken it to the beach, dropped it, and it's still in one piece. The new black pots look much better, however. I'll definitely be investing in one when this runs out; at £11 it isn't the cheapest, but I've tried more expensive lip balms that don't perform as well. I've also got it in petting pink -the colour is much more of a subtle pink, for a more neutral look.
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Mascara -Lavera - Volume Mascara
pearlbutton 6/6/2012 5:37:00 PM
I used to use pout's now discontinued mascara, which I loved because it separated and coloured my lashes without clumping them. I switched to the Lavera partly because it was natural and my eyes can get irritated after a few hours of most mascaras, and partly because I wanted something similar to the Pout mascara's narrow wand. I do like this mascara; it isn't too wet nor is it too gloopy or dry when it goes on. I love how it really separates and lifts my lashes (long but fine) -including the bottom ones and the very corners. It's probably more suited to a daytime or low-key look as it you have to apply several coats to get any real thickness, like a lot of commercial volumising mascaras. However, I do like this mascara because it defines without making them too long; as they're quite long anyway, too much longer and they just smear against my glasses (not a good look). It's lasted quite a long time, too, so pretty good value for money at just under £12 for a mascara that defines well and doesn't irritate my eyes. The packaging is fine -not exciting, but quite slim so it fits in my makeup bag without adding too much bulk. The only downside is that it appears to dry after a while -if I wear it for a day at work, or an evening out I get little flecks under my eyes, which is why I have only given it 4.
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