Makeup Brushes -Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman - Expert Face Brush
poppyplastic 3/9/2013 3:38:00 PM
I needed new brushes so got a MAC set of face brushes, and this foundation brush. The quality of this brush exceeds the quality of the MAC ones by far. - THE SIZE OF THE BRUSH HEAD is quite small, but this doesn't bother me. If you want a large-headed brush, this is not for you. - THE DENSITY/FIRMNESS OF THE BRISTLES is excellent. You couldn't ask for better. - THE APPEARANCE/AESTHETIC OF THE WHOLE BRUSH is nice; I think it looks quite pretty and doesn't look cheap. - THE PRICE AND QUALITY is first class. At £10, this makes me certain that I've bought a top quality product at a price that doesn't slap me in the face. This brush blends very well and I've noticed that I need less foundation than when I use my fingers to apply - Very happy! :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Palmers - Palmers Olive Butter Formula
poppyplastic 7/24/2012 9:05:00 PM
Excellent product. No cons, just pros: The packaging is an attractive green colour and is safe for travelling. The consistency is not too thin and not too thick, perfect for after your shower and is perfect for all over body, even oilier torso-areas. It moisturises and hydrates really well and absorbs surprisingly fast, especially since it is an olive butter! The scent is really fresh and non-offensive, surprisingly! It's very affordable. It does not clog skin. The ingredients are high quality. This is one of my new favourite products, I use it every day. :)
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Boots - No 7 Beautiful Skin- Melting Gel Cleanser Normal/Dry
poppyplastic 7/24/2012 8:59:00 PM
Good points: The packaging is sophisticated The scent is nice, and not over-powering It is a gentle cleanser - SULPHATE FREE It is not the most expensive product out there Cons: It's still not excellent value (£9). The product does not go a long way. It doesn't leave skin feeling particularly clean and fresh, like other gentle cleansers. The texture is a bit confusing - once you start to rub it in, it melts so much that you can't tell how much product is actually on your face. So it feels like your just washing your face with water. I would still buy this again as it does the job of a gentle cleanser.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - HOOLA
poppyplastic 7/23/2012 10:42:00 AM
Okay, the colour of this bronzer may be good and may not have any shimmer, but this is not a high quality product. The first ingredient in this is talc, which is ridiculous for a powder retailing at £23.50. I dislike the feeling of talc-based products and feel that 'premium' brands should not include them as a predominant ingredient, if at all. You can easily find inexpensive powders to substitute Hoola. I find that talc-based products don't achieve that glowing, radiant finish. So Benefit powders are quite chalky. I would recommend a friend to get a MAC face powder instead; you get more in a compact (Benefit 0.28 oz, MAC 0.30 oz), it is less expensive (£19.00) and the finish is much more flawless and high quality looking (there is no talc!). MAC has every shade under the sun, as well. However, I would be happy to receive this as a present because the colour is a nice and I would not feel guilty about spending the money.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Clinique - High Impact Mascara
poppyplastic 7/22/2012 10:23:00 AM
The price is on the lower end for 'premium' mascaras. This is only suitable for a daytime mascara, in my opinion. So there is nothing special about this. It enhances your eyelashes in that it makes them darker, slightly longer and slightly fuller. But I would not purchase this, Natural Collection's £1.99 mascara is equally as good for a daytime mascara. I think night time mascaras are the only ones worth investing for.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -TopShop - Glaze Antique
poppyplastic 6/23/2012 2:52:00 PM
This is an average product. Pros: The shade is a good quality creamy nude pink. It has a vanilla/toffee scent. It has a nice satin finish. It won't break the bank. The packaging is cute. Cons: The lasting-power is not satisfactory. You don't get a lot in a tube - I've found that, whilst a lot of Topshop cosmetics are a bit less expensive, the amount of product you get is less than the average amount, i.e. their nail polish is 8ml instead of 10ml. It isn't that cheap! The lack of product makes one revise the 'bargain'.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Nails Inc
poppyplastic 5/18/2012 5:01:00 PM
I said I wouldn't buy this product again but I never have - received a LOT of them for presents. They retail at £11 which is ridiculous; Revlon's quality is better and half the price (with more in the bottle). The finish: The finish of the glitter polishes is better than high street - they look more expensive (they'd need to with the price tag!). The finish of the metallic ones is okay. The finish of the glossy ones is good - very smooth. Application: Pretty average. Better than Max Factor and No. 7 and a lot of high street brands. Has a thickish brush, applies well. The formula: Very good quality. It lasts a long time and doesn't get gloopy or messy. It distributes well and isn't streaky. It applies well. Colour range: Very good - high quality and some interesting colours. Overall, I'd say these are good, but not quite as 'premium' as the price.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Nivea - Gentle Cleansing Cream Wash
poppyplastic 5/12/2012 5:15:00 PM
This is inexpensive and good quality. It does not foam at all, and doesn't leave your skin feeling squeaky - this made me apprehensive at first as I would have deemed these very bad qualities in a facial cleanser but now realise that you only need minimal amount of 'stripping' to effectively clean your skin. I've found that my skin is so much more NATURALLY balanced now that I've switched to this ultra-gentle cleanser. My skin never gets oily during the day now, and I noticed a difference within a week of using this. My skin also breaks out much less. One thing I must mention is that my skin is rarely sensitive to perfume. In fact, I generally like having a scent in my cleanser because I wash it off, and have fragrance-free moisturiser. If you have fragrance-sensitive skin this may not be the product for you, otherwise I seriously recommend it. It does have parabens, but I'm not convinced that they are particularly harmful ingredients.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Neutrogena - Multi-Defence Daily Moisturiser SPF25
poppyplastic 4/12/2012 9:54:00 PM
This is a mediocre moisturiser, and is too expensive for an average high street brand. It is not intensely moisturising, however I do feel that it is a bit greasy. I find that, because of this, my skin does not feel nourished. After a few days of using The Body Shop Aloe Vera lotion, I do like to use this for a day or two because my skin doesn't need moisturised as much. I have found that using this moisturiser for a prolonged period of time causes my skin to be duller and be in need of more exfoliation than usual. In saying this, my sister is very satisfied with this product and has repurchased. Her skin is more balanced than mine. I would conclude that this moisturiser is ideal for a person who does not need much skincare, just a light layer of moisturiser. The pump bottle looks well and is convenient.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clinique - Rinse-off foaming cleanser
poppyplastic 4/6/2012 2:02:00 PM
I would give this a 2.5, if I could. I love Clinique, but rather dislike this product. It definitely leaves a residue; perhaps a starchy residue, but I'm not sure. Initially it feels like your face is clean, but you soon notice the residue! Its good points are that it is sulphate and fragrance free. However I do prefer to have a slight scent to all my washes, and you can find less expensive (and more effective) sulphate-free washes. I recommend Soap & Glory Face Soap. It is sulphate free, has a gentle scent and is £7. It also leaves your face comfortably clean and bright.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -MAC - Zoom lash
poppyplastic 4/6/2012 1:51:00 PM
Ohhh, not good. Not good at all. The only reason I gave it 1/5 instead of 0/5 was that it made my eyelashes look a little better than if they had no mascara on them at all. Formula: poor - leaves my lashes hard and brittle. Brush: Mediocre - not the best, but not the worst. Volume added: seemingly, none. It just makes my lashes clump together. Length added: insignificant. Length is more achievable from mascara than volume, and this was just mediocre. Price: I honestly think a fair price for this would be £3. Would not repurchase and certainly would not recommend. Just because it's MAC, doesn't mean it is good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero
poppyplastic 4/6/2012 1:33:00 PM
The shade is good (it is as black as you could want an eyeliner, but perhaps the sparkling black, 'oil slick', may appeal more for a night-time look) and is very pigmented. The formula is probably its strongest aspect. It is very smooth and silky to apply, but it does not smudge. I don't know how they managed this, but I think that if you're paying for a premium product, it should deliver as well as this! Urban Decay's eye range is excellent, in my opinion, and I never feel begrudged paying for their liners, shadows and primers. I got a set of the 24/7 mini liners and use many of the shades regularly. I like how the application does not cause tugging on the eye skin, and is manageable to remove, despite having good lasting power. Very, very good product - I don't know what more one could want in an eye liner (except, maybe, a lower price).
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -MAC - Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15
poppyplastic 4/4/2012 8:46:00 PM
This foundation is very high quality. It is a decent price, at £19.50 (considering many high-end foundations cost nearly £30!). I do not use this during the day; I found that it is more suitable for night time. If you want fuller coverage during the day, then this may be suitable for you as a day time foundation as well. The foundation is thick, but not greasy. I have to admit that sometimes, when I go out and get drunk, I sleep in my makeup and I be glad that the foundation isn't greasy, otherwise it would be disgusting in the morning! The coverage is buildable; unless you have severe acne or other conditions which would require prescribed makeup, I wouldn't imagine that you would need a thicker foundation than this. I MUST ADD that MAC deserves credit for adhering to its description, 'studio fix'. I rarely take product names seriously, but I have to say this foundation photgraphs SO well. Perfect for a night out, formal or wedding! It is unfortunate that you have to pay extra for a pump. I think that it should be part of its initial packaging, but as I have repurchased this foundation, the pump cost isn't an issue because it is obviously re-useable. Advice on shade choosing: choose from the NC shades if you have yellow undertones and NW if you have peachy undertones - I was not aware of the difference first time buying, but it is very noticeable!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Clinique - Take The Day Off Eye Makeup Remover
poppyplastic 4/4/2012 8:26:00 PM
The product itself is very good, but it is overpriced, as with a lot of cosmetics and skincare. That is why I gave it 4/5. It literally removes eyeshadow instantly, and removes all eyeliners with almost as much ease. Mascaras take a bit more work, but it is the most effective eye makeup removing product I've used; it is much gentler than the rubbing required of face wipes. It is oil-based - this is generally a good thing because 1) it allows more lubrication and so less damage for delicate eeye skin and 2) oil based products lift makeup much easier than oil-free ones. I usually use the product before washing my face so the residue isn't such an issue; however on nights out where I barely manage to remove my makeup, I be grateful of the moisturisation (I'm assuming the oil isn't bad for eye contour skin, however I am not an expert so cannot reinforce this!). Overall, I really like this product and would repurchase. I gave the packaging 5/5 because it's probably the only oily product I own that does not leak when I travel! I gave the price 3/5 because, whilst it is expensive, at least you're getting a high quality product!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in Naturally Glamorous
poppyplastic 3/16/2012 1:12:00 PM
Good points: The price; it is a lot less expenscive than what a lot of brands would charge for a product like this. The colours are flattering, and there are five so you can use this for the day or night. The packaging is sleek, compact and so efficient. This packaging is perfect for travelling. Bad points: The colours really aren't that pigmented. The texture is so dry and chalky to feel. I strongly dislike applying this to my eyelids because it is almost irritating. It is not at all silky, like urban decay shadows are. I think this is its biggest flaw.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No