Treatments (Eye) -Bobbi Brown - EXTRA Eye Repair Cream
regenton 4/19/2013 6:53:00 AM
After reading the rave reviews on MUA a few months ago, I bought the Bobbi Brown Extra repair eye cream. I'm in my mid-30s and starting to notice small lines under my eyes and "crows feet", and my skin is dry and dehydrated so that makes it look worse. For the first 2 weeks I was really pleased with the product - it is quite thick, so I used a tiny amount and warmed it between my fingers and patted it around my eye, trying to focus on the "orbital bone" so I didn't get too close to the eye. It seemed to smooth away my fine lines, and even reduced the dark circles under my eyes. The skin around eyes looked refreshed and hydrated, and makeup was SO easy to apply. I soon noticed however that when I put it on at night it "travelled" up closed to my eye during the course of the night - and sometimes I woke up with my eyes watering. Then I noticed a a small white bump under my eye, something I never had before - milia! Even though I was only using a TINY amount of the cream! Very disappointed. Another con is the packaging - while the glass jar looks fancy & luxurious, it is a pain to travel with (heavy / clunky) and not very hygenic as you're dipping your finger into the pot over and over - a pump would have been better. After paying so much for this cream, I'm disappointed it's just going to end up an expensive cuticle cream (which I'd doing a nice job of BTW!)
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Treatments -Yon-Ka - Hydralia Hydrating Concentrate
regenton 4/8/2013 10:51:00 AM
I used to be a big fan of Yon-Ka products when I was in my early 20s, as I loved the smell and texture of them and they always made my skin glow. As I got a bit older, though, I moved away from Yon-Ka and looked for products that had more "action" to prevent/minimise the signs of aging. A local spa recently had a special offer for the Yon-Ka "grand classique" facial, and I decided to re-visit my old favourite brand. The facial was lovely, and I was amazed at how hydrated my skin felt afterwards. The therapist recommended Hydralia for me and I bought it. I continued to see the benefits at home. It's NOT like other serums I have tried that feel full of greasy silicones - it was more watery (so be careful when you pump it!). Every morning I smoothed 1-2 pumps of it on my face underneath my normal face moisturiser (Kiehl's Rose Arctica, another great one for dehydrated skin). My skin glowed and felt hydrated, no rough spots and it even cleared up redness around my nose, the little wrinkles around my eyes were minimised, and my makeup went on so evenly... When I ran out of it I waited to see what would happen and within 2 weeks I noticed the difference (in a bad way) so now I'm off to buy it again! The only negatives are: - the smell isn't the most pleasant, by Yon-Ka standards. It says it is made with chestnut, rasberry, and blackcurrant extracts, and it has a kindof sour fruity smell. Not horrible, but not as nice as other Yon-Ka products - I went through a bottle in a month. Considering the price of it, that's really fast! Maybe I could cut down to 1 pump instead of 2 per application... but I just love the results so much, I'm going to get it again, and maybe try some online sites for a discount instead of buying through a spa. I highly recommend for dehydrated skin.
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Eye Primer -BeneFit Cosmetics - Stay Don't Stray
regenton 11/3/2011 12:56:00 PM
This is one of the best eyeshadow primers I have used - it is a soft biscuity-colour base that smooths evenly over the lid. It intensifies my eye shadows holds them in place all day, reducing creases and little bits falling onto my cheek. It also helps my eyeliner to stay put, so fewer cases of the dreaded "panda eyes"! On the down side, I did not have much luck using this as a base for concealer under my eyes - I found it way too heavy, and it made the concealer look packed on under my eyes. I tried using different quantities of the primer - from a big gloop to a tiny dot - but didn't have any successs. Just keeping this for my lids. My other problem is the pump which, if you press on it fully, dispenses way too much product. I have mastered the art of featherlight touch when I use this, and barely depress the pump to get a pea-sized amount on my finger - enough for both of my eyelids. You can't just trowel this on your eyelids and expect it to work magic, you have to blend it gently, particularly at the corners of the eye, or there could be a little creasing and thickness there, but this is very little work for a good payoff. Will repurchase There is lots product, so it is good value for money.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Rose Water & Vanilla Cologne Intense
regenton 11/3/2011 12:46:00 PM
I love Jo Malone and I REALLY REALLY wanted to love this scent. But, when I reach for a perfume on my dressing table nowadays, it often pass it by.... I bought it a few months ago as a little (expensive) treat for myself.I find Jo Malone scents expenive, but generally the staying power is great and the scnets themselves are beautiful and natural - combinations of flowers, fruits, incense, herbs... I alreay owned Vanilla & Anise, Wild Fig and Cassis, and the Red Roses body lotion (which I love to wear under other scents - it's a bit TOO rosey on its own). The Rose & Vanilla, on first sniff, was divine - the soft flower of roses next to the warm enrobing of vanilla - perfect coming into the autumn months. And when I heard it was a "limited edition", I decided to go for it as it was not going to stay in the mainstream line. Unfortuntely, when I got home and wore it a few times out, I found I got a bit bored with it. It's very two-dimentional - roses and vanilla - like a fragranced candle - whereas I find the other scents a little more complex and captivating. Also, I found that I had to spray on a LOT to get a decent amount of fragrance on me, and it did not have great lasting power, despite it's name as a Cologne "Intense". I'll try layering it with other products to see if I can give it more of an edge, but the staying power won't improve so I'm disappointed overall. Will definitely try other Jo Malone products though!
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Moisturizers -Chanel - Hydramax+ Active Moisture Cream
regenton 11/3/2011 12:32:00 PM
This thick white cream is perfect for my dry skin, and I LOVE the smell - the smell alone perks me up in the morning! And it doesn't cause me to break out in my slightly sensitive T-Zone , which is great as I usually find the down side to thick creams is that they can cause bumps. The cream doesn't claim to smooth or plump wrinkles, or protect agaist the sun, or increase firmness... it just hydrates. But it does that very, very well. A little goes a long way so I usuallly get a few months out of it. I tend to use it as a day cream only. As it is so rich, it doesn't sink in right away so I tend to put it on after washing my face in the morning, go get dressed and do my hair, and then by the time I go to put on my makeup the cream has sunk in and there is a nice matte finish. The pricetag is pretty hefty, but this is a nice duty-free purchase coming in the winter months - I will stick to purchasing it in the winter months.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Self Tanners -Unlisted Brand - Famous Dave's Moisture Tan
regenton 6/4/2011 11:43:00 AM
I bought this (moisture tan formula) in Boots after reading many good reviews on here and Famous Dave's website. I was particularly excited by the 'no-smell' claim. I've used it twice so far and have mixed feelings on it. Tan is pretty natural and non-streaky. I like the lotion, it moisturises and doesn't stain the sheets. BUT as it develops, it still has the tell-tale fake tan smell which I hate, and which strongly stinks whatever clothes I'm wearing til I wash them again. And it's not cheap- as much as St Tropez, which gives me the best tan (even though I have to put it on at night). Didn't stand out from other self-tanners, so can't see myself repurchasing, unless I get it cheap on e-bay.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Brule
regenton 5/9/2011 5:23:00 PM
This is a staple MAC eyeshadow for me. A satin (but non-shimmery) light beige which I use all over my lid - on its own for a natural look, or as a base for all other eyeshadows for a stronger or dramatic look. It works equally well as a base under cool tones or warm tones. I have a buy a new one regularly, as I use this daily!
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Fragrances -Giorgio Armani - Acqua di Gioia EDP
regenton 9/16/2010 6:57:00 PM
Similar to a previous reviewer, I bought this on impulse while on holidays- I loved Aqua di Gio when I was in university 10 years ago, and this reminded me of that fragrance with a twist, I think it might be the whiff of mint in it. I was in Spain when I bought it, and it was a lovely light aqua floral scent for the summer - my BF liked it as well. BUT it wore off quickly, and whatever remained was a very generic flowery scent - nothing special or "lingering". I found myself using it less and less as the summer days went by.... I still have half a bottle left now in September and can't see myself really using it for the autumn / winter so will probably try to use it for work as it's a light scent. It was nice for summer, but I'm disappointed it didn't have more staying power and didn't capture my imagination enough to repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Jo Malone - Vanilla Anise
regenton 9/16/2010 6:42:00 PM
I'm suprised as to why this fragrance doesn't get a higher rating! Vanilla Anise has been my first foray into the Jo Malone brand. I purchased this around 3 weeks ago - I had just arrived back on a long flight, leaving friends and sunshine behind and returning to rain and cold.... wandering through a department store I wanted something that would evoke a warm, comforting fragrance so I could look more positively to the wintery months ahead. I had wanted to try Jo Malone before, and I tried several fragrances (great idea to have coffee beans nearby to sniff in between!). This one just grabbed me and envelopped me, the vanilla and soft flowers evoking late summer days baking in the kitchen, and I can imagine wearing this going into Christmas. As this was more for "me days" than for a perfume, I got the body creme and body oil. Pricey but for the occassional treat. Turns out I love it. I put on the body creme most mornings (sometimes mix with an unscented cream to try to get some mileage out of it!). It's perfect for the office as it has a soft scent but lasts the day. The staying power is excellent, a few days later I took out a shirt I had worn while I had the body creme on and I could still smell it. And the body oil is lovely for a hot soak in the tub on a cold wet evening. Sorry if my review isn't chemically anatomical, I just relate fragrance to my everyday life - this one is like a lovely soft cashmere shawl for me, and I'm looking forward to trying more of the Jo Malone range....
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Scrubs -Trilogy - Gentle Facial Exfoliant
regenton 3/30/2010 7:03:00 PM
I love this. Hands down the best exfoliant I have ever used. I gave it a go when a friend, who recently had cancer, recommended it to me - she has started using natural products, as her skin has become super sensitive. It's a clay based exfoliant with fine scrubbers to get the dirt (so you feel it's working like an exfoliator) and yet it's OK for my sensitive skin. Since I started using the Trilogy line (started with the exfoliator and night cream back in jan) i have had the best skin in years - didn't change my diet or my other skincare / makeup, so fairly confident it's due to the Trilogy products. I used to get plagued with little blackheads and under-the-skin painful bumps. Skin is basically CLEAR and smooth now. Just bought 4 more products in the range, I can't say enough about it!!
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Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
regenton 3/30/2010 6:56:00 PM
I needed a new mascara and saw lots of references to this in the beauty pages of magazines so I thought I'd give it a go.... didn't live up to my hopes though. I found the "spoon"-like brush awkward, got clumps, lashes not nearly as long or as thick as when I use other brands (partially because you have to be so careful with the brush, so s not to get mascara everywhere BUT on your lashes) and finally, at the end of the day, it had flaked down onto the top of my cheeks.... maybe if I got better with the brush it would be better but I couldn't be bothered when so many other brands get it right with less trouble. Sorry it didn't work out. Will not be repurchasing
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Barefoot Botanicals - S.O.S. Resuce Me face & body cream
regenton 11/10/2009 6:48:00 PM
I've found so many obscure products here on my trusted MUA, I'm surprised I haven't seen this one yet! I found this face & body cream (note: i only use it as a face cream) in a health shop a few months ago. About 2 years ago, at age 30, I developed perioral dermatits and just found everything I had tried on my face cased it to break out. A course of minocycline nipped it in the bud but I've had pretty sensitive skin since, and I was looking for a "natural" product without chemicals. THIS IS IT. What caught me was that it was prupoted ot be good for people with eczema, psoriasis, or withdrawing from steroid treatment - so I knew it would be gently. Mild, moisturising, and very nourishing, it sinks right into my skin and leaves a slkightly matte finish which is PERFECT to apply makeup over - no primer needed! Any redness around my chin and nose disappeared. Looking forward to trying the rest of this range....
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Bath Treatments -Chanel - Chanel #5 bath oil
regenton 11/10/2009 6:16:00 PM
Oh how i LOVE this product! I first read about it in a magazine article about how to "get ready for the party season" and one of the "recommendations" was to take a bath with a few drop of Chanel No 5 Bath oil for real glamour.... Just had to try it, and now i'm hooked! It's pricey but you don't need to use much so it can last ages. Shake the bottle well to mix the 3 layers of oils, and a few drops in the bath is quite enough to get a lovely sultry smell and light moisturizing too. I find the scent is long-lasting and even leaves my bathroom smelling luxurious. While I'd love to love the Chanel No5 EDT/EDP, it's just a bit too strong for me - whereas the bath oil still has as similar scent but slightly warmer and softer. I even mixed a few drops of this with an unscented body oil to make a perfumed body oil after the bath/shower. Also, my boyfriend really loves the smell, he ALWAYS comments on it... that's an extra plus in my book! ;-) The only letdown is the bottle - while I love having a "Chanel" product in my bathroom, the simple cheap plastic container is pretty boring. But that's only a very minor point.
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Fragrances -Gucci - Flora by Gucci EDT
regenton 7/20/2009 6:07:00 PM
I'm pleasantly surprised by this fragrance. I'm a perfume junkie and constantly in search of my "signature scent" -judging by all the perfume bottles on my vanity I still haven't found what I'm looking for but I'm enjoying the search! I purchased Flora at an airport duty-free on a whim as I was looking for something a) fruity-floral b) new c) trusted brand name. The first whiff is definitely strong sweet floral. While other reviews say it smells like a "young" scent, I kindof felt the first smell was like an older woman's scent - something my mother or grandmother might wear. But the first floral kick quickly faded to a soft peachy/rose scent that seemed to just float around me it was so soft and natural. The staying power is incredible, I couldn't smell it strongly off myself after a few hours (i find this usually happens anyway) but I could smell it on my clothes days afterwards - and after a full day of work + gym + shower, if I smelled my wrist it was still faintly there too! The reason it doesn't get 5 lippies is that first whiff - it's a floral whammy - otherwise a lovely scent!
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Deodorants -Tom's of Maine - Natural Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant
regenton 7/20/2009 5:27:00 PM
I love the idea behind natural products, and really wanted to like this - my cousin recommended the product as it is aluminum-free. But.... nope, didn't work, I was stinky in about 3 hours. This in itself was very surprising as I don't perspire a lot in general, a little dab of any other deodorant usually works fine for me and lasts all day. Will try other natural ranges.
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