Lips -Bourjois - Rouge Hi-Tech Water-based liptint [DISCONTINUED]
rowanb 9/20/2010 5:31:00 AM
I have been using Rose Pixel on and off for about a year as a great everyday light pinky-red stain - very fresh and natural. I suspect Hi-Tech has been discontinued as it's no longer in Boots or Superdrug (though it's still on the Bourjois website) - so although I wasn't sure how much I had left, I picked up a couple more cheaply on Ebay. I got Cyber Cassis and Rouge Futuriste. They're all great shades - variations on clear, matte, coolish reds - not actually miles apart and all very flattering for my colouring (as a pale, blue-eyed brunette). I dislike the sticky feel and transfer of lipstick and gloss, and these are undetectable to wear. I don't find them drying. At the same time, I don't find they last that long, but they fade evenly and are foolproof to reapply. Bourjois - please don't discontinue this excellent and good value product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Vichy - Normaderm Pro Mat spf 15
rowanb 6/11/2010 10:56:00 AM
I'm also really surprised by the bad reviews of this. A Boots sales assistant gave me a couple of samples of it, along with the Normaderm Hydrating care. I like both, but I've gone with the Promat because of the SPF and really excellent mattifying effect. Apparently it won an Allure award last year, though who knows how objective those are? I wouldn't usually spend £14 on a moisturiser but I'm pleased with this. It's very hard to find reasonably-priced moisturisers for oily / spotty skin which contain SPF in the UK - I think here they aim SPF products only at older women with drier skin. I don't know about the UVA issue another reviewer has noted, but I feel using something is definitely better than nothing, and I'm happy with the (titanium dioxide) protection this offers. Overall, this is an excellent light moisturiser for summer which leaves a smooth, velvety finish, and stops shine for a good long time - I've had much less need for make-up and powder. Recommended.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Microfiber cloths
rowanb 6/11/2010 5:43:00 AM
I use microfibre cloths around the home and was always curious to see if they would work on skin too, but a bit cautious. I started off with a 'facial' one, was pleased with that, and since have progressed to softish normal ones which I think are basically the same. In an unusually crafty impulse, I cut the large square ones in half and stitched them roughly along two sides to make little mits, as well as putting a loop on with a bit of old ribbon so they dry better. It's important to have a few so you don't need to use them for more than a few days at a time before washing. I use them just with water to take off all makeup and grease, sometimes several times a day. I follow with a light moisturiser. After a couple of weeks, I'm extremely pleased with the results on my skin - it looks better than it has done in ages - much less spotty, smoother and healthier. They clearly work much more effectively than cotton flannels. I'm starting to believe that detergents and other cleansers DO make (even oily / spotty) skin worse by drying out the skin's natural oils. It makes me feel like I'm treating my skin like a living thing - a fine bit of furniture that I would not clean by sloshing a load of cheap chemicals over. Plus I'm delighted to save money and more importantly the environment by not buying endless bottles of cleanser and face wash. Time to put the cosmetics giants out of business!
15 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Max Factor - Second Skin
rowanb 11/9/2009 7:17:00 AM
This looks very good on first application - easily smoothed out my slightly spotty/reddish complexion without caking or looking overly made-up. The lightest shade was a reasonably good match for my fair skin. However, it doesn't wear very well, and after a few hours made my skin look more tired, blotchy and greasy than it would if I was wearing no make up. Worst of all, I have a strong suspicion that it is giving me nasty spots on my cheeks, jawline and temples (in places I don't usually break out), despite a sales assistant telling me it was non-comedogenic. I won't be wearing it again, and I'm glad I paid only £6 for it on a market stall.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -Trevor Sorbie - Curl Cream
rowanb 7/8/2008 4:20:00 PM
Having tried many UK products for curly hair (mine is fine, medium length) this is one of my favourites. It's inexpensive and creates smooth, large, fat curls - not stringy-crispy ones... Use on wet or very damp hair, in moderate quantity to avoid any greasiness or crunchiness - but it's much more dependable than most other curl creams. Compared to Aveda's Be Curly (another good and sweet-smelling product) it's much better value and has a better hold. EDT: I've finally gone off this a bit as I find it can leave some white flakes in my hair... one lippie off... but I still recommend overall.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Boots - time delay day moisturizer spf 8
rowanb 3/25/2006 6:08:00 PM
This is a great product from the unexpectedly excellent Time Delay range (the exfoliating face wash is sweet-smelling and gentle, the cleansing balm is fun faux Lom, and apparently even Naomi Campbell buys the £4 face wipes). It comes in a pretty glass pot, and moisturises very well despite its lightness and quick rate of absorption. It has a very subtle and flattering shimmer. In two days of use I think it has really improved a miserably flaky, centrally-overheated face (of combination to dry tendencies, age mid-20s), and the effects seem to last through the day. As other reviewers note, it seems perpetually on some kind of discount. Brill...
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No