Moisturizers -Fresh - Creme Ancienne
sphondyloid 10/8/2009 5:34:00 PM
I've been a MUA member for seven years or so, and in that time, I've tried *a lot* of moisturizers, from cheap to exhorbitantly expensive. Despite playing the emollient field, I've not written many reviews, mostly because these creams just about always disappoint me. Not so, I'm happy to say, with this one. I have very very dry skin with redness in the cheeks that seems to stem from the dryness (it's not rosacea). Artificial fragrances make my skin very angry, which it registers in little pimples. I have one visible wrinkle between my brows, but there are some fine lines starting to show on my forehead. I use retinol to help prevent wrinkles, but it leaves my already dry skin flaky and parched and beyond the aid of moisturizers. After two weeks of use, Creme Ancienne has started turning all of the above into the past tense. My cheeks now have only the faintest tinge of pink, the wrinkle between my brow is nigh invisible-- more so than it ever has been with Tazorac treatments. My skin is so soft and smooth I am amazed every time I touch it. And existing breakouts have been soothed, with no signs of new ones on the horizon. The natural fragrance in the cream, which made me wary when I opened the jar, has had no adverse effects, so for once I can enjoy a lovely aromatic moisturizer experience without retribution! It's icing on the cake that I don't have to use a separate eye cream, since this can be safely used around the eyes. I use this both at night and during the day; even with moisturizing sunblock on top during the day, my skin can still tolerate the moisture level without looking like an oil slick. Less parched people should definitely try it at night first. The price is sky high, but the value for money-- both in terms of how little product you need to use, and how much good a tiny dab does-- is excellent, so I'll happily buy this again if it keeps working this beautifully.
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Eyeliner -Revlon - Bedroom Eyes Powder Liner in Fishnet Jet
sphondyloid 5/7/2007 5:00:00 PM
Ugh. No matter how I tried to apply this, it made a mess all over my face. Horrible! And it's hard to remove. Little bits of the fine powder got in my eyes and stung the bejesus out of them, too. Totally not worth $10, or even $2!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Shu Uemura - Mango
sphondyloid 3/31/2004 7:02:00 PM
This shadow is from the Paradis LE collection. It looks just like a Mango-- a shimmery Mango-- in the pan, but as with all Shu shadows, it can be applied sheerly. As a wash on my lids, it really brings out my green eyes. Not too intense even on my PPP skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Shu Uemura - Paradis Fluos in Bird of Paradise
sphondyloid 3/31/2004 6:58:00 PM
This is gorgeous-- as the reviewer below noted, it's lively without being too intense. Gives a fresh spring flush to my very-PPP, cool-toned complexion.
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Mascara -Shu Uemura - Mascara Basic [DISCONTINUED]
sphondyloid 3/31/2004 6:37:00 PM
I held off buying this for a long time because of the price. Now that I have it, I have to admit I'd pay more for it if I had to. I *adore* the natural look it gives-- I've tried to find this in other mascaras and ended up with spidery lashes. But the best part is how this mascara holds a curl all day long-- I applied it at 7AM yesterday and took it off at midnight. The curl was still there, the mascara was fresh and unsmudged... unbelievable. Definitely an HG.
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Treatments -Kerastase - Masquintense
sphondyloid 3/28/2004 3:35:00 PM
I use Masquintense as a daily conditioner (well, every other day for me), leaving it on for a couple minutes in the shower. It's the only conditioner I've found that keeps my very dry, long hair hydrated while not weighing it down. It's an expensive product, but a little goes a long way. And I'm beginning to think it reproduces asexually in its little tub: I've been using the same container for over a year, and, inexplicably, it still has plenty of product left.
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Blush -Giorgio Armani - Sheer blush #4
sphondyloid 3/27/2004 7:58:00 PM
I would never in a million years have picked this up of my own accord. In the compact, it looked a sparkly, warm-toned brown. On my cheeks-- and keep in mind I'm a superpale, cool-toned PPP-- it looked amazing, a peachy sunkissed flushed look. I noticed other reviewers with similar coloring had less success, however, so maybe my ability to wear this warm shade is due to my coppery-auburn hair. If you're lucky enough to live near an Armani counter, definitely give it a try-- fear not its in-compact hue!
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Fragrances -Pilar & Lucy - the exact friction of stars
sphondyloid 1/29/2004 12:08:00 AM
Well, at first when I smelled this, I thought, "Nice, yummy, but nothing to alternate with my SL Rahat." But then I wore it out shopping, and a woman stopped me and declared that I smelled "heavenly." And I received three other compliments on my olfactory appeal that same afternoon, plus one from my husband when I got home. So although I don't find it as appealing as Rahat, being told repeatedly how fabulous I smell makes it totally worth wearing!
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Blush -Tarte - Cheek Stain Minis
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 9:56:00 PM
I love these! So glad I got the set. The mini-sizes are more than enough to last the rest of my natural life, and the stains give the most natural flush I've ever seen. The effect is a luminous, translucent wash of color. Flush and Tickled Peach are gorgeous, and the clear, shimmery mini stain is subtle but festive-- small shimmers rather than grotesquely obvious glitter. I think the price ($30) is not at all unreasonable, since these stains will last a long time and you get to try three different colors.
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Liquid -Jane - Stay Calm Foundation [DISCONTINUED]
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 9:38:00 PM
Nice and cheap, and Fair Enough was *almost* fair enough for my skin. But it managed both to slide all over the place and cling to every eensy bit of dry skin. Not pretty, unfortunately. Worth a try, however, since it's so inexpensive.
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Makeup Brushes -Bobbi Brown - Kabuki
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 9:22:00 PM
What a great little brush! Applies my BE foundation flawlessly. And it's soooo soft; I had to close my makeup case so that I'd stop petting it every time I walked past.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 9:04:00 PM
I hate blatantly unnatural looking lashes, but of course I want to improve upon my own. This mascara makes me look like I was born with naturally lush, long lashes.
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Eye Shadow -Giorgio Armani - Eye Shadow #26
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 2:56:00 AM
Armani's answer to Shu's ME 945-- which isn't to say it's a copy of Shu's shade, or that you don't need both :) Both are incredibly versatile, complex neutrals. I find that #12 really brings out the aqua color in my eye, and it's especially beautiful in the crease: it manages to dramatically improve my eye shape when placed there, yet it's the most subtle crease shade in my arsenal. Draws attention to your eyes, not to its color-- perfect!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Stila - Kitten
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 2:44:00 AM
LOL. The reviewer below said it all. I can really only add this: it's frosty.
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Lotions/ Creams -Eucerin - Aquaphor Healing Ointment
sphondyloid 12/14/2003 2:35:00 AM
It lacks the packaging charm of my Prada balm, but with lips this soft, who cares? A thick layer of this several times a day, and I have perfectly smooth skin. ***EDIT*** I've since moved on to lip products that aren't larded with chemicals, and am pleased that Lansinoh lanolin fits the bill AND leaves my lips way more moisturized than Aquaphor.
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