Cleansers -NARS - Makeup Cleansing Oil
sputnik 6/21/2011 9:45:00 AM
So the packaging leaks a bit, and it contains mineral oil, but this is still the best oil cleanser I've used (compared to Shu, Mac, Dermalogica, and Muji). I wish they had a smaller version- with a better leak-proof spout for travel. It smells good-- it has a light scent. It's oily (surprise!), but not greasy. It dissolves makeup quickly (even waterproof mascara), emulsifies milky, and rinses off clean. Although it contains mineral oil, it hasn't affected my skin negatively (and believe me, my skin reacts when it is not happy). As with all my other oil cleansers, I double cleanse with this one. But unlike some of the others, my cotton pad with toner comes off clean with this one, while it still has some residue with the others even after double cleansing. I'm going back to Nars when my Dermalogica precleanse runs out.
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Mascara -Max Factor - False lash effect
sputnik 6/21/2011 9:21:00 AM
HG mascara. I didn't think my lashes had the potential to look as good as it does with this on, seriously! If you are the type of person who will seek out and pick up a product called "false lash", this will not disappoint, because this will scare the natural-looking lashes girls away. I don't even wear eyeliner with this on anymore. The brush takes a bit of getting used to, but the formula is fantastic. It volumizes and it lengthens (to a certain extent). The waterproof version dries out easily and it smudges, but the original is fantastic.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - High Brow
sputnik 6/21/2011 9:08:00 AM
This is a great product. It always gives me the appearance of well-groomed brows, and I love that it highlights without shimmer. The difference is subtle, but noticeable. A little goes a long way, although I wish it was packaged like at automatic liner because sharpening it wastes product.
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Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - Dr Feelgood
sputnik 6/21/2011 8:56:00 AM
I'm not sure what a "complexion balm" is supposed to be, or what it's supposed to do. This is marketed towards oilier skin types as a balm- that mattifies. A balm, that mattifies... I am still puzzled as to how I could have fallen for something which sounds so counterintuitive in the first place. Maybe it's all the good luck I've been having with TheBalm's products, but I digress. As for Dr. Feelgood: It's unsanitary and impossible to use as a mattifier during touch ups, because it will ruin your makeup. Even if you carefully pat it with that sponge it comes with, you will easily see the transfer on the sponge. I tried it as a primer, but this just seems like an inferior version of their very own Porefessional, or the Skin Smoothig Face Prep by Nars. It smells good, it feels good (so I guess they didn't lie), but I don't know if it really does anything to improve my skin's appearance in a noticeable way, it doesn't even mattify. So what is this for? Pore spackle? They should just say so then.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Cinema Secrets - Cinema Secrets
sputnik 6/21/2011 8:16:00 AM
I tried this as a foundation but it was just too much for me. So, I used this (in shade 602-65) as a concealer to match my liquid foundation (Nars sheer matte in Deauville). For me, this was a good replacement for Mac studio finish in NC20, which broke me out. This one doesn't break me out, nor does it oxidize on me. This is so much easier to use because it's softer and you need very little because the pigmentation is fantastic. It's really easy to apply and blend (I use The Body Shop's synthetic eyeshadow brush), the finish is like skin, and it stays put when done right. This is a good concealer, it will last for ages. Definitely worth checking out.
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Pressed Powders -T. LeClerc - Pressed powder in Orchidee
sputnik 6/21/2011 7:41:00 AM
It's been a while since I've seen this shade in pressed powder form, so I've since switched to Translucide. This looks scary in the package, but not on the skin. I don't use this for the color (as blush, etc), but it does something special to my skin. Used with a brush and a light hand, it makes me look refreshed and my skin glows.
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Pressed Powders -T. LeClerc - Pressed powder in Translucide.
sputnik 6/21/2011 7:26:00 AM
This powder is good for setting makeup and blotting throughout the day. I like the packaging but not so much the sponge. I apply this with a brush. It's pricey, considering Maybelline dream matte powder does as good a job as this one. It does last forever though.
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Pressed Powders -Maybelline - Dream Matte Pressed Powder
sputnik 6/21/2011 7:18:00 AM
This is the only powder that has kept my oilies at bay in the summer or in a humid climate. I'm careful to use very little on a powder brush or I will look "too matte" and powdered/chalky. I'm not too excited about the texture, I don't like the packaging (bulky and awkward), but the product really works! It's translucent, it doesn't oxidize, and it doesn't break me out. Really good value for your money.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Dermalogica - Clean Start Bedtime for Breakouts
sputnik 6/21/2011 7:10:00 AM
I'm not sure if this is a moisturizer or a treatment. If it's a treatment, then I guess it just doesn't work for me. Because I'm not seeing any dramatic results. There are other spot treatments that were more effective for me than this one. If it is a moisturizer, then it's good for oily/acne prone skin. Lightweight, easily absorbed, and it has helpful ingredients like salicylic acid. Having combination/mostly oily and acne prone skin has made me shy away from moisturizers, but this one hasn't done any harm, so I'll keep using it until I run out and see if my skin 'needs' it.
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Cleansers -Dermalogica - Special Cleansing Gel
sputnik 6/21/2011 7:01:00 AM
I use this after the precleanse oil, and I think this product is good, but not great. This works for my oily/combination skin because it's non-irritating and it rinses clean. No tightness nor dryness-- for me at least, I'm not sure how people with dry skin would fare with this product though. I'd probably buy it again because although I haven't seen a spectacular change in my skin (unlike the microfoliant-- that one is awesome!) it hasn't done my skin any harm like other cleansers have, and you do get a lot of product since you don't need much to get the job done. It's clean and simple.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Dermalogica - Daily Microfoliant
sputnik 6/21/2011 6:46:00 AM
It seems expensive the first time you buy it, but it lasts forever because you don't have to use much, so it turns out to be really good value for money. I use it everyday and it had outlasted other scrubs and cleansers I've used in the past. I still wish they sold it in smaller bottles though. I'm on my second bottle of this product and I still love it as much, maybe even more. This product was my first introduction to the Dermalogica brand and I haven't looked back since. I can't believe how soft and clean my skin feels after using this, and although it has salicylic acid, it's not a harsh scrub at all, it won't make your skin feel raw. No tightness, and no redness after use. It brightens my complexion and it has helped fade dark spots from old acne scars. I have oily skin with a tendency to have clogged pores and acne, and this has definitely helped my skin. This is a great product. I don't just love it, I need it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Dermalogica - PreCleanse
sputnik 6/21/2011 6:06:00 AM
I love Dermalogica, but this just fell short of my expectations. I've used other cleansing oils in the past (Shu, Nars, MAC, even Muji!) and this was the least effective one. I like the scent, but that's it. I find that to remove my makeup, I need to use more of this than the other oils I've tried. Yes, it removes it, but it takes more product and it takes longer, and my face doesn't feel as clean when I rinse. The packaging doesn't seem to be well thought-out either. There is just no way you won't spill any excess when you dispense the product, it can be a little messy. I don't hate it, but it's so average. I certainly expected a little more from the company and its price point.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -NARS - Sheer Matte
sputnik 6/21/2011 5:51:00 AM
I'm on my second bottle of this and figured it's due for a review. Application was tricky at first-- yes, there is no pump, but before you start tipping your bottle, make sure you shake it well first. I tried various methods: standard foundation brushes, MAC 187, Sigma flat top kabuki, regular makeup sponge wedges, beauty blender, clean fingers. Three things worked: the beauty blender, the flat top, and my fingers. You definitely have to play around with it to get your desired finish, and when you do, it just blends with your skin really well. To me, it makes my face look fresh, bright, (not lighter) and more even toned. I use the shade Deauville and it doesn't oxidize on my combination/ mostly oily skin (yay!) whether I use a primer or not. It lasts all day, but I'm finding that I have to powder my nose after about 2-3 hours. The bottle looks nice on my vanity, but not great for traveling. I think it's a great product for oily skin, they have a great selection of shades, and the quality is very good. I wouldn't expect any less from Nars.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -TheBalm - Time Balm
sputnik 6/21/2011 5:35:00 AM
This is my little pot of photoshop. I'll get the negative stuff out of the way and say my piece about the packaging. Yes, the screw top is annoying because if you're not paying attention, it doesn't close 'perfectly aligned'...and that joke of a sponge really has no business of being there because it just gets in the way of this amazing product. I tried this because I broke out from using MAC's studio finish. This product conceals redness, acne scars (yes, the ones that I got from using mac, boo!), and undereye circles beautifully. It's so easy to use, I apply it with a concealer brush (the body shop makes a good one) and I dab it with clean fingers to warm up the product to blend. The concealer disappears on my skin-- along with the blemishes it covers-- it doesn't oxidize on me, and I don't get any of that unattractive flaking either. The light medium shade matches my skin perfectly; not too pink, not too yellow. Apart from the packaging, my only other wish for this product's improvement is on its staying power. It's easy enough to reapply, but I wish I didn't have to. It stays on my combination/oily skin for about 3 hours max. in humid conditions-- ok, maybe it's not too bad. Try it, you might like it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -TheBalm - Time Balm Foundation
sputnik 6/21/2011 5:06:00 AM
I was introduced to the brand because of the concealer. Fantastic product! (Okay, let's not talk about the packaging and that grotty little sponge it comes with) I was surprised this worked for my combination/mostly oily and sometimes acne-prone skin. It doesn't feel greasy and it hasn't broken me out! I use a flat top kabuki or a beauty blender sponge to apply, and the finish is like skin-- ok, great skin. Not too matte, but not too "glowy" either. Just, even, poreless, and fresh. I don't even use a primer anymore. I just put this after my spf, and I'm good to go. It evens out my skin tone without looking like a mask. Darker spots need concealer (their concealer is an awesome, more pigmented version of this, by the way), but this covers lighter spots well enough on its own. In the package, it looks a lot darker than it is, no fillers here. The light shade is a little too pink for me, so I use light medium here (for ref: I use deauville from nars, I know, they look like a million shades apart, but they work, go figure). You only need a bit, and it blends out really well...like I said earlier, the finish is like skin-- or what I wish my skin was like. Great price point for the amount and quality of product you are getting. Definitely worth checking out.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No