Misc Beauty Tools -Clarisonic - Mia
tigergirly 5/17/2013 5:48:00 AM
I acquired this little device after having an extremely frustrating breakout and hearing positive things from friends. It's cheaper than the typical Clarisonic brush, but still takes a bite of your budget. It was too harsh for me to use during the winter months, but is now perfect for summer. I bought the clear pore brush head after reading reviews and am quite happy with it. I can't comment on breakouts, since Solugel and more careful product selection helped before I was able to use this regularly. It does, however, remove all my makeup perfectly, make my skin look smooth and feel softer, and helps foundation apply and wear more evenly. I also seem less oily. I use it every night and only press it gently to avoid irritation. I'll continue using it, but will probably cut down significantly during winter months again. I recommend this as a thorough cleaning and exfoliating product, but not necessarily a miracle-worker.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Color Stay Ultimate Suede Lipstick
tigergirly 5/11/2013 7:18:00 AM
Funny, I adore this product! It seems you love it or hate it. I'm a huge lip product junkie and don't mind splurging on good quality stuff if it's worth it. I have a big problem with lasting power, though, and find most long-wear claims don't hold up. This is an anomaly and it beats pricier products like Dior, Armani and Lancome for me. It's what I wished Estee Lauder Double Wear lipstick or MAC Pro Longwear would be. It's a bizarre, unnoticeable texture when I put it on lightly- almost exactly like my lips, but slightly more moisturized. It never collects in creases, never fades unevenly and stains my lips ALL day. Most stains last about an hour or less. It's the ultimate busy workday product- put it on and forget about it all day. I have Supermodel, a subtle mauvey-purple and Backstage, a reddish berry. In comparison to something like Bite's High Pigment Pencil, it deposits much less product, can be layered better for intensity and almost dyes your lips for hours instead of the pigment being in the substance (if that makes sense). I love this and will investigate more shades!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Reversa UV Anti-Spot Lightening Cream
tigergirly 5/6/2013 5:30:00 AM
I've been using both the 4% day and 8% night versions for about 2 years and love them. I do switch out the night version for Olay's Daily Renewal cream for the winter, as I find it is a bit strong for Canadian winters. The 4% cream is moisturizing and gentle enough to wear all seasons, but I wear a higher spf than the day cream 15 when I'll be outside. From spring onwards, though, the 8% night cream does an incredible job. Neither break me out EVER (very rare) and they are the most effective products I've found to reduce acne scars. They help even tone, make it smooth and get rid of reddish spots surprisingly quickly. I've had a a few bad product-based breakouts (their serum sadly caused one of them) that left marks on my cheeks. So glad I have this to take care of them within a few months vs the year and a half they used to take to fade. Highly recommend both!!
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Moisturizers -Cetaphil - Cetaphil Derma Control Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30
tigergirly 5/3/2013 4:54:00 AM
Funny, this works beautifully for me. I almost didn't buy it due to negative reviews. I have combination skin and am in my 30s- dry in the winter and oily in the summer. This doesn't control oil that well, but doesn't make it worse either. It's easily accessible, inexpensive and best of all, never breaks me out. It's probably the only sunscreen in Canada over spf 15 that doesn't cause problems (many ingredients are different than elsewhere). Absolutely no breakouts! It balances my skin perfectly and makeup lasts well. I'm surprised by the negative reviews, but understand the marketing is misleading. It's a good, basic spf 30 day cream for sensitive, combination skin. It shouldn't be labelled as oil control! UPDATE: Now that I've been using it for a while, I'm even more pleased. No breakouts whatsoever and somehow I've adjusted to this so I don't blot anymore. I was oily when I first started using this and for some reason it's perfectly controlled now despite warmer, more humid weather. A dud for most, winner for me!
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Lips -Giorgio Armani - Lip Maestro Intense Velvet Color
tigergirly 3/31/2013 6:43:00 AM
Probably the worst lip product I've tried in years, from drugstore to high end. I was willing to pay for a long-wearing product for an event, so reluctantly shelled out the cash when a Sephora rep said this was the best. Unbelievably awful on me! It didn't set, bled, came off unevenly and didn't last longer than 10 minutes. Like other reviewers, it actually smeared off after several minutes of setting! It looked dry, cakey, unnatural and settled into lines I didn't know I had. I followed different instructions and really gave this a try- ie: letting it set for ages, primers, etc with no luck. Worrying that your pigmented lip product may migrate around your mouth is not a worry one should have, especially for so much cash. In contrast, Yves St. Laurent's glossy stain looks smooth, lasts for many hours, has fantastic shades and is totally dependable. I've also had better luck with recent Maybelline and Revlon products when I want to keep cost lower. Big, expensive fail for me! I haven't been so annoyed with a product for a long time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Solugel (benzoyl peroxide topical)
tigergirly 3/29/2013 7:52:00 AM
Excellent product for sensitive, acne-prone skin. Lower percentage of bp than usual (4%), but still very effective. It's easy to find at Shoppers in Canada and likely online for less than $20. It smells great, goes on smoothly and doesn't dry me out like most acne products. It absolutely stopped the stubborn jaw breakouts I used to get, a difficult feat. Highly recommend for adults with breakout-prone skin! UPDATE: Wow, what a tremendous difference this has made. I had embarassing adult cystic acne, even on my cheeks. This is the most effective, gentle product I found and I've literally had no significant breakouts since starting it several months ago. I love it!! So good for sensitive adult skin. I use it every night and it didn't cause any irritation or dryness during a Canadian winter. Not even a single visible breakout along my jawline for months. So grateful I found this. I've had the same tube for months and still have a lot left.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Chanel - Stylo Yeux Waterproof - Cassis
tigergirly 3/24/2013 10:48:00 PM
A+! This is extremely expensive, so I only get it when I have gift certificates or find it cheaper at a Duty Free. It's a truly amazing, low-maintence, budge-proof eyeliner. I also like it in espresso, but the black version (ebene) smudged on me like crazy. Too bad! This one seems to be the longest-lasting, although espresso is pretty impressive. It's a dark, browny-purple on me that's more subtle than black. I can nap, have watery eyes all day, have a cold, be in rain or hot weather and this doesn't budge or smudge. It stays on my waterline and washes off fairly easily too. This and Merle Norman's cream eyeliner are the only non-liquid ones that are completely dependable in all conditions. Lorac is close. Mac and Bobbi Brown were smudgy. The metallic tube and twist-up mechanism is easy and tool-free. I will continue to buy when I can justify!
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Hair Color -Clairol - Natural Instincts Rich Color Creme in #31 Coffee Creme
tigergirly 3/20/2013 8:20:00 PM
For those who miss the old NI formula, this is a lot like it! After ages of loyally using the old formula, the new one made my hair brassy, unnatural-looking and uneven. Thankfully this formula goes on smoothly, doesn't have any brassiness, lasts well and makes my hair look healthy. It really does look like the shade on the box. I hope they don't stop making this!
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Eyeliner -LORAC - Front Of The Line Pro in Black
tigergirly 3/18/2013 9:05:00 PM
Best liquid eyeliner!! I loved Lancome Artliner, but it was so pricey and I realized it rubbed off in the corners if I had watery eyes. Stila Stay All Day faded in bits after a while. This one actually stays no matter what, even right on my lashline/waterline! So easy to apply, perfect pigment, fine or heavy. It lasts through exercise and watery eyes. Love it, thanks MUA! I should say I bought one and it was defective- the liquid leaked out and it was runny.Sephora easily exchanged it and haven't had a problem since.
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Eyeliner -Chanel - Stylo Yeux Waterproof Ebene
tigergirly 3/14/2013 5:37:00 AM
Not impressed! I bought the espresso shade a while ago at Duty Free and so pleased, thought I'd splurge on the black version next time I was at an airport (it's very pricey). Sad to say it's like a different product. The pigment is very dark with ebene, but it smudges and does not have the same lasting power. I had major raccoon eyes after a normal day! No thanks. I bought the Rimmel waterproof one as a dupe, it smudged on me too. So did Sephora's version. Is a black, retractable, stick eyeliner that doesn't smudge so hard to find?
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Eyeliner -Chanel - Stylo Yeux Waterproof Espresso
tigergirly 3/9/2013 5:45:00 AM
Darn it, I was hoping this wouldn't be so great! It's so expensive, but really the best stick waterproof eyeliner I've tried. I bought it at Duty Free and will probably try to continue to reduce the cost a bit. The twist-up sturdy tube is practical, the shade is flexible and it doesn't budge. It's a lighter dark brown with a light hand, dark brown if you press harder. No reddish tones to make me look sick. I have hazel eyes, light skin and very dark hair- it looks perfect with a heavier hand. I can nap, swim, leave it on overnight and it won't budge, but it removes easily. I use tubing mascara, so a bit of soap takes this off, no remover necessary. Most tried-and-true eyeliners smudge on me (ie: MAC, Bobbi Brown Gel), this truly works! Of note, the black version doesn't last as long and smudges a bit.UPDATE: Words can't express how much I love this eyeliner. I've had a chance to use it in more testing situations and it passed with flying colors. NO smudging ever, no running, actually stays on waterline (no other eyeliner will dependably do this, gel, liquid or stick) and is so easy to remove. This comes right off with warm water and Spectrojel, not even a smear left behind. I will definitely continue buying this despite the cost! I also tried Cassis, which has excellent lasting power too. I tossed the black one, since it smudged quite a bit. Looking forward to trying Celadon or Jade when I hit Duty Free next.
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Sunscreen -Christian Dior - Capture Totale Multi-Perfection UVB Base Sunscreen SPF 50
tigergirly 3/8/2013 6:24:00 AM
I've been on a continuous, frustrating search to find a decent facial sunscreen for years, almost all ending in breakouts, rashes or greasiness. Even higher SPF products for sensitive skin cause big problems. In Canada, we don't have access to many US or Asian sunscreen products due to restrictions. Therefore, I'm more than willing to pay for a decent one! Enter Dior's Multi-Perfection UVB Base. It's quite expensive at Sephora, but a little goes a long way. The active ingredients are titanium dioxide, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which don't seem to cause as many issues as others often present in Canada. It doesn't say oil-free, but doesn't contain comedogenic algae like other Capture Totale products. It glides on smoothly, looks perfect under makeup and doesn't add any oiliness to my combination skin at all. It's also not as heavily fragranced as many products. I've been trialing for a period and no breakouts, but will update if problems occur. Fingers crossed this is the one! UPDATE: Much as I love this, it cased mild breakouts after a month or so. Usually products cause a quick, substantial breakout, especially sunscreens. It was a small breakout that healed quickly and occurred after a while of use, so still may be appropriate for many with sensitive skin. I will still use this for special days in high sun, but not continuously.
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Eyeliner -Rimmel - Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer - Noir
tigergirly 3/6/2013 4:28:00 PM
Sadly, this left me with terrible raccoon eyes! I really wanted to love it for the price and the fact it has a built-in sharpener and smudger. I had a regular office day, no extreme heat or eye-rubbing. By the early afternoon it was so bad, I looked like Fester Adams. Booo! Unfortunately back to my pricey ones.
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Treatments (Eye) -Skinceuticals - A.G.E Eye Complex
tigergirly 2/24/2013 7:25:00 AM
This is a lovely, moisturizing eye cream that did not cause any milia and seemed to decrease puffiness and darkness. Unfortunately, after about 4 months of use, I did not see any change in fine lines or wrinkles at all. It did not live up to claims. I will certainly use the rest, but won't repurchase due to price and lack of anti-aging results. I had better results with Reversa UV eye.
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Lip Gloss -Bite Beauty - Beauty Lip Shine
tigergirly 2/23/2013 9:23:00 AM
I hated this when I first tried it because of the strong scent and yucky taste. Lanolin was mentioned by other reviewers. It does smell and taste like that, but has a fake bubblegummy aspect to it too that is not appealing. It grew on me because it's so moisturizing and the shades are nice. I bought this in Vintage and Cinnamon. Vintage is a nude pinky-brownish shade that looks good on my pigmented lips. It has decent lasting power and really works as a lip balm. A bit heavy-feeling, but suitable for winter. Cinnamon is a similar shade, but a bit deeper and more brown. It makes lips look smooth and happy. The taste and smell is still gross, but I'm accepting it!
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