Cleansers -Dermalogica - Ultra Calming Cleanser
xmikix 11/11/2010 7:27:00 AM
This used to be my HG cleanser for my HYPER-SENSITIVE, combination dry acne-prone skin. Its just a super gentle gel/cream based cleanser that doesn't strip my natural oils but keeps my skin from breaking out and just...manageable, which is more than I could ask for with my super sensitive skin. It hydrates my dry patches and keeps my oily bits normal. Of course, it is horrible at removing make up...but I just use this as a normal cleanser. This is why I gave it 5 stars. The packaging is fantastic if you buy it as 500ml bottle which comes with a pump. The 250ml packaging, however, is atrocious, and it comes with a flap top that you have to press the top and squeeze the bottle (this becomes an issue when you have hardly any product left) for the product to come out. HOWEVER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THEY HAVE NOW CHANGED THE FORMULA AS OF 2010 worldwide (except for Australia). The new formula has some sort of ultracalming 'complex'...I'm not sure what the ingredients are as they are patented...but this new 'complex' of ingredients breaks me out...and makes my dry patches BURN AND BECOME RED, INFLAMMED AND HORRIBLY ITCHY! This leads to horrible break outs and even drier skin. Not just that, it stings my eyes when its not even remotely close to my eye area, which is not something the old formula did. I'm devastated as this has been my HG for over 5 years. For those in Australia, they have yet to replace this product on the shelves with the NEW formula. So STOCK UP LADIES! They're planning to replace the old formula with the new formula within the next few months. All other countries are only stocking the new formula only now. I don't know what other cleanser could ever replace it...now I'm on the search for my new HG cleanser. =[
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -NARS - Sheer Matte
xmikix 6/7/2010 7:43:00 AM
Okay I am SHOCKED by all these negative reviews. I am asian with extremely sensitive skin which has a strong yellow undertone. In summer I'm combination oily and in winter I'm combination dry (multi-personality skin I swear). I use FIJI and its a PERFECT match. This foundation is GREAT for combination oily skin but you STILL need to moisturise and even moreso (I use olay hydrating fluid PLUS Mecca's saving face sunscreen..I highly recommend this sun screen) for winter. Not sure how this would fair for true oily types. The trick with this foundation is to shake the bottle thoroughly, apply foundation to the centre of the face (T-zone) and spread outwards with fingertips (warms the foundation and allows it to melt into the skin). It looks more natural and gives your skin a more radiant and natural finish. Please don't bother using a brush, it will end up streaky and chalky. Also, this foundation works best with WATER-BASED primers..namely the NARS primer. It gives the foundation a nicer and longer-lasting finish and allows the foundation to glide onto the skin. Given the right primer and application method, this foundation wears better as time progresses during the day - it gives a nice dewy (not oily) finish. It also does not even FEEL like foundation...even when you lay copious amounts on (sheer but buildable coverage). This does NOT contain SPF so be sure to wear sunscreen..for that reason this foundation photographs beautifully. I do find my skin is a bit brighter after use...with my pores being slightly less noticeable. But that could just be the rosehip/jojoba oil that I use to remove this foundation with. The only problem with this foundation is that it is very expensive. It retails for $99 in Australia (yikes!). But its worth every cent. =]
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Luster
xmikix 4/12/2010 5:40:00 AM
Lustre was the first blush I ever bought from NARS...I have used MADLY before but its way too red for me. Luster looks very intimidating in the pan...it appears as a coppery golden brown colour in the pan which is very deceiving...When the shop assistant swiped luster on my cheeks I could not believe how subtle yet beautiful it looked...it was like a peachy with an ever so slight pink. Orgasm looked WAY too pink on me. Luster looks much more natural and makes your face glow. I find it applies best with the yachiyo brush. Unlike other NARS blushes you can get away with applying too much. However, I reckon it'll look orange on cool-toned skin. I'm asian with light - medium yellow - toned skin...For reference...I'm the shade FIJI in NARS sheer matte foundation.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
xmikix 1/1/2009 7:45:00 PM
This product is very gentle, and i have not found another replacement which is just as good. Very good for combination skin, it clears the oil off my T-zone, and keeps my dry patches normal (surprisingly). Nice texture and smell, doesn't foam (and its not supposed to, there is another version of this that does, but is for oily skin). I always try different cleansers from different brands that were even more expensive and just didn't do the job and i always end up going back to this one. I'm not really a fan of any of their other products, but this one has got to be the best of this brand. Its been my lifesaver, especially when i have had allergic reactions to many different brands, and had to wash the stuff off my face with purity to calm my skin. It doesn't clog my pores, it keeps my skin beautifully firm, soft and moisturized. I highly recommend this product.
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Moisturizers -Ren - mayblossom and konjac moisturiser
xmikix 1/1/2009 7:38:00 PM
This product was extremely harsh to my skin. I really wanted to love this product, considering all the fantastic reviews everyone gave here..and all the positive feedback. I sampled this product. Nice and watery, it did spread on my skin, however it burnt like HELL! Bad burning, to the point where i was scratching my skin. However, i decided to give it a few tries to see whether my skin might just get used to it. It burnt even more upon each application. And moreover, my whole face wasn't even hydrated, it didn't hydrate my dry patches no matter how much i put. I went back to shop to tell them my problem, and they gave me a sample of the mayblossom cleanser to see whether they might compliment each other and my skin might calm down (i am using philosophy purity at the moment...possible assumptions might have been a cross-reaction, hence burning..which is rather strange since purity is very gentle..but now i digress), however, the cleanser stripped my skin so bad...i applied the moisturizer, it burnt even MORE! my eyes were watering and i had to wash it off with purity (my lifesaver), and it left my skin pretty dry and flakey. Definetely NOT a good brand for me. My skin isn't that sensitive, so i don't know what they put in there, but it was definetely not good for my skin, unlike a lot of people here T__T
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Moisturizers -Prescriptives - Comfort Lotion
xmikix 1/1/2009 7:30:00 PM
I have very temperamental, ultra-sensitive skin (which has become like this every since i sampled REN) and many brands that i have used that have been 'said' to be for sensitive skin...i have broken out from, has burnt my skin upon application, clogged my pores etc etc. I was very reluctant to try this product at first...but let me say, my skin has cleared up from all the pimples and breakouts i have had. In terms of oil control, i use this at night (in the day i use mecca cosmetica to save face 30+) and i wake up eveyr morning and my face isn't oily AT ALL! Its just really soft and firm to the touch. Doesn't even clog my pores. Its GREAT. I've never used any other cream that has actually improved my skin to this extent. This is really worth the try. Despite the price (its $80 here in australia), i use less than a pea size for my face alone and it spreads so easily, hydrates my dry patches and keeps my very oily T-zone in check. Great product. Worth every penny.
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