Makeup
- GigiSD » See my profile
- Points: 438580
- Reviews: 1103
Here are all my reviews:
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Not many lip glosses impress me. I want one which leaves softness long after it wears away--and I found it with this amazing product! This thick, non-sticky gloss is oh-so-creamy and comforting. It stays put for a long time. Formulated with a patent-pending mix of six anti-aging Peptides, it also contains Aloe and Vitamins A, C, and E. I use at night and awake to the most velvety pout imaginable, with wrinkles blurred. But the color is so beautiful--a delicate, sexy pink/peach shimmer--that I find myself using it just to enhance my smile during the day. Peter Thomas Roth does skin products beautifully, and this is no exception!
April 9, 2013
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With spring here, it's a great time to pull out Estee Lauder's delightful "Pleasures" (of course, it can be used all year long). It has a light, fresh, floral scent because of the mix of Lilies, Peonies, and Jasmine, combined with a bit of exotic Baie Rose. There is a "green" top note which makes it perfect for warm weather and balmy nights. While this is truly a clean scent, it is still seductive.
April 9, 2013
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I couldn't try Benefit's "Ooh La Lift" quickly enough; it is described as "a wonder eye cream that works like an instant lift cream." NOT TRUE! This is simply a pretty pink highlighter with some light-reflective pigments. There is Glycerin, Sesame Oil, Algae and Chamomile Extracts and a plethora of vitamins, but there is nothing to lift the skin. I was rather underwhelmed at the effects of this. It didn't conceal particularly well, either.
April 9, 2013
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In my early twenties, I recall reading an article which consisted of a compilation of beauty tips from much-admired beauties when it came to aging well (they ranged from Greta Garbo to Raquel Welch and Ursula Andress). All said to avoid face powder, as it tends to cake and linger in fine lines and crevices, making them more noticeable and your complexion more haggard-looking. It especially addressed keeping powder away from the eye area. I never forgot that article. I began to note how women would use powder continually throughout the day to keep shine at bay, dating themselves with a cakey, dry, unattractive look. Even when my skin was far more oily, I began to use blotting tissues to rid my complexion of the annoying shine rather than turn to a compact. Make Up For Ever's "HD Microfinish Powder" has changed my mind about powder completely. It is a unique, very finely-milled translucent formulation. It is completely free of talc and composed of mineral silica. It softens the appearance of furrows and disguises pores beautifully, leaving a tender glow. Sephora has a small size for only $16.00, and a little of this powder goes a very long way. This can be used on cleansed skin or over foundation. Make Up For Ever suggests using a kabuki brush, swirling gently in the powder, tapping off any excess product, and then sweeping from the center of the face outward. One of the beautiful aspects is that this CAN be used around eyes to set concealer and keep it in place for a long time or over a blemish which has been disguised. I like to use the sponge made by Beautyblender.® Dampen it slightly and gently pat in a stippling motion rather than dragging the sponge across your face. Dark circles and imperfections disappear, leaving you luminous and flawless.
April 9, 2013
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Hourglass Cosmetics has amazed me with their "Ambient Lighting Powders" and "Veil Fluid Makeup." I went on to buy their "Aura Sheer Cheek Stain" simply because I loved the other products ($38.00 at Sephora); it seems that Hourglass chooses to put quality first, and I love that! I chose this product in "Flush," a berry-pink. I was a bit befuddled at first; you have to twist the bottom of the tube at least twenty or thirty times until any color appears on the sponge at the top (by that time, you can have arms as toned as Michelle Obama's!). Hourglass suggests dabbing a bit of this lightweight, water-based gel on the apples of your cheeks and blending quickly in circular motions. Coverage is buildable. If you want more color, simply repeat the process. The result is nothing less than spectacular--a natural, translucent glow in any light, even in the harsh, unforgiving light of morning. This shade is appropriate for most skin tones, but I would like to try it in "Rouge" as well (a soft plum). I went about my day without primer under my foundation, and the color did not budge. I was as radiant at two in the morning as I was when I put it on early in the afternoon. Kudos to Hourglass on a superior line of products; I am becoming addicted to them!
April 4, 2013
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I have a small amount of grey at my temples and roots, but it is very stubborn. I would pull it out if I didn't fear bald spots on my head. At the same time, I absolutely DESPISE coloring my hair because I realize that I am damaging it. Garnier's "Olia Oil Powered Permanent Color" seemed the perfect solution--I could cover the offensive grey without ammonia and its irritating smell and harmful side effects. Oil would permeate my hair shaft and infuse the color in a much more gentle way. I was wrong! The bottle was too large and awkward for me to work with it. I wound up using an empty professional coloring bottle from the linen closet (what were you thinking when you designed this, Garnier?). This is a nicely-scented, non-drip formula, and I used it as directed. My hair was soft, but no more soft than with Garnier's regular formula. The vivid, multi-tonal color that I normally have after coloring was missing--the shade was flat. Worse yet, grey coverage lasted less than two weeks, and that is with extremely gentle treatment of my hair (I only wash every two or three days, sleep on a satin pillowcase, deep-condition regularly, let hair air dry whenever possible, etc.). Of course, it was more costly than the regular color as well. I hope they do away with this--it simply doesn't work!
April 4, 2013
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I saw a full-page ad for StrVectin-SD "Volumizing Hand Treatment." I couldn't contain my excitement--I had noted that my hands were beginning to look a bit crepe-like, with the skin thinning slightly and a smattering of tiny brown spots appearing. Shea Buttter, Avocado Oil, and Olive Oil are supposed to immediately smooth skin. Encapsulated Sodium Hyaluronate goes to work on fine lines and wrinkles. A NanoBright complex claims to work to diminish brown spots and brighten skin. A patented NIA-114 complex is supposed to repair DNA damage and strengthen. At $29.00 for a small tube, this is expensive, but I believed it to be well worth the splurge. I was wrong. StriVectin moisturized my hands well, like any other good cream, but there was no added volume, no disappearance of tiny lines. The spots remained. I used two tubes in a row to make sure I gave it a fair chance. I'm surprised that a company with this stellar reputation cannot create something which works more effectively.
April 4, 2013
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With ingredients like Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Beeswax, and Panthenol, how could such a decadently rich cream NOT be moisturizing? I love the thick, lush texture. It is non-oily, but it seeps into dry areas and leaves them ultra-silky. The gentle scent is something else I love, along with the reasonable price. It's an excellent way to get legs and arms beach-ready. Keep making this, Nivea, and we'll continue to purchase it!
April 3, 2013
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In my teens and early twenties, I judged a toner by how tingling--or even stinging--it felt on my face. I equated alcohol with cleansing, and often used Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol to remove the last traces of soap or cleanser (yikes--I know!). Of course my skin felt taut. Many times my "toner experiences" were followed with a red, irritated look. In my naiveté, I thought that I was doing the right thing by stripping my skin of all of its natural oils and discouraging blemishes from forming. In actuality, I was doing just the opposite. My older sister repeatedly asked me not to torment my complexion, but I didn't listen for a few more years. I am fortunate to have emerged relatively unscathed from that brutal treatment! A toner is an essential in the cleansing process. Why? A great toner will remove dirt, grime, and makeup which your cleanser may have missed. Because soap is alkaline in nature, the pH balance is disturbed. Toner will balance it again, bringing it into a normal range (slightly acidic, between five and six). Pores shrink with an astringent! No one likes enlarged pores, but they will appear smaller (use cold water when rinsing for a more pungent effect). Because pores are closed, your skin has added protection. Impurities and environmental contaminants find it harder to make their way into cells. There is a refreshing feel. It should not be the my-face-went-through-a-wringer-washer feel that I used to enjoy, but it will refresh and reinvigorate you. Toners with Glycolic or other AHA acids can actually prohibit ingrown hairs; normally ingrown hairs become blemishes for me, so this is definitely a win-win situation. And some products, like Paula's Choice "Moisture Boost Hydrating Toner" does all of the above while binding moisture to the skin. There is Glycerin, Lecithin, Grape Seed Extract, Allantoin, Willow Herb, and Green Tea in this powerhouse. Skin feels restored and clean but highly comforted. I would describe it as "liquid silk." It is excellent for those with dry, aging, sensitive skin; those with Rosacea will find it soothing and healing. Great work, Paula!
April 3, 2013
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After being "wowed" by Lush's "Big" shampoo, some of the bath bombs, and several of their soaps, I had high expectations for this conditioner. I was greatly disappointed. It claims to be super-charged to thoroughly renew hair. It should be in a dispenser--dipping into a tub in the shower is a very inconvenient way to use a conditioner. It smelled fresh, but it hardly worked to detangle, let alone deep-condition my locks. I would never purchase this again.
April 3, 2013
