Makeup
- GigiSD » See my profile
- Points: 438580
- Reviews: 1103
Here are all my reviews:
-
Sure, this formula is packed with Lanolin, Squalane, Wheat Germ Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and Vitamins A and E to help heals lips. It works--temporarily. There is an immediate soothing effect, but I have found balms that go to work to actually repair my lips. The formula is too thick for my comfort, and the SPF factor is ineffective for protection. Instead of spending $7.00 on a small tube of Kiehl's, why not use Vaseline or Elizabeth Arden's "Eight Hour Cream?"
April 3, 2013
-
I don't get this "Benefit" product at all (and I generally salivate over their items). This is supposed to "mattify" skin, but all I had was a heavy, uneven coating on my complexion. Pores were not disguised. And then I had a definite "slick" feel at the end of the day. I'll definitely stay away from this "doctor!"
April 3, 2013
-
The importance of exfoliation cannot be understated. Even the most sensitive, fragile skins should undergo the process twice a week. According to some dermatologists, many men age more attractively than women simply because they exfoliate daily--with a razor blade as they shave! Exfoliation is crucial to remove the upper, dead layer of skin cells on your face. It helps to deep-clean and can dislodge blackheads and whiteheads without damaging delicate skin. When done moderately and well, it improves circulation and leaves your complexion looking and feeling smoother, finer, and clearer. Products used to moisturize and prevent aging penetrate more effectively when skin is renewed and old cells are washed away. Unfortunately, some exfoliating agents can be unduly harsh. Ingredients such as ground nut shells--if not small or blunt enough--can cause minute tears in the skin, creating irritation. skin damage, and places for bacteria to hibernate. Too many acids in a product will sting and burn; you need one which will comfort while it cleanses and renews. That's why I love Suki's "Exfoliate Cleanser." It is all-natural and replete with beneficial, delightful ingredients such as Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Rice Flour, Chamomile, Lavender, Lemongrass, Orange Peel, and Seaweed (Algae) Extracts. When you dip into the tub, you'll find it a bit grainy to begin with, but the scent--oh, the scent! It is a luscious sweet citrus smell, so good that I'm tempted to consume it rather than wash with it! It then disperses into an ultra-foamy lather. I tend to get carried away with the bubbles and have to stop myself from using it for too long. It rinses thoroughly--no annoying particles are left around the eyes or crevices of the nose. Skin is velvety-like and has a younger look. My beauty secret? I exfoliate my hands as often as I do my face. It keeps them youthful and more receptive to the creams I use during the day and night.
April 3, 2013
-
Powder blushes can be drying, look artificial, and actually age you rather than improve your look. Not so with Lancôme's "Blush Subtil." It is a finely-milled, oil-free formula available in several very becoming shades. It glides on like pure satin, leaving only your own gorgeous flush behind, never a heavy or cakey look. "Delicate" is the perfect adjective to describe it. The color stays pure for long hours. Lancôme has a true winner with this!
April 2, 2013
-
I'm not sure what convinced me to try this mascara ($27.00 at Sephora), but I am certainly glad I did! It claims to give up to six times more volume. I can't say I had an increase to that extent, but my lashes are much fuller with this. The formula is glossy and supple. It has a special POWERFULL™ brush made to coat each lash from root to tip. The formula itself, called SoftSculp,™ wraps around lashes without annoying clumps, flaking, or smudging. Applying several coats is easy with this, something I rarely do with most mascaras. It stays put for a long time. I also like the fact that it is available in both black for more drama and brown for a softer, natural look.
April 2, 2013
-
I'm stunned the NYX is able to offer this long-lasting jar for only $5.00. I love the color selection, with everything from natural shades to yellow (appropriate for almost all women), and orange, lavender, and green to correct discolorations and/or uneven skin tone. This is a bit heavier than concealers you normally find, but it stays PUT on blemishes. It works wonders on disguising dark circles under eyes. I highly suggest using a concealer brush for best results. It won't settle in lines or creases and never looks cakey or heavy.
April 2, 2013
-
I did reviews on Lorac eye shadows twelve years ago for another site and was impressed then by the quality. Although the products have changed, these are still first-rate items. Lorac has the ability to coordinate great colors and finishes so that one palette allows you to create a multitude of looks, from day to night. These are pigmented, silky, glide-on hues which wear exceptionally well (I put them on over Too Faced's "Shadow Insurance"). With colors from White, Cream, Taupe, Light Pink, Mauve, Sable, and Espresso to Champagne (Sparkle), Gold (Shimmer), Light Bronze (Shimmer) and Deep Purple (Shimmer), one palette suffices for just about all the looks you want to achieve!
April 2, 2013
-
It's not often that I use a fluid foundation, especially at this time of year, when I like to pare down my beauty routine and concentrate on fun and new, flattering brighter colors. Lancôme's Renergie Lift Makeup SPF 20 is an exception here--I use it in place of their "Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup" when I'm seeking a softer, more moisturized look. After experimenting with Hourglass Cosmetics' amazing "Ambient Lighting Powders," I moved on to some of their other products. Hourglass puts quality above everything. The hefty price tag justifies the purchase, even for those on a budget, as the products I've used have far exceeded the claims they have made. Recently I couldn't resist the lovely color of their "Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15" in Ivory ($60.00 at Sephora), a light shade with the perfect pink undertone for my coloring. There are far more benefits besides the shade. The formula itself is very rich, yet completely oil-free. It has ingredients to support the body's natural ability to produce collagen, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and Skin Tightener ST™ PH to enhance your complexion's appearance (who couldn't love that?). It was shown to have a lifting effect on forehead furrows and wrinkles around the eyes. Moreover, Hourglass' Veil is created without harmful Parabens, Sulfates, and Phthalates, along with potentially irritating fragrances. The feel is luxurious and satiny, and a small amount does indeed go a long way. It will cover skin completely, disguising any imperfections quite well. Evidently the formula also contains ingredients to enhance illumination, as it gives me a lit-from-within glow which I love and is noticeable to others. I don't always use a foundation primer, and this stays in place for many long hours and through different conditions--cold, heat, and humidity. Although you can apply with your fingers or a sponge, it works best when you use a good foundation brush for a seamless, gorgeous finish.
April 1, 2013
-
From when I was a young girl, I began to notice that the older some of the women I knew grew, the more they tended to heavily layer their faces with powder. It was freakish, it was garish, and I couldn't understand why they couldn't see themselves realistically in the mirror. They tended to wear an unflattering, cakey orange mask over their complexions, and it ended with a line of demarcation at their necks, where their natural, much more pale skin began. Now I understand their reasoning, as powder absorbs oil and can disguise imperfections. But the more you use, the more you are actually bringing creases and furrows into the foreground, as powder tends to adhere to lines, especially around eyes and the corners of the nose and mouth. Hourglass Cosmetics has invented an amazing new setting powder formulation to minimize imperfections, disguise lines and wrinkles, and create a soft glow. It is their "Ambient Lighting Powders" ($45.00 at Sephora). Sephora has it available in six shades (more than one is flattering for all women): ETHEREAL LIGHT is a sheer, cool tone that eliminates shine and mimics a moonlit glow--even in broad daylight; DIFFUSED LIGHT is a soft, warm, pale yellow that reduces redness, eliminates shine, and gives skin increased clarity; DIM LIGHT is a neutral, soft beige that provides a perfect balance of warm and cool tones to blur imperfections; MOOD LIGHT is a soft, sheer lavender-pink that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion; LUMINOUS LIGHT is a champagne pearl that creates a soft, incandescent candlelit glow--day or night; and RADIANT LIGHT is a sun-kissed golden beige that enhances the overall complexion with believable, subtle warmth. I purchased "Diffused Light" and found it with just the tiniest bit of shimmer and basically invisible on my face, except that it left a velvet-like, beautiful sheen. I also purchased "Mood Light." This has quite a bit more color, but it is wearable during the day or at night if you use a light hand when applying. The rose gives you an ultra-feminine flush and a luminous finish. You can also use it as blush. These are expensive, to be sure, but they are worth every penny and then some!
March 30, 2013
-
No length or volume with this product from Stila (shame on them for creating it!). All I can say I really had was clumping and flaking. It virtually removed itself from my lashes in hours. Never again . . .
March 28, 2013
