Sparkleshinylove
Member Since: September 10, 2014Reviews
Yves Saint Laurent Creme de Blush
This week I tried out YSL’s Creme De Blush. This will be the most expensive blush you ever buy I’m pretty sure. Well, that’s if my review entices you to buy it! I received it free in a swag bag, but it retails for $52.00 CDN. So it’s a... +
This week I tried out YSL’s Creme De Blush. This will be the most expensive blush you ever buy I’m pretty sure. Well, that’s if my review entices you to buy it! I received it free in a swag bag, but it retails for $52.00 CDN. So it’s a little pricey, but I did really like it.
I’d never tried a cream blush before this one. They sound messy, right? Well it didn’t end up being as bad as I thought.
When I saw the colour (Rouge Passion) I thought it was way too red! I don’t usually wear anything red so I was sure I would just give it away. Even on when I first applied it I though it looked way too red. I tried blending it in and it smoothed into this perfect flush colour. I was actually pretty shocked – it looked awesome. I looked so healthy all of a sudden!
The texture is very silky but sets matte. It didn’t upset the makeup I had already put on at all which was great as well.
I was totally in love with the colour, but I noticed around lunch time it had disappeared. It’s definitely something you need to re-apply throughout the day as I found it had a shelf life of a few hours. I don’t usually carry blush around with me, so that would be something to adjust to.
The blush didn’t leave my skin oily at all (which I am prone too), and it was hard to believe how great it blended into a natural look. It didn’t settle into my pores, and it just sort of floated on top of my makeup.
There is a bit of mess since you need to apply it with your fingers, so on-the-go could be a bit tough unless you can make it to a bathroom to wash your hands. They suggest you use your fingertips for the application, but I suppose you could use a small brush. But on-the-go with a brush? That would be dedication!
The good news is that this stuff would probably last a lifetime. You need so little that I can’t imagine this thing emptying for at least a year!
The blush container itself is pretty luxe. It’s so pretty it doesn’t feel like it should be hidden in a makeup bag.
Would I buy this product? Maybe! I really do like it, but the cost of it would really hurt my wallet. Blush isn’t exactly an essential for me so I’m not sure I would splurge. But if I had some unaccounted for funds, I would go for it!
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Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream
It combines a daily anti-aging moisturizer, SPF 15 sunscreen and sheer tint for younger-looking skin. Like other Olay Total Effects products, it advertises that it fights the seven signs of aging which are : Line minimization: Reduces the... +
It combines a daily anti-aging moisturizer, SPF 15 sunscreen and sheer tint for younger-looking skin.
Like other Olay Total Effects products, it advertises that it fights the seven signs of aging which are :
Line minimization: Reduces the appearance of fine wrinkles
Nourishing moisturization: For a radiant, healthy-looking glow
Subtle lifting: Hydrates for firmer skin appearance
Brightening: Improves skin surface dullness
Improved texture: Smoothes and evens skin texture
Pore refinement: Minimizes the appearance of pores
Tone enhancement: Balances color and reduces the appearance of age spots
I first started using this cream under my makeup. This did not work for me! I liked the cream a lot because it was lightweight, but I thought it was too heavy to use with foundation. I felt my makeup slide off later in the day – my face was getting a little oily.
Finally I found the perfect use for it – make up free days. At the beach was the best – I would put on my SPF, then add the CC cream for added SPF and to even out my skin tone. It worked great!
At this time of year I’m using it on the weekend when running errands and I don’t need a full face of makeup. It’s a great moisturizer too.
I think it was too much when layering under makeup, but on it’s own it’s awesome. Under my SPF was great as well, but that sunscreen is my favourite because it absorbs so quickly.
I’m not sure if I’m fighting those seven signs of aging with it, but out of the seven it has been brightening my skin when I wear it, moisturizing, and minimizing my facial lines (at least hiding them) when I’m wearing it. I don’t think it’s fixing those seven signs of aging since I’m not wearing it every day to see results and have it work it’s magic, but it’s certainly working to cover them up!
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Benefit Cosmetics Big Beautiful Eyes
The kit includes Boi-ing Concealer which I have never used before. I was a little worried this would be the one thing I wouldn’t use, but I’m obsessed with it! The concealer blends perfectly, and it stays on all day. Normally I need to do a... +
The kit includes Boi-ing Concealer which I have never used before. I was a little worried this would be the one thing I wouldn’t use, but I’m obsessed with it! The concealer blends perfectly, and it stays on all day. Normally I need to do a touch up towards the end of the day, but the Boi-ing doesn’t budge. I need a whole bottle of this stuff!
There’s an alabaster pink eye shadow (which is a little shimmery) for highlighting or applying as a base. It’s a very natural colour, and the shimmer is only slight so it can be worn easily during the day.
For the crease of the eye there is a very natural cocoa eye shadow that is very complimentary. Just using the Boi-ing, the alabaster pink shadow, and the cocoa eyeshadow is perfect for day wear! The final shadow colour is a deep brown shadow, and I use this for a bit of depth to the outer corner of my eyes when I’m going out for dinner or drinks. It’s a little dark for daytime use.
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NeoStrata Anti-Aging Gel
It took about a week for my face to really adjust to the gel. I didn’t break out or have any major issues at all – it just seemed like it took a week before it tingled less when I applied it, and when I started to see results. Korres has very... +
It took about a week for my face to really adjust to the gel. I didn’t break out or have any major issues at all – it just seemed like it took a week before it tingled less when I applied it, and when I started to see results. Korres has very natural ingredients in their products, so I think my skin was also adjusting to having a few ingredients created in a lab smeared on my face. I really did think to myself though, I could deal with lab-based ingredients if my face ends up looking this fresh! Is that bad? Sorry, but those were the very non-environmentally friendly thoughts running around in my head.
The cream is supposed to be for ages 35 , and although that’s above my age, I wish I had been using this for longer. My skin seems a lot brighter, a lot smoother, and overall I can see a difference. Without make up I actually don’t look half bad!
It’s hard to say if it actually is firming my skin the way it says it will, but I can attest to the fact that my skin looks healthier than before I was using it. My face seems very smooth, and I don’t have a problem with that.
Because it’s a gel, I found it can be almost a bit sticky to apply, and it needs to dry a bit before you don’t feel it on your face anymore. It’s a very soft, whipped gel so it does dry quickly.
Once I looked the product up online I found it retails online for $67, so this stuff isn’t cheap, but unfortunately I am addicted now. It does seem to last a long time though, and you really don’t need much to cover your face and neck.
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Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
First of all the palette itself is pretty great because it’s sturdy enough that when you close it, it will actually stay closed. I’ve been using it for almost two months now and the lock is still working, and I have dropped it a few times and... +
First of all the palette itself is pretty great because it’s sturdy enough that when you close it, it will actually stay closed. I’ve been using it for almost two months now and the lock is still working, and I have dropped it a few times and the eye shadows and palette have not cracked or broken.
There are six neutral shades, and they are all matte. The first three are perfect for a neutral eye. Venus works great as a highlighter and because the shadow is matte it isn’t too shimmery. Foxy and Walk of Shame are my absolute favourites. I alternate using them to cover my lid, and sometimes I just wear one of these colours with mascara so I look awake! It’s like the “I’m not wearing any make-up” look, while actually wearing make-up and looking fab. I thought I would hate Naked2 because it almost looks grey in the palette, but after a couple weeks I tried it and I really like it! It’s perfect to layer on the crease of my eye, and it doesn’t look grey at all on top of Foxy or Walk of Shame. It looks very natural, but at least defines my eyes. Finally Faint and Crave are more for a dinner and drinks type of look. Both can be very heavy so very little is needed, but both are complementary. It’s like this palette was made for my face! Obviously Urban Decay knew what they were doing when they created this Naked Basics Palette.
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Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Styling Treatment
So there is a lot of science behind this product (reduces breakage by 78%, for the first time ever they have combined patented Healthy Hair Molecule – OFPMA – and their own Volumizing Molecule – PBAE), but really the claims are that in one... +
So there is a lot of science behind this product (reduces breakage by 78%, for the first time ever they have combined patented Healthy Hair Molecule – OFPMA – and their own Volumizing Molecule – PBAE), but really the claims are that in one step you will have added smoothness, volume, conditioning, strength and polish to your hair. It also claims to keep your style cleaner for longer, and it’s sulfate-free, silicone-free and oil free.
These all sound like the ingredients required for a perfect hair day! I gave it a try, but was confused at first because there are two ways to wear this product. You can either apply it to your clean, damp hair and then comb through, or for best results blow dry your hair. Usually I find products say you must blow-dry to heat-activate the product, so I was surprised you could just leave it in and that the perfect hair day promise would still stand.
The smell is a light citrus, and although it smelled great I didn’t smell it in my hair after I blow-dried it. As soon as I started blow-drying my hair I was surprised because my hair felt way softer. It’s probably the quickest I have ever seen a result from a product in my life. My hair was instantly becoming softer, and I wasn’t even done blow-drying yet!
I tried not to get too excited, and went to bed with my super soft hair to see what would happen in the morning.
I woke up not even remembering using the stuff until I started to use my hair straightener, and then I realized that my hair was very soft and smooth. LIVING PROOF provides some tips and tricks for the product, and they say if you use a flat brush as I did when blow-drying, your hair will have a more smooth and polished look. I can attest that they were right on that one!
So I went about my day with what you could call a “Perfect Hair Day”. No frizz, it stayed smooth all day, but I can’t attest yet to how much stronger my hair is because I don’t know if I would ever notice that, but the only thing missing was volume. That could be my fault as one of the tips and tricks LIVING PROOF offers for this product is that to enhance body you should apply the product, and blow-dry using a round brush instead of a flat brush. Sorry, I don’t even own a round brush so I couldn’t test this one out.
LIVING PROOF also mentioned that when air-drying with this product to use a little less of it, and so I did when letting my hair dry naturally. My hair was left very soft, and I could smell a bit more of the product in my hair this way as well.
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Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara
To keep up my rep of being a total beauty junkie I picked up a new mascara last week that I totally didn’t need. Well, at the time I thought I might need it since it said it was High Impact mascara. Those couple of words reminded me that I... +
To keep up my rep of being a total beauty junkie I picked up a new mascara last week that I totally didn’t need. Well, at the time I thought I might need it since it said it was High Impact mascara. Those couple of words reminded me that I totally needed some High Impact lashes in my life, and I thought I would give it a try.
At $19 it didn’t totally break the bank either, so I spent the week willing it to replace my favourite Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara. The mascara only comes in Black or Black/Brown, so it’s really all business and no fun (usually there are a few other colour options with mascara, but it’s not like I have bought a blue or a green one lately anyway).
The claims? Instant volume and length that resists flaking, clumping, smudging. They said it could stand up to heat, humidity, and an active day.
The first thing I noticed was how smooth it went on. The consistency is a little watery so it easily smoothed onto my lashes and was easy to apply. The tips Clinique gave for the mascara was to start at the base of my lashes and then wiggle the brush up to the tip of my lashes. It said to repeat this step, and to prevent clumping to let the mascara dry between coats. I am all about following instructions so I did exactly as told. I didn’t notice any clumping at all which was great, but what I did notice was that the consistency of the mascara was so watery I had to build over and over and over again to get any “Impact”. It went on so smoothly I didn’t really see a lot of volume, and to create the volume I wanted I had to put a lot of this stuff on.
I also found that it didn’t separate my lashes as nicely as I would have liked. I had to use another want to separate my lashes the way I like them to be. It seemed to clump them together, and I think it was all the brushes fault.
It really doesn’t like it when your lashes curl. It seemed to want to straighten my lashes out which was sort of annoying. The formula just didn’t seem to be thick enough to bend your lashes in the shape you want.
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