xtina
Member Since: April 5, 2012Reviews
Vichy Idealia Life Serum
I was given a full size bottle of Vichy's Idealia Life Serum as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club, and I was SO excited when it came in the mail! First off, the packaging is just gorgeous. The bottle is a lovely glass rose pink and has an... +
I was given a full size bottle of Vichy's Idealia Life Serum as part of Chick Advisor's Product Review Club, and I was SO excited when it came in the mail!
First off, the packaging is just gorgeous. The bottle is a lovely glass rose pink and has an almost sculptural look to it. It just LOOKS pretty sitting on my vanity. :)
I've been using it for a couple weeks, which I feel is enough time to have formed a solid opinion of the product.
Firstly, enough I'm almost 32 I have VERY temperamental skin! It truly is combination and can be both oily and dry on different parts of my face, so I'm always wary of trying a new face cream lest it cause me to break out. I am happy to report (and pleasantly surprised to say) that the Life Serum did not cause any breakouts, so all you fellow combination/oily chicks out there -- never fear!
Secondly, it did a good job of moisturizing my skin without feeling too heavy or greasy, which is a huge plus for Toronto's hot, humid summers. Before receiving the Life Serum, I'd actually been avoiding using moisturizer because of the heat, and I'd developed a couple dry patches on the apples of my cheeks. Those were gone within a day of using the Life Serum, something that hasn't always happened with other moisturizers I've used in the past.
Third, it has an absolutely lovely rose scent to it, which is just enough to brighten up your morning without being overpowering.
Overall, I'd say that I really liked the product. The main drawback for me is the price -- I can't really justify paying $60 for a not-so-big bottle of face cream, even if it's pretty concentrated and you don't have to use a ton. Would I buy it for myself? Probably not, just due to the price. If it's in your price range, though, I highly recommend it. And if I feel like splurging on face cream, well, I know which one I'll be buying. ;)
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GOSH Lip Lacquer
I quite like this stuff, although the colour I received in my #GOSHgoddess kit was a bit bright to be wearing on a regular basis. It was a lovely colour, just not one I could wear every day. Definitely more of an "evening" colour. Regardless, I... +
I quite like this stuff, although the colour I received in my #GOSHgoddess kit was a bit bright to be wearing on a regular basis. It was a lovely colour, just not one I could wear every day. Definitely more of an "evening" colour.
Regardless, I really like the consistency of the Lip Lacquer. It isn't overly goopy or runny like many similar products and stays put relatively well.
The fact that it's a liquid also means it's easy to layer on as much or as little colour as you like, and if you do want a more subtle wash on your lips, you can simply blot your lips and re-blend the colour. For a more dramatic look, you can do a coat or two and apply it really well. The colour seems last a long time too, which I liked.
Overall, I think I would try the Lip Lacquer again, but in a different colour that's a little less dramatic and more appropriate for every day.
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GOSH Crazy Volume Mascara
I do like it in that it's not too runny but also not too thick. The brush does an excellent job of getting all my lashes, which many mascaras can't do. It also keeps a good curl in my lashes, whereas many other mascaras end up re-straightening them... +
I do like it in that it's not too runny but also not too thick. The brush does an excellent job of getting all my lashes, which many mascaras can't do. It also keeps a good curl in my lashes, whereas many other mascaras end up re-straightening them (my lashes are naturally almost pin straight).
The first few days were great, but I've noticed that it has started to clump more recently, which is annoying, especially on the lower lashes.
It doesn't flake throughout the day and leaves my lashes feeling soft, which is nice.
Overall, I really like the way it makes my lashes look and I'd consider buying it again, but I also might stick with the cheap-y Maybelline stuff which also works very well, though it is prone to flaking.
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GOSH Defining Brow Gel
Just like all the other Gosh products I received with my #GOSHgoddess pack from Chick Advisor, this one was a winner (seriously; not just saying that 'cuz I got them for free!). I have oily skin and I've always shied away from user brow gel or... +
Just like all the other Gosh products I received with my #GOSHgoddess pack from Chick Advisor, this one was a winner (seriously; not just saying that 'cuz I got them for free!).
I have oily skin and I've always shied away from user brow gel or pencils, other than just the clear gel, because I've been worried about the colour bleeding down my face.
This was also a product I was super-skeptical about; however, it was a really pleasant surprise. While the gel can look a bit dark when first applied, it dries to a great colour and doesn't look fake or painted on (another worry of mine). It really just enhances my natural brows and makes them look stronger, but again, still natural. I never realized how much a stronger brow can really help frame your face and make you look that much more polished, but trust me, it does.
Another product that has changed my beauty regimen and will be a mainstay from now on.
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GOSH Prime 'n Set Powder
Seriously? This stuff is awesome. I've heard about priming and setting powders like this before, and I was always skeptical. I have really oily skin, and no powder has ever been able to help control that — until now. I simply dust this on my... +
Seriously? This stuff is awesome. I've heard about priming and setting powders like this before, and I was always skeptical. I have really oily skin, and no powder has ever been able to help control that — until now.
I simply dust this on my face after applying my concealer and light powder foundation, and it keeps me practically shine-free until lunchtime. I don't think you understand what a miracle that is for me. I will be using this stuff forever and ever (amen) from now on.
It's also a great price point for what you get. I know Make Up Forever makes something similar, but who wants to pay $40 when you can get it at a waaaaay more reasonable price (and for the same quality)? Sold, sold, sold.
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MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
This is my absoute go-to for foundation. I have oily skin, so I definitely need to be using a powder, and the coverage it provides is amazing for evening out your skin tone. I just use some concealer where needed and then apply StudioFix all over... +
This is my absoute go-to for foundation. I have oily skin, so I definitely need to be using a powder, and the coverage it provides is amazing for evening out your skin tone. I just use some concealer where needed and then apply StudioFix all over. It can be a little heavy on very hot days, and I find it tends to "melt" off my skin, and it can build up in my fine 'smile lines' throughout the day, so I have to be mindful of that and re-blend when necessary (and always carry blotting papers!).
It's also a little pricey, but having tried less expensive (but similar) powder foundations from Clinique and Sephora, I can definitely say this is the best I've come across, so I'm willing to pay a bit extra for it.
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St. Ives® Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub
I can't really complain about this stuff. It's a pretty great exfoliator and for the price, you really can't go wrong. I've been using it for a long time with fairly decent results. That said, I've recently switched over to St. Ives' Green Tea... +
I can't really complain about this stuff. It's a pretty great exfoliator and for the price, you really can't go wrong. I've been using it for a long time with fairly decent results. That said, I've recently switched over to St. Ives' Green Tea Scrub. The exfoliating beads are smaller and more granular, and my temperamental combination skin seems to respond better to that. -
DiorShow Waterproof Mascara
I like this mascara, but I find that the thickness of the brush tends to lead to clumping and doesn't do a good job of separating my lashes. That being said, it will stay on and not run or smudge no matter what you do, and it does a great job of... +
I like this mascara, but I find that the thickness of the brush tends to lead to clumping and doesn't do a good job of separating my lashes. That being said, it will stay on and not run or smudge no matter what you do, and it does a great job of volumizing my wimpy eyelashes! If it weren't for the brush and the high price tag I would probably buy it again. For now, I'll stick to my good old Maybelline Great Lash, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from giving DiorShow a try, either! -
Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara
This is my go to, holy grail of mascaras. I've tried sooo many different brands, including super-high end ones like DiorShow, but I still come back to this one because I find that having the smaller brush really helps get to some of my finer... +
This is my go to, holy grail of mascaras. I've tried sooo many different brands, including super-high end ones like DiorShow, but I still come back to this one because I find that having the smaller brush really helps get to some of my finer eyelashes, whereas a mascara (like DiorShow) with a thicker brush tends to leave clumps and not separate my lashes well. Why spend $30 on mascara if you don't have to? This one is a classic for a reason! -
Dove White Beauty Bar
I received Dove's Beauty Bar as part of CA's product review club. Normally, I'm one of those tree-hugging hippie types that uses all natural soaps from, say, the Big Carrot, but I wanted to do my due diligence and test out the soap since I was... +
I received Dove's Beauty Bar as part of CA's product review club. Normally, I'm one of those tree-hugging hippie types that uses all natural soaps from, say, the Big Carrot, but I wanted to do my due diligence and test out the soap since I was given it for free!
So, I can say that it works very well for what it is--your skins feels very clean and almost moisturized after you use it (though I still had to apply moisturizer after having a shower/bath as I normally do). That being said, I'm not crazy about the smell. I've never been a fan of the Dove smells (very synthetic and perfume-y) and I find that all of their soaps have the same sort of underlying scent, which I'm just not crazy about.
Dove is certainly not the worst soap in the world, but would I buy it myself or recommend it to others? Not really. I'll stick to my natural soaps which work just as well and aren't filled with synthetic chemicals and odd perfume-y scents :)
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