Monday, 23 February 2009

Review: Revlon Illuminance Cream Eyeshadow Palette in Wild Orchid

I apologise for being lazy with writing the review out but I'm really stuck for time and this was pre-recorded so it's the best I can do for now! Thanks!

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Review: GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer

Review: GOSH Velvet Touch Foundation Primer

Who is this review for?
Anyone who is looking for a primer or is curious about GOSH products

What is it?
This is a primer that is can be used on the skin before a foundation in order to keep skin smooth and make-up flawless.


As you can see this primer is in a pump bottle which pumps up the good sized amount to distribute over the face. You can see that this primer is a clear gel consistency and when applying it feels almost a bit greasy but the product absorbs into your skin and gives your skin, true to its name, a velvet touch and makes the surface of your skin smooth. This means you now have a smooth canvas for your application and makes applying foundation that much more easier.


This product contains 30ml of product which is equal to 1.0 fl oz


What does it claim to do?
This is what it says on the website:

"The colorless formula fills in fine lines and deep pores in the skin, creating a uniform, matte and unique, silky soft surface, enabling the easy and smooth application of foundation. The primer can be used after daily moisturizer or on clean skin. You get a unique and even finish when applying your foundation that will never look dry or patchy. Contains Aloe Vera and is preservative-free and fragrance-free.

NOW IN A CONVENIENT PUMP DISPENSER" - http://www.goshamericas.com/face.asp

How to use it
When using this product I am careful to only to use one pump at a time; you will probably find that this product goes a long way with just a small amount.
You should use this product after the moisturiser on your skin has settled and before your foundation or concealer. This product should be concentrated on dry patches, the forehead, under the eyes, around the eyes and chin. I find all my foundations and concealers work well with this primer but in particular a liquid foundation such as the Revlon Colorstay Foundation. Again there are not many rules as to how you use it; feel free to use your fingers, a brush or a sponge but I like to use my fingers just because it's easier and you won't lose the product like you would with a sponge.
Once the primer has settled on the skin you can go ahead and apply your make-up!

What it did for me
I love this product! I think this product really gives me a smooth canvas to work on! With the weather being particularly cruel to my skin lately, it's become very dry and patchy and my moisturiser doesn't do the job but this primer is a life saver. As it has moisturising properties I like to put this on regardless any make-up or not and when using it I like to massage it into the drier patches.
Don't be afraid of using it if you have oily skin either because I have combination skin; with my t-zone it can become very shiny and greasy and I have had no problems with it making me greasy. It really helps to give an easier application to make up, make your skin smooth, gives your skin more of a healthy, dewy sheen and it holds you rmake-up in place for the day!

The cost
In the UK you can purchase the primer at most Superdrugs at £12.72. You can also visit their website at http://www.goshcosmetics.com/ and purchase it online.

STAR RATING
I would give this product a 4.5/5 stars! I really like this product, you can use it on your skin with or without make up and it really does the job. Unfortunately it is a bit expensive but I am in love all the same.


Saturday, 7 February 2009

Review: Johnson's 3in1 Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash

Who is this review for?
T
This product review is going to be for those people who are looking for an inexpensive facial wash that also exfoliates the skin and is gentle enough to use daily

What is it?
This is a "all in one" face wash which is supposed to be gentle to the skin.

This is what the product looks like on the outside:



And this is the product itself:



As you can see it's quite grainy and it's white. The texture resembles a gel with a grainy texture; the bits in it are micro-beads which are supposed to help exfoliate.
It smells like most Johnson's products do; a bit like baby products and slightly flowery and sweet. In this bottle you can get 150ml of product which should last you for a couple of months.

What does it claim to do?
As mentioned this product is a "3 in 1" product which means it claims to do three things that three seperate products should do. It apparently should clean, exfoliate and remove impurities from the skin. The product shouldn't over dry the skin and is gentle enough to use daily. It's also soap free, has micro-beads for exfoliation and will leave your skin smooth and clean.

How to use it
When using this product remember to use circular motions for a good exfoliation and to always wash off with warm water. Afterwards try splashing your face with cold water to tighten up pores and make skin feel firm. This product can be used morning and night and remember to after care your skin with products such as toners, moisturisers and eye gels.

What it did for me
To be honest the product did very little for me and I'm quite disappointed. I have never stopped using a product because I disliked it and needless to say I only have used half of it. I tried to have good faith and I ended up using it for a good while but I decided to stop because it made my skin itch, red, blotchy, dry and flaky. As you may know I have a combination skin type so I knew to stop when it began making my oilier areas too dry.

This product may work for those who have oilier skin and that are very resilient to drying products but for those who are similar to me I would say be wary of it. I think I'm mostly disappointed because I love Johnson's products especially their cleansing wipes but I can't say I'm a big fan of this one.
I'm going to say this again: products work differently for different people, I wouldnt' be put off with what I say so if you want to try it you should be able to!

The cost
The cost is a bit 'unknown' at the moment because I purchased this in Boots a while ago but now I can't find it on the website and it seems scarce on any internet shopping websites. I did find it at www.bitishonlinesupermarket.com which I have no used before. I says it costs £3.89 there. I'm sure its still available as it's still featured on the Johnson's website.

STAR RATING
I would have to give this product a 1/5

Needless to say I won't be repurchasing. I guess the lesson learned is that even if it says it 'gentle'...it really might not be, even if it comes from a brand like Johnson's.

Haul: 07.02.08

Hello everyone,
so I'm back with another haul; what was supposed to be a cheap lunch with my boyfriend ended up as an expensive lunch (Yo! Sushi) and hauling.... so, let's get with it!

Like I said, I wasn't supposed to buy anything but my mind came to the idea of buying the concealer I wanted which is the Benefit Boi-ing. I have this concealer in my Big Beautiful Eyes kit and I've loved using it for not only my under eye dark circles but as well as blemishes and scars. So I wanted to get the big original version but as always I was sucked into looking at tons of other things and somehoow I ended up getting something completely different. I originally wanted to buy three things but I knew I shouldn't so I told myself to only get one product so I chose this one because I wanted to compare it to the Max Factor Miracle Touch Illusion Foundation.




This is "Some kind-a gorgeous" - a foundation faker. This is a lightweight, oil-free formula which blends into the skin to give a perfect complex and finish to the skin. When I was at the concession stall the lady working there actually put this on top of the make up I already had on (coincidentally it was the Maxfactor Miracle Touch) and while I worried it would be too much it actually made me look so smooth and gorgeous. I was sold right there and then.
I'm also thinking about getting the new blush that has recently been bought out which is the Carlista blush, Miss Popularity shimmer, Boi-ing concealer (still) and B-spot perfume.


It's comparable to the Max Factor Miracle Touch because they both claim to do similar things and they both work the same. I'm interested in testing this product out and doing a comparison.

I've also picked up this Rimmel London eye colour in Siren because it was just a little something I claimed back from my Advantage Card points. It's basically a duo whichis very nice because there is a shimmer light colour and a matte darker colour which will work well for a crease colour in order to give the eye a more dimensional effect. I'm looking into using this as a Valentine's Day look as it's not only affordable but easily available and wearable.

This is a product I've seen regularly featured in Lindi's videos and it looks like a good dupe for Benefit's Posie Tint so I went ahead and got it. It's packaged like a nail polish and while I think it's pretty neat now, I can see this getting annoying when I'm almost finished and I can't get to the bottom. So far I'm quite pleased with it, more updates on this product later.


In terms of MAC (obviously) I was looking through the newly launched limited edition lines, namely BBR (blonde, brunette, redhead), Cream Team and Well Defined. I wasn't too sure about the Well Defined line because I hadn't looked it up much. The square brush confused me a bit but nonetheless it didnt intrigue me to find out more. I can sense another haul from MAC soon. I'm interested in one or two glosses from Cream Team but neither of these lines grabbed much attention from me.
I looked at BBR and although I liked more of the stuff I was definitely not prepared to buy all of it or even half of it. The pennies are tight nowadays so what I try to do is imagine which ones I'd be the most sad if it were to be taken away from me. So it was really the brushes that I liked the most but otherwise I quite like the MSFs (but I really want to get Sweet William cream blush) and I'm trying to save up for Hello Kitty when it comes out..... so needless to say I didn't get it. So these are the two brushes.
This 226 brush is gorgeous. When I first saw this on the US MAC website I was already sold. I find the blending brushes are usually too big for my eyes and while the 224 was too big the 217 is good but not good enough. I've been looking for the perfect crease brush and I think this may get me somewhere. It's perfectly shaped for my eyes not to mention it's incredibly soft. I really like the tapered bristles and I think I may be able to achieve something special with this brush.

This is another brush I just had to buy - the 214 is a densely packed bristle brush which has short blunt hairs. This will be good for smudge colour as well as packing on colour. I was quite impressed at how well it smudged the colours I tested on my hand and because I don't have anything quite like it, I just got it. I am interested in getting that cheek brush and I probably will eventually before it goes. However having spent so much already I just couldn't justify getting all of it especially when I want to haul at Coastal Scents soon.

Stay tuned for more hauls soon!


Wednesday, 28 January 2009

Review: Maxfactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation

What am I reviewing today?
Today's review will be on Maxfactor Miracle Touch Liquid Illusion Foundation


What is it?
A 'must-have' foundation for renowned British Make-up artist Pat McGrath; it is said to create the perfect flawless skin and complexion. It is applied with the sponge supplied and there is said to have no need for the traditional foundation, powder or concealer. This foundation comes in a small round compact with a glass lid and a small compartment for their specially designed sponge.



What does it claim to do?
This product is a foundation which claims to provide both benefits from a liquid foundation and solid foundation; it is supposed to glide on well, smooth over and cover imperfections while being effortlessly easy and extremely quick to apply. Max Factor also claims that there is no need for traditional tools such as concealer or powder as it conceals imperfections as well as give a flawless finish that doesnt need blotting or sealing.

How I use it
Before using this product I take extra care of apply a moisturiser to my face and an eye cream or gel under and on my eyes. If I plan to be either sweating or in the rain I also use a face primer for safety measures (however I find there is little need for this step)
U
sing 'dabbing' motions, I sweep the product onto the sponge and apply to areas which need concealing the most. These are namely the under eye, the bridge of the nose, chin, lower parts of the cheeks and forehead. I'll use this dabbing motion as I do not want to rub it on as this will not maximise the product use. I make sure to conceal areas I am unhappy with then if it's a day that I need extra application under the eyes, I go for it.

How it worked for me
I am very pleased with this product; I have never found a foundation I am 100% happy with and I think this is the closest I've got so far. If like me you're not too concerned with concealing blemishes but more concerned with evening out skin tone then this one is for you. Don't get me wrong, this covers my blemishes and doesn't highlight my imperfections either. It's the perfect concoction for those who want something light and something that simply works.
I find I do not need powder either, if I use powder then I create high coverage and I almost look too 'done-up' and it becomes way too much. This amount of coverage is exactly what I need to look natural and as if I'm not wearing anything on the face. I find it's so light that even my boyfriend, who pays meticulous attention to detail, doesn't notice I have anything on and I can rub my face all over my hands and pillows and not get a bright beigy streak on the upholestery.
It's easy to blend and if done correctly I don't even need my concealer. Afterwards I find no problem applying blusher or bronzer on.
I've also had days when I've woken up and gone into a 'good looking skin' day so if I want to cover up only one or two minor spots, I just pat on this tiny bit of foundation and it covers it like a concealer and blends in as if it didn't even happen.

How much does it cost and where can you buy it
In the UK yYou can buy this product at Boots.com at £11.70 and for a pound off you can also go the Chemistdirect.co.uk. This is quite a high price for a foundation if you're used to using regular drugstore foundations but I think it's worth every penny.

My Verdict
So as you may have noticed I really am loving this product. I do warn you that I have read reviews elsewhere that even though they loved the product it is not for dry skin as it flakes on them. I personally have combination skin but in the winter I have dry skin and I would say I have not experienced this; perhaps they didn't moisturise or prime their skin? In saying this I haven't had to use a primer but just a good moisturiser - don't forget people, water is the path to good skin!
Others have also complained about the amount of product as there is 11.5g of product. Again I would beg to differ and say that either they are using too much or they apply it on three times a day because mine has and probably will last me a long time especially as I do not reapply during the day unless I've been in heavy rain or out sweating in the clubs.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves to even out their complexion, who wants to achieve a healthy glow, who doesn't have an extreme amount of imperfections on the skin and wants a product which will work quick on the go and can be taken anywhere. I personally do not have perfect skin but it works on my imperfections and creates the flawless look.

I would give this product a fantastic 5 stars.

Monday, 26 January 2009

Chinese New Year Look

Chinese New Year Look





The idea behind this look for me is to create something simple and wearable but still have the festive elements in it. With the eyes I chose golds, pinks and browns; I chose not to use red because I think it's too harsh and too statement for the day at it definitely will clash with all the red you won't stop seeing on the day.
Another element I tried to incorporate is making my skin as flawless and as 'white' as possible. Although it may seem strange for me to say it's a totally natural thing for asians to want their skins whiter and lighter. It's the same notion that western people believe a tan is better than pale skin. So I've put on concealer and a layer of foundation specifically around problem areas and dusted it off with mineral foundation. I also took care to do light contouring as well as a blush that was not overpowering. Think modern-day Geisha. Traditionally there would be a bright red lip involved but I look terrible with red on the lips at the best of times so I opted for something softer.

Check out my youtube channel for the video when it's up!

Helen

Sunday, 25 January 2009

Quiz

A survey copied from Beauty Broadcast and it's simply a survey that will allow you to get to know me better - non make-up related!

Do you have any pets? Yes I have two cats but there's five at home!
What color shirt are you wearing? A bright mint colour
Name three things that are physically close to you: Straighteners, Keyboard, desk chair
What is the last book you read? The last book I read properly was Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes
Are you or were you a good student? I was/am a good student - but not academically outstanding. Just cheeky.
What's your favorite sport? Skiing!
Do you enjoy sleeping late? When do I not sleep late. I promised to stop doing that....
What's the weather like right now? Freezing and wet
Who tells the best jokes? I don't know ... I find strange things funny so regular jokes don't do much for me....
What was the last thing you dreamed about? I honestly don't remember...
Do you drive? If so, have you ever crashed? No I have never crashed but been close a few times :D....hehehe....
Do you believe in karma? Sure
Do you believe in luck? Probably not... I believe regular 'luck' is part of your path but mostly that you make your own destiny.
Do you like your eggs scrambled or sunny side up? Sunny side up pleaseeeeeeee
Do you collect anything? If so, what? I sort've collect Make-Up, I buy make up because I love using it and I use everything I buy...if I think i wont use it I dont get it. I guess I collect nail polish! I love lots of different colours!
Are you proud of yourself? Mosty yes I am, especially nowadays. Less so before.
Are you reliable? Only if I'm committed to something or if I promise. :)
Have you ever given money to a bum? Um no but I have to buskers
What's your favorite food? SUSHI!!!!!!
Have you ever had a secret admirer? Hahah err yeah.... I prefer to be the admirer.. Having a secret admirer is so uncomfortable when it's not a mutual thing....
Do you like the smell of gasoline? GOD NO
Do like to draw? Oh I do love me a bit of drawing :)
What's your favorite invention? Hmm the internet. In saying that I would first have to say electricity and computers.
Is your room messy? Horrfically messy yes
What do you like better: oranges or apples? I'm definitely more of an orange kinda girl 'cept I kinda hate feeling them unless they're satsumas....I usually get someone else to do it. Otherwise I'll have the apple...haha
Do you give in easily? Depends on what and who it is! I give into things which are small things which won't affect anyone... but I would never spoil a child or someone I love because that's damage to someone, not love.
Are you a good guesser? Well only with certain things!
Can you read other people's expressions? Yeah I would say I'm defo more of an observant kind've person
Are you a bully? Far from, i hate bullies
Do you have a job? I work at my shop....but otherwise no.
What time did you wake up this morning? .....11.30am.....
What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Oh god let's not go there. Let's just say I should've said no but I didnt.
When was the last time you showered? A couple of hours ago
What do you plan on doing tomorrow? I'm making a cake tomorrow as it's New Years Eve. We're having a special dinner...I've also got a driving lesson...
What's your favorite day of the week and why? Currently I think it's Tuesday because I get to see my boyfriend....otherwise I guess it's Saturdays because I just work and spend the morning doing nothing :D
Do you have any nicknames? Too many to mention....some of them are Melon, Pang, Toasty, Roasty, Mosty.....
Have you ever been scuba diving? I've been snorkelling....so no I haven't been scuba diving.
What's your least favorite color? Off brown grey....you know....it's more a yellow brown with a grey undertone.... i can't explain but it makes me think of dirty old men O_o
Is there someone you have been constantly thinking about? If yes, who? I never stop thinking about him.
Would you ever go skydiving? No I'd like to stay alive, thanks!
What toothpaste do you use? Pearl Whites
Do you enjoy challenges? Without challenges, life would be a bore. I'm always up for one ..unless it's math related.
What's the worst injury you have had? As lame as it is...I've twisted my ankle....heh..or does breaking off the big toe's toe nail count?
What's the last movie you saw? Man um... Sex and the City?!
What do you want to know about the future? If I ever become what I want to be
What does your last text message say? My Godmum and it says "yes i'll be there tomorrow". I was very confused.
Who was the last person you spoke over the phone to? The boyf
What's your favorite school subject? In high school it was art until we chose subjects then it was probably Science...mostly Chemistry. And in A-level ...it was business studies.
What's your least favorite school subject? Can you guess??
Would you rather have money or love? Love. As corny as it is, love makes my world go round
What is your dream vacation? Back to Japan, buying TONS of japanese make up and anime stuff....eating so much japanese food i need to be lifted everyone on a throne and going to ski in the japanese snow mountains!
What is your favorite animal? I have a love for all animals....even the ones i eat which is so twisted it's wrong. Even writing that makes me feel grose *sighs*. But mostly Cats and Otters.
Do you miss anyone right now? Of course
What's the last sporting event you watched? Football match between Man-u and Tottenham.
Do you need to do laundry? Yeahhhhh
Do you listen to the radio? When theres no CD in the car!
Where were you when 9/11 happened? I just came home from school and was sitting down for food
What do you do when vending machines steal your money? I scrunch up my face and scream inside then walk away.
Have you ever caught a butterfly? Noooo I'll break it!
What color are your bed sheets? Its my Cinnamoroll one....so its green and blue with bits of pink. You can see how grown up i am!
What's your ringtone? Not sure..its on silent mostly!
Who was the last person to make you laugh? Boyf
Do you have any obsessions right now? Always obsessed about these things: Baked goods, cooking, make-up, clothes, hair, anime, the boyf and being filthy rich
Do you like things that glow in the dark? Urh i can't say i have much of an opinion on them
What's your favorite fruity scent? Probably berries....or cinnamon apple...or watermelon!
Do you watch cartoons? Yes, especially if Anime counts
Have you ever sat on a roof? Yeah that was real fun despite my fear of heights
Have you ever been to a different country? Yes quite a few :)
Name three things in the world you dislike: Murder, paedophiles, ignorance
Has a rumor ever been spread about you? Way too many but you just gotta ignore it!
Do you believe in magic? Ooh I feellike breaking out into a song fortunately i don't know the words to that song. Um no I don't. But i do like watching magic tricks and working out how to do them!

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