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Monthly Archives: November 2008
Dollface Reviews: The Neutrogena Wave facial cleanser
Do not adjust your sets! We didn’t suddenly turn into a gadget blog: this is the Neutrogena Wave, and it’s a vibrating facial cleanser. See that fuzzy little pad on the end? That’s a disposable cleansing pad. To make it work, all you have to do is get the pad wet (the unit is water resistant, so don’t worry about splashes), switch on the Wave and then gently hold it against your skin.
The idea here is that the vibrating pads help to open up your pores, allowing the foamy cleanser to give you a deeper cleanse that you might get with more traditional cleansers. Meanwhile, we’re always being told how good a facial massage can be for the complexion, and this helps you get it.
The pads are single-use, and the unit comes with 14 of them. Once you’ve used them up, you can buy a refill pack containing 30 pads, which simply press onto the head of the Wave, and are impregnated with a cleanser which is gentle enough to use daily. But how well does it actually work?
Sephora’s Ultimate Blockbuster Makeup Palette
I don’t think there can be many true beauty addicts out there who haven’t received a makeup palette as a gift at some point or other. Well, this is the one I’d be adding to my Christmas list – assuming, of course, that Santa shopped at Sephora, which he clearly doesn’t, or they’d ship to the UK. Ahem.
I’m not going to list everything you get with this because it would make my hands sore from all the typing, but there are 71 powder eyeshadow shades and 13 cream ones just for starters, and that’s without even getting into the blushers, lipsticks, brushes and other applicators. Enough to keep you busy until, oooh, boxing day at least, I’d say, and all for $48.
Buy: Sephora Ultimate Blockbuster, $48
Dollface Reviews: bareMinerals foundation by Bare Escentuals
OK, forget everything I’ve said about mineral makeup in the past – I’m converted.
This has been a gradual process. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to use up the last dregs of a mineral foundation sample that had been lying around in the bottom of my Sephora box for months. For some reason I decided to just apply it over the top of my regular cream foundation and, you know what? I loved it. It made my skin look flawless, it didn’t budge all day, and… I had just used the last of the sample.
Enter Pretty Minerals, a new UK-based website selling the i.d bareMinerals line. They sent me a sample of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation in the palest shade it comes in (fair), and all I can say is, "So THAT’S what all the fuss was about!"
Free* Pout lipstick for every Dollface reader!
Sorry for the lack of posts last week, Dollfaces – Mr D and I are going on vacation in a couple of weeks time, and between preparing for the trip, plus preparing for Christmas, I’ve had no time to blog. I have lots of new products lined up to review, though, so stay tuned, and we’ll be back on track soon.
I return with good tidings, however. The lovely people at Beauty Counter Direct are offering a free Pout lipstick to every Dollface reader. The lipsticks come in this super-cute little carry case (which I’m going to be using as a coin purse on vacation) and there are four shades to choose from. Naturally, I chose the one called "Dollface" (!) but you can take a look and decide which one will be best for you.
All you have to do to claim your lippie is to click here to read the terms and conditions, choose your lipstick and enter code DF62 at checkout. The offer is valid until December 12th, and it’s one per customer only. Please note: you will be charged for postage and packaging. Enjoy!
* conditions apply
Beautiful links for Friday…
The Fashion Police find Blair Waldorf’s shoes. We can only hope Blair doesn’t want them back…
Forever Amber is in trouble with the law. Sort of.
Keeping It Realtor finds some cool vodka glasses (which Forever Amber might just need…)
Grumpy Old Bloggers, meanwhile, are thinking about a different kind of Christmas spirit altogether…
Dollface Reviews: Botanics Hair Radiant Red Conditioner
After my experiments with John Frieda’s Colour Glaze, I decided to try something a little less dramatic in my bid to give my red hair a bit of a colour boots. Botanics ‘Radiant Red’ conditioner seemed to be just what I was looking for: again, this is a "normal", use-in-the-shower conditioner, however as well as the usual moisturisers (plus honey, in this case), it also contains henna, which will give red hair some extra shine and vibrancy, without looking too "fake".
First things first: the fact that this contains henna is a big clue that you need to use it with care. It is colour-depositing, and it will deposit that colour on everything: hair, bathroom walls, towels, you name it!
The first time I used it, then, I was actually fairly shocked by how far it managed to spread. Apparently I flick my head around a lot in the shower (WHY? And how did I never notice this before?) because once I’d finished applying it I turned around and noticed that my white bathroom tiles were now splattered with red. Looked a little bit like a massacre had recently taken place, to be honest.
Chocolate Lip Gloss Heaven set
I just can’t help myself, can I? Show me a beauty product that looks like you could possibly eat it and… well, I won’t eat it, but I will probably want to buy it.
That’s definitely true of this cute little set from ASOS. Each of these delicious looking chocolates is actually a lip gloss, and while that may well be a horrible disappointment if you’re not a beauty addict, at least they won’t have any calories in them. (They will make you reach for that box of Cadbury’s, though…) Apparently they’re chocolate flavoured, too.
Buy: Chocolate Lip Gloss Heaven set, £6
Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish in Rose Truffle
Excuse the slap-dash application in this photo: I hadn’t actually intended to paint my nails today, but the bottle was sitting on my desk, my computer crashed and while I was waiting for it to re-start, I found myself slapping on some polish. I didn’t take much time over it because I assumed I’d probably just be taking it right back off again, but I actually liked it enough to let it stay put, which meant I then had to go and remove the different-shade-of-red-polish that was already on my toes, and replace it with this instead, before the thought of the two different shades of red brought me out in hives.
(I would ask if anyone else has this compulsion to make sure the same colours are used on fingernails and toes, but I’m guessing the answer to that would probably be "No, Dollface, you’re a freak," so moving on…)
This is Boots No. 7′s Long Lasting Nail Polish in ‘Rose Truffle’, and I really like it. When I wear red nail polish, I tend to go for brighter, more "pillar box" shades of red, but this is more of a plum red, which is nice for a bit of a change, and somehow particularly nice for winter.
I generally stick to clear polish on my fingernails (yes, I can tolerate that at the same time as red on my toes…), because I find it very high maintenance, especially given that I spend the entire day typing. I hate the look of chipped nail polish, but this one promises to ‘Stay Perfect’, so I’m giving it a shot. Will it live up to it’s name? I guess I’m about to find out!
Buy: Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish, £6.25
Flat Iron Safety Tips from Misikko
Flat Iron Safety Tips
As you know, flat irons are heated tongs that are used to press hair and straighten it. When using a flat iron, you need to be very careful, not only by not burning your ears or fingers, but by not frying your hair. Flat irons break down the hydrogen bonds inside the hair and then reform them into a flattened state, thereby straightening your hair. This heat can have a negative effect on the outside of your hair though, leading to dry, broken or brittle hair. The best flat irons on the market though are ceramic flat irons, as they use a ceramic coating to help protect your hair. Some brands of ceramic flat irons include: The Babyliss Pro, the HAI flat iron, the GHD flat iron, the T3 flat iron and the Corioliss flat iron. But, even the best flat iron can be used improperly and lead to injury or hair damage. Here are some safety tips.
Avoid Electric Shock
Every year people die from accidents in the home, especially electrocution. So, while it seems like common sense, you should NEVER user a flat iron or hair dryer near water. Do not straighten your hair while sitting in a tub, and do not use a hair dryer near a full sink. You may not be clumsy, but accidents do happen, and using a flat iron or hair dryer near water is a sure way to get electrocuted.
Avoid Burning Your Skin
A burned ear not only hurts, it can be embarrassing. The most obvious way to avoid this is to use a hair dryer to straighten your hair, but they are inconvenient and take longer. So, use a flat iron. Remember though, that even the best flat iron can lead to burning, no matter how many safety features they have. You have to be careful. First of all, take your time. Separate your hair into sections and prepare for straightening. Focus on each section at a time, always being aware of where your ears are. However, if you are in a hurry, use a band-aid on your ear to protect it.
Protect Your Children
A flat iron is a dangerous device when not used properly. Be sure to keep it out of the reach of children, especially when it is pre-heating. Keep it in a safe place where no wandering fingers can get burned. Also, place the flat iron in a safe place when you are done so it can cool. The same advice applies to your hair dryer.
Don’t Scorch Your Hair
Test the flat iron before you use it. Even a ceramic flat iron, with their nice ceramic coating, can still scorch or damage your hair. Pre-heat the flat iron, and then press a piece of toilet paper between the hot tongs for five seconds. If it browns or burns, then turn down the heat a bit. Keep turning it down until you reach a point where the tissue does not discolor.
Again, even the best flat irons can be dangerous. Many of them have safety features, and some trusted brands are the Babyliss pro, the HAI flat iron, the GHD flat iron, the T3 flat iron and the CHI flat iron. But, it takes a careful user to be sure that no accidents happen. Be safe and be patient.
Dylan’s Candy Bar Chocolate Cupcake Candy Butter Cream
I only discovered Dylan’s Candy Bar this summer: there’s one in the Florida Mall in Orlando, which is where I go to stock up on Sephora goodies when I’m in the States, and this year we stocked up on a fair amount of Dylan’s goodies, too.
It seems only appropriate, then, that two of my favourite stores should come together to produce this Dylan’s Candy Bar Chocolate Cupcake Candy Butter Cream, which is exclusive to Sephora. It contains Vitamin E, Jojoba Seed Oil and Shea Butter to keep your skin soft and supple, but let’s face it, I think the only thing we really need to know about this is that it smells like chocolate, no?
And if that sounds good, there’s a sugar scrub, shower gel, lip balm and smoothie lotion, too: yum!
