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Monthly Archives: July 2010
Dollface Reviews: Boots 17 Wild Curl Mascara
As longtime readers will know, when it comes to mascara, I’m all about the curl – or about holding the curl in place, anyway. A product can lengthen and thicken as much as it wants, but there’s nothing like a bit of curl to widen and emphasise the eye, so if my mascara doesn’t lock the curl I get from my trusty eyelash curlers in place, it’s of no use to me whatsoever.
This is why I rate Lancome’s waterproof mascara’s so highly, and it’s also why when I was sent a tube of Boots 17′s Wild Curl Mascara, which claims to hold curl for up to ten hours, I was really keen to try it.
It looks like this:
Suitably “wild”, no?
The brush looks like this:
Dollface Reviews: Revlon ColorStay Makeup in 110 (Ivory)
I mentioned Revlon’s ColorStay Makeup in my roundup of foundations for pale skin last week, but as this is the foundation I’ve been reaching for most often recently I figured a “proper” review was in order, too!
I picked this up last month, having heard lots of people raving about how good it was, and having also been impressed by the paleness of the lightest shade which is 110 – Ivory. As I mentioned in my foundation roundup, I’m not 100% happy with the shade, and while it looked like a perfect match in Walgreens, there are times when I feel it’s just a touch too dark for me, which is disappointing, because if they released this in a lighter shade it would instantly achieve Holy Grail status for me, that’s how much I like it.
There are two different versions of this: one for normal/dry skin and one for oily/combination skin. I have lots of problems with shine on the t-zone, so I went for the latter, and it’s been fantastic: in fact, I rarely need to use powder with it because it soaks up the excess oil on my forehead, and heaves a matt, but not powdery finish. So far, so good.
Coverage, meanwhile, is full and thick, so if you’re looking for something light, this probably won’t be for you. It’s not quite as easy to apply as some lighter products: I mostly use my fingers (yes, I know, it’s shocking, but it’s what I prefer!) or a foundation brush, and it does require a bit of blending, and extra attention to the areas around the nose and eyes where foundation can tend to gather. It also smells pretty bad: I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but it’s fairly strong, and a bit medicinal. You do get used it, but I was a bit put off when I first used it!
Once applied, however, this is thick enough to cover any redness, and most small blemishes, however unlike some other very thick foundations I’ve tried, it doesn’t look caked on, and it doesn’t crease around the eyes: it’s called “colorstay” for a reason and I’ve been really impressed by how well it lasts, and how fresh it still looks by the end of the day. I normally find that foundation will have started to wear off (or slide off) by the time I go to bed at night, but this does a great job of staying in place, which is another huge point in its favour.
At £11.99 per bottle, this is one of the pricier drug store brands, however, I think it’s excellent value for money: it’s one of those ” little goes a long way” foundations, so it should last a long time. Ultimately, though, I love it because it just makes my skin look better. Most foundations, I find, do a reasonably good job, but still leave my skin looking like, well, like my skin, just a little bit more even. This one, however, makes me look like I have someone else’s skin, and as the “someone else” apparently has better skin than I do, I’m good with that.
One of the small downsides of this (about the only one I can think of other than the issue I have with the colour) is that it comes in a glass bottle, which can be a bit of a pain to use. I much prefer a squeezable tube or pump dispenser (according to the comments on my other post, it does come in a squeezable tube in some places. I bought mine in Florida, and only ever saw it in the glass bottle, but if it is available in a tube, that’s good news!), but that aside, I find practically perfect in (almost) every way.
Now, let’s have some paler shades, Revlon, pretty please?
BUY: Revlon ColorStay Makeup, £11.99
Dollface Reviews: Liz Earle foot care range
I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m a runner. I’m not a FAST runner, I hasted to add. You won’t find me winning any races (or even entering them, for that matter), but two or three times a week, I pull on a pair of deeply unattractive running shoes and hit either the road or the treadmill. While I’m sure this is very good for my heart and lungs, however, it’s not so great on the feet. If you run yourself, you’ll know what I mean, here.
Anything that makes my feel feel softer, smoother and, er, fresher, then, is always going to be a good thing, so I was very happy to be given the opportunity to review Liz Earle’s new foot care range, which consists of a Foot Spritzer, a Scrub and a Moisturiser.
First up: the spritzer. This contains natural ingredients like rosemary, spearmint and peppermint and feels like bliss when you spray it on after a long run. I’d imagine it would feel equally good after a day spent going about your normal business in a warm climate, but as I live in Scotland, I can’t speak to that. It is, however, wonderfully cooling and refreshing, and I don’t stop at the feet, either: it also feels fantastic on sore, tired leg muscles, and it dries in quickly, so you don’t have to hobble around on your heels once you’ve sprayed it on.
The scrub is the next step in my new foot care regime. I’ve been keeping this in the shower so I remember to use it every day, and it’s proved to be excellent at helping get rid of rough skin and, er, the residue of that giant blister I got a couple of weeks ago. It also smells great, with a strong scent of peppermint, which helps wake me up again after my run. As well as the peppermint, it contains rosemary, avocado and wheatgerm oils.
Finally, the moisturiser. I tend to be lazy about applying foot cream, purely because I can never be bothered waiting for it to sink in before walking around again (Liz Earle also sell socks to wear after you’ve applied this, but I’m guessing any socks will do), so I haven’t used this as much as the other two products, but when I have used it, I’ve been impressed. Again, there’s a strong peppermint scent, and a very rich creamy texture which, happily, sinks in pretty quickly, so you don’t have to wait TOO long to be able to walk again.
Individually, these products all work well. As a team, however, I think I have them to thank for the fact that I’m still able to bare my feet in sandals this summer, despite everything I put them through.
If you want to try them out, they’re available at the Liz Earle website.
Dollface Reviews: Plump & Shine lip gloss in “nude”
(I know the lighting came out different in these two photos, but I promise they’re both the same lips!)
I always find plumping lip products difficult to review, because having tried about eleventy-one of them over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that the only way to know whether they’re going to work for you is to try them out yourself. Most of them, after all, basically work by irritating the lips in such a way that they swell up, and what irritates one person’s lips might have no effect whatsoever on another’s. My lips, for instance, are clearly pretty easy-going. NOTHING irritates them, with the exception of one product, which makes them swell up until I look like I’ve been punched in the face. Twice. When my mother tried it, though, it made no difference to her whatsoever, and, similarly, I know people who get great results from glosses that do absolutely nothing for me at all.
I mention all of this because while I don’t feel Plump & Shine, which I’m wearing in the “after” image, above, did much to plump up my lips (there is a difference, but not a huge one), that’s not to say it won’t make a difference to yours.
As for the product itself, it comes in three shades: Candy, Seduce and Nude. I decided to go for “Nude”, which, as you can see, isn’t a clear gloss, but more of a “your lips, but better” pinkish shade:
It’s applied using a sponge applicator, and, as with most lip plumping products, makes your lips tingle for a few minutes after application. I actually quite like this sensation, but that’s possibly just me…
Once on, it gives a very high-shine finish, and also has a sweet taste, which is always nice. It’s not too sticky, either, which is the downfall of many a lip gloss, in my opinion.
Want to try it yourself? It costs £24.95 and you can find your nearest stockist by calling 0844 243 9243.
[Disclosure: this was a sample sent to me for review purposes]
Dollface Reviews: Pantene Volume & Body Shampoo and Conditioner
Before I get started with this review, I should probably hold my hands up and confess that I’m a bit of a Pantene fan. They’re one of my go-to brands when it comes to hair care, so when I was sent some of their Volume & Body shampoo and conditioner to try recently, I must admit I went into the review expecting to like it.
I wasn’t disappointed, either. Make no mistake: there’s nothing particularly fancy or exciting about these products, in terms of packaging, scent or branding. Pantene is one of those no-nonsense brands that’s successful mostly because the products work. I’ve been using the shampoo and conditioner from this range for about a week and half now, and, as with all of the Pantene products I’ve used, they leave my hair feeling super-soft, silky and thick – and I notice the difference when I stop using them and switch to something different.
In terms of the “volume and body” claim, my hair is a fairly good test, as it’s long and fine. Do I notice a difference after using this? I’m going to have to say “not really”. I don’t see a huge difference in volume, but my hair is a stubborn beast in that department, and not much DOES make it look more, er, voluminous. I do however, notice an improvement in the overall condition and general health of my hair, and that’s good enough for me.
You can read more about this range here, or buy it at Boots.
The Best Foundation for Pale Skin: a roundup plus colour swatches
Following on from my post on being Pale and Proud, a lot of you asked for advice about foundation for pale skin. Trust me, I feel your pain on this: I think for most of us palefaces, finding foundation that doesn’t look orange (or, in my case, just make me look like I haven’t washed for a week) can turn into a lifetime’s search with nothing ever being just right.
The list that follows, then, is a highly biased list of my own favourite foundations for pale skin. Needless to say, these are just the products I’ve used myself, so the list is far from exhaustive, and I’m hoping some of you will help add to it by leaving your own suggestions in the comments. Before I start, I’m also just going to go ahead and state the obvious: that not all pale skin is pale is pale in exactly the same way, so what works for me may not work for you, and vice versa.
For reference, my skin is pale and freckled, with pinkish undertones. In MAC terms, I’d be an NW15, but I actually find that shade too dark for me, so here are a few of the foundations I use, or have used, instead, in no particular order:
Carmex Lip Balm now available in strawberry
I know I’m not the only Carmex lover out there, so I thought my fellow fans might like to know that the lip balm is now available in a fruity, strawberry flavour!
The balm still contains the usual ingredients – menthol, camphor and beeswax – to smooth and soften the lips, plus SPF 15 to protect them from the sun. Sadly, that’s not a problem I’m having here in not-so-sunny Scotland right now, but those of you lucky enough to be enjoying an actual summer will at least be reassured that your lips are in safe hands.
This is available from the usual suspects (Boots, Superdrug, and anywhere else you normally find Carmex), and retails for £2.49.
Pale and Proud: Why I won’t be getting a sun tan, no matter how much it annoys people
“You don’t have much of a tan!”
“Bit pale, aren’t you?”
I’ve lost count of the number of times this kind of thing has been said to me over the years. Every time I go on holiday, I return to a barrage of tongue-clicking comments about the continued pallor of my complexion, and my absolute failure to do the “normal” thing and get a suntan.
Make no mistake, it is a failure as far as some people are concerned. I’m sure they would argue otherwise, but the comments are always uttered in a critical, disparaging tone, and I am left in no doubt whatsoever that I am deemed to have failed. (I’m also left with the clear message that the person I’m talking to thinks I’m lying when I say I enjoyed my holiday. “Well, you don’t have much of a tan,” they’ll counter, the unspoken part of that sentence being “so it can’t have been that good, can it?”) I should have gotten a suntan, is the message. I shouldn’t have worn sunblock. “Oh, I never wear sunscreen,” my detractor will always say smuggly, before turning away, secure in the knowledge that they’re much cleverer than me (and have much better holidays into the bargain).
It’s not just me, either. Both Mr Dollface and my mother have been subjected to the “why don’t you have a tan?” comments this year, and they both have Mediterranean complexions. On The Fashion Police last week, someone commented on a photo of Kristen Stewart saying, “She needs to get a tan”. Er, no. No she doesn’t. If she wants to get one, of course, that’s completely up to her, but she shouldn’t be made to feel like she HAS to have one just to conform to society’s current beauty ideal, which says that suntans = good and pale skin = bad.
People like my husband, of course, have an excuse for their “errant” behaviour: kidney transplant patients have a much higher risk of skin cancer, so for him, getting a suntan would be total madness, although that doesn’t stop people asking him why he isn’t browner. I, however, have no such excuse, and the fact that I’m a pale-skinned Scottish redhead just doesn’t cut it: I should be doing my best to change my skin colour, apparently, and if I don’t, people will continue to tut-tut at me in despair.
Well, let ‘em. Because here’s the thing: I don’t tan. Ever. And I’m not about to start. I would no more lie out in the sun without total sunblock than I’d set myself on fire. Both would be crazy for me. Contrary to what appears to be the popular belief, a suntan is NOT healthy. Certainly not for me, anyway, and I was raised to protect my skin, to avoid getting burnt, and to accept that I will never be a “golden” girl. I’m good with that. And let me be clear: I am obviously not above using self-tanner if and when I feel like it, as readers of this blog are well aware. Absolutely not. I like my pale skin, but I also like my not-quite-as-pale skin (which is the most I get from self-tanners. Even with a freshly-applied tan, people will still ask me why I’m so pale), so I will hit the bottle from time to time, sure. I’m not a slave to it, though, and I’m also not above just saying “to hell with it”, and flaunting my pale skin.
I’m not ashamed of being pale. I don’t see why I should be. It’s my natural colour, it’s the way my skin is supposed to look, and there should be nothing wrong with that. In fact there is nothing wrong with that, except in the minds of a few people who seem to believe that pale isn’t interesting, and that the only purpose of a vacation is to get a suntan.
This is why I’ve decided to cut back on the fake tan and embrace my lily white skin from now on: or for the time being, at least. I’m not giving up the bottle completely: I still have a few tanning/bronzing products to review, and I can’t promise there won’t be times when I’ll decide to turn my legs a patchy shade of brown. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using fake tan, after all, but I do think there’s something wrong with trying to make people feel bad for being pale, and so I’m going to be pale and proud. For a few weeks, at least.
I’m wearing self-tanner in this photo. Yeah, I’m pale.
MAC Ruby Woo: the perfect red lipstick!
Because I can’t seem to walk past a MAC counter without buying a new lipstick, I picked up their Ruby Woo on impulse last month, having heard lots of people refer to it as the “perfect” red.
Well, all I can say is that the reports were right. I absolutely love this colour. I want to wear it forever. In fact, I’ve already made a start on that, and have been wearing it almost constantly since I bought it. If they ever stop making it, I’m going to cry. That’s how much I love it.
As you’d expect from the name, this is a bright, ruby red, and the kind of colour I always think of as “retro red” as it’s that deep, matt shade that women always seem to be wearing in old Hollywood movies. It’s a colour that proved very hard to photograph, so I’ve taken a few shots in different lighting. If you’re near a MAC counter, though, I recommend having a swatch of it: I think it would work with most complexions, and the application is velvety smooth.
The only issue with this product, as with all red lipsticks, is that you do have to take a lot of care when you’re applying it – it’s definitely not a “one swipe and you’re done” lipstick, and you won’t want to try applying it while you’re on the bus, say. A lip liner, brush and steady hand is my recommendation here. It’s also not the longest lasting colour, and food will cause it to fade from the centre of the lips, leaving you with what Mr Dollface refers to as a “lipstick moustache”, where the cupid’s bow is still red, but the centre of the lip isn’t. Meticulous blotting and re-applying will help with this, but I’ve gotten into the habit of popping it into my bag when I go out, in case touch-ups are required.
This is £12.50 at the MAC website.
I’d say this one is probably the closest match to the colour.
Um, I included this one purely because Rubin looked so cute. Doesn’t he look like a stuffed toy?
Doll Face train case from Doll Face Natural Beauty Cocktails
I should get this, shouldn’t I? Well, it does have my name on it, after all…
Actually, the whole range has my name on it: Doll Face Natural Beauty Cocktails is clearly a company after my own heart (and my own cash, by the oh-so-tempting look of things), because they also use cute retro-style packing in their range of skincare products, all of which use fresh, natural ingredients which, they say, are “tested on starlets, not animals”. Love it!
Their own website can be found here, but if you’re in the UK, you’ll be pleased to know that some of the products are also available from one of my very favourite websites, Dollydagger. They’re stocking products like Lolita Restore and Heel Peel:
It uses ingredients like honey and pumpkin to bring back a radiant, youthful complexion.
It uses sea minerals to rejuvenate the skin, and retails for £45.
I love the sound of both of these (and the other products available), but most of all I love the branding and, of course, the name. And the £30 train case has gone straight onto my Wish List!
