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Category Archives: Beauty Product ReviewsDollface Reviews: Lancome Rénergie Lift Makeup in Lifting Porcelain
This foundation was a bit of an impulse buy. I spotted it in the duty free section of Sanford airport on my way back from Florida this summer, and was drawn in by two things: 1. The colour. I got the lightest shade available, which is number 10, ‘Lifting Porcelain’. I could tell right away that it would be a good match for my skin, and because it’s so unusual to find foundation pale enough for me, it was worth buying for that reason alone. 2. The ‘lifting’ bit. This claims to not only even out your skin and cover imperfections, just like every other foundation on the market, but to also “to visibly lift slackening skin and blur lines and wrinkles for 12 hours”. Well, that was all I needed to convince me: I bought it with the last of my dollars, and for the past two months, I’ve been alternating it with my Revlon ColorStay, using Revlon on the days when only the thickest coverage will do, and this when I feel I can get away with something a little lighter. Rénergie offers mid-level coverage, although it layers up quite nicely in areas where you feel you need a little extra. It’s a lightweight texture, which goes on smoothly and evenly, and is just really nice to apply. I posted a swatch on my post about foundation for pale skin, but just in case you missed it, here it is again: Dollface Reviews: Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect Eye Shadow in Bronze Haze
I don’t often wear eye shadow. This week, however, I’ve become something of a convert, and have been wearing Max Factor’s Smoky Eye Effect Eyeshadow, which (disclosure coming up!) was sent to me as a press sample. As you can see from the image, this aims to simply the smoky eye, and takes a two-pronged approach to doing so. On one end of the tube, you have your base colour: Dollface Reviews: Hylexin eye cream for serious dark circles by Bremenn Research Labs
Ever wondered who actually buys all of those expensive skin creams you see in Sephora et al? The ones which carry too-good-to-be-true style claims on their boxes about how they’ll get rid of your dark circles, or make you look 16 again overnight? Yeah, that would be me. In my defence, I don’t buy all of them. I have, however, more than once been described as the “ad man’s dream”, and this means that I will linger too long in front of those stands, looking at the shiny rows of products and thinking to myself, “Well, if it works, it’ll be a bargain, really!” This is how I came to find myself standing in line at Sephora this summer, waiting to purchase a tube of Bremenn Research Labs Hylexin: the new wonder cream for dark circles under the eyes. Well, that and the fact that I was desperate. Totally desperate, people. As long-time readers will know, the last year or so has been a never ending battle between me and the dark circles under my eyes. Actually, the phrase “dark circles” doesn’t really do justice to what I have. They’re more like dark canyons, which people could get lost in for days. They make me look ill and exhausted, and by the time my summer holiday rolled around, I was ready to try just about anything. I have to back up a bit here, though: earlier this year, as you may remember, I’d had some success with Nivea’s Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream, which I’d been pretty pleased with for the price, although it hadn’t totally shifted the circles. It had long since run out, though, and by the time I reached the bottom of the jar, I’d started to find it much less effective than it initially had been. It was clear that something much stronger was required in my fight against dark circles, and as I wandered around Sephora, carefully avoiding all the mirrors so I wouldn’t have to see my vampire-face looking back at me under those harsh lights (Pretty sure they do that to convince you to buy more makeup, by the way. It totally works.), it became clear to me that the “something” I needed was going to be Hylexin. Now, this costs $59, which is a lot for me to spend on an eye cream, and an indication of how much I wanted it to work. Before leaving on my trip, I had actually done quite a bit of reading about this product, and had discovered mixed reviews of it: those who loved it seemed to REALLY love it, while those who hated it said it did absolutely nothing whatsoever for their dark circles. On balance, however, I’d found more positive reviews than negative ones, which was why I decided to take the plunge. Oh, and the fact that there was actually a photo of my under-eye are on the box helped too: Dollface Reviews: Boots No. 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara
Boots No. 7′s Exceptional Definition Mascara claims it’s about to “transform the way women wear mascara”. Naturally, then, I was as excited as a kid at Christmas when it landed on my desk, because a new mascara? That’s going to give me defined, fluttery lashes? Bring it on, Boots! The key to this product is the brush, the purpose of which is threefold:
Posted in Beauty Product Reviews, Mascara
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Dollface Reviews: Boots 17 Wild Curl MascaraAs 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:
Posted in Beauty Product Reviews, Mascara
Tagged boots, boots 17, hypnose drama waterproof, wild curl mascara
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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.
Posted in Beauty Product Reviews, Foot Care
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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. 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.
Dollface Reviews: Ambre Solaire No Streaks Bronzer
Long story short: the woman who ran the place took one look at me and refused to let me anywhere near that spray booth. OK, I exaggerate. She didn’t refuse to let me do it, but she did sit me down and strongly urge me against it, explaining that the tanning lotion would spray on very quickly, and dry in even quicker, and that if I didn’t use those precious few seconds to make sure it was distributed evenly over my entire body, I would wake up the next morning to a fake tan disaster of epic proportions. “And on skin as pale as yours,” she concluded, “any little mistake is going to be really, really obvious.” I took the wise woman’s advice. I beat a hasty retreat from the spray tan booth, drove to Asda (which was the only place open at the time: we were flying to Greece early next morning, so time was of the essence), bough a cheap bottle of fake tan, the brand of which I have long since forgotten, applied it meticulously… and woke up the next morning to a fake tan disaster of epic proportions. That’s actually another story for another time, though, so back to the spray tan… For years, then, I thought no more about spray-on tanning lotions, preferring to stick to their creamier brothers and sisters. Then a few weeks ago I was in the supermarket, I saw Ambre Solaire’s No Streaks Bronzer, and thought “What the hell! It says NO STREAKS. How bad can it be?” Well, on Sunday morning I decided to find out. Following the instructions on the bottle, I sprayed it evenly across my skin, holding the bottle about 40cm away from my body. Ah, who am I kidding? I have no idea how far I was holding it from my body. Do people actually measure these things? It seemed like a reasonable distance anyway, and I also, remembering the sage words of advice from my spray-tan booth friend, ignored the “no need to rub it in!” bit and smoothed it over my legs and arms a bit too, just to make sure it was even. I was really impressed. As much as I appreciate the cream tanners I’ve always used, they annoy the life out of me sometimes. I mean, who has time to spend ages rubbing them in, then even more time walking around (in loose, dark clothes only), feeling uncomfortably sticky, smelling like biscuits and wondering if the fake-tan will rub off on your sheets that night? This one has none of those issues. It takes seconds to spray it on, a few more seconds for it to dry in, and you’re good to go: you can completely forget about it and go about your business as usual, which is exactly what I did. (It does have that unfortunate “fake tan” scent, though, I’m afraid.) And then, the next morning? I woke up to a fake tan disaster of… OK, of not quite epic proportions, but it wasn’t good. And first of all, let me just say: THERE WERE NO STREAKS. It was as good as its word in that respect. There were, however, patches. Yes, patches. Glaring bits of lily-white skin, which I’d obviously missed with my spraying and rubbing, and which were now gleaming out from amongst the (rather nice) summer glow I had going on everywhere else. D’oh. What do you think I chose to do about this situation, readers? Yeah, you’re right: I sprayed on some more. Yes, I did. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the one thing I swear by when it comes to patchy fake tan, and luckily for me, it worked pretty well: today the tan is looking much more even, and while the patchiness is still detectable if you look very closely, I think another layer would probably get rid of it completely. Not that I’m going to be trying that, mind you: I’m out of the spray tan business for the foreseeable future, but if you want to give this one a go, I’d say just be very, very careful when you’re spraying it on, and make sure the coverage is even. It does have its advantages, but it’s perhaps not quite as easy to use as I’d assumed. It’s £7.33 and available from Boots. Dollface Reviews: Lancome Tropique Minerals All-Over Magic Bronzing Brush
Last week someone asked me a question on Formspring about how I deal with the issue of mismatched foundation once I have a tan. Now, I don’t ever tan naturally (SPF 50 all the way!) but I do use self-tanner at times during the summer, and one of the ways I deal with the foundation issue is shown above: Lancome Tropique Minerals All-Over Magic Bronzing Brush. (The other method, in case you’re interested, involves foundation that’s a shade darker than I’d usually wear. There is a use for all of those foundations that just don’t work on my pale skin!) This was sent to me just before I left for vacation, and I used it every day while I was away, and fairly frequently since I’ve been back, too, although I must admit, I’m using a lot less self-tanner at the moment. It’s a mineral bronzing powder which comes with a self-dispensing brush: just pump the end of the tube a few times to release the powder, then dust it on to the forehead, cheekbones, and anywhere else you want to add a touch of summer “glow”. At first I found the brush a little tricky to use: I seemed to be pumping the dispenser without anything much happening, but I assume this was just because it was brand new. Since those first couple of uses, I’ve had no issues with it, although as the shade I was sent is the palest one Lancome do (shade 01), it does need a bit of layering for me to notice a difference. This particular shade isn’t for you if you’re looking to radically change the colour of your skin (there’s a darker shade available if that’s the case) and end up looking like a bronzed goddess. What I found was that it’s perfect for giving a natural glow, without making me look like I have a “tan”. I don’t think anyone would think I was wearing bronzer, for instance, although I can see quite a big difference as it really takes the edge of my pallor, while still looking natural. This was particularly important to me, because I’m really bad with bronzer. Most of the time I just end up looking like I have a really dirty face, so I loved the subtlety of this, and the fact that it’s virtually foolproof: I haven’t had to spend any time locked in the bathroom frantically trying to blend too-dark bronzer, put it that way… This is a mineral powder, which makes it comfortable to wear, and the effect lasts all day. It’s fairly expensive at £33 per tube, but after a few weeks of steady use, I’ve barely made a dent in it, so it should last a long time. You can buy a tube here, if you want to try it out for yourself.  | |||||||
