February cosmetics reviews - YouLookFab Forum

Not all of these are just from this past month; I’m still playing catch-up a bit on reviews. First a usage update on the Hadalabo Gojukin (sp?) moist lotion/ hyauralonic toner - I saw a YT video that recommended you pat this in gently until it starts getting tacky, and that does seem to help with absorption. I've also been putting it on my scalp at night. My scalp is crazy dry right now with the weather so I'll just part my hair a bunch of times and pat this in at the roots. It dries by morning and doesn't seem to negatively affect my hair.

Golden Rose stick foundation (Amazon)
Did I review this one already? I can’t remember. This is the bargain supposed to be a dupe of the Hourglass stick foundation, which I haven’t tried. I got it in the lightest shade which amazingly is too light for me. I tried it a few different ways, and made it work with mega-moisturizing underneath so it would apply evenly. But it still doesn’t look amazing on me imo. I’ve been using it as a spot concealer more recently and I really like it for that purpose because it stays put.

L’oreal true match foundation, C1/alabaster
I’ve been looking for a new drugstore foundation and so far my search has been frustrating. This comes in a ton of shades, which is nice, but C1 is still too dark for my winter skin, and I’m not that crazy pale – apparently there is a C0.5 but I haven’t found it in a store anywhere yet. This comes in a minimalist glass bottle with no pump, and comes out very liquidy and silicone-feeling. I tried applying with sponge and brush and found that blending with fingers and then buffing with a brush afterwards was the only way to get even coverage. It did nothing good for the texture on my face and started to break down as the day went on. Plus it broke me out in those tiny little comedones. Next!

Physicians Formula Healthy foundation, LC1
Lots of YouTube love for this one which is fairly new. I picked it up in the lightest shade, which is more neutral than I am but doable. It comes in a glass bottle with a doe-foot applicator, which I don’t hate but doesn’t apply much foundation at once, so you have to go in several times. This had a much better texture on the skin than the True Match. Unfortunately, it also broke me out, although not as badly as the True Match. I’m going to keep trying this with different sunscreen/primer combos and see if I can make it work somehow.

Eucerin skin calming body wash
I picked this up going into winter hoping that it would help mitigate the winter skin dryness. It’s got a lot of omega-3s in it. I like it but don’t love it. It doesn’t really lather so if I’ve gotten truly sweaty or dirty I have to use two rounds. It’s not drying but I don’t find it particularly moisturizing either. And it smells vaguely like fish even though all the oils in it are vegetable-derived (I guess that’s just what omega-3s smell like). I’m using it up but won’t repurchase.

Nivea in-shower body lotion
Another ‘keep my skin from turning into a desert’ purchase. It’s nice to have an in-shower option but I feel like this doesn’t make enough difference to bother with.

L’oreal Ever Fresh anti-dandruff shampoo
I switched to the Curly Girl Method (no silicones, no sulfates, less frequent washing, minimal heat) last year and that’s helped a lot with dry scalp, but this winter I was still getting some itchiness. So I decided to try this which is the first shampoo out which doesn’t use harsh sulfate cleansers but has the pyrithone zinc anti-dandruff ingredient in it. It’s still a lot more stripping than my usual shampoo, but works OK used occasionally followed by a deep conditioner. It seems to help with the itching and flakes.

Generic Value Products conditioning balm (Sally Beauty)
This is big in the CGM community as a conditioner and is a knockoff of the Biolage conditioner. I don’t love this. Even though it has no silicones it has a plastic-y feel to me. It works OK and I’ll use up the container but not re-buy.

5 years ago

Anonymous

I continue to LOVE your product reviews. I hope they never stop.

Your reviews of the Nivea in-shower body lotion and Eucerin skin calming body wash were most interesting to me. I like both those brands and have had success with them in the past. It is good to know that neither of these two items will meet my current needs. Thank you.

If I could add my finds, I would love to recommend the Bobby Brown Cream Eyeshadow Sticks. I switched over to cream eye shadows after a problem with severe eyelid dryness last fall. This eyeshadow goes on easily and blends beautifully and really does last all day (no creases or flaking). I put it on before the eyeliner and mascara.

I am also in love with Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Cloud Cream Cleanser. A tiny bit goes a long way and my face is so hydrated afterwards. His Cloud Hyaluronic Cream is very good too, but I use Cerave moisture lotion and nighttime cream with hyaluronic acid that is cheaper and work very well.

I have been wanting to try the Loreal foundation but am dumbfounded as to what shade to pick. I miss my Diorskin foundation that had a satin finish. Most foundations are more matte and I dislike that intensely.

Thank you, Danusia. I WILL try the Bobby Brown Cream Eyeshadow Sticks.

kellygirl

Veteran

I always enjoy your cosmetics reviews too. Im always so overwhelmed when it comes to cosmetics. Anyway, tHought this link might help navigate the foundation aisle:
https://www.whowhatwear.com/be.....ns/slide14

Staysfit

Thanks for taking your time to write these reviews! I always read them and feel enlightened and updated.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Thanks, all. Your comments literally make my day.

Danusia, are the Bobbi Brown sticks shimmer or matte?

For shade matching, there's a Foundation Finder on temptalia.com that I've found useful at times. It's crowd-sourced info so there's not always info on each foundation especially if it's new. You can usually find swatch videos on YT for most things though.

I always enjoy your reviews, thanks for posting!

Runcarla

This weekend I picked up a product I've been wanting to try - Maybelline Tatoo Studio Brow Tint. I like that it is liquid or gel and goes on quickly without having to press hard. However, you have to hold it upright or the 'ink' doesn't flow. So far I'm liking it better than my pencil.

What do you-all use for brow definition? Favourite products?

Style Fan

Thank you, Laura, for your reviews. I enjoy reading them and always learn about new products. Carla, for brows I get mine tinted. When I can't get the tinting done I use Benefit Gimme Brow. It is like a brow mascara. I use the lightest shade.

Joy

I enjoy your reviews and they give me ideas. Right now I know I will be looking for another tinted moisturizer as my shade has been discontinued. The problem is that I need a true neutral medium beige without a hint of red or yellow in the color. My skin just enhances it. I am also looking for a true light taupe brow pencil. I tried some from Nordstrom but they looked black on me. I used to use a blonde but it was reformulated and now is more brown, looking red on me.

unfrumped

Love the product reviews! Thank you.

Adriana

Thanks. I am looking for new foundation. Like Joy I need a neutral color and without fragrance. For brows I use a taupe eyeshadow with a brush. Mac Coquette. Strangely it works although my brows are dark. (But sparse)

If anyone wants I still have a bunch of All Natural Face mineral foundation samples-my set is medium to dark, but most of the colors are quite light. There's a light to medium set too. She sends 30 or so to try, and was able to match me!
My "magpie goes to Trader Joes" review is the new Rose Facial Oil. Knowing them its likely temporary, but I like it. It doesnt feel greasy after a couple min and now my skin isnt dry and flaky. And of course it smells like roses

@Laura - I found the following about the Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow sticks on the Bobbi Brown website , " The following shades offer a soft matte finish: Vanilla, Truffle, Malted Pink, Taupe, Stone, Soft Peach, Sand Dune, Shadow, Steel and Bark." I am assuming that the other colors are more shimmer.

I personally use taupe and truffle which are matte (not a flat color - soft and creamy) and dusty mauve which is a shimmery lavender (just the right amount of shimmer).

Aquamarine

Love these reviews, too. I also like Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadow sticks. There are matte and shimmer colors.

Gigi

I always like reading your reviews.

This past month I've been enjoying the Andalou Repairing Night Creme with Resveratrol and CoQ10. My sensitive and breakout-prone skin really seems to like it. It keeps my skin hydrated overnight but doesn't make it greasy. It absorbs well and has a velvety finish, maybe a semimatte? It smells like chocolate. Great product so far!

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