Beauty Product Reviews | Page 2

Not what I hoped for - get the Wayne Goss 17

This brush unfortunately doesn't blend and pick up color as well as I hoped it would. It is also more scratchy than I thought it would be – keep in mind that the MAC 217 feels scratchy (and is more scratchy than the GSN-10) to me after I've gotten into lovely Japanese goat brushes like Hakuhodo, Wayne Goss, Tom Ford etc. Speaking of the MAC 217: That does pick up color and blend better than the GSN-10 for me.

I suggest you get the Wayne Goss 17 because their bristles look basically the same. The handle of the GSN-10 is longer if that's important to you. I like the Wayne Goss 17 more (better at picking up color, blending, soft bristles).

I will give this GSN-10 to somebody who will appreciate it more than I do.

Underwhelming considering the price

It's a soft, nice cleanser that doesn't strip my skin at all and that I really enjoy but – when I take the price into consideration – is actually underwhelming. I've been in love with Avène and La Roche-Posay for 10 years now and I will eventually go back to those for my basic, everyday gentle skin cleansing. There are so many lovely brands and products out there for gentle skin cleansing (another example: Aurelia Probiotic Skincare). (For removing my make up, I use wipes. I only tried this Omorovicza Cleansing Foam once for that but it was not strong enough for my full coverage make up.)

Products work differently on different people, please keep that in mind. I, however, feel the need to address another review I've seen on this page: This product does not feel like a scrub at all on me when you massage/rub it into your skin (aka clean your skin) and also no exfoliation if not used with something additional like an actual scrub (a soft daily option comes from Dermalogica, love it), a Clarisonic etc. True is: It doesn't foam much.

Underwhelming, might have a French dupe

I'd say this is underwhelming on my combo skin considering the high price. What I like is how quickly it absorbes, how it smells and the packaging (quite heavy, luxurious, frosted glass, good pump). The little moisturization I got is "long wearing" and by that I mean that I've used moisturisers that feel great after applying but the effect does not last longer than half an hour or so, some even make your skin feel dryer after a while – maybe you've experienced something similar (if not: you're free to think I'm crazy ;) ).

I honestly wouldn't pay more than 30/35 $ for it. It doesn't give me enough moisture and has no real additional effects. Let me go through the points of the description I haven't touched above: "cooling" (now that I've paid attention to it if noticed a minimal cooling effect but most of my moisturisers feel similar if not the same), "avoid shine" (not on me), "reduce pore size" (not sure, sorry, maybe yes) and "blurs the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles" (no).

This product reminds me a lot of the Mattifying Fluid by Avène: texture, how my skin feels and looks after it (pretty much the same moisturization). The "mattifying" effect might be a bit better than what this Omorovicza product provides but still no noteworthy mattifying effect on my skin. (Genereal differences between the two: price [Avène: round 29 $], smell, packaging, number of claims [Avène: basically just mattifying, no anti-aging, reducing of pore sizes etc.].)

PS: If you want oil control and skin care, the only mattifying skin care product I've found (and my skin used to be oily, trust me, I tried a loooot!) is the Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner by Sunday Riley. Damn, that stuff is sooo impressive!

Part of my skincare

When I don't want a mild physical exfoliant (this isn't a mild one because of the little exfoliating bits in it in my opinion) or chemical exfoliant, this is my go-to. I can agree with all the claims of this product on the Beautylish site so please check that out.

I really enjoy the experience, the smell (I suck at describing smells so I'll spare you my poor attempts at it), how it leaves my skin (fresh, clean, not dry as other physical exfoliants have done, smooth). (Since I have rather sensitive skin I want to add that this one doesn't freak my skin out, make it red or hurt or anything.)

Yes, it is pricey. Because I do not use it too often (probably around every two weeks) and it is the perfect rather intense physical exfoliant for me, I'm willing to spend the money on it.

Can't stop looking at it <3

I'm a rarety: One of the few people that passes by mirrors without looking into it (when I'm not testing out new products). But with this product, I cannot stop looking at my lips. The shade with that shimmer is so stunning and unique <333 I'm in love and lust...

I cannot judge the quality of the liquid lipstick because I only own two liquid lipsticks so my experience is too limited, sorry.

Watch Tati's video on Youtube

Sprayover: yes. Highlighter: not my kinda shade or style (too white > too ashy on me, no light reflecting without sprayover). Eyeshadow: joke (not longlasting no matter what shadow's beneath it, without a shadow beneath, Urban Decay primer, MAC Painterly Pot, different brushes or finger etc.). On top of a lipstick as an effect: without the overspray noooo. As a setting powder: haha, oh hell no. Go on Youtube, watch Tati Westbrook's (Glamlifeguru) Video including that product and you'll see what it does as a setting powder (actually quite entertaining if you're feeling a little sadistic). As a finishing powder: not for me because if I am applying a white powder (after using up the overspray) I don't want greyish skin (and btw, I'm a rather pale person and love – as an example – white HD Finishing Powders).

I usually agree 100% with what so many Youtubers say: "Not every product works the same for everyone. Just because I don't like it it doesn't mean I don't like the brand overall or that I think you shouldn't use it" and so on. But in this case: DO NOT BUY. I really cannot imagine how anyone could like it, no matter your shade, skintype, style, preferences, eyesight etc. If you're really curious (I understand), borrow it from a friend or go to a store and apply it to your face (kinda gross, yes, but spending that cash for the most horrible powder in the world is even worse in my book.) Needless to say, I got rid off that product after trying it in so many different ways (see on top) over a couple of months.

The Neo-Bronzer and Neo-Limelight are better – not must-haves but I enjoy both. (Not sure yet if I'm going to leave a review on those products.)

Basic

Whoever reads this review will maybe appreciate a simple pro & con:

+ Pro: no smudging on me, no clumping, super-easy to wash off with warm water (tubing mascara), coats all lashes very well from roots to tips (very thin wand), good separation (however, I prefer the They're Real by Benefit for that), not too watery or dry, thin beautiful sturdy packaging (meaning: doesn't take up much space, no wiggeling wand [had that before, it's annoying]), nice on my lower lashes

- Con: generally very little effect, no extra volume on me, had more black mascara in the past (but this mascara is not horrible in that aspect, I just had better ones), barley holds the curl on me, doesn't lengthen my lashes (not that I expected that but because it separates them nicely this would have been a great bonus), price (for what I personally got)

Because the mascara doesn't do much for me, it's only a 2 star. It covers all the basic things (no smudging etc.) but most of my mascaras do. I bought it for volume but it doesn't perform on me. The separation is neat but I have others that do a better job and lengthen my lashes at the same time. I probably will use it up on my lower lashes where I don't want a big effect.

Gives that little something to my eyeshadow

Never intended to use this as a highlighter (too "special" and glittery for me) and bought this specifically to add a little special something to certain eyeshadow looks. I'm so in love with it because the colors are so unique and I get so many looks out of it, depending on what I'm pairing it up with.

Is this product for everyone? No, I'm in love and it's not rational. If you want something special and additional on your eyelids, this might be for you but please check out swatches and videos because the colors are hard to demonstrate / describe.

Makes your skin matt but in a dull way for a high price

I'm so picky, damn, and comparing this powder to the La Prairie Cellular Treatment Loose Powder which is my go-to. So, yes, it does mattify – how much of it is due to the fact that is colored (La Prairie is translucent) or to the quality of the product? My feeling is that is the former. It mattifies better than the La Prairie one on my combo skin. When my skin was oilier I might have liked combination of those two products. That's the pro about the Cover FX one.

What I don't like about that product is that it makes my skin look dull – in comparison to the La Prairie one, not to other loose powders I've tried. La Prairie has light reflecting properties to it and that's why it doesn't look dull, it looks healthy. The Cover FX powder is finer milled than a lot of other loose powders but not as fine as... you know. I have to work the Cover FX into my skin more so it's even; don't have to do it with... you know. The Cover FX one slightly dries my undereyes (I'm not baking) but not to badly; the you know what looks and feels better on me.

So, if I wouldn't have known the La Prairie one, I'd given that Cover FX a four star (deduction because the container is messier than some drugstore I've used). However, taking into consideration all the differences and the fact that the Cover FX powder is way more expensive than the La Prairie one (yes, you read that right – La Prairie 46 $ per oz [Nordstorm price, 100 $ for giant 2,2 oz], Cover FX 100 $ per oz), it's a 2 star product for me: does the job but with major downsides in my book.

Nice setting spray but no impressing mattifying quality

Setting spray is so individual so maybe you'll get a mini / travel version if you're curious about that spray – that's what I did.

It sets the make up nicely but I prefer the sprays on the Urban Decay / Skindinavia products (softer). I tested the spray against the Quick Fix by Urban Decay (technically a primer spray but it was sold to me as a setting spray and I love it as both): covered one half of my face and sprayed the product on that side and vice versa. At the end of the day, there was actually no difference. When I stood very, very closely to the mirror and really examined my T-zone, the Cover FX did a little bit better. I did the same test with the All Nighter by Urban Decay and they showed the same result. The mattifying result is not worth changing products for me. Longevity of the make up with this spray is basically the same as with the Urban Decay ones.

I only give it 3 stars because it does not have a real mattifying effect on me (which was what I expected mainly from this product) and because the spray (at least on the mini / travel version) sometimes left drops of the product on my skin what I don't want.