Beauty reviews: March 2010

Beauty booty: Clarins Bright Plus Intensive Brightening Smoothing Serum, R680 for 30ml
Reviewer: Leigh van den Berg, Beauty Editor, Women24
Powered by Sea Lily, Clarins' new brightening serum promises to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and help prevent the appearance of new ones. Having used it for a good six weeks, I can tell you it's certainly helped to reduce the appearance of two 'mid-tone' pigmentation spots I have under each of my eyes. In fact, they're so much lighter that I no longer feel I have to dot foundation on them anymore. The more severe trio of spots that have formed on my nose in the last few years however, (they look like freckles, so I'm not too stressed out), are yet to budge. Now, aside from the fact that it's actually really working, what I also like about this product is its fabulous texture; a feather light liquid that isn't the least bit oily. I applied it to my oil-prone skin day and night before my moisturiser and was delighted (surprised even) that it didn't exacerbate my potentially grease-ball skin at all. So, if you're battling mild pigmentation or simply want to brighten up your skin tone, I can highly recommend this. It's a real gem.

The beauty booty: YSL Parisienne EDT, R545 for 30ml
Reviewer: Tammy February, Online Producer, TV, Blogs, Books, Astrology
Ah, Parisienne. Doesn't the name just make you think of romantic night lights under a Paris sky? When I got hold of this my immediate thoughts were that this perfume encapsulates a whimsical, wispy and eternal romance. It was love at first whiff. This beautiful fragrance is distinctly sweet, floral and ethereally feminine. Its opening notes are like a basket of berries bursting forth into summer – the tart and frothy cranberry, blackberry, violet and damask rose notes quickly and playfully making their presence known on my skin. The damask rose, I found, provided a light floral scent to the fragrance, but I did notice that the rose scent quickly fades away and gives way to the musky and woody base notes of patchouli, musk and sandalwood.  At the end you're left with a soft, earthy scent with hints of sweet summer fruit in the air. But, that's not all. The really interesting thing about Parisienne is that it contains an edgy, but unique vinyl accord. I was intrigued by this and wondered if I would be able to detect this glossy, varnished notes and, as it turns out, I could! It's noticeable in the early stages and thankfully it's not overwhelming. Instead, it lends a very intriguing aspect to the fragrance. Overall, this perfume is simply divine. My only problem now is that I'm part of a family full of women who also love it, meaning I now have to constantly change my perfume hiding spots. Hmph...
 
Beauty Booty: Labello Glamorous Gloss in Red Ruby, R29,95  
Reviewer: Zayaan Shroeder, Online Content Producer, Parent 24
I just love this! I've never been a fan of Labello, but this particular gloss really converted me to their brand. On days when I'm feeling super frumpy and not girly at all, just a swipe of this mega moisturising gloss is all it takes to make a real difference to your appearance. The Red Ruby variant really compliments my caramel complexion. I like how it goes on really smoothly and stays nice and shiny-looking - even if you only put just a little of it on. From a packaging point of view, I like that the tip of the tube is slanted, allowing it to glide easily over your lips. It also has a really nice subtly fruity smell that's not overpowering or nauseating. Best of all, it contains an SPF 15, so you're protecting those luscious lips while keeping them sexy. Love, love, love this product! It's now always in my bag or pocket so I'm ready for a touch up.

The beauty booty: Revlon Luxurious Colour eye shadow, R94,95
Reviewer: Caro de Waal, Resident Chef, Food24
Revlon's Luxurious Colour eye shadow is available in two fab new finishes – 'satin' and 'perle'. The satin-effect shades are ever so slightly shimmery and the pearl colours are infused with lots of pretty sparkle pigments. Having tried both, I can now say that the satin finish is now my favourite. In fact, it's my favourite eye shadow full stop! (I tested a lovely neutral shade called Polished Bronze and actually got a few compliments on it. I mean, who actually notices eye shadow? So you know it must be good...) I found it smooth and silky on application and the little applicators they come with are perfectly suitable to apply it with - I'm don't even feel like I have to use the fancy brush I normally do. Another plus? It's got amazing staying power!
As far as the perle shades go, I tried and liked Violet Starlit, a pretty indigo shade. Generally, I'm not really into shimmery eye shadows, but this one wasn't too glittery and actually looked really nice at night. The only drawback, I find, is that the shimmery shadow doesn't last as long as the 'satin' one. 
 
Beauty Booty: Thierry Mugler Alien EDT, R495
Reviewer: Kele Scheppers, Online Producer, Women24
If you're a fan of 'cult-frag' Alien EDP, but find it a little too heavy to wear in the day, perhaps you should sniff out the latest addition to the collection – Alien EDT. I absolutely adore it! A sophisticated woody-floral, this sensual, feminine scent is an exquisite blend of tangerine, white florals (Moroccan jasmine dominates), Cashmeran wood and white amber. Our beauty editor, Leigh, says it's a statement fragrance, which to me, means it lingers around you and creates an impression.  When you walk into an elevator, the fragrance swirls about you in a delicious-smelling cloud and everyone catches a whiff of its seductive mysteriousness. As far as staying power goes, it's just as good as its EDP predecessor in that it lingers on your skin for hours. My only moan is that I don't think the bottle's design reflects the fabulousness of its contents. (It's supposed to be an 'amethyst crystal', but, to me, it looks more like a spaceship!) 

Beauty booty: Almay Smart Shade Anti-aging foundation, R135
Reviewer: Jules Fergus, Stylist, Women24
Almay's newest addition to their Smart Shade foundation line-up promises to match up to your complexion and fend off Father Time. (Just in case you were wondering how it magically senses the colour of your face, know that, in essence, it's really very much like a tinted moisturizer, making it very easy to 'colour match'). I really liked that it was a bit more hydrating than other foundations I've tried and that it has an SPF of 20. It also contains rice protein, sweet almond extract and seaweed extract to help leave skin feeling a bit more firm and plump. Just a note to those of you who like a bit of extra colour from their foundations – this offers good coverage but is sheer enough for you to get away with picking a shade that's a bit darker than what you'd usually choose. I got to test the Light/Medium shade and, even though I'm pretty fair, I found it a bit pale for my skin. So, if in doubt, go dark! It blends like a dream and will help add a nice glow to your skin.

Beauty booty: Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF30, R830 for 30ml
Reviewer: Catherine Shone, Restaurant Editor, Food24
I love Dermalogica. Always have. Always will.
I'm 35 years old and I have just spent a week canoeing down the Orange River in 40 degree weather. So, every night that I could apply this was a proper pampering for my face – especially since I had to wash it in river water! I'm pleased to say I found this product to be wonderful - thick and creamy, but not at all greasy. I looked it up on their website and was pleased to read that it helps encourage collagen production, controls age-related hyper-pigmentation and keeps the skin plump and supple with hydration. Having only used it for a few weeks, I haven't seen a difference in my skin's firmness or a reduction in any spots, but I can definitely tell you that it's helped to keep my face feeling well hydrated, soft and smooth - even after a week of harsh sun exposure and repeated applications of a heavy sunscreen! Speaking of which, I really like that it has an SPF of 30 - awesome for everyday use now that I'm back in town.

The beauty booty: Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue Style EDT, R495 for 125mls
Reviewer: Meagan Karstens, Content Producer, Women24 
5th Avenue Style. If the name alone does not suggest sophistication, then you should catch a glimpse of this perfume's chic-looking bottle. (It's tall like a New York sky scraper and topped with a luxurious-looking gold cap). Admittedly, it's part of the reason why I jumped to do this review in the first place. But then I also got a whiff of its contents and right away, I was sold. Playful. Feminine. Confident. Elizabeth Arden's 5th Avenue Style epitomizes all this and more. As far as its actual notes go, this floral, fruity, gourmand contains raspberry, pink pepper, peony, peach, plum, vanilla, musk and a dash of ultra-indulgent white chocolate truffle!  A heady, sweet-smelling scent, I feel it's the ultimate 'anywhere, anytime fragrance' for, as its creator, Yann Vasinier, puts it, "a woman so chic, you can't help but know where she's from". Much like a pair of black stilettos or a single strand of pearls, if you wear it, you will be noticed.
 
Beauty Booty: Estee Lauder Hydrationist Creme for dry skin, R495 for 50mls
Reviewer: Lily Radloff, Deputy Editor, Women24
I'm a big Estee Lauder fan. The first Estee Lauder products I ever tried were two that I got for my birthday: Advanced Night Repair and Idealist. My skin was in heaven, so, naturally, I was well chuffed when I got to try Hydrationist, their new mega moisturiser. It's suitable for all skin types, but specifically meant to help boost hydration.
It does this instantly thanks to something Lauder refer to as Bio-Mimetic Water, 'structured' in such a way that your skin's able to absorb the cream really, really deeply. However, it's also formulated to encourage your skin's natural 'barrier building' abilities over time, helping it to hold on to more moisture than ever before. In addition to all this, it's enriched with zinc, magnesium and calcium – minerals that help nourish the skin. I really liked that it smoothed onto my skin easily and was quickly absorbed to give me a dewy complexion like those fresh faced girls in the ads. I have a very dry skin and I noticed that my skin felt moisturized and well-fed for a good six hours after application. Also, despite being lightly scented with a lovely, fresh-smelling 'marine coral' and citrus scent, it's perfectly suitable for sensitive skin. The only thing I didn't like is the fact that I used the entire tub in just four weeks. If you're feeling the pinch, it might be a bit on the pricey side to use uninterruptedly.