I guess it's a good sign that since the last time I did one of these posts (I think it was around September time) I only have this little pile of products that I just didn't love. The usual disclaimer; I have my own reasons for not liking these, which I'll tell you about, but if they don't apply to you then go ahead and try them for yourself. If you love any of these products, I'm not trying to come between the two of you...
Starting off with skincare, there were two products that just really haven't agreed with me. Firstly the Balance Me Soothe and Cleanse Face Balm* (£20 for full size). You only have to click on the link to see all the positive reviews this product has had, so I'm definitely chalking this one up to it just not being right for my skin type. It just left my skin feeling irritated and waxy. The Clinique Liquid Face Soap (£16 for full-size) was just far too harsh for me, despite being labelled as mild. Again, this is one that has plenty of positive online reviews so it just goes to show how specific to the individual skincare is.
Onto makeup. I was absolutely gutted that Bobbi Brown seem to have changed the formula of their Pot Rouge, or the quality isn't consistent across the range. I had a pink one a few years back that I totally loved and worked really well for both lips and cheeks. Therefore when I spotted the Pot Rouge in Rose (£19) I thought it would be the perfect purchase. The shade really is beautiful and I thought I knew I loved the formula. However it just wasn't really the right texture for lips and it went patchy on my cheeks regardless of how I applied it.
Controversial but I was also disappointed by the Rimmel Provocalips (£4.99 each). I wore the lighter shade (Make Your Move) once and I though it was amazing; it lasted me through a super-long day and still looked great. However I thought the darker shade (Kiss Fatal) had too much shimmer in it to be wearable. Also the next couple of times I wore Make Your Move one it went all scaly, flakey and gross and was so difficult to re-apply and even more impossible to remove. I also found that having to wait between applying the two different coats was a little inconvenient. Another well-loved lip product I just wasn't feeling was the Revlon Matte Balm in Audacious (£7.99). It's just nothing special. It has a nice texture but it doesn't look particularly nice on the lips and the colour is just pretty 'meh' for me.
I also wasn't a fan of the Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipsticks (£1.99), which I had in Fig Leaf and Hazelnut. You may ask what I expect from a £2 lippie, but their eyeshadows and blushers are fantastic. Fig Leaf just washed me out completely and Hazelnut, despite being a gorgeous brown shade, just didn't apply evenly unfortunately.You know I'm a huge fan of Maybelline's 24-Hour Colour Tattoos, however I just didn't like the shade Eternal Gold (£4.99). It was too yellow, too bright and too glittery for me! e.l.f. is another brand I'm a fan of so I picked up one of their Studio Baked Highlighters in Blush Gemstones (£3.95). Perhaps because I got this at the same time as Makeup Revolution's Radiant Lights collection, but this just felt powdery, scratchy and too full of glitter.
It's going to seem like there's a lot of Makeup Revolution products in here but that's only proportionate to the amount of their products I own! The Euphoria Palette in Bare (£6) just didn't really work for me. I found the contour too orange, the blusher and highlighter were nothing special and the eyeshadows were just a bit powdery and insipid. Controversial choice but the One Blush Stick in Matte Malibu (£5) did nothing for me. I wasn't really feeling the blusher shades so I decided an easy contour colour would suit me a little better. The shade and everything is fine, it just didn't stay on my face for more than about an hour! The wear-time was so bad it was completely invisible by the time I left the house. Maybe if you have dry skin this would work a little better. I also did not like the WOW Sticks (£2.99 each) that I did have in Maria and Atomic. They were too waxy and I couldn't get them to apply evenly at all. Finally I have the One Fluid Blush in Rush Me (£3). Funnily enough I preferred this a lot to the Daniel Sandler version but I still found it was patchy and didn't last. Obviously I still love the brand, however I'm not someone who's going to get caught up in the hype and praise everything they ever release.
Mememe do a few dupes of the little Benefit 'nail polish'-style products. I picked up the entire range and whilst I do like the highlighters (High Beam and Sun Beam dupes) I didn't like the Lip and Cheek Tints (£5.95 each). They were cute enough on the lips but I have lip products I like more that are more practical. However these products felt felt sticky, filmy and uneven on the cheeks.
Lastly, a product that isn't a complete disaster but nevertheless I feel wasn't as great as it could've been. After I didn't like Colab's dry shampoo, a few of you suggested I tried Batiste for Dark Hair (£3.99). It definitely solved the problem of white roots, it showed as invisible on my had and soaked up any grease perfectly. However I found that whenever I touched my hair my fingers and under my nails would get coated in black residue! So annoying as otherwise this would've been a perfect product!
Agree? Disagree? Let me know your thoughts on these products in the comments!
It always feels such a shame when you don't like a product that you have bought and you are so right in the fact that just because you didn't like them doesn't mean that others won't. Shame about the malibu stick as I have that and love it but then I am very (very) pale so maybe that is why it lasts better and I have quite dry skin.
ReplyDeleteGreat post though and will save myself some cash by not buying some of the items :)
Pams Stuff and Things
LORAC PRO Palette Giveaway
Yeah - maybe! Like I said, there are reasons I didn't like it but they don't apply to everyone :) xx
DeleteI agree with the Batiste - I tried the one for red hair & it comes away at the touch which obviously wouldn't work if I had light clothing on & it also left a red residue on the skin on my forehead! I prefer just using the normal Batiste dry shampoo and making sure that I rub it in and brush out so that there is no white left over x
ReplyDeletejobrlw.blogspot.com
Yeah that's what I do - or I put it on the night before so the residue is gone by morning :) xx
DeleteI really love the Batiste for dark hair, I use it all the time. I brush my hair afterwards and I've never had an issue with residue in it.
ReplyDeleteFair enough - not everyone uses the same amount or uses the product in the same way!
DeleteI like the batiste for dark hair but you have to be so careful what you lean your head on. I love the maybelline colour tattoos but I've swatched eternal gold a couple of times and I just hated the colour!
ReplyDeleteColeoftheball xx
Completely agree! xx
DeleteI'm with you on the face products! he Balance Me I don't get why people rave about and the Clinique tends to bring out my spots. Not great! Love this post! :)
ReplyDeletehaveyouseenhowshespeaks.blogspot.co.uk
We must have the same skin type! xx
DeleteI use the batiste dry shampoo and never had that problem, i find its perfect on my hair. Really enjoyed this post x
ReplyDeleteEmma | Emmys Blog
It's ok if you use it sparing but I tend to just give it a good spray, a rub and go! xx
DeleteNot that I'm glad someone else had the same problem as me with the Batiste dry shampoo... but I'm glad I wasn't the only one. Lol.
ReplyDeletexx
Jenny // Mish Mosh Makeup
Lol, I did start to wonder if I was some sort of a weirdo! xx
DeleteI've had that issue with the Batiste dry shampoo! I found working it in with fingers and brushing it out helped it soak up the product, and it only rubbed off if I scratched my head after that lol!
ReplyDeleteThe Clinique facial soap is just...ugh. My Mum swears by it but it literally makes my face squeak *cringe* I'm so used to how soft my skin feels after a cleansing cream/balm I can't switch over to a regular gel now.
www.kathorrocks.com
I think I do unconsciously touch, scratch at hair quite a bit out of habit! xx
DeleteI think you're the only person I've seen who also isn't a fan of Balance me products. I had quite a bad reaction to one of their products a few years ago and still won't dare to try any any more - eek!
ReplyDeleteStyle Sunrise ☀
:)
x
Yeah - I guess skincare is just so personal people can have very different experiences! xx
DeleteThat is a real shame! I always hate it when I get abad product! The Clinque skincare was really harsh on my skin too so I'm never getting anything from them again! x x
ReplyDeletewww.beyondthevelvet.blogspot.co.uk
Glad I'm not the only one! :( xx
DeleteI love this blog post idea! Its such a shame when things arent what you expect but they do make for good blog entries and you can compare different brands to see which one is right for you!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog :) xx
Lauren | shynature.blogspot.co.uk
Yeah exactly - and thank you :) xx
DeleteI agree with you on Clinique products, I have always found them so harsh (too much alcohol in them I think). Batiste for brunettes is a favourite of mine even though I agree with you on not being able to touch your hair as your hands are immediately black, so I just avoid that :D x
ReplyDeleteBeauty with charm
Haha fair enough - I'm clearly an unconscious hair-toucher! xx
DeleteI absolutely love the Matte Malibu Blush Stick! Lasts all day on me and is my go to primer :) I find using it strongly under foundation works best for a longer lasting look!
ReplyDeleteFrancesca xo // EffStar Beauty // YouTube Channel
I've never tried that method - might attempt it! xx
DeleteI love posts like this, because as good as it is to hear how positive a product is it’s also good to hear the negatives :) That sucks about the Batiste have you tried the medium shade? I find that if I leave it in my hair for about a minute before messing it’s normally fine :)
ReplyDeleteCharlee XO | CharmedCharlee
I did give it a go but that was too reddy/chestnut for me unfortunately :( xx
DeleteI have a slight love hate relationship with Matte Malibu, I want to like it but can't decide if I do. Interesting to see some different reviews on MR, a lot say they like everything when they probably don't! I enjoyed this post! x
ReplyDeleteThrough New Eyes | Beauty Blog
I do sometimes think that - I love the brand but everyone has duds! xx
DeleteI have the same deal with natural collections, they're other products are wonderful but their lipsticks, just no...
ReplyDeleteawww.emilyroseperrin.blogspot.co.uk
Yep - totally agree! xx
Deleteoooh the sound of black residue under your nails does not sound good. I guess Batiste had a good idea there... but kind of missed the mark! I wonder if the red ones leave a red stain?!
ReplyDeleteJenn
Photo-Jenn-ic
Yeah it's such a shame as I thought it was the perfect solution :( xx
DeleteShame about the Rimmel Provocalips, I wanted to try them, but may think twice now. xx
ReplyDeleteJulie
www.rainingcake.com
They're definitely a love/hate kind of product! xx
DeleteI wasn't a fan of the dry shampoo either, but I did think it was just me!
ReplyDeleteAnnabel ♥
Mascara & Maltesers
Glad to see I'm not the only one! xx
DeleteI always find these disappointing posts such an interesting read! I have been tooing and froing over the Rimmel Provocalips and just when i have decided to go for it, I read your review and think I should just leave them again! Great post :) x
ReplyDeleteBrenda BusyBee
Yeah they're a bit of a love/hate product so you might want to try it yourself! xx
DeleteI was also very disappointed with the Euphoria Palette in Bare. The cheek colours were too dark and the eyeshadows way too sheer. But I like the Balance Me cleanser :) xx
ReplyDeleteRenata | Speaking Beauty UK
Totally agree about the palette! xx
DeleteI, too, am I fan of the Batiste Dry Shampoo for dark hair. The only time I have an issue with residue is when I overdo it or if I don't work the product into my hair properly. But that's why the market is so huge, right? So we can each (hopefully) find something that works for us. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeauty Isles | An Island Girl's Beauty and Lifestyle Blog
Fair enough - i tend to apply quite a bit as dry shampoo is usually a last resort lol xx
DeleteI agree with you on the Maybelline Eternal Gold...It's just too patchy and difficult for me to work with!! I have not tried any of the others but I won't be anyway...thanks for this review!!...xx
ReplyDeleteI agree - so disappointing! xx
DeleteMakeup Revolutions Euphoria Palette does not interest me at all. The way they have designed it just turns me off completely. I have read a few reviews of people saying it just wasn't their best work.
ReplyDeleteAngie x | Chocolate & Lipstick || UK Beauty and Lifestyle Blog
It really didn't work out unfortunately! xx
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