Archives for July 2008

Loose Powder Challenge: T.LeClerc Banane vs Make Up For Ever Super Matte

Paris B 18 Comments

I’ve been toying with a new category for a while now – a “Challenge” category where I pit one brand against another. The idea behind this is to see how a favourite or not so favourite product fares against similar products from different brands, and whether there are dupes or similarities to be found between them. The idea is not to find the “best product” but more to see how X performs against Y. They may be both of high end brands or both of low end brands or in the cases of dupes, one high and one low end.

I can only base my “challenges” on products which I already own and use so if I’m not comparing it with a product you want me to, or expect, the simple answer may be that I don’t have it! Challenges will be evaluated on 3 criteria – Packaging, Price and Performance.

I’ll start my Challenge series with Loose Powder:-

T.leClerc Banane vs Make Up For Ever Super Matte

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What are Chemical Sunscreens and Physical Sunscreens?

Paris B 26 Comments

Monstro left a question in a previous comment asking what the difference was between Chemical Sunscreens and Physical Sunscreens.

Without going into the virtues of either form of sunscreens, a simple explanation of the 2 different types of sunscreens in the market is as follows.

Chemical Sunscreens

Chemical Sunscreens are so called because they contain synthetic chemicals which absorb UV rays thereby absorbing radiation. These chemicals work by absorbing UVA or UVB but usually also contain ingredients to block UVA rays. According to the American Melanoma Foundation:-

Chemical sunscreens contain special ingredients that act as filters and reduce ultraviolet radiation penetration to the skin. These sunscreens often are colorless and maintain a thin visible film on the skin. These sunscreens usually contain UVB absorbing chemicals and more recently contain UVA absorbers as well.Continue Reading

Review: Makeup: Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow – My Date’s my Brother

Paris B 5 Comments

When I previously wrote about my Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans, I mentioned that a friend picked up a light shade – My Date’s My Brother. So, here’s a guest review by Monstro on My Date’s My Brother by Benefit Cosmetics. The first ever guest review on My Women Stuff! 🙂

I got hold of one of these recently, so I’m putting it to the test! The one I have is “My date’s my brother”.

The looks

I have to admit, it’s pretty cute. Check out those love birds on top of the box and jar. Adorable. And inside, is this note card–on one side is a picture of Ms Lana, and on the other, a quote that says “Love awaits you, so put on your lipstick.” For this, a little slap on the wrist to the twins for adding unnecessary packaging and adding to landfill waste. On the other hand, it is a lovely touch that makes me connect with the personality of the brand. So a little tip to Benefit: Keep the quirky personality, but maybe print that stuff within the box, rather than adding to it?Continue Reading

Review: Makeup: Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush

Paris B 12 Comments

For as long as I can remember, my ultimate dream bag is a Chanel 2.55. Ok, not as long as I remember because when I was younger, I thought it looked “auntie” but now I want one and its out of my financial reach. (Besides, if I do have one I’m not sure I’d have the guts to carry it around and sully it with scratches, dirt, pollution… but I digress… 😉 ) So, what’s the next best thing to a Chanel 2.55?

Chanel makeup! 🙂

Specifically, the Chanel Joues Contraste blushes. They are da bomb!

The Chanel Joues Contraste blushes come luxuriously packed in a velvet pouch (that serves no purpose except to add luxury) and are housed in a solid black plastic case with the classic Chanel emblem on the cover. Look at it from the front or back, it looks the same. That makes things a bit hard sometimes because it only opens one way and most of the time, I’m not getting to the right clasp!

Once opened, you’ll see a round domed powder blush on the left, with a small, cute but utterly useless blush brush on the right. I’d rather they just did away with the brush totally and made the case smaller and more compact. Maybe even slimmer.Continue Reading

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