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What have been your 'game changer' beauty products?

202 replies

frankietwospots · 04/03/2015 10:46

I'm always keen to try out new beauty products but am fed up of spending good money on products that are a bit meh. What have been your real 'game changer' beauty products? Which products have really made a difference? For me, applying Estee Lauder Double Wear with the Real Techniques stippling brush was a lightbulb moment. I just wish I could replicate that experience with skincare products!

OP posts:
improbablesaint · 07/03/2015 16:05

just went into the shop to look at the Dior maximiser thing. NO rep there so i put it on my hand, it looks like a gold shimmer

Now I am home my hand looks like..er my hand

tell me - what does it do?

improbablesaint · 07/03/2015 16:06

TALKED ME INTO HEATHERSHIMMER KLAXON

thisissohard · 07/03/2015 16:12

I used to have Heather Shimmer in the early 90s. It was frosted and heathery. T'other week my friends was sporting an amazing lipstick. I asked what it was and she pulled out Heather Shimmer. Twas neither frosted nor heathery. The Balance Me facial wash is also very nice. The hunt for freebies reminds me of last Summer, racing round all the shops looking for a Super Strawberry Clinique chubby stick. All the magazines left only had Whoppin Watermelon. When I finally tracked down the strawberry one, it was like that scene in Willy Wonka when that factory worker found the golden ticket for Violet Grin

DrankSangriaInThePark · 07/03/2015 16:51

I have just googled Heather shimmer in a sheeplike fashion and it still looks sparkly on Amazon.

There is a lovely thread about lipstick shades at the moment which is wreaking havoc with my resolve.

Coumarin · 07/03/2015 18:36

Heather Shimmer is looking heavy on the shimmer in all the pics I've seen.

What have been your 'game changer' beauty products?
Coumarin · 07/03/2015 18:37

Damn I forgot about the Balance Me freebie. Tomorrow's mission.

AesopsMables · 07/03/2015 19:54

I hate to admit even to myself the amount of money I spend on beauty products. The older I get (late 40's) the more I splash out Confused

My absolute game changer product without a doubt is this...

Sisley - Black Rose Cream Mask. It is amazingly expensive - £95 Shock but gives a miraculous 10years back on my face and neck every time I use it. After a heavy night or when I am getting ready for a special night out it is my go to. One tube lasts me a couple of months as it is not something I can afford to use more than once a week.

Other products I love:

Kiehl's Creme de corps body moisturiser
Aveeno Positively Ageless face cream
Clinique eye make up remover
Burt's Bees lip glosses (not sticky)
Bobby Brown BB cream for face instead of heavy foundation
Daily vitamin and mineral supplement from Solar

Thankfully I work outside the UK a lot so can source most of my stash for a little less - except the Sisley mask which no matter where I travel is £££££££'s

piercedprincess · 07/03/2015 20:11

Coumarin that pic is of nineties Heather Shimmer, not the new version with the purple cap. Some sites might still sell the old but the cosmetic stands sell the new and that's what I'm talking about.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 07/03/2015 20:16

CerealQueen
This for hands. Somebody recommended it to me on Twitter and it is absolutely the best hand cream I've ever used (and I have used a lot!).

EthelCardew · 07/03/2015 21:15

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Serum has made such a massive difference to my dry, dehydrated, irritable and reactive skin, it's unreal.

After a week's use my skin looked plumper, brighter, pores look smaller and it feels comfortable and smooth. I can't believe it.

This is the skin that gets itchy, flakey and red or erupts in either hundreds of bumps under the skin or a few giant spots when I try new products, even ones made for sensitive skins (even La Roche Posay!). It's been such a nightmare trying new products (shampoos included) that I regularly give up and just use a hot flannel to wash.

I never rave about products because nothing has ever worked for me but I'm loving this. Long may it continue!

Coumarin · 07/03/2015 23:02

Pierced You've convinced me to at least have a look. Shall test and report back tomorrow. Always up for a new lipstick.

piercedprincess · 08/03/2015 00:04

Haha ok. Let me know if you hate it Grin

PombearForPM · 08/03/2015 07:02

Great thread! Here are mine:

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Wash

Paula's Choice for serum and SPF30 tinted moisturiser

Clinique make a great night cream in different formulations according to skin type. Oily one is great and smell lovely.

Bourjois blusher - the little round pots

Clinique Lash Power mascara - does not budge til you want it to

Neutrogena gel moisturiser with 2% salicylic acid. Can't remember the name but use this morning and night to exfoliate without scrubbing

Now and again I use a home salicylic acid peel inspired by the old sizzler threads here.

Best skin I've ever had and I'm 38!

improbablesaint · 08/03/2015 07:22

Chanel vitalumiere. Bloody love for dry skin.

Also the manga eyes mascara is good.

Howaboutthisone · 08/03/2015 08:35

For me so far

Mac mineralize skinfinish natural pressed powder
Benefit coralista
No7 eye make up remover

I do love EL double wear light but am feeling a little flat in it at the moment

yazzy85 · 08/03/2015 09:29

Howaboutthisone I love the Mac mineralize skinfish too, totally forgot about that. It's great to set foundation. I used to love double wear light as well but same thing its been too flat lately.

Howaboutthisone · 08/03/2015 15:49

I'm tempted to try the Dior glow thing upthread but I suppose the EL is a matt finish. I just feel matt and flat at the moment- not good!Wink

DidThatSeriouslyJustHappen · 08/03/2015 19:07

I wear Heather Shimmer every day! And have done for a few years now. I don't find it too shimmery at all. I find it's the perfect shade for my skin tone, hair colour etc.

piercedprincess · 08/03/2015 19:39

Yeah I know right DidThatSeriously I find Heather Shimmer to be very complimentary. Another universally flattering lip colour, although sheerer than HS is Clinique's Chubby Stick in Strawberry.

And a great neutral eyeshadow is Cargo's "Beach" which is actually four tonal shadows in one little tin, you can blend them all together for a super flattering tonal look that hilights and shades your lids without ever being too heavy. Blends like a dream too, only thing is it's a little spendy. But it will last you forever, you won't need to buy another for years promise.

Oh and another thing that I feel is worth a mention here is the Perfume Parlour's website , they make dead on dupes for designer scents. Well they call them "smells like" not dupes to be precise.

Google the perfume parlour, I promise you if you like scent it's deffo worth a look. You type in what you normally wear and then their version comes up if they make one and then you can choose whether you want a roll on oil or a spray and what size.

I got an Angel by Thierry Mugler smell -a-like from there as a little roll on perfume oil, and I kid you not, it's spot on for the original.

I'm getting their take on Joy next then the Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb smell- a- like.

Also if anyone wants a super cheap mattifying moisturizer that actually mattifies, shrinks pores and makes a good make up base for oily to super oily skin try Skin System's Young skin next time your in Asda.

You can find it in a white tube near all the spot cleansers like Oxy, it's only a £1!!!!! and it really works. Most days it's really not moisturizing enough for me because I have combo skin not oily, but because I have an Olive complexion with a tendency to shine, when I don't want to look shiny but don't want to wear powder and haven't had the time or been bothered to blend my usual foundation, I use this to give me a nice smooth poreless look and keep the grease at bay.

AbsolutelyKnackered · 09/03/2015 12:11

Anyone remember Iron Maiden lipstick from Miss Selfridge back in the 80s?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 09/03/2015 13:23

The Strawberry Chubby stick looks awful on me Sad. Heather Shimmer is ok though, but a bit too shimmery for me nowadays, I tend to prefer sheer colours.

daftyburd · 09/03/2015 14:52

Hahaha Heather Shimmer brings back memories. My friend wore it back in the day while I favoured Boots Twilight Teaser.
The new Heather Shimmer does look very nice .

LackingCommonSense · 09/03/2015 15:55

The S&B board itself has been my game changer! This time last year I was washing my poor face with foaming face wash ( shock ) , not toning ( gasp ) (never heard of acid toning Shock) and scrubbing away with harsh products designed for oily skin when my skin wasn't actually oily at all ( horror ) and wondering why I kept breaking out! Blush

I've now stepped up my skincare regime, have kitted myself out with various recommendations from these boards (I bought the Vichy serum about an hour ago!) and am already noticing huge improvements. I heart S&B Grin

Sleepyfergus · 09/03/2015 19:12

Spurred on by this thread, me and a work friend went to check out Rimmel's Heather Shimmer today and......most disappointed. It was a non descript brown and not shimmery. One for Trade Descriptions I reckon!

piercedprincess · 09/03/2015 19:29

Awww sorry you didn't get on with it Sleepy
Used the Balance Me mask that came with Glamour last night, lovely stuff, my skin did look good afterward, definitely more glow.