Clinique Dramatically different or the same?

A few months ago, November 2011 to be exact, I purchased the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel. Usually this would be over $40BDS for the small (50mL) tube, but on Duty-free Day, it was about $24BDS for this size. So I decided to pick it up to try out instead of going back to my Garnier moisturiser which had a similar price.

First off I know I have dry to combination skin, yet I choose the gel because it was lightweight yet moisturising enough for my skin. This product definitely delivered with its light formula. The yellow gel did not have a strong scent, which I loved because some fragrances can get very overbearing for me. In terms of absorption, it did not take very long and did not leave the skin feeling dry or looking too oily. At the time I was using this product I was using a scrub daily to fade my acne scars and keep away new break outs, and this product worked well for rehydrating my skin.

I would just use a pea sized dot of this gel for my entire face, and the moisture would last all day. This small tube has actually last me 5 months, just applying it in the morning. I usually do not use moisturiser at night as I either forget or do not feel like it. (Just let my skin breathe hahah.)

The only 2 problems I have with this product is there is no SPF in it, as well as the cost in Barbados. Considering this is the tropics, I need some sun protection in my moisturisers, and for that I have been using the tiniest amount of  Banana Boat sunscreen for babies (SPF50), over the moisturiser.

For the price, I would expect this product to be a bit better than the Garnier, but it’s not. I haven’t experienced any breakouts or excessive clogged pores with this product, just as with the Moisturising gel cream from Garnier. Basically they’re the same, though if I remember correctly, the Garnier lasts a month longer than this one.  I actually Think I like the Garnier more, it smells nice and feels cool on the skin, which is very refreshing especially during summer.

The VERDICT:

Pros:

• Little to no scent
• Lightweight formula
• Moisturising properties lasts all day
• Little goes a long way

Cons:

• Expensive considering what you get
• Similar products for less
• No SPF
• Tube is not the most convenient for getting out all of the product.

The Raw Sugar :

The Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel is a good product, however I do not think I would repurchase unless it was on sale. The biggest issue is the price. It makes more sense to buy the large size (125mL) as it would probably last forever, but the price here in Barbados does not make it  profitable. I would rather purchase a more affordable moisturiser, especially since they have similar outcomes.

Huge make up haul! (Duty-free day!)

Hey all! This post is going to me very picture-loaded! Iwent shopping on Duty-free Day (9th December), and believe me when I say that was the best thing for some one like me who was always eyeing the cosmetics in Cave Shepherd. I didn’t splurge on M.A.C. or any of the department store brands available in store, but instead drifted towards the Revlon products. Some awesome lip products I had heard many gurus rave about. (I still don’t think I’m ready to completely step into M.A.C, especially not with the prices here lol).

I planned ahead and went to town a day earlier, so I could take into account the available items and the prices. I was extremely excited about the whole thing from the Monday I heard about it. Of course I made my list of stuff so I didn’t forget anything and checked swatches online. That’s always a good idea when you’re going out shopping for new make up.

The lines were long in Cave Shepherd despite leaving home early (arriving around 10 a.m. I think), but I braved the wait for the love of make up and bargains! Onto the HAUL! All Swatches of lip products will be included in another post.

The night before, my sister and I strategised and finalised our shopping lists haha. Talk about crazy make-up lovers. She also had a couple extra Lorac make up products lying around and asked if I wanted some. Of course I said YES, what a great way to expand my collection :). Above in the first picture is the Lorac Baked Satin eyeshadow in Posh (beige) and Chic (white). Iam really loving chic, perfect highlight or great for my shimmery neutral eye. As well as the Lorac On-Scene Duo in Champagne and Caviar, it’s a nice highlighter-eyeliner shing-ding. (More on that in another post)

Lorac Lotsa Lip Plumping lipgloss in Foxy & Trixy:

Duty- Free Deals!

Revlon Colorbrust Lipgloss in Papaya & Pink Ice: $21.00 BDS

A bit blurry but you see the names.

Closer look at the colours

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick- Peach: ~$20.00 BDS
I was looking for a nice coral colour (as with Papaya above), I have way too many pinks, and I really wanted to expand my collection.

Love the packaging on this, very sleek and sophisticated.

Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain in Twilight (my sister’s) and Passion (mine): ~$18.00BDS
I’ve tried this already, and it’s really easy to overdose on the colour if you dont have good lighting, I’ve definitely made that mistake. Also you need to moisturise if in cold weather with these, I was at work and the air conditioning was totally drying me out and I forgot my lip balm, ended up licking it all off in 3 hours hahah.

Felt tip applicators much like markers. it’s like drawing on your lips!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raisin Rage, Black Cherry & Va Va Violet: ~$19.00BDS
We choose some really vampy dark colours, the one I picked out specifically was Black berry, that was the perfect in between colour for me. My sister looks way better with darker lip colours than me. and I think she really likes Va Va Violet which I suggested. (Loved the name haha).

Clinique Dramatically different Moisturising Gel: ~$24.50
Now as many might remember I had the Garnier Nutritioniste Refreshing Gel-cream (condensed name haha). It was actually a really nice moistuirser, love that it was a gel so it wasn’t very heavy. But instead of buying it over, I took advantage of the deal as the Clinique moisturiser would be around the same price. I wanted to try it out since I had heard about gel moisturisers in the Summer, so this was my chance to get  an equal amount of cream from a department store brand, for the same price as a similarly sized drugstore one. YAY for experimentation, I hope it works just as well or even better!

(Not Duty-free but still awesome)
Guess what else I also found while browsing? NYC Sunny Bronzer! I’ve been hearing about this for THE longest time on YouTube, so I picked one up while I was in Collin’s Pharmacy, along with the Maybelline Fit Me foundation in 350 (Caramel) that I wanted to try for quite some time. Also picked up a new mascara, the Maybelline Great Lash Big and a Bodico foundation brush. All this time I’ve been applying foundation with my fingers, but I think it was about time to get an actual brush haha.
 I didn’t take separate pictures of those, because this post would go on forever!  but everything is in the first two photos.
Would you believe this? But what girl doesn’t have a pair of tweezers? Apparently I didn’t, so I also picked up a cute set which had a girl imprinted into the handles. I love it, and I’m going to use it to apply lashes.  Also picked up some lash glue from Diamond Girl Beauty Supply by Sassi, tested a drop on my hand and it’s pretty good. Dries nice and clear is the brush on type. (BTW Adele Tutorial will be coming soon, I finally have the lashes, glue, tweezers, and the eye make up! YAY!)

Disclaimer: All this stuff unless otherwise stated was bought with my own money.
Here ends my haul, I haven’t shown any swatches in this post because that would take forever, but I hope you enjoyed and look out for the post with swatches, as well as the Holiday gift guide for your loved one. I think I have 2 more instalments for each and I will try to get them up before Wednesday next week. We’ll see how it goes! (There should also be a video on this too, so look out for it!)

Happy Holiday Shopping!

XOXO