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Style & Beauty

Beauty hero products that we hate

105 replies

mingfudge · 21/03/2013 15:55

I am sitting here nursing a very red and sore face, following a stint with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and Garnier Ultra Lift last night. I have tried everything. Even camomile teabags mixed with porridge, honey and milk, to tone it down a bit. Still sore. Even my trusted Olay stings on contact.

At first I blamed it on the ultra lift but after much thought, I think it was the C&P. So I did a bit of Googling and it transpires that quite a few C&P users have had the 'extreme sunburn' look from it. Funny thing is, mine is a year old and I stopped using it because I didn't think it was that great when I first bought it. I don't remember this kind of reaction but I am sure this is what it is.

Anyway, my googling brought up a great blog post on beauty products that everyone raves about but you can;t get away with them. Funnily enough, many of the products in the comments (and the blog post) are ones I would agree with.

This is the blog post www.beautymouth.com/2012/03/i-know-its-hero-product-but-i-just-cant.html

My hero fail products are:

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish (obviously)
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (ended up as nappy rash cream, for which it is surprisingly good)
Three step Clinique system (steps one and two stripped my face of any moisture, then the greasy moisturiser to replace it caused horrible acne spots)
Bio oil
Fake Bake (streaky and oompa loompa at the same time :-O)
Essie nail polish - I've had Rimmel ones last longer.

OP posts:
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OneLittleLady · 21/03/2013 15:57

Three Step Clinque system, the cleanser and toner were too strong for my skin even in the extra mild versions and the moisturiser wasn't rich enough even though it was meant to be for extra dry skin. Totally failed me.

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SayMama · 21/03/2013 15:58

Dry shampoo for me - supposed to give my hair volume and that freshly washed look. It doesn't Sad

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SayMama · 21/03/2013 15:59

Oh, also, Got2b powderful - Supposed to give my hair volume. It doesn't, and it feels like crap.

Theirs a theme for me here...

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MolotovCocktail · 21/03/2013 16:06

agree about the Three Step Clinique System: it completely stripped my skin dry. If you'd had put it in blank packaging, I'd have thought it was some very cheap product. Too astringent; moisturiser not moisturising enough/runny consistency.

That said, I have a friend with oily skin who swears by it (mine is normal-dry).

Fake Bake, too, is not one for me - too orange, and it stained in-between my fingers, despite me being quite able at applying fake tan.

Lancome Genifique - honestly can't see what all the hoo-ha is about. I much prefe Origins serum (can't think of the name, but it's very moisturising and leaves my skin feeling really soft).

And I hate the smell of the Soap & Glory products, too

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valiumredhead · 21/03/2013 16:08

Anything Benefit.

Anything Clinique.

Anything Bobbi Brown.

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coffeeinbed · 21/03/2013 16:53

Touche Éclat and Clarins Flash Balm on my list.
in addition to your Three Step and C&P and Bio Oil.

Love Genifique though.

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mingfudge · 21/03/2013 17:07

Beauty Flash Balm has come up loads on the blog I linked to. Since I have bother with almost all of the ones I have tried that have come up so far on that blog, I am so glad I didn't buy it yesterday when I saw it for £20. I remember in the days of yore it was the must have product and I always wanted to try it.

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pomdereplay · 21/03/2013 17:09

Oh god yes Cleanse and Polish. Eve Lom Cleanser soooo much better.

Not sure if I have anything else to add. I find OPI polishes highly overrated. Go on beautifully, chip to shit within the hour.

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RunningAgain · 21/03/2013 17:09

Clinique bottom lash mascara that Sali Hughes raves on about. Why Sali??

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pomdereplay · 21/03/2013 17:10

(I love Beauty Flash Balm Blush)

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SugariceisaGoodEgg · 21/03/2013 17:16

I never use Bio Oil after I read the ingredients list.

Beauty Flash Balm.
E45.
Aussie hair stuff.

I'm sure there's more.

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SugariceisaGoodEgg · 21/03/2013 17:19

I love Caroline Hirons, it's a brilliant blog!

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MrsDeVere · 21/03/2013 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

clucky80 · 21/03/2013 17:22

Another one for C and P - made me spotty

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser both oil free and normal

Maybelline mascara in pink tube (super lash?)

Bare minerals make up

Clinique skin care and the chubby sticks - stay on for about 5 seconds

Mamma mio - think its the waist shrinker or something like that, it didn't shrink mine! Love the stretch mark oil though.

Nars orgasm 3 in 1 thing - I really don't see how the same colour can be good on your cheeks, eyes and lips!

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coffeeinbed · 21/03/2013 17:23

Oh I love pretty much everything from Clarins except the Flash Balm.
Use a lot everyday, it's just that blasted balm.

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bleedingheart · 21/03/2013 17:32

C&p makes me red and I find the scent overpowering.
Elnett does nothing for me. Nor Frizz-ease.

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Engelsemama · 21/03/2013 17:34

Beauty Flash Balm - what is it supposed to do?

Clinique 3 step - I have oily skin and it stripped it. I had to give up after 2 days. Gave it to my sister who loved it.

I do love C&P though Blush

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bonzo77 · 21/03/2013 17:48

Clinique 3 step
Touche éclat
Black head remover strips
Epilators
Home waxing except facial
Foundations and concealors
Lancôme genifique eye cream
Estée Lauder night repair in brown bottle
False eyelashes

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TigerseyeMum · 21/03/2013 17:58

E45 cream - always recommended by my GP, my skin breaks out at the mere sight of it.

Frizz Ease anything - guaranteed to give me frizz.

Baby lotion - again often recommended for sensitive skin, makes me red, sore and with break outs.

I bought Skin Doctors Bio Oil on a plane recently and was shocked at the ingredients list. No way that's going on my face.

All anti dandruff shampoos.

Hair straighteners. None of them work on my hair. None.

That Sally Hanson nail treatment - made my nails strong but brittle so they snapped off.

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Pseudonymity · 21/03/2013 18:06

Clinique 3 step is only any good for teens.

Mine are (scratches head):

REN Rose Otto shower gel. I bought two bottles because I'm a sucker. Yes, it smells nice, but it's just shower gel. I'm sure the bath oil would be worth the huge price tag.

Boots No 7 Microdermabrasion. It's just an ordinary scrub. Does a good job but can't see why it deserves it's rave reviews.

St Tropez gradual tan in light. You would have to be really very fair for this to show up at all. The medium dark was good though.

Aldi face serum. Yuck, just yuck. Sticky, sticky, sticky. The touche Éclat rip off with the brush was really good though, don't think they do it any more.

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IJustWoreMyTrenchcoat · 21/03/2013 18:07

I would second Benefit - it does nothing for me. Have tried various tinted moisturisers and compacts, all orange, thick and greasy. I find the concealers drying and so ageing and the benetint just awful. Am always so attracted to the little kits though!

Would agree with the the blackhead strips too, can't even get them to stick never mind suck dirt out.

Mine would be Bliss products for the face (the body butters, conversely, are utterly wonderful - moisturising and not at all sticky and make my skin so soft). Several of the 'wonder' products from the steep clean and triple oxygen line have done nothing for me. The steep clean mask was tacky and horrible, and neither that nor the oxygen mask had any effect whatsoever.

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gregssausageroll · 21/03/2013 18:12

Estée Lauder double wear light. What a disappointment.

Benetint. Oh how I wished I had asked for a tester.

Touché éclat.

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Pseudonymity · 21/03/2013 18:12

Ah, Bare Minerals = sparkly. What do you use instead of FrizzEase Tigerseye ?

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Alibabaandthe40nappies · 21/03/2013 18:17

I love C&P, I love all Liz Earle.

Hate Touche Eclat
Hate Beauty Flash Balm
Hate BB cream
Hate anything Benefit except Benetint which is fabulous
Hate Soap and Glory
Hate Maybelline mascara

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Mumelie · 21/03/2013 19:25

BB Cream = acne breakout
Naked Shampoo & Conditioner - even the one for frizzy hair - mine looked like wire wool.
No7 Protect & Perfect = spots again
Love Bare Minerals make up & skin care but cannot use their primer - yukky sticky skin!

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