Blush -NARS - Sin
portalhop 4/27/2013 2:59:00 PM
This is my go-to blush and the most natural looking flush that I've found for my white-as-a-ghost complexion. I have received so many "You look pretty!" compliments immediately after I switched over to Sin (I used to alternate between Exhibit A, Desire, and Sugarbomb from Benefit). A little bit goes a long way, and I don't think that I'll have to repurchase this for a long time. Someone below suggested not wearing this with a bronzer. I wear this with bronzer everyday (contour), usually Benefit Hoola (I think that's the name?) or a Smashbox bronzer that I got as a 500 point gift sometime back. The result is breathtaking! Try it out.
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Blush -NARS - Desire
portalhop 4/27/2013 2:55:00 PM
This is a very pigmented, blue-based hot-pink blush, and a little bit on a brush goes a long way. I feel like even if I used this every day, it would last for years. I am neutral skin-toned and white as a sheet, and I don't feel like this gives me a natural-looking flush. It's very cotton-candy pink on my cheeks, thus I rarely use it at all. The most natural flush that I've found in any blush comes from NARS Sin.
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Conditioner -Unlisted Brand - Generic Value Products GVP Conditioning Balm
portalhop 4/3/2013 11:18:00 PM
Let me start off by saying that I have both the Biolage Conditioning Balm and the GVP Conditioning Balm sitting in my shower right now, and I switch off their use every other day. These are not the same product. The first sign that alerted me to their difference was when I smelled them both side to side. The fragrance is completely different; but that's not a big deal. The second sign that solidified my finding is that these feel completely different on my hair. My hair feels like SILK when I put the Biolage conditioner on it, and my hair feels like it just has a thick conditioner on it when I put the GVP on. With that said, the end result is basically the same. I have a few less tangles when I use Biolage, but my hair is still smooth, easy to manage, and healthier than it was before I started using either conditioning balm. If I had the money, I would buy Biolage over this. But, since I'm a broke college student, I'm not going to be nitty-gritty over the small things. Thanks for making a great product, GVP!
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Blush -L'Oreal - Blendable Blushing Creme in Elated 886
portalhop 12/14/2010 9:04:00 AM
I use this on my lips and it gives them the most beautiful, natural, berry flush. I love it! I layer a lip blam over it and it looks GORGEOUS and natural. The only problem that I have with this blush is that it is really hard to find. I think they discontinued it? :(
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Loose Powders -Coty - Airspun face powder
portalhop 11/22/2010 5:21:00 PM
I'm in love. I use the translucent version of this to set my concealer, and it is amazing. I find that the translucent version actually has a white cast to it, which is great for me because I am super pale. This powder lasts all day and sinks right into my skin. It looks really natural and not like I have on powder. I love that it was only six dollars for a GIANT container. Oh my goodness, they give you so much product. The only downside is that this powder isn't great for traveling, even with the sifter, and the smell. Oh gosh, the smell. It's terrible.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Total Face Brush
portalhop 11/22/2010 5:08:00 PM
I seem to be in the minority on this one. This brush is TONS better than the Bare Minerals All Over Face Brush, which is the only other all over powder brush that I've used. The bristles on the E.L.F brush are not soft; they're pretty stiff. I wouldn't say that this brush is scratchy, but it's not the most pleasant experience on my face. It distributes the powder evenly, and I have gotten compliments on how my foundation/powder looks (meaning, people can't tell that I have any on so they think that my skin looks nice). I haven't had any bristle fallout with this, which surprised me, because my Bare Minerals brush was fallout city. I would recommend the E.L.F. Total Face Brush. It's only one dollar.
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Eye Shadow -Bare Escentuals - Well Rested
portalhop 11/22/2010 5:04:00 PM
I am impressed with this concealer. It brightens my undereye area significantly. I am very fair complected, and I thought that this concealer would be too dark, but for my undereyes it is perfect. The Full Coverage Concealer Brush applies the concealer just a little too densely, and I prefer to use an eyeshadow brush to avoid a cakey look. A little powder also goes a LONG way. I can't imagine that I'll run out of this within the next year.
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Concealers -Bare Escentuals - Well-Rested For Eyes
portalhop 11/22/2010 5:00:00 PM
I am impressed with this concealer. It brightens my undereye area significantly. I am very fair complected, and I thought that this concealer would be too dark, but for my undereyes it is perfect. The Full Coverage Concealer Brush applies the concealer just a little too densely, and I prefer to use an eyeshadow brush to avoid a cakey look. A little powder also goes a LONG way. I can't imagine that I'll run out of this within the next year.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
portalhop 11/22/2010 4:56:00 PM
I use this foundation in Fair. I'm having a hard time deciding if I like this foundation, so I'm going to rate it a three. The pros to this powder include the color and the coverage. The color is fantastic and a really close match to my skin (the closest I have found in a powder). The coverage is good, and I can conceal blemishes and uneven skin really well. The cons with this product include the finish and the conatiner. I really just don't know how I feel about the finish that this powder provides. It looks almost fake, and like it doesn't sink into my skin. The container just sucks. Fortunately, this product will last FOREVER because a little bit of powder goes a long way, so I have a while to decide if I like this or if it's for the bin. I do like the Mineral Veil, but I don't think that it's anything particularly special; it's just a setting powder, imo, and I think I prefer my Coty Translucent Powder over it (and Coty is tons cheaper). The primer is decent, but there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well (Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel).
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Fair
portalhop 11/22/2010 4:52:00 PM
I'm having a hard time deciding if I like this foundation, so I'm going to rate it a three. The pros to this powder include the color and the coverage. The color is fantastic and a really close match to my skin (the closest I have found in a powder). The coverage is good, and I can conceal blemishes and uneven skin really well. The cons with this product include the finish and the conatiner. I really just don't know how I feel about the finish that this powder provides. It looks almost fake, and like it doesn't sink into my skin. The container just sucks. Fortunately, this product will last FOREVER because a little bit of powder goes a long way, so I have a while to decide if I like this or if it's for the bin.
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Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush
portalhop 11/22/2010 4:46:00 PM
I got this brush with my Bare Minerals Starter Kit. The bristles are soft, and I have had no bristle fallout. This brush is great for applying concealer (I use Bare Minerals Well-Rested), or apply foundation in tough spots, like around my nose. I really like this brush. I have no idea what it costs on its own, but I would assume that it is pretty expensive, and I have used drugstore concealer brushes that work just as well.
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Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Application Face Brush
portalhop 11/22/2010 4:42:00 PM
I got this brush with my Bare Minerals Starter Kit. The bristles were soft, the coverage it provided was good, but the bristle fallout was HORRIBLE. I would have like twenty different strands on my face with a couple of swipes, and I'd have to pick each strand individually off because it would settle in the powder. Yikes. I would NOT recommend this brush.
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Feria Haircolor
portalhop 11/22/2010 3:58:00 PM
I have used Feria twice within the span of about two weeks. The first color that I used was T53-Cool Medium Brown. My hair is naturally a very dark ash-blonde color that I professionally highlight frequently, but I wanted to try and get back to my natural color. I chose Cool Medium Brown because my hair had so many highlights in it that I knew the brown would fade to a light brown, and some blonde would streak through eventually if I washed it enough. Assumptions correct; my hair went to a light brown after about five washes, but it was too ashy. So, I went back and purchased 73 Golden Sunset, which is a dark golden blonde. I am no professional by any means, but I guessed that if I put a golden color over my ash, it would put at least some gold in my hair. I now have a beautiful, golden light brown color that looks really darn natural. I've had this color for about five days and it hasn't faded or changed. I *do* have to use Clairol Shimmer Lights in Blonde to minimize unwanted colors. I noticed that I when I first put Golden Sunset on, my roots wanted to turn a brassy color, so I slathered Shimmer Lights on and left it on for about two minutes.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Wear Infinite Single - Spring Leaf
portalhop 7/21/2010 10:57:00 AM
I have included a picture of this let down. The color in the pan looks like a fresh, matte, mint green, but it does not show up that way on my skin at all (NC10), even after excessive layering. There's no green! The product claims to be matte, but there is a LOT of shimmer packed into it. The only thing that I can think to use this for would be if you wanted more shimmer on your eyes; this would be good for layering shimmer. I'm really glad that I only spent a dollar on this.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Single Sandy Shores
portalhop 7/21/2010 10:47:00 AM
I have included two pictures, as I have two versions of this. One is in a small black container with a rectangular window, and the e/s inside is rectangular with four rows of triangles spanning across the top. The triangles make it almost impossible to get shadow on my brush. The other version that I have is the one pictured for this product above. This version is the only one worth buying, as I have no problems getting product on my brush. This product is good for a "no makeup" look as all it does is even out lid skintone (I am very pale). This goes on very natural and matte. Unsure if I will repurchase as I seldom use this e/s.
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