Foundations -Cover FX - COVER FX
vampsandtramps 4/15/2009 1:16:00 AM
I was extremely skeptical of this product when I first played with it! It was soooo thick!! I remained skeptical for a while, actually, and can completely understand why someone would have a poor experience with this. But with the CoverFX cream foundation brush, or another short, dense buffing brush, this goes on beautifully. A traditional foundation brush or sponge will equal disaster. It takes some work - if my skin is too dry, this won't blend, so I've had to succumb and use a primer (Fresh), but it's all well worth it. Full coverage while looking totally natural. And on my bad blemish days, I literally just pack this on obnoxiously with my finger and set it with powder (their loose powder is too fine to do any good, by the way). I will always be a CoverFX cream foundation fan!!!
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Lip Gloss -Cargo - blu-ray High Definition Gloss - Bogota
vampsandtramps 4/15/2009 1:06:00 AM
When I first saw this, I thought: Great, another browned-down red gloss. And then I tried it on and was pleasantly surprised. Sephora describes this as a rich red plum, which is accurate, but here's the catch - this is best applied sheerly as a stain. It is not glossy at all. It's the perfect sexy flush of color I have been looking for in a product for literally years. It isn't as harsh or dry-looking as a traditional stain, and it will wear for a couple of hours.
Here are the cons: It has an annoying minty feeling like what you get from a lip plumper. If my lips are dry, it is uncomfortable. Also, the packaging is bulky. It has a time strip that you push down in the cap - it keeps track of how long you have had the product (you are supposed to toss after nine months). Neat concept, but it makes the packaging awkward. They had to make the product big to accomadate the cap. Still, a winner! Definitely seek this color out. The other blu-ray glosses I've tried have been standard gloss fare, and Bogota is the exception.
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Treatments -Cosmedicine - Speedy Recovery Acne Treatment Nighttime Blemish Powder
vampsandtramps 4/15/2009 12:38:00 AM
First, a confession: I am a compulsive skin picker. And this time around, my breakouts have been bad - at least, for me. Five or six big ones on my chin. I pick them, they're scabbed and still infected and disgusting. So, after freshly picking (oops!), I put some of this on the area. It purged the area, calmed the redness and I saw some major healing power after a few uses.
I have never used the Mario Badescu product, but I really like the ingredients of the Cosmedicine, with the salicylic acid and aloe and carrot root. It did what I needed it to do - pretty much turned my pore inside out (the purging action was amazing). I bought this in the speedy recovery acne kit, and the size of the bottle is perfect for a finger application, because you can just cover the top and turn it over. I can imagine how this would be frustrating for normal blemishes - the only reason it really adhered to my skin is because my skin was broken! Nonetheless, until I can break my skin picking habit, this is for me!!
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Eyeliner -Make Up For Ever - Aqua Creamliner Matte Purple 5
vampsandtramps 8/3/2008 10:32:00 PM
This liner is a beautiful deep, grape color. I was used to using gel liners like Mac and Bobbi Brown, and this cream formula is much more thick and goes on smoothly and intensely on the first application. The one drawback is that it dries in the pot container much quicker. After having it for just a few months, it definitely shrunk from the sides of the container. But I still love it because other gel liners in purple are more violet, and hardly even look purple on the eye. This jumps out but isn't obnoxious.
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Eyeliner -Bobbi Brown - Violet Ink Long-Wear Gel Liner
vampsandtramps 8/3/2008 10:18:00 PM
I'm a little underwhelmed by this liner. The color is so dark, it doesn't even appear violet on the eye - it looks more like a soft black/brown. Also, I find the texture a little too soft, so it doesn't go on smoothly or intensely. Perhaps if it went on more smoothly and intensely, you could actually see the violet flecks. Instead it just looks a little muddy. I've been using the MUFE cream liner instead, which is very thick and more of a grape shape, although it doesn't have shimmer.
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Moisturizers -Shi Kai - Nighttime Renewal Cream
vampsandtramps 7/27/2008 10:28:00 PM
I just went to re-order this on drugstore.com, and realized that I haven't reviewed it yet! Impossible! This is a wonderful, simple, effective night cream that's really affordable too. The texture is a little oily, but light. It has really nice, non-comedogenic oils (avocado and borage), as well as vitamin C. I can be sensitive to some Vit. C (keep me away from any high-potency serums), but this caused no bad reactions. My skin looks great when I wake up. Possible HG?
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Fragrances -Fresh - Cannabis Rose
vampsandtramps 7/27/2008 10:12:00 PM
Because I have specific taste in perfume, I never rate any scent that I'm doomed to hate, like a rich floral, or a super sweet or fruity fragrance. But this should be right up my alley! I like a rose fragrance when done well. My favorite perfume, Kenzo Flower Oriental, has rose. I love oolong tea, I love musk, I love patchouli. So why is this so repulsive? Headache inducing. Overbearing and lacking any subtlety. It's like everything's there in a pile, no layers, no discovery. Just a big mess, like Angel but messier. AVOID!
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Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Bieux Skin Bionaturals 24 Hour Treatment Moisturizer
vampsandtramps 7/27/2008 9:42:00 PM
I always hate ruining glowing reviews, but I was very underwhelmed by this moisturizer. I wasn't impressed by the texture. Thick and unsophisticated. To me, it's one of the worst feelings when a moisturizer is thick but still not emollient. Also, I believe it clogged my pores. This does have sweet almond oil, which can be comedogenic. I noticed clogged pores to the side of my nose and part of the cheeks, where I never usually have problems. I also broke out on my chin more than usual. And it's so darn pricey! I hear it's made from a chemist who was involved in making Kinerase products, which are also pricey and which I also don't enjoy. There are other, better moisturizers out there! If you're looking for a brightening moisturizer, I'm really enjoying Dr. Brandt Laser Lightening Night Cream.
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Lipstick -Stila - SPF 20 Shine Lip Color - Charlotte
vampsandtramps 6/26/2008 7:14:00 PM
This is a new color from Stila's lip shine lipsticks. It looks neon orange in the tube, but looks dramatically different on - my SO described it as ruby red grapefruit. I was kind of looking for a coral, but everything turned pink or orange - this is a nice middle-ground. So here's the scoop: it's not really a shiny or glossy lipstick. The formula is more like a gel - think of Stila's old clear color lip balms, only these are more intense. As this lipstick is a gel, it glides on very smoothly and eventually dries down to a stain. I love the color - it's just bright and perky enough without being obnoxious. I do wish the color were just a smidge more intense, but that's just me (I like a little obnoxious now and then). It's long-lasting, but can settle in lip lines a bit during the dry down.
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Styling Products -Frederic Fekkai - Coiff Nonchalant Piecing and Forming Wax
vampsandtramps 6/26/2008 6:59:00 PM
I have mixed feelings about this product. It's thickness turned me off at first, but I got used to it. It does create a piecey, nonchalant look as the name applies. It is emollient and easy to spread in my short hair. However, it also builds up quickly and I need to use a clarifying shampoo weekly. It has high amounts of petroleum and beeswax. All in all, I am looking for a product with better ingredients that do not build up.
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Conditioner -Jonathan - Green Rootine
vampsandtramps 6/26/2008 6:28:00 PM
I really really like this conditioner. I am always looking for silicone-free hair products, and this has the extra benefit of being paraben-free and synthetic-free. The texture is pretty light - I imagine lots of people out there prefer something thick. This is no Ojon. It's primarily an oil-based conditioner, with avocado oil, black cumin oil, rapeseed oil, wheat germ oil, spearmint oil, orange peel oil and rosemary leaf oil. It smells like spearmint. Even though it's a thin conditioner, the oils make it very moisturizing. I'm a fan!
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Tinted Moisturizer -Christian Dior - Hydraction Deep Hydration Skin Tint SPF 20 [DISCONTINUED]
vampsandtramps 6/25/2008 10:20:00 PM
This is considerably better than similarly-priced tinted moisturizers from Stila or Laura Mercier. The consistency is almost more like a water-based gel than a moisturizer (think Sue Devitt foundation), and doesn't feel like a mask like the Stila or LM. It gives a beautiful, air-brushed, natural finish. The four color choices are pretty good, and I use the lightest. But oh the smell! Why, Dior, why? Very strong, spicy green. Totally obscure reference, but reminds me of Christian Lacroix Bazaar. I will probably purchase this when my Tarte Smooth Operator runs out (I'm in between the two lightest shades), but I still think Dior ruined a near perfect product with too much fragrance.
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Concealers -Clinique - All About Eyes Concealer
vampsandtramps 6/25/2008 10:10:00 PM
I am really happy with this concealer! Normally I am a bit of a snob and don't use much Clinique, but after putting this on in the morning and still seeing it there in the evening, I was hooked! The color I use is golden light, which is very yellow. When I first put it on, it seems too yellow, and I worry that it will look mustard-y in the natural light.
But I've looked extensively in all lights for any mustard-y effect, and I've never found any. It covers extremely well, and looks natural, neither dewy nor matte. I don't have much in the way of fine lines, so I can't comment on whether is settles. I've used this with eye cream and without, and it's worked equally well.
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Concealers -Make Up For Ever - Lift Concealer
vampsandtramps 6/25/2008 10:02:00 PM
I went through a couple tubes of this concealer before I realized: I can do better! It has a nice, lightweight consistency, is easy to blend, and doesn't look dry. But it also fades very quickly throughout the day, and both color options for fair to light skin have quite a bit of pink in them and don't counteract any of the blue that I get under my eyes. No more mediocrity for me!
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Lotions/ Creams -Decleor - Perfect Sculpt Divine Rejuvenating Cream
vampsandtramps 6/2/2008 11:26:00 AM
I can't help but love this cream! It's overpriced and the claims on it are super-suspect (Restructures and regenerates skin tissue, detoxifies, boosts microcirculation), but I feel like ten minutes after I apply it, my legs look smooth and slim. I'm naturally slim, but I'm pear-shaped and my legs are pasty and look bloated and inflamed constantly (they are my least favorite feature, and I'm hard on myself). I always put this on before I wear any dresses, shorts or skirts. It has a wonderful melt-in texture, lemony scent and it works, at least in the short-term. Highly recommend!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No