Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Sparkle til Morning (limited edition)
SparkleBunny37 11/6/2012 12:44:00 PM
Wet n Wild's Sparkle til Morning is one of three limited edition eight pan Color Icon palettes. This palette contains seven neutral shades and one beautiful, unexpected blue. Wet n Wild calls this palette a "stunning collection of eight silky, ultra pigmented, day to night colors. Mix and match for a variety of looks from sweet to wild". Wet n Wild also claims that these eyeshadows will deliver "all day, crease resistant color." I'm a big fan of Wet n Wild's 8 pan Color Icon palettes. I've previously reviewed two of the three permanent palettes - Blue Had Me at Hello and Comfort Zone. I, and many others, consider Wet n Wild to have just about the best eyeshadow formula on the drugstore level. This palette contains 8.5g (.3oz), a bit more than a gram per shadow. These palettes are a great value, they sell for about $5 each. I bought Sparkle til Morning at CVS for $4.99. Wet n Wild is available at most drugstores and major retailers in the US, though this palette is particularly hard to track down. Wet n Wild does not test on animals. This palette was made in China. Though I'm a big fan of the Wet n Wild's eyeshadows, I'm not really a fan of the palettes that contain them. The packaging is very cheap and flimsy, they crack easily if not handled and stored with care. This palette is made up of a black pan with a flip up, clear lid. Each shadow is rectangular and has a suggested placement carved into it. A label can be found on the back of the palette that contains a product description, a full ingredient list, and a diagram showing the suggested placement of each eyeshadow. Of course you don't have to follow the diagram, its merely a suggestion. This palette included a dual ended applicator; an angled brush on one end, a sponge tip on the other. I tossed mine because it was pretty useless. I won't complain to much though, the cheap packaging helps keep the brand's prices low. Sparkle til Morning is a very warm toned, almost entirely neutral eyeshadow palette. I don't tend to go for neutrals, except for those by Wet n Wild. I feel like they make particularly interesting neutral colors. I also like the unexpected inclusion of a bright turquoise blue. That blue is why I wanted this palette, I thought it'd be pretty to pair with the beautiful, rich, warm colors of this palette. I'm going to review each eyeshadow individually with a color description, notes on the texture, and any other info that may be important. Colors from the left side of the palette will be referred to as "1", shades from the left will be called "2". Browbone 1 is a run of the mill highlight. I believe this exat same shade was included in the Comfort Zone palette. Browbone 1 is a sheer, shimmery white gold shade. I really like this type of color a lot so I don't mind having two pans of it. I really like using this color both on the browbone and in the inner corner. Eyelid 1 is a tan shade with a gold sheen. This shade has a really silky finish and is the least shimmery or metallic shade in the palette. I find eyelid 1 to be a very flattering color, it could be a very natural crease shade. I don't really like using it on the lid, it seems a little too light. Crease 1 is gorgeous, definitely the warmest and most unique color in the Sparkle til Morning palette. This eyeshadow is a lovely orangey copper that is very metallic. This eyeshadow can be really intense, or blended out to give a soft, warm glow. I thought this color would be too intense or warm for my pale skin, but it isn't. It does bring out a bit of a red tone to my dark brown irises though. Definer 1, the most beautiful turquoise blue ever. I wouldn't call it a true turquoise as much of a blue with a green sheen. This eyeshadow really cools down the otherwise warm palette. There isn't a single shade in Sparkle til Morning that doesn't work with this beautiful blue. It really adds a touch of boldness to this otherwise neutral palette. It was a bold move of Wet n Wild to include this color. Browbone 2 is really beautiful, it's a reflective blush color. This shade has a particularly velvety texture and is very metallic. I prefer to wear this on the inner half of my eyelid, or use it to blend out my crease shade, as opposed to on my browbone. This color kinda reminds me of Urban Decay's Freebird Eeyeshadow from the Vice Palette. Eyelid 2 is a metallic, shimmery, true gold. I have a couple similar eyeshadows, but golds like these are my weakness, they really compliment my eye color. This shadow is a little bit sheer but it can be built up. The texture, while still good, isn't quite on par with the other seven. This is probably the "dud" of Sparkle til Morning, if you can really call it that, it's still pretty great. Crease 2 is the plainest color in this palette. Its a light brown, warm toned, it has a little bit of a sheen to it. The texture is nice, very buttery, but I really haven't used this shade much. Its just too plain compared to the rest. Definer 2. Oh man, here comes trouble. Like Browbone 1, this shade was also included in Comfort Zone. This eyeshadow is a very deep, almost black brown with gold glitter. Thus eyeshadow is way, way too soft and and tends to crumble for no reason at all. The one in my Comfort Zone palette crumbled, just about ruining the whole palette. I fear the same thing will happen to the one in Sparkle til Morning. I also feel like this eyeshadow is too pigmented, a mere touch of your brush to the pan will absolutely load it with tons of color and there will be lots of residual powder in the pan. This is the only shade in the palette that causes fall out as well. I'm just as pleased with Wet n Wild's Sparkle til Morning palette as I expected to be, if not more so. All the colors are beautiful and work well together. Textures and pigmentation are excellent, as I've come to expect from Wet n Wild. Lasting power seems better than average. I hope this becomes part of the permanent collection! I would repurchase
13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Bath and Body Works - Moonlight Path Shower Gel
SparkleBunny37 11/5/2012 4:11:00 PM
Bath&BodyWorks Moonlight Path is one of their top selling scents. This scent is described as an "opulent floral bouquet of French Lavender, Lily of the Valley, and Oakmoss". This scent has been around for quite awhile, but its never really appealed to me. I bought a 3fl oz travel size bottle to try during their semi-annual sale, paying only $1.50 for it. This size normally sells for $5, the full size 10fl oz bottle sells for $11. This mini shower gel is the old formula, if you didn't know, Bath&BodyWorks reformulated their shower gels to include Shea butter sometime over the summer. Bath&BodyWorks calls their shower gels the "worlds best daily luxury". These shower gels contain good stuff like aloe and vitamin e and are formulated to provide the "ultimate shower experience". Bath&BodyWorks is a cruelty free brand that manufactures all their products in America. Like all Signature Collection shower gels, Moonlight Path comes in a clear, hourglass shaped, recyclable plastic bottle, topped off by a purple pop up cap. Moonlight Path's label is pretty abstract, I can't really tell what it is, I think it may be blurry flowers. For the most part it just looks like patches of pink, blue, and purple against a baby blue background. The name of the scent is written in lower case white lettering. The back label features a full ingredient list and a bit of company info. Honestly I'm not impressed with Moonlight Path's label artwork. I usually like the abstract label some Bath&BodyWorks products have, but this one just looks blotchy to me. With a name like Moonlight Path I feel like they could've gotten a lot more creative, maybe something with a moonlit garden on it or the like. They've been redesigning a lot of their product's labels lately, so maybe Moonlight Path will get a much needed makeover. I didn't really know what to expect from Moonlight Path. The first whiff of this scent really surprised me, and not in a good way. Before I go on, here are the scent notes: Top Notes: Bergamot, Lavender, Mandarin, Corriander Mid Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Violet, Tuberose, Ylang, Lily of the Valley Dry Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Vanilla, Amber, Musk My first reaction to Moonlight Path was "no". I immediately put it away and dreaded using it. About a week ago I pulled it out for it's first use, after retiring what was left of my bottle of Rainkissed Leaves for special occasion use. I sniffed it again, then used it during a bath and began to form an opinion. That opinion is that it smells like a disinfectant. I don't really pick up any aspects of the scent just a general strong soapiness with an overpowering floral muskiness and a powdery edge. I really can't stand Moonlight Path. I don't think I can even finish this little bottle of shower gel. As for the shower gel it's self, its nice, bar the scent. Bath&BodyWorks claims that their shower gels are "super charged with benefits", but I don't think they do anything special or are particularly "luxurious". I don't find them moisturizing or nourishing or whatever Bath&BodyWorks claims they are, but I do find them incredibly bubble and fun to use. Even just a little bit lathers fantastically well. I love them for that reason alone. I really hate Bath&BodyWorks Moonlight Path Shower Gel. I feel like I couldn't provide a thorough review for it because I can barely stand to sniff it to analyze the scent. Its probably just my personal reaction to it though, it wouldn't be one of their top five fragrances if it actually smelled like a floral Lysol. I'm going to have to force myself to finish off the bottle. I'd feel terrible about wasting a more than 3/4 full bottle. Maybe I'll use it as a bubble bath or something. Personally I do not recommend this scent nor will I repurchase it, but scents are such an individualized this. Give Moonlight Path a sniff in store before completely writing it off.
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Palettes -Sleek - Original
SparkleBunny37 11/2/2012 11:45:00 PM
Sleek is an English drugstore beauty brand known for their affordable and intensely pigmented iDivine palettes. Sleek offers 13 iDivine palettes. I only have the Original palette. Each 12 pan palette is "high quality, super pigmented, and suited to every skin tone". Apparently these eyeshadows are mineral based. Sleek does not test on animals. This palette was made in China. Each iDivine palette contains about 13g of product (each shadow is 1.1g or .03oz). The value of this palette is fantastic, selling for $10USD. Currently Sleek products aren't sold in store in America, hopefully that'll change soon. Til then, you can order from the Sleek website, which ships internationally for a reasonable rate. I got my Sleek Original iDivine palette as a gift from my bestie Rae. I kinda deel like the Sleek palette looks iconic. I don't know why..its just something that I see so frequently online and never though I'd have one of my own. That might have something to do with it. My palette came in a black cardboard box with the name of the product on the front. A full ingredient list and some company info can be found on the back. Sleek is a pretty good description for this palette. A thin but sturdy, matte black plastic palette with the Sleek Makeup logo printed on it in shiny lettering. The palette flips open to reveal a large, good quality mirror and twelve eyeshadows. A large doubled ended sponge tip applicator and a piece of plastic to protect the mirror were also included. I don't care what you do with tge sponge tip, but I implore you to keep the plastic sheet, unless you want a very messy mirror. The texture of Sleek's eyeshadows is quite soft. They're very loosely pressed as well. Each shadow has a criss cross design pressed into them but it wears away quickly after just a handful of uses. As a whole these eyeshadows have an amazingly soft, buttery texture and incredible pigmentation. They are, dare I say it, softer and more pigmented than Wet n Wild eyeshadows! However because they are so loosely pressed and so highly pigmented they cause a record breaking amount of fallout. I've never experienced this much fall out before. Strangely enough, they kick up very much excess powder in the pan. You absolutely must apply Sleek's eyeshadows before any face makeup. Apart from the major fallout, these eyeshadows apply and blend perfectly! I'm partially willing to to overlook the mess they make because of how easy these shadows are to work with, otherwise. Now that I rambled about the texture, let me break down each shade for you individually. First up is a very frosty yellow buttercream shade. The closest thing to a highlight shade in the palette. It can be sheered out, but it still a very intense brow highlighter. This shade is very beautiful and reflective. The second shade is a soft rosy pink that flashes gold from some angles, though I wouldn't call it a duochrome. This shade pairs beautifully with the previous shade. Next up is a truer pink that is a little warmer than the one before it. This shade also doesn't have a gold reflect. This pink shade is borderline metallic and is one of the most richly pigmented in the palette. Following up the pink shade is a very orange toned bronze shadow. Probably the warmest and most unique color in Sleek's Original palette. I find that it compliments my brown eyes very well The fifth shade in this palette is the most troublesome. Its an extremely rich, true gold. I'm a sucker for shades like this one. The pigment in this beautifully metallic eyeshadow is very chunky. Its also the loosest shadow in the bunch, so it causes the most fallout by far. The sixth eyeshadow is an olive green with a bit of a golden sheen. I love pairing this color with the previously mentioned gold. This shade causes less fallout than most of it's peers. Jumping up to the next row we have a lovely grassy green color with hints of blue in it. This shade isn't particularly unique but I kinda loe it. I want to use it more often. Something about it seems mermaid-y to me. Coming up after the green is a mostly blue turquoise. This is one of the less pigmented shadows of the twelve. Its more on the level of a NYX or WnW shadow. Great, but not as rich as it's palette-mates. The ninth eyeshadow is a very bright, intense, super metallic, true blue. This is the absolute brightest color in the original palette. Between the color and the finish, it's almost breathtaking. The next color is my least favorite and also the least pigmented. It's a deep navy blue with a matte base and a very slight brighter blue pearlescence. Compared to the rest, this navy is kinda boring. The second to last shade is a mid toned, neutral purple. It has a less metallic finish, it's really more pearly. I don't know why I don't use this color more often, but I've barely touched it. Closing off the palette is a fantastic, saturated, matte, deep, dark black. Perhaps the blackest eyeshadow I have. It has a particularly good texture for a matte black as well. One of my personal beauty philosophies is to trust a brand that can make a good matte black. I love the color selection of the Sleek Original iDivine palette. Not too basic, not too bold. I can create a wide variety of looks with this palette. That look probably won't last all day though. I need to layer a primer and base to keep these eyeshadows from creasing and fading. The Sleek Original palette is fantastic if you value creativity over practicality. I do..at least when it comes to eyeshadow. These are not low maintenance eyeshadows that you can swipe on a bare lid with no real technique, but they are high quality and high pigment. While I'm annoyed by the fallout and fading, I can look past that and appreciate their blendability, vibrancy, and intensity. Oh, and also the packaging which is simple but unmistakable. I want more iDivine palettes! I recommend this palette if it is available to you, despite it's imperfections.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Wild Shine - Caribbean Frost 446B
SparkleBunny37 11/2/2012 4:22:00 PM
Wet n Wild says "just like that favorite top in your wardrobe, its always better to have it in more than one color. With a wide range of trendsetting shades from cremes to bold metallics to vibrant effects, you can find all your favorites and add new ones to your collection. Applies quickly and easily, leaving a brilliant, super shiny finish". Thanks for the fashion advice Wet n Wild. The Wild Shine nail line offers 27 shades with a formaldehyde, toluene, and phthalate free formula. I had my eye on Caribbean Frost for a while and finally bought it during a recent sale at Rite Aid. I got my .43 fl oz (12.7ml) bottle for just .50c, it normally sells for .99c. Wet n Wild does not test on animals. This nail polish was made in China. Packaging for the Wild Shine lacquer line is plain and pretty cheap. A rectangulr glass bottle topped by a grey, tall, round cap. I've had a lot of trouble with these bottles leaking. Not just a little bit of polish that makes the cap hard to remove, but I'm talking the whole bottle leaking out. Not cool at all. The front label; which despite being on a brand new bottle, is already peeling up in the corners; features the name of the product. The back of the bottle contains a full ingredient list. The Wild Shine brush is long, quite thin, and on the stiffer side. It takes several strokes to cover the nail. Kinda difficult to work with, but it gets the job done. Caribbean Frost has to be one of the most beautiful shades of nail polish ever. Its a rich, shimmering, metallic green leaning teal. So interesting and pretty. This shade is definitely on the darker end of the teal spectrum. I think this is the kind of color that is appropriate during any time of the year, its rich enough to wear during autumn or winter, but also bright enough for wear in the warmer months. I personally prefer wearing Caribbean Frost on my toes. Caribbean Frost's application is really nice! This polish is almost opaque in one coat, fully opaque in two coats. Each layer goes on evenly, which surprised me because the formula seems very thin. Ironically, I fin d that Wet n Wild's Wild Shine line dries significantly faster than their FastDry line. That holds true for Caribbean Frost, each coat dries in about 40 seconds. I've had variable wear from this polish, on average I get about 3 days of wear with moderate chips and tip wear. Decent, but not great. I love the color of Wet n Wild's Wild Shine nail polish in Caribbean Frost! This polish is great for year round wear; it's pretty, unique, and has some depth to it. Application is pretty good and so is the wear, especially considering that this polish is just a buck, The only thing I wish would be improved upon is the packaging. I would probably repurchase this nail polish and I recommend it if you're a fan of teals.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Forever Red
SparkleBunny37 11/1/2012 1:04:00 PM
Bath&BodyWorks Forever Red is the brand's newest permanent Signature Collection scent. Bath&BodyWorks has really been promoting this scent, they even made a whole mini website for it. A Bath&BodyWorks sales associate told me that more money was spent developing and promoting Forever Red than on any other scent in the brand's history. This scent technically hasn't launched yet, I think it officially releases very soon, November 5th, I believe. Bath&BodyWorks calls Forever Red their "most luxurious fragrance ever" and describe it as a "pairing of the richest and rarest ingredients to create our most feminine and surprising fragrance collection yet! Forever Red is a passionate blend of pomegranate and red osmanthus with a sexy surprise of vanilla rum". The full range of Forever Red products just went up on the Bath&BodyWorks website today. This scent is currently available in nine products. All of the Forever Red products are significantly more expensive than the rest of the Signature Collection items but I was told by the sales associate that sales like "buy three get two free" will still be applicable. I bought a little .25fl oz (17ml) Eau de Parfum for $5 which was the intro price, this little bottle will eventually retail for $10. The full size Eau de Parfum retails for $44.50. All Bath&BodyWorks products are cruelty free and made in the USA. Forever Red's mini Eau de Parfum comes in a really pretty bottle. All of Forever Red's packaging is very nice looking, much fancier looking than what you'd expect from Bath&BodyWorks, more like something you'd expect from Bath&BodyWork's sister brand Victoria's Secret. This little perfume comes in a rectangular, translucent, red glass bottle topped by a square, plastic, red cap. The bottle is plain, only the name of the scent is on the front, written in red of course. I don't really like the spritzer, it seems too flimsy to me, but I'm sure the full size has a better quality atomizer. I really like the look of Forever Red's mini bottle, it's nice for just a purse size. I've been so disappointed by most of Bath&BodyWorks new scents lately. Because of all the hype surrounding Forever Red, I expected to be really let down by the scent. I popped into my favorite Bath&BodyWorks store (the one at the Waterfront in Homestead, PA) looking to sample this scent and hoping for the best. I gave it a sniff and was pleasantly surprised! Let me give you the notes before I go on. Top Notes: Fiery Pomegranate, Rare French Peach, Luminous Apple Mid Notes: Red Peony, Night Marigold, Red Osmanthus Dry Notes: Rich Vanilla Rum, Velvety Marshmallow, Oak Wood Forever Red is a really warm scent, great for this time of year. At first sniff Forever Red reminded me of Midnight Pomegranate. They're definitely similar scents but Forever Red is more..luxurious, I guess? The pomegranate and apple notes combine to give Forever Red a delicious juiciness. The scent is armed up by the rum and has a sweet confection quality to it stemming from the marshmallow. The sweetness isn't strong or overpowering, I actually think it's the softest aspect of Forever Red. I love how seamless the notes are, the fruit notes mesh so well with the sweet alcoholic notes, sitting atop a soft but rich woody base. Bath&BodyWorks really put together a great scent. The notes compliment each other, you can tell that Bath&BodyWorks didn't just slap this scent together thoughtlessly. I've really fallen in love with Forever Red. The sales associate I talked to told me that this little bottle of Forever Red is an Eau de Parfum, meaning that it contains a high concentration of fragrance oils resulting in longer wear. Um..well, it lasts longer than the reformulated Fine Fragrance Mist which struggle to last an hour on me. I get about two hours of wear from Forever Red which is pretty poor especially for the price. Maybe it's just me, but I get good wear from other, non-Bath&BodyWorks scents, so it's probably the formula. I'm really disappointed by how often I need to respritz. Overall, apart from the short wear time, I love Bath&BodyWorks Forever Red. I'm pretty sure Bath&BodyWorks is phasing out Midnight Pomegranate, one of my all time favorite scents. Heart breaking, I know, but I think Forever Red is a suitable replacement. I think Bath&BodyWorks really made a great new scent that isn't too similar to their other offerings. I hope to buy one or two more mini Eau de Parfums. I definitely recommend trying out this great new scent!
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments (Eye) -BeneFit Cosmetics - It's Potent!
SparkleBunny37 11/1/2012 1:02:00 PM
Benefit's It's Potent! Eye Cream is part of their relatively new B.right Radiant Skin Care line. Benefit calls this product a "brightening eye cream to fade dark circles". This is my first eye cream, I haven't felt the need to use one before, seeing as I'm only twenty but I guess its never too soon to start. Benefit warns that "your eyes can't keep a secret, they're the first to show signs of age and stress", but fear not, It's Potent! "fade dark circles and helps smooth fine lines for brighter, younger looking eyes. Contains a peptide complex known to help restore elasticity and firmness, a blend of botanical extracts including apple extract known to help boost collagen and loquat extract known to help protect the skin from free radical damage." Big claims, just like every eye cream makes. I got a very tiny jar in Benefit's Sexy Stowaways value kit. The full size jar sells for $32 for 14.2g (.5oz). My small jar contains just 3g (.1oz) which has a value of about $6.75. This eye cream was made in France. Benefit does not test on animals. Benefit products can be bought on the brand's website, department stores with Benefit counters, and Ulta and Sephora (as well as their respective websites). My mini jar of It's Potent! is pretty cute, its like..American Girl doll sized. Packaging is pretty similar to the full size's. The jar is made of translucent aqua colored glass with the some textured bumps on the side. The jar is topped off by a beige screw on cap with the name of the product on top, along with the Benefit logo. The packaging has a very vintage look to it. A small amount of product info can be found on the bottom of the jar. Definitely liking the look of the packaging, though I prefer my skin care products to be in squeeze or pump tubes/bottles, mainly because I feel like I go through jarred products faster. The full size of It's Potent! comes in a box, and has a cork designed cap, but is pretty similar to the mini version. It's Potent! is a beige, thick, creamy eye cream. This eye cream has a faint wine like scent. This eye cream feels very nice on the eyelid, it gives a bit of a cooling feel and sinks in quite quickly. I only need a little bit of It's Potent! for each eye. I've been using Benefit's eye cream for about two weeks, usually just a night, but sometimes during the day as well. I didn't expect much from It's Potent!, mainly because its poorly rated on Makeup Alley and I've read some pretty negative reviews of it on other blogs. My expectations were really low, so I was really surprised when I started seeing results in about three days. I have moderate dark circles and they're still there but they're diminished. I don't really have any significant wrinkles but I had a couple fine lines, nothing major. I feel like It's Potent! reduced them a bit, not a lot, no one else would probably notice but it's enough for me to see. I don't notice any new firmness, but my eyelids aren't loose at all. On top of the brightening effect and reduction of fine lines, Benefit's It's Potent! delivers just the right amount of moisture. Anything heavier would probably make my lids too oily, anything less wouldn't be enough. I'm pretty pleased with Benefit's It's Potent! eye cream, it's better than I thought it would be. This eye cream improved the look of my under eye area. This eye cream gives adequate moisture and it fulfills most of it's claims. I doubt this skin care product would help someone with significant eye area aging or damage. I think Benefit's It's Potent is meant to maintain a youthful eye area as opposed to reversing aging. Though I enjoy the results I get from It's Potent!, I wouldn't purchase a full size jar because I still don't feel like I need an eye cream. When I do start to feel the need to use pone, I'd rather not pay over $30 for a little bit of product. That being said, if your eye area is in good shape and you want to maintain and slightly improve that, Benefit's It's Potent! is a good option if you have some extra cash.
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Treatments -Carol's Daughter - Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer 
SparkleBunny37 10/26/2012 7:50:00 PM
Carol's Daughter is a natural "ethnic" nail, skin, and beauty brand that offers a huge range of products. While I hadn't tried any Carol's Daughter products before this one, I've been aware of the brand for at least five to six years. I received a generously sized sample of their brand new Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer in my September Ipsy Bag. The full size 1.7fl oz bottle retails for $25. This product promises "93.3% fewer split ends - instantly!". Wow, what a claim to make. This hair care goody contains monoi oil conditioner, carob seed extract to bind ends and babassu oil to strengthen the hair. What this product does not contain is just as important as the beneficial ingredients. This repairing product does not contain alcohol, parabens, artificial colors, mineral oil, or petrolatum. Apparently this split end sealer "binds the separated end of the hair so you can skip the trim and keep the length". I'm gonna go ahead and call that out as bull. There is no "cure" for split ends aside from a trim. Carol's Daughter products are not tested on animals nor do they contain animal by products. This product was made in America. Carol's Daughter products are available online through the brand's website, at Sephora, select Ultas, and I believe Macy's carries a limited line as well. This Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer sample comes in a white tube topped by a cap that never wants to stay on. Product gets pumped out of the tube in a small amount. A gold label is affixed to the tube with the name of the product on it written in white lettering. The sample came in a gold packet with the main claims of the product on the front and ingredients on the back. This sample actually has decent packaging, simple, functional, and nice to look at. The full size product has entirely different packaging, but I won't go into it. Carol's Daughter directs you to smooth a pea sized amount of their Split End Sealer through the ends of wet or dry hair. I usually apply this product into my hair when its dry. As I say in most of my hair care reviews, I have been told time and again by a handful of stylists that I have very healthy, strong hair. My ends aren't in too bad of shape despite not having a haircut for about six months (I'm getting it done soon, I swear!). I have a small amount of splitting going on and I can't say for sure that this product "seals" my split ends, bit they do look a little bit smoother. The smoothed out results last for at least twelve hours. I was pretty impressed. I was also really impressed by how fantastic this hair care product smells. It smells kinda like sunscreen but better, I can't describe it but trust me, it's wonderful!! What I was not impressed by is Carol's Daughter's claim that this product will almost fully repair your split ends. No. Nothing fixes split ends except having them snipped off. nothing. I know all brands make big claims that are near impossible but this one is really annoying. Carol's Daughter said "everyone wants stronger, longer hair that looks flawless from root to tip without the hassle of getting regular trims. The secret is the less trims you need, the longer your hair can grow faster. So stop cutting and start growing by binding the frayed and separated ends of your hair back together, making them look freshly cut, instantly". No Carol's Daughter, what are you saying? Stahp. I am more likely to believe any mascara ad than believe that load. Carol's Daughter's Monoi Split End Sealer is a great temporary fix for mild to moderate split ends, but its not a miracle product. I really like this hair care product, it really does help the ends of my hair look better but I'm really, really annoyed by some of the claims Carol's Daughter makes. This is far, far from a miracle worker and is no replacement for a haircut. The packaging is functional and it smells really nice. I like the results but its not magical or anything. I wouldn't purchase the full size of this product because it doesn't cater to my personal hair needs (or lack there of). I also don't really recommend it. For the price of one bottle I could get my split ends tripped off twice...and that truly does fix them.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - S by Shakira Eau Florale
SparkleBunny37 10/24/2012 7:33:00 PM
S by Shakira Eau Florale is one of three scents created by this Columbian pop star. Eau Florale, which was launched in 2011, is inspired by "happiness, positive energy, and cool floral freshness". Shakira partnered with perfumer Elisabeth Vidal to create this fragrance which features a variety of fruity floral notes like jasmine and berries. S by Shakira Eau Florale is available in 80 and 50ml eau de toilette and a deodorant spray. I have the 1.7fl oz (50ml) bottle, which was sent to me for free. This 50ml perfume retails for about $30. This perfume was made in Spain. Eau Florale has nice, but plain packaging. It came in a mauve cardboard box. A stylized S is on the front of the box, surrounded by pretty, colorful wildflowers, the name of the scent written beneath it in gold lettering. An ingredient list can be found on the bottom of the box. The bottle is plain, but a nice shape. Apparently the shape and color of the bottle is supposed to give us ~good vibes~...but lets be honest here, it's a perfume bottle. It's a light pink, oval, and short bottle with a mauve atomizer. Not much to look at or describe. I think it looks ok though. I know the way a scent is packaged is really important to some fragrance connoisseurs though, Eau Florale's bottle might not be visually appealing enough for some. S by Shakira Eau Florale is a fruity floral containing a collection of simple notes. The list of notes include the following: Bergamot, Cassis, Jasmine, Heliotrope, Blackberry, Blueberry, Raspberry, Vanilla, and Musk. The scent notes are a little on the generic side, reading that list probably made you expect a bland scent. By no means is Eau Florale and exciting fragrance, but it's not boring either. It is on the safe side, but that's expected from most celebrity fragrances. Eau Florale is a sweet scent; not in the teenage cupcake kind of way, but in a mixed berries and vanilla kinda way. I think Eau Florale is similar but superior to Bath&BodyWorks' Love Love Love. Luckily, Eau Florale doesn't get that gross, medicinal undertone to it. This scent's standout note is definitely jasmine, complimented by hints of berries and vailla, with a soft, lingering base of musk shining through. The notes work really well together. Kudos Shakira (and Elisabeth Vidal). S by Shakira Eau Florale doesn't really develop on the skin, the notes hold true all day long. All day long is a pretty good description of Eau Florale's longevity, which is surprisingly considering it's on the lighter side. I've spritzed this scent on at 10:30am and came home at 8pm after a long, sweaty day at work and could still pick it up in my hair and on my clothes. Pretty impressive, no? Overall, I really like S by Shakira Eau Florale. Its a youthful, fresh, girly, fruity floral that isn't over the top. It has really nice lasting power. The notes work well together and come together to form a nice, well thought out scent. S by Shakira Eau Florale isn't a groundbreaking scent, nor does it seem to be particularly popular. That's unfortunate because it's good for a celebrity scent. I really like this fragrance for every day wear. This isn't a scent I would've chose for myself, but I really do enjoy it. I've gotten a lot of compliments on it too! I recommend Eau Florale to all Shakira fans and to those who like fresh florals with a berry twist. This product was sent to be by freebeautyevents.com in exchange for promoting them.
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Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Posietint
SparkleBunny37 10/24/2012 1:31:00 AM
Benefit's Posie Tint is a "poppy pink tinted lip and cheek stain that will let you paint the town pink". Benefit says that this "kiss of poppy pink brightens cheeks and lips." The "liquid gel formula blends to just picked perfection on all complexions and lasts for hours." I got a deluxe sample of Posie Tint in the Ulta exclusive "Sexy Six" kit which sold for $24. The full 12.5ml (.42fl oz) bottle of Posie Tint retails for $29. My mini size contains 4ml (.13fl oz) and has a value of about $9. This multi-use product was made in France. Benefit does not test on animals. Benefit does not test on animals. Benefit products can be bought on the brand's website, at Sephora and Ulta and their websites, as well as department stores with Benefit counters. Posie Tint comes in a mirrored, round, pink plastic bottle topped off with a white cap. The name of the product is written in white lettering, partially overlapping a bright pink sixties looking flower. A brief product description can be found on the back of the bottle. Unscrewing the white cap reveals a stiff brush style applicator. I like this applicator for this product, it's good for painting product onto the lips and is also useful for dotting product on the cheeks. Hurray for cute and functional packaging. Not particularly hygienic but that's not much of a concern for me, personally. Application for the lips is different, but easy. Posie Tint is pretty liquidy and thin. I apply it to the lips as if I were painting it on. Long, soft strokes. I then purse my lips together, and adjust the product a bit with a finger tip if I need to. Luckily this is a stain, because Posie Tint isn't really good for quick on the go touch ups. Posie Tint barely shows up on my fairly pigmented lips, it adds a sheer and natural, flirty light pink tint. It dries down to an almost matte finish. This lip stain feels a little tingly on the lips when first applied but that feeling quickly goes away. Posie Tint is surprisingly non drying. This lip tint would probably look lovely on someone with paler lips, but on someone with naturally pink lips, it's just too sheer. I get about 3 to 4 hours of wear from this lip tint. I apply about five dots of Posie Tint on the apples of my cheeks, then blend in with my fingers. Posie Tint is a little tricky to work with, you must blend it in immediately after application, this stain dries that fast. This product must be applied before any powder products or else it will grab the powder and apply in a patchy, unnatural, and unattractive way. This cheek stain, when applied and blended correctly gives a natural looking blush. Posie Tint really lasts on the cheeks! I get more than all day wear from it, it stays on even after I wash my face. I'm pretty sure this is one of those stains that just has to fade on it's own, it can't be removed any other way. I guess that's the definition of a stain though, at least cosmetically speaking. The wear time is downright impressive. You know what I forgot to do? Describe the color of Posie Tint. Woops. Not like that's one of the most important parts of the review. Last time I checked, poppies are usually orange or red. I'm no horticulturalist, but this is a fact I'm pretty sure of. Are posies even a real type of flower? Anyway, Benefit's Posie Tint is a bright, warm, yellowed, Barbie bubble gum pink. This is a super girly color that looks especially charming on the cheeks. Posie Tint might seem a little intimidating at first, but it's quite sheer and can be as subtle or intense as you want it to be, depending on how much or little you apply and how quickly you blend it out. Benefit's Posie Tint is a very cute, girly bright pink lip and cheek stain. I feel like this is a generally flattering color, but it might be a little too much for the ultra pale, and might not show up super well on those with the darkest skin. Lip application is fairly easy but inconvenient, if you're looking for something quite to put on don't even consider any of Benefit's lip/cheek tints. The color won't show up much if you have pigmented lips. It does wear pretty well though. I much prefer to wear Posie Tint on my cheeks, the color is cute and it wears forever! Application can be a bit of a pain though. Benefit's Posie Tint is a good product, but honestly it's my least favorite product I've tried from this high end brand, mainly because its a lot of effort to apply. I hate effort. Posie Tint is a good lip and cheek stain, but it's just not for me. I recommend it if you don't mind working a bit more with a product, or if you enjoy liquid lip and cheek tints, but if you're more into practicality, skip it. As always I recommend trying Benefit's products via value kits before taking the plunge and investing in one of their pricey full size products.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection - Blue Had Me At Hello (737)
SparkleBunny37 10/23/2012 2:42:00 AM
Wet n Wild's Blue Had Me at Hello is an eight pan eyeshadow palette that, as you probably guessed from the really cheesy name, features mostly blue eyeshadows. Wet n Wild says that these "eight dynamic, perfectly color coordinated shades have high pigment and pearl for ultra impact color. Shades can be used together or individually to create an endless variety of looks". Wet n Wild also claims that the shadows will give "all day, crease resistant wear". This brand offers three permanent eight pan palettes. I've previously reviewed Comfort Zone, which is one of my all time favorite palettes. These Color Icon palettes are known for their fantastic quality and are generally considered to be the best eyeshadows on the drugstore level. This eight pan palette contains 8.5g (.3oz) of product. With each shadow weighing in at slightly more than a gram of product, you're getting a pretty sweet deal for $4.99. I bought my palette at Rite Aid, but Wet n Wild can be found at most major retailers and and drugstores. Wet n Wild is a cruelty free brand. This eyeshadow palette was made in China. Wet n Wild has famously cheap packaging. These palettes are made of a black pan with a clear plastic flip up lid. This packaging is not sturdy and will crack easily if not stored with care. Actually, the same is true for the shadows, I haven't had that problem with the Blue Had Me at Hello palette yet, but once you work your way about 1/4 the way through a Wet n Wild eyeshadow, they start to get kinda crumbly, so handle with care. Each rectangular shadow is glued in to the pan and has the suggested placement of the shade carved into it. The back label features product information, a full ingredient list, and a diagram showing the suggested placements for theses shadows. Of course you don't have to follow the directions if you don't want, they're merely a suggestion. This palette included a double ended applicator; a sponge tip on one end, an angled brush on the other. These are pretty useless, so I'm just gonna toss them. Packaging is pretty poor, but that's what keeps Wet n Wild's prices so low. Blue Had Me at Hello is an extremely cool toned palette, made up almost entirely of blue or blue tinged shadows. I've had my eye on this palette for about a year, mainly just for the right eyelid shade. I find it kinda interesting that Wet n Wild put out a palette with this kind of color scheme. A lot of people are afraid of blue eyeshadow, so making Blue Had Me at Hello was a kinda dicey move for Wet n Wild. Kudos to them for having the balls to make this palette. I'm going to give a brief description of each shadow's shade, texture, application, etc. individually and then sum it up as a whole. I'll be referring to the shadows in the left column, which is the more subdued side, as "1", and the shades on the right will be "2". Here we go: Browbone 1: A common shade. A frosty white. This is probably the least pigmented in the palette, but it's meant to be that way considering it's meant for highlighting the brow. Actually on further inspection this left brow bone shade has a very soft, barely noticable blue duochrome. The texture of this shadow is a little chunky in the pan but applies smoothly. Eyelid 1: This shadow has a very smooth texture, probably the smoothest in Blue Had Me at Hello. This shade is a silver blue with a metallic finish. Though this is a really good quality eyeshadow, I tend to avoid using it because I find it really unflattering. That's a personal preference thing though. Crease 1: Is a very dark, blackened navy eyshadow. This crease shade has a matte base with bright blue glitters in it. Though it looks like a total glitter bomb in the pan, the shimmer barely shows up and is actually quite sparse. I love to use this shade as an eyeliner. When used as a liner this shade is practically blue, but when blended out it can be a very pretty deep navy. This shadow has a slightly drier texture than the rest because of it's matte base. Definer 1: Is Wet n Wild's famous matte black. This is my first encounter with this fabled eyeshadow, I've heard tons of raves about it. This black is not quite as fantastic as NYX's black, but it comes pretty color. this black shadow is very dark and pigmented with a velvety texture. This is the only matte in the palette, though it's not 100% matte. There is a negligible amount of glitter, potentially from the other shades. Like the crease shade, this is a great liner, and is fantastic for adding some depth. Browbone 2: I don't know if I'd use this shade on my brow bone but I love this light blue for blending out navy shades in the crease. This is a pretty, frosty sky blue with a soft grey tint to it. Its a little bit similar to eyelid 1, but less grey. I have a personal attachment to this shade, it's the same color as my precious stuffed Bunny. Eyelid 2: The reason I bough this palette, one of the most beautiful eyeshadows ever, in my humble opinion. This super pigmented, buttery smooth shade is a green tinged metallic turquoise that's absolutely breathtaking. This color reminds me of a mermaid or something. I would buy Blue Had Me At Hello again just for this shade. It's the stand out shade in the palette, and definitely the most unique color. Crease 2: Is a reflective navy with a brighter blue duo chrome. Unfortunately the duo chrome doesn't show up as well when used on the lid, which is pretty disappoint. This isn't a bad eyeshadow though, it's well pigmented and has a good texture, a little stiffer than some, but not dry like the matte based shades. Definer 2: The last of the eight shades. I don't think this shade was necessary. Another black, a matte base with silver glitter. Just like Crease 1, this shadow looks like it's packed with glitter, but it barely transfers onto the skin in a swatch and doesn't show up at all when used on the eye. This black is a little bit softer and warmer than it's matte counterpart, but really it's not signifi
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Concealers -Maybelline - Fit Me
SparkleBunny37 10/19/2012 4:46:00 PM
Maybelline's FitMe Concealer claims to have a "flawless finish that lets the real you shine through." If you recall I'm a big fan of Maybelline's FitMe Foundation (I wear the lightest shade, 110). I bought the concealer and pressed powder to use in conjunction with my favorite foundation. I have the second latests shade (Light 10). Maybelline offers on six shades of their FitMe concealer, a poor showing considering the foundation is available in a whopping 18 colors. Maybelline suggests this concealer for under eye use, so I opted for a shade slightly darker than my actual skin tone. Maybelline says that this oil and wax free concealer has an "exclusive translucent base and lightweight pigments to allow skin's natural highs and lows to show through" with "natural coverage that leaves skin the way it was meant to be - fresh, breathing, natural". Unlike the matching foundation, this concealer contains no SPF. This concealer is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, fragrance free, and hypoallergenic. I bought my .20fl oz tube at Ulta for just $2.44 (I had a couple coupons), but the MSRP is around $6.50. Unfortunately Maybelline does test on animals. I'm not sure where this concealer was made, but most Maybelline products are made here in the States. Packaging for Maybelline's FitMe Concealer is really plain and kinda not that good. A clear, square, plastic tube topped off by a black screw on cap. Only the brand name can be found on the tube, but it's already begum to rub off along with the black band around the top of he tube. The shade name ca be found on the base of the tube. This concealer has a doe foot applicator. I'm not really a fan of concealers with this applicator style, I prefer to put concealer on the back of my hand apply with a brush or Avon's blending tool. Yes I can still do that with a doe foot but it's more work. The worst part about Maybelline's FitMe Concealer's tube is that it leaks. A lot. Do not put this concealer in your bag, it will be a total mess. Hopefully its just my tube, but I have my doubts. Not a fan. Maybelline could've made it more appealing and more functional. The texture of Maybelline's FitMe Concleaer is thin but not watery. Thus concealer blends nicely with fingers or a brush, but works into the skin beautifully with a moist sponge. The FitMe Concealer has a velvety, almost skin like texture, a quality that can be hard to find in any concealer - drugstore or high end. I really like how light this concealer feels on the skin, even when its still wet, it feels extremely lightweight, not pasty, heavy, or otherwise uncomfortable. So the texture is good, but how is the coverage? Eh..good for undereye, passable for blemishes, not the best for redness. FitMe Concealer in light is pretty strongly yellow toned so its great for canceling out under eye circles. It doesn't correct them completely like an peach or salmon toned corrector could, but it gets the job done. FitMe is pretty average when it comes to covering up any small imperfections, I wouldn't recommend this concealer for blemish coverage alone. Maybelline's FitMe concealer isn't pigmented enough to take care of any serious redness you may have. This concealer tends to grab onto any dry and flaky patches, but it never looks cakey otherwise. Maybelline's FitMe Concealer in Light is pretty good. I really like using it with the matching foundation and pressed powder, they work well together and provide good, light to medium coverage with a natural but flawless finish. Maybelline is correct in recommending this concealer for under eye use, that really is where FitMe performs best. If under eye circles are your main concern, and you only have a spot or two, pick up Maybelline's FitMe Concealer, but look elsewhere if you need some hardcore concealing. I'll finish off my tube, but I'll probably stick to my Holy Grail concealer, Rimmel's Match Perfection. I implore Maybelline to improve on their FitMe Concealer's packaging, maybe then I'd consider repurchasing.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash - Pop of Purple (LE)
SparkleBunny37 10/17/2012 5:34:00 PM
Maybelline released four limited edition colors of their classic Great Lash Mascara: Blink of Blue, Go Go Green, Pop of Purple, and Totally Teal. According to some sources these brightly colored mascaras were only supposed to be available in the month of August, but that's horribly inaccurate. I bought my tube in September and have seen fully stocked displays just a few days ago. Maybelline doesn't offer any info on the colored Great Lash line, so I'm just gonna pull some info from their website's page about the regular washable formula. Great Lash is supposedly America's favorite mascara, I'm pretty sure everyone has had at least one tube. Great Lash Curved was my go to for years. This mascara has a "lash doubling formula that glides on smoothly to build great looking lashes". That's really convenient considering this mascara also comes with a "lash building brush that makes it easy to get a full lash look without clumps or globs". Maybelline's Great Lash formula is hypoallergenic and safe for contact lense wearers. I bought my .43fl oz (12.7ml) tube of Great Lash in Pop of Purple (after much debate!) at Target. I paid just $3.44 with a coupon. I've seen these limited edition mascaras selling for between $3.80 and $5.20 in my area. Maybelline does test on animals, unfortunately. Maybelline makes no mention of where this mascara was made. Packaging for the special, limited edition line isn't too different from the classic square pink tube with green cap. The only real difference is a purple band around the bottom of the tube with the shade name on it. I'm not going into any more detail because we've all seen a tube of Great Lash. The brush is also something we're all familiar with. In my opinion the Great Lash brush is a fail, it's what keeps Great Lash from actually being great. This brush is practically a generic spooly, except even smaller. The brush is less than an inch long and pretty thin. The traditional bristles are short, close together and spiral around the wand. I hate spiraled wands like this because there's almost always big gaps that make separation impossible. This brush doesn't hold a lot of product on it though, which is great. Before I go on, I want to mention one thing that's never happened to me before. The stopped that cleans off the brush popped out of the tube. It was a complete and utter mess. So much product came out! I popped it back in but I fear it will happen again. At least I know I'm getting a super full tube. I'm not going to count this against the product though, because this was probably a total fluke, not a design flaw. The color of Pop of Purple is a dull, greyed purple that's much darker than it looks on the brush. This mascara is fairly pigmented but unfortunately the color is nearly undetectable on the lashes. Do I literally get a Pop of Purple? No. Not at all. Pop of Purple looks like a plain old black mascara, or more honestly, a dark dull grey. No matter my application method, the colro does not show up. I've tried it on bare lashes, over a white primer, over black mascara. No it doesn't even show a little, except on the very tips of the bottom lashes. I've even tried to enhance the color with purple eyeshadow and eyeliner to no avail. So much disappointment. Ok so Pop of Purple isn't very purple, but is it a good mascara? Heck no at all! Why did I used to like this stuff? Yeah, it doesn't clump as promised but it doesn't really do anything either. I get zero added length, no separation and just a tad of volume. This mascara actually straightens my lashes a lot. Not cute. Even worse, Great Lash Pop of Purple flakes, a lot. The flakes get in my eyes and irritate them. It also smudges on my glasses and is really hard to clean off. This mascara is rage inducing. Maybelline is probably going to start doing away with this limited edition line. Don't feel bad if you didn't grab one, you're not missing out. I haven't heard much good about it, no matter what the color. I'm probably just going to toss my tube of Great Lash Pop of Purple after this post goes up. I only recommend this mascara if you already really like the Great Lash formula and have light lashes, otherwise you're wasting your money.
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Makeup Brushes -Unlisted Brand - Soho - Silk Smudge Brush
SparkleBunny37 10/17/2012 1:08:00 AM
Soho's Silk line of makeup brushes is a "collection made from the finest nylon fibers and natural hair, making your cosmetic application silky smooth. This line contains ten high quality brushes to product all the tools you need to apply your makeup just like a pro". I'm reviewing Soho's Silk Smudge Brush, which I got in my September MyGlam/Ipsy bag. I've never used any tools from Soho before, in fact I was barely aware that this brand existed. I think I passed it by at Walmart and Target a few times, but wrote it off because I never saw any bloggers talking about it. Soho's Silk brushes run between $7-12. This Smudge Brush goes for $6.99MSRP. Soho Brushes can be bought at Walmart, CVS, Target, and Walgreens, and I recently saw their blending sponge thingy at Ulta. Soho uses natural hair in some products, so this is not a cruelty free brand. This brush was made in China. Soho's Smudge Brush came in a "reusable" pouch. I already tossed the pouch out, but it looks pretty nice, definitely higher quality than anything an ELF or Essence brush as even came in. It was damn near impossible to get the brush out, so I had to cut the pouch a little. A pamphlet came inside the pouch with the name of the brush and some crushed makeup on the front, along with a brush description, directions on how to care for the brush, and some company info on the back. Opening up the pamphlet I found "Soho's Beauty Tips", four examples of basic makeup application. I guess that'd be helpful for beginners. The brush it's self looks really nice. The long (very long, actually) handle is made of fuchsia aluminum, a small Soho logo graces the handle near the base. This is a very lightweight brush, so look elsewhere if you want a brush that has a lot of heft in the hand. The black aluminum ferrule seems firmly attached to the handle and seems to have a good grasp on the bristles as well. This smudge brush's head is moderately dense, it could use a few more bristles, but it's functional the way it is . The black bristles are synthetic, nylon to be precise. At first they were kinda scratchy but they softened after a washing. The bristles are pretty uniform in length and comes to a slightly rounded, dome like tip. There isn't any splaying or shedding to speak of. It actually seems like a really good quality brush. So how does Soho's Smudge brush perform? As a smudge brush? Kinda fail. Its not dense or small enough to really smudge anything, it just kinda "smudges" product away. I hate when companies completely miss name a brush. This is, in essence, a blending or "smokey eye" brush. Soho's Smudge brush is a great blending brush, especially for working in the crease and outer v. I actually prefer it over the Essence Smokey Eyes brush that I previously raved about. Soho's bristles have a bit more give to them, in comparison, but the brush head is also larger so its not the best for detailed blending. I hope that Soho learns one day that blending and smudging are not same, because legit, they aren't. Similar, but not the same. Soho's Silk Smudge Brush is pretty good! Way better than I initially thought it would be. This brush looks good, its very tall and stands out in my brush jar. The brush holds up well to frequent use and frequent washing. I just hate that this brush is misnamed. Blending and smudging are not the same thing, labeling a brush that way can confuse consumers and annoy bloggers like me. I really like Soho's Smudge Brush. I'm not going to ignore this brand anymore, I think I might even pick up another brush or two from their silk like to see if they're all this good. I think this brush is worth the $7 price tag and worth checking out if you're in the market for more eye brushes, and let's be honest, who isn't? I would buy this brush again, but I don't think I'll have to for quite a while, based on how its held up so far. Try this brush like if you haven't! I was pleasantly surprised.
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Highlighters -BeneFit Cosmetics - High Beam
SparkleBunny37 10/15/2012 7:50:00 PM
Benefit's High Beam is a "luminescent complexion enhancer", i.e a highlighter. This product is described by Benefit as "a satiny pink liquid highlighter to accent cheek and brow bones for a radiant glow. Use as a spot highlight or delicately blend all over your complexion. Looks perfectly radiant on all skin tones. It's the 'Supermodel in a Bottle!". That's a hell of a big claim to make! I got a smallre 4ml (.13fl oz) sample of this cult favorite highlight in Ulta's exclusive "Sexy Six" value kit, which ran me $24. The full size 13ml (.45fl oz) bottle retails for $26. My mini High Beam has a value of $8. Benefit does not test on animals and offers some details about their animal testing policy in their FAQ. My High Beam sample was made in France. Benefit products can be bought at department stores with Benefit counters, Ulta and Sephora and their respective websites, and directly through Benefit via their website. Packaging for High Beam is a clear, round, hard plastic tube. The name of the product and the Benefit logo are written on the front in black lettering. A small amount of product and company info can be found on the back of the tube. High Beam's tube is topped off with a white plastic cap. Screwing the cap off reveals a stiff brush application absolutely saturated in product. Not the most hygienic applicator, nor should the brush be used to try to blend out High Beam. That's actually be a total disaster, like I said the brush is just loaded with product, so you'd end up with more highlighter on than you'd need for a week. I use the brush to dot the product on them and blend with my fingers. Anyway, packaging is simple and looks nice enough, not super sanitary though. It kinda reminds me of nail polishing packaging with the brush and all. High Beam is a light creamy peachy pink highlight with a thin texture. This liquid highlight blends with ease. Only the littlest bit is needed. I use about eight tiny dots of product per cheek bone or two under the brow. That may seem like a lot, but really it's not. Once blended out, High Beam takes on a shimmery, ever so slightly pink tone. The shimmer particles are small and only noticeable if you look quite closely. The only way anybody else will see any actual shimmer from High Beam is if they're seriously invading your personal space. I find High Beam to be quite similar in color to That Gal, Benefit's brightening face primer. High Beam has more of a pearlescent finish. They're not dupes or anything, they're not even the same kind of product, I'm just commenting on the similar shade. Compared to a similar product like the golden hued Benefit's Girl Meets Pearl, High Beam gives a much more day time appropriate, softer, more natural highlight that gives the look of healthy, well moisturized skin, as opposed to a candle lit glow. High Beam is excellent for highlighting both the cheek and brow bone. The effect of High Beam lasts all day long no matter where I put it. I don't agree with Benefit that this liquid highlighter would suit all skin tones. It's slight pinkness would likely look pretty fake on those with very warm or very dark skin, if you fit into one of those categories you should probably opt for Girl Meets Pearl. I like the naturally highlighted look that Benefit's High Beam gives. Luminescent is the perfect work to describe it, good vocabulary Benefit. The texture is thin but not watery and it blends easily. I think this highlighter is best suited to cooler complected people, just because of it's light pinky peach tinge. The packaging is function but some may prefer something a little more sanitary. As much as I like High Beam, I wouldn't repurchase it because I feel like I can find a much more affordable dupe for it, I've read about a couple of them and I'd like to look into it. If you want to try Benefit's High Beam highlighter, opt for one of their value kits. This is one of their most loved and most popular products, so it's included in most kits. Its a very good quality highlighter, and I recommend if it you have the money to spend on it.
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Skincare - Body -Bath and Body Works - Enchanted Orchid Body Lotion
SparkleBunny37 10/15/2012 4:16:00 PM
Bath&BodyWorks' Enchanted Orchid is an "exotic floral that recreates the hypnotic moment of tropical sunlight on rare orchids". Described as a mix of "Rare Calypso Orchids, Violets, White Irises, Fresh Gardenia, and Amber Musk", this scent has been discontinued in store for a while, but it can still be bought year round on the Bath&BodyWorks' website, as well as in store during the Semi Annual Sale. I bought my full size 8fl oz (236ml) bottle during the Semi Annual Sale for just $3, a great steal considering it normally retails for $11. I'm sure you know by now that Bath&BodyWorks claims that their lotion formula, which contains jojoba oil, vitamin e, and shea butter, is the "perfect daily moisturizer". Bath&BodyWorks is a cruelty free brand that makes all their products in America. As per usual this lotion comes in a clear, hourglass shaped, recyclable plastic bottle topped off with a shiny silver pop up cap. Enchanted Orchid has really pretty label artwork. A couple small lilac colored orchids and their green leaves sit against an abstract background of blurred orchids and their greens. The scent name is written in white letters across the largest orchid. The back label is very informative, containing a scent and product description, a full ingredient list and some company info. Enchanted Orchid's scent notes are overwhelmingly floral, take a look for yourself: Top Notes: Pink Grapefruit NP, Wet Greens, Waterlily, Crisp Apple Mid notes: Calypso Orchid, Fresh Gardenia, Delicate Iris, Violet Petals Dry Notes: Vanilla Orchid, Heliotrope, Creamy Amber, Skin Musk Captive So many floral notes. I guess that's to be expected from a scent called Enchanted Orchid, but its just a little surprising to see a list of Bath&BodyWorks scent notes that's so..uniform. I'mma be honest and tell you that I'm not fully sure what orchids smell like. I've had a couple orchid scented products before so that's the only basis of my knowledge. Enchanted Orchid isn't a particularly strong scent, it stays close to the skin and it stays there for a while. The first thing that really strikes me about Enchanted Orchid is that its a very powder scent, but powdery in a floral way. I think that's from the gardenia, which is a floral not I don't particularly care for. Beyond the powdery floral note is a watery green aspect that comes from the waterlily, and no surprise here, the wet greens. This scent also has a soft buttery sweetness to it, I think that's the orchids showing through. Enchanted Orchid is a very delicate and feminine floral. It smells nice but it isn't my type of scent. Too much gardenia, which I find obnoxious and cloying. How's the lotion? Pretty standard for Bath&BodyWorks. Light, purple, thin, non greasy, and quick to absorb. I wouldn't go as far as to call it the perfect daily moisturizer, but its pretty nice. Bath&BodyWorks lotions are always adequately moisturizing and leave my skin feeling comfortable, silky, and soft. Bath&BodyWorks Body Lotion in Enchanted Orchid isn't really my style. Its a little too powdery for my liking. That being said it doesn't smell bad at all, just isn't my taste. This scent lasts for a really long time on the skin and it permeates my towels, which I love. If you like powdery, simple florals you might want to grab a bottle of Enchanted Orchid next time you shop for Bath&BodyWorks goodies online or when the next Semi Annual Sale rolls around after Christmas. I won't be repurchasing this scent though.
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