Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Target brand Cleansing Towelettes with Chamomile and Vitamin E
shanstuff 12/24/2009 11:05:00 AM
Love these wipes! These are by far the best I have tried, and I have tried several, including Pond's and Boots. They are moist and thick and really remove the makeup easily. I don't wear much waterproof makeup (except MAC fluidline), but they remove that with relative ease and minimal rubbing. Foundation removal is a breeze. I do follow with Purity Made Simple cleanser, because I don't trust ANY wipe to really remove all makeup from my skin, and I don't want to chance breakouts, but I like to use these to get the majority off first (no, I don't wear that much makeup, I'm just a clean freak when it comes to my nightly ritual, LOL). I took one lippie off for the packaging...I wish they would use a hard plastic lid like Boots instead of the cheap sticker top that they currently use. Other than that, though, great product. Will definitely repurchase!
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Cleansers -Boots - No7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes - All Skin Types
shanstuff 12/24/2009 10:58:00 AM
These are good enough wipes, but not the best out there. Frankly, I find the Target brand to be more moisturizing and better at removing makeup, but these do the job in a pinch. They aren't the best at removing eye makeup (they require a lot of rubbing), but for foundation they are adequate.I do love that they have a hard plastic top to keep them from getting dried out. Overall, I don't know that I would repurchase, but I'm giving 3 lippies for packaging, price, and texture.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Philosophy - When Hope is Not Enough
shanstuff 12/13/2009 10:27:00 PM
So, I'm really starting to think Philosophy is all hype. This is the 3rd product of theirs that I have been COMPLETELY underwhelmed with (the only one I really like is the Purity cleanser, and even that I could replace in a heartbeat with something equally effective). The SA at Sephora went on and on about how this is just a "vitamin drink for the skin" and how it would help clarify and firm, blah, blah, blah. Well, it does help add a boost of moisture under my regular moisturizer, and it has plenty of antioxidants in it, but other than that, there have been no actual physical signs that it is doing anything for my skin. Admittedly, I have really, really good skin already so maybe that's why I'm not seeing anything, but still...after all the hype, I expected something to happen, and....nothing. No increase in clarity or firmness, no decrease in the few fine lines...nothing. Will not bother to repurchase unless something dramatic happens before the bottle is finished.
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Moisturizers -Philosophy - Divine Illumination
shanstuff 12/13/2009 10:20:00 PM
This moisturizer is strictly just "okay." It's a little on the heavy side, so you have to emulsify it in your fingers before patting it on your face or you'll end up using a ton of it trying to get your entire face covered. It does moisturize, and because of the little gold flecks throughout, it gives some "illumination," but I haven't noticed any major firming (which was what the SA promised) or increase in clarity, and I've been using it for about a month. At $85, the price is ludicrous for the lack of results this stuff delivers. Overall, it isn't bad enough to return, but not good enough to repurchase. The search for a HG moisturizer will continue...
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Moisturizers -Philosophy - Hope in a Jar - for all skin types
shanstuff 12/13/2009 6:44:00 PM
This is a completely average product at a higher-than-necessary price. I cannot for the life of me understand what all the hype is about. I do like the way it "melts" as it gets rubbed into my skin, but I don't find it moisturizing enough for my skin, and I certainly don't see any major benefits from using it. No increase in clarity or firmness, no exfoliating properties, etc. It just seems to be a less-than-stellar basic moisturizer. The scent is not exactly pleasant, either. Luckily, one of my employees loves this stuff, and I will give her my almost-full jar, since I'm planning on moving on to my next skincare adventure. Will not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Hourglass - Veil Fluid Makeup SPF 15
shanstuff 12/13/2009 6:36:00 PM
Color is KEY, KEY, KEY with this foundation. The SA at Sephora made a big show of buffing several colors into my hand to show me that an exact match was not necessary, because this foundation buffs in so naturally that it "melds" with your skin, but I personally disagree. He originally matched me as a 0, and I went home and found it just sat on my skin and looked very masklike. I was very unhappy with it. However, having read all the glowing reviews here on MUA, I was willing to give it another chance, so I went back and exchanged it for a 1, and now I couldn't be happier. I disagree with those who say it is specifically light coverage. I feel it can give heavy coverage...as a matter of fact, if you aren't careful, it WILL give heavy coverage. A little (one pump max) goes a loooong way with this stuff. I find that the best application method for me is to stipple it along my cheekbones and then blend outward from there, and then do the same from the center of my forehead out. Be careful around your mouth as well, as I find it tends to look heavy around the mouth and chin if you don't blend well and use a light hand in that area (or maybe that's just me). I find that it lasts very well and gives a dewy/glowy finish. If you want a matte finish, you will definitely need to follow with setting powder, as this is NOT a matte foundation. Please do not use this alone on oily skin and then complain that you felt like an oil slick! This has never oxidized on me, and I am very fair and tend to have issues with that with a lot of foundations. I love that it has Matrixyl, ST Skin Tightener, and a primer built right in, although I sometimes use the Hourglass primer in my T-zone when I want an even more flawless finish. This blends into the skin amazingly well and covers imperfections with ease, including red spots. Price is steep at $60US, but it will last forever given that only one small pump (less on light days) is needed for the entire face. I even compared a half-and-half face with my favorite MMU the other day, and this looked more natural. Definitely one of my new HG foundations (I have several, based on my needs for the day/night). EDIT: Regardless of what anyone tells you, this foundation CAN be applied with fingers or a Beauty Blender sponge with success. I especially like the finish the Beauty Blender gives. Very natural, semi-matte, just blends right into the skin.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Aqua Glycolic - Hand and Body Lotion
shanstuff 12/6/2009 5:25:00 PM
This is one of my HG products. I use it on my face and body. It has a 14% glycolic acid concentration, which is about as high as you can get without a prescription, and it has done wonders for my skin. I love that it comes in a pump, since it dispenses exactly how much I need every time, I already have good skin, but it is as smooth as glass now...I love to touch it! My skin tone has evened out, the small lines around my eyes have diminished (although I'm still searching for an eye cream that will be my HG), and I NEVER break out anymore, not even at "that" time of the month. I use it alone in the summer time, and more as a serum in the winter...I put it on and let it sink in for 10 minutes or so, then follow with a heavier moisturizer. The other day I was at Sephora looking for a good firming cream and the SA could not believe I was about to turn 40! This one will be in my medicine cabinet forever! I can't say enough about it. Love, love, love it!!!
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Eye Shadow -Aromaleigh - Pure Eyes Matte Eyeshadow-Terra [DISCONTINUED]
shanstuff 7/10/2005 6:03:00 PM
I love this shadow. I'm very pale--I wear the Pure Powder in 1CL-2CL, depending on the season. This is great as a contour color for everyday wear. It's very natural, but it still gives me a little depth. It also stays all day without streaking, which was a very unexpected and welcome surprise. Definitely a great find!
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Blush -Aromaleigh - Rosewood Pure Blush [DISCONTINUED]
shanstuff 7/10/2005 6:01:00 PM
Generally, I really like Aromaleigh products. Unfortunately, this one just doesn't do it for me. The pure blush colors are supposed to be sheer and "buildable," but this one is incredibly light on me. I just can't get it to show up at all. For reference, I am a 1 CL-2 CL, so if it doesn't show up on me, it won't show up on anyone. It's also much peachier than I expected. I thought it would be a pink/brown type of color, yet it looks almost like my peach version, which I also can't wear successfully. Maybe it was packaged wrong? It's also very messy due to it being a loose powder. EDIT: Found this in my drawer and tried it again, and it really does well for me now. It still makes a mess, but it gives me a healthy glow. Very buildable, but I don't seem to need to build it much. I think it is working better now that I am using liquid foundation rather than MMU.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Great Lash Mascara
shanstuff 9/12/2004 3:09:00 PM
I absolutely cannot stand this stuff. I first tried it in high school about 16 years ago, and hated it. Then in college, I read in Elle magazine how all of the makeup artists swore by it, so I ran out and bought it (after all, I must have been doing something wrong, right?)...still hated it. About 5 years ago, Marie Claire mentioned it in an article...so, dippy trippy little me goes running out yet again to give it another chance. Yuck. This time, I used it because I got a free sample somewhere. I just do not get why everyone loves it! It's really wet, so any lash curling I do beforehand is ruined. Plus, it clumps my lashes together and flakes. Luckily, it is so cheap that even with me being a bonehead and going back all those times to give it another chance (and another and another), I've still only spent about the amount of one high-end mascara.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara
shanstuff 9/12/2004 3:04:00 PM
I was really excited about this product because of all of the rave reviews it got, but it just did not work for me at all. It just doesn't really show up very well on my lashes, and I don't really go for a terribly dramatic look or anything. I didn't feel that they were soft or fluffy, and they certainly weren't lengthened. I tried jiggling the brush as I went out from base to tip of my lashes, I tried multiple wet coats, and I even tried layering coats after letting it dry (which made it flake and caused a serious case of itchy-eye). I am still giving it a 2 because it looks okay if I have absolutely no makeup on at all and use it alone, but that is about the only time I can even tell it is on...and when I don't feel like wearing any makeup at all, I usually just go completely bare, so it's still pretty useless. I'm really disappointed.
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Blush -Aromaleigh - Peach Pure Blush [DISCONTINUED]
shanstuff 9/11/2004 4:15:00 PM
Yet another great one from Aromaleigh. I have very fair skin, so most blush just sort of sits on my face, no matter how well I apply it. I hear others always talking about the "glow" they get from other colors...well, not if you are a 1N!. It always seems to end up looking like makeup by the end of the day. I love all of the Pure Blush colors from Aromaleigh because they are so sheer. At first, you don't even think they went on, and then you look again, and there they are! I put it on before any other makeup, and by the time the rest of my eye makup is on, I am suddenly glowing...literally. It's almost as good as the way my skin looked when I was a teenager...just totally natural, but "finished." I use pink, champagne, and peach, and they all work with my pale skin and (artificially) auburn hair.
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Foundations -Aromaleigh - Pure Powder [DISCONTINUED]
shanstuff 9/11/2004 4:10:00 PM
I ADORE this stuff! I have never liked using foundation very much, and since I have N/D skin, I haven't tried powder foundation since I was in my early 20's and had more oil going on. Now I am in my 30's, it seems that if I powder too much, I suddenly have lines. I tried Iredale, but it just didn't seem to work with my skin...and I worked in the cosmetics industry for 10 years and was a makeup artist for 4, so I know it isn't me not having a clue about how to apply mineral foundations. I tried BE as a sample from a friend, and suddenly looked 45+ instead of 34, AND I was shining like a beacon! So, I wasn't too sure about Aromaleigh, but the reviews from several sites were great, and I needed something easy to use and fast to apply that would look natural. WOW! I really love this stuff. I use the Pure Powder, and even though they say that it is light coverage, I find that if I REALLY need heavier coverage, if I use it applied damp with a sponge, it goes on much heavier without caking. Or, I use it as my foundation and then another light dusting as loose powder, if I'm having a really blotchy day, and that does the trick. But normally, I just do a very quick all-over dusting with a big brush, followed by the pure blush (I'm very fair, and find that these work best for fair skin and are easiest to work with), and I am good to go. Plus, it is truly, truly invisible on my skin. I have pretty good skin, but with this on, it really looks like it did when I was in my late teen's and 20's...just luminous. It also doesn't turn yellow or pink during the day, doesn't cake, and doesn't melt off. I love it! Will definitely use forever.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous mascara
shanstuff 9/11/2004 4:01:00 PM
This has to be my all-time favorite mascara. I have very long lashes, but they are also stick-straight, just like my hair. With other mascaras, after I fight them into a nice, eye-opening bend with my trusty eyelash curler, the minute I get my mascara on, the curl falls right out, and you can't see my lashes (except in profile, and then I look like Eeyore). With the Voluminous, I find that the consistency is just dry enough or thick enough to keep the curl, and is amazing for adding volume and length. When I want natural for day, I use brown/black, and blot the brush before using. For drama, I go with the black, and usually use a couple of coats. I have tried almost every mascara on the market, cheapest to most expensive, and I keep coming back to this one time and again.
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