Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Midnight Cowboy
2ksmom 10/1/2012 9:20:00 AM
Ugh. I bought this full well knowing it would be a glitter bomb, yet I am still disappointed. After eyeing it up for months, I finally caved & bought this from the UD website for $6 (I never would have even considered it had it been full price). I love champagne shadows (Stila Kitten being my all-time favorite), so I was hoping this would be similar with just a touch of silver glitter for some added ‘pizzazz’. Sadly, this shadow is dry, chalky and has no pigment whatsoever. All that shows up on me is silver glitter, that flies all over my face. My husband even commented that I looked ‘sparkly’. Unfortunately though, I find sparkle inappropriate for the work and casual looks that make up the majority of my makeup looks. This is only ‘ok’ as a base shadow, I had to layer several other shadows overtop to ‘cut’ the glitter a bit so at least it was wearable. It doesn’t crease or fade over a primer, and those darn sparkles last forever. This one I’ll be passing along to the teenage daughter of a friend, who will hopefully get more use out of it than I will. I’ve tried (and liked) several ‘vintage’ UD eyeshadows now that they’re marked down for $6, but unfortunately this has been one of the ‘misses’ for me.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Sultry Sable
2ksmom 9/20/2012 9:50:00 AM
I picked up 4 dark ‘fall colors’ of Revlon lipsticks at a surplus store for .99 a piece (Sultry Sable, Black Cherry, Raisin Rage, Va Va Violet), and Sultry Sable is by far my favorite (surprising, since I thought I’d like it the least...) Sultry Sable is a deep, plummy-brown crème. Its heavier on the plum than the brown on me, so it doesn’t look ‘dated’. I gravitate towards berry & plum lipcolors, but I usually use sheer formulas, so this provides a little more coverage than what I’m used to. I like it, nonetheless, for a bit more of a ‘made-up’ look. There is no scent or taste, and the formula is creamy and comfortable. I apply a layer of lip balm, blot, and then 1 layer of ‘Sultry Sable’ and press my lips together. This gives me a perfect plummy-brown stain that looks great with all my fall colors. It can also be built up for a dark, vampy look. The lasting power is really good- the color lasts 3-4 hours on me. It fades evenly, so I’ll just top with a little balm or gloss if I need to refresh it a bit. The packaging is nice and classic, black with gold accents, with a clear topped-cap so you can easily view the shade. I’m really glad I picked this up, and just purchased a backup on Ebay, as this shade is discontinued.
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Shampoo -L'Oreal - EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner
2ksmom 9/17/2012 9:07:00 AM
I like this, a lot. I, too, have been curious about the whole ‘cleansing conditioner’ concept for a while. I have wavy-curly hair that frizzes easily and lacks definition. I wash my hair frequently (every day, sometimes 2x day if I’m particularly sweaty after a run/workout), so anything that helps me streamline my routine and minimize dryness/frizz is a plus in my book. I got this on sale at CVS for about $5. I agree with the other reviewers that the pump mechanism is not the greatest, because it dispenses such a small amount of product at time. I do like that the pump ‘locks’ so I can toss it in my gym bag or travel bag. I use about 10 pumps for my just-above-shoulder-length hair. It does have a strong vanilla-scent (which I love, though I can easily see how others might not). I make sure my hair is soaking wet, and then work the product into my roots, then comb it through to the ends. It does not foam or lather. It instantly detangles, though my hair is neither long nor particularly tangle-prone. I leave it on for the duration of my shower, and then spend a good minute rinsing thoroughly. It does seem to leave a bit of a ‘film’ on my hair, as I would expect a conditioning product to do. It does not make my hair look or feel heavy or greasy. I follow my usual styling routine, and I find it leaves my hair with soft volume and defined curls. As another reviewer noted, I find I can get away with using fewer styling products (and in smaller amounts). I don’t use this every day, just because I like a good old-fashioned shampoo to get my hair feeling really ‘clean” ( I am sure its just psychological though…). I use this 3-5 times per week, and the bottle I bought back in July still has plenty of product left. (My 10-year-old daughter uses it, too). I think this is a good value for a quality product, that works well for my hair type. I’ve already repurchased so I have multiple bottles on hand.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - Lip Love Honey-infused Lip Therapy- Stung
2ksmom 8/29/2012 9:59:00 AM
This is a great gloss that has quickly become one of my favorites! I ordered it off the UD website for only $4, and promptly ordered multiple backups once I realized how much I liked it! 'Stung' is a sheer, deep berry that just deepens my natural lip color, yet its neutral enough on me to go with anything. The texture is silky & non-sticky and moisturizes my lips, more like a tinted balm than a traditional gloss. It lasts about 2 hrs for normal day wear, and it even doubles nicely as an overnight lip treatment. I love the honey & wildflowers scent (though I can easily see how others may not…) And I really like the packaging- the slim, squeeze tube and slanted tip applicator make application easy & sanitary, and I think the gold cap and lettering is surprisingly chic and tasteful (compared to some other UD lip products). I think this will be especially nice for fall & winter (though I didn’t hesitate to wear it this summer) since its an easy way to wear a berry lip color, without being as severe or high-maintenance as lipstick. Highly, highly recommended!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Physicians Formula - Happy Booster Glow and Mood Boosting Lipstick
2ksmom 7/3/2012 8:52:00 PM
Awful. This has no redeeming qualities. I got it because it was $2.29 at CVS ($7 off PF cosmetics seemed like too good a deal to pass up) and I was curious. I will be returning it tomorrow, its just that bad (yes, even for $2). I got the 'Rose' shade because I normally like rose-toned lip colors. This is not rose. Rather it's a tacky, horribly unflattering bright pink. Like a child's play-lipstick pink. The texture is thick & opaque and magnifies every line on lips (of which I never thought I had many, until I put this on). I can feel it sucking the moisture out of my lips. I tried this 2x and both times wiped it off after about 15 minutes because I couldn't stand the look and the feel. Its rare that I am so disappointed in a product that I feel the need to write such a negative review, but this is the worst lip product I've used in a long time, possibly ever. Even if you like bright pink lip colors, there are other drugstore lipstick lines with far better textures & shades.
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Mascara -Maybelline - one by one, waterproof
2ksmom 7/3/2012 9:32:00 AM
First off, I dislike waterproof mascaras. I only wear them when I absolutely have to. But I needed a new waterproof mascara because I was going white water rafting (and god forbid, I go without mascara!), and this was on clearance at CVS and I had a coupon, so I picked this up without many expectations. However, this is hands-down the best waterproof mascara I’ve ever used! The brush is kind of chunky & hard to work with. Its wider in the middle and narrower at the ends, with short, rubbery bristles. It’s a little hard to get the base of the lashes with this brush, but it does give me longer, perfectly separated lashes. It adds a little volume and it is buildable, but it is more of a lengthening & defining mascara than a dramatic, volumizing mascara. It does leave my lashes somewhat stiff, but it is truly waterproof. NO smudges at all, even after an 8-hour rafting trip, and a 2+ hour long run (in sweltering 90 degree heat). My lashes look as fresh and amazing as when I’d applied this mascara. It is a bugger to remove, I use an oil cleanser to dissolve my eyemakeup followed by a gel facial cleanser, and the next morning I still had smears/black specks under my eyes. But for when a truly waterproof mascara is needed, this doesn’t disappoint. I’m pretty sure this is the first waterproof mascara I’ve ever raved about, and I already purchased a back-up!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - VS Fantasies Be Seduced
2ksmom 7/2/2012 11:42:00 AM
Eh, nothing special at all about this. I used to love VS body mists back in the day (Freesia, Vanilla Lace, Amber Romance), but really lost interest in the last few years, just because everything started to smell the same to me. ‘Be Seduced’ is no exception. I had high hopes because it sounded so yummy (raspberry crème & musk). Any raspberry in this dissipates very quickly, and to my nose it smells just like Sexy Little Things Noir Body Mist, and the drydown very much like Amber Romance- just a sweet, musky, amber-y floral. (Neither of which are bad scents, I just don’t find anything very original or ‘special’ about them). I have a 1 oz EDT, and I find the concentration to be more like that of a body mist. I use about 5-6 sprays after a shower, and I find the fragrance lasts about 4-5 hours before I can barely smell it any more. I guess I am starting to show my age, because I like fragrances with a little more substance and staying power. And even though I love lots of sweeter, vanilla based fragrances, I like things that don’t smell like what everyone else is wearing. I see this being suitable for teenage girls/younger women who are looking for something light and sweet and inoffensive. I will likely give this to the teenage daughter of a friend (who loves getting my unwanted beauty treats!)
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Blush -MAC - Sheertone Shimmer Blush in Plum Foolery
2ksmom 7/2/2012 10:18:00 AM
I’m afraid this color just didn’t work for me. I normally love plum anything (reddish-plum, purplish-plum, brownish-plum, they all usually work for me as long as they don’t lean too warm or cool either way). Unfortunately, this doesn’t strike me as plum. In the pan and on my cheeks, this looks to be a warm reddish pink, with a coppery sheen. The color itself is okay, its just the coppery shimmer that looks very unnatural on me. As with all MAC blushes I’ve used, the pigmentation is very good, and I only need to lightly touch my brush to the pan to pick up enough color. The texture in the pan appears a bit ‘chunky’ yet it goes on easily and smoothly. It could just be from use, as I received in swap and did not purchase new. The staying power is good, lasting 8-10 hours with minimal fading. I’ve experimented with this with various color palettes in warm and neutral tones, but it just doesn’t ever look right on me. I can’t really fault the product itself just because the color is wrong for me. I’d recommend this for warmer skin tones. I’d suggest trying before buying if at all possible though, because pictures and shade descriptions didn’t really give me an accurate representation of how this shade actually appeared.
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Polishes -Revlon - Matte Suede - Fire Fox
2ksmom 7/2/2012 9:01:00 AM
I actually really like this. I recently received this in a swap, I don’t even know if Revlon makes this particular color/formula anymore (‘matte suede’). This color is a bright, cherry red, with a hint of (red?) shimmer. The shimmer is so fine, its hard to tell the color, but it is not a flat, matte shade. The finish, as others have described, is almost like a ‘satin’. Its not truly matte, but there is no shine to it. I almost never wear bright shades (much preferring deep, dark purples, reds, browns & greys). I like that this is not shiny; its a bright shade I feel comfortable wearing. The consistency of the polish is good, neither too thick nor too thin, and its opaque in 2 coats. It actually dries pretty quickly. I don’t wear a top coat, and I get about 2 days before I notice some tip-wear. I usually apply a touch-up coat every other day, getting this to last about a week on me. I get annoyed by the tip wear, just because there is such a contrast between this color/texture and my natural nail that I think it looks bad & unkempt (more so than with a polish with a shiny finish. Go figure.) This is a nice, bright fun summer color that is a little out of my comfort-zone, yet I’m really enjoying wearing it. I would repurchase should I ever have the need, and it was still available.
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Blush -MAC - Pro Blush - Dirty Plum
2ksmom 7/2/2012 8:44:00 AM
I love this blush. I am drawn to purplish-plum blushes, lip colors, eye shadows, you name it, and I’ve been looking for the perfect plum powder blush for a while. I picked this up at the CCO in the Liberty of London packaging (so I don’t know about this item’s availability in MAC’s regular line), and I love it so much I swapped for another one *and* bought a backup (yes, I am obsessed, because it is highly unlikely that I’ll even use up one of these). MAC describes this as ‘matte’, but I swear there is a hint of shimmer in the pan & on my cheeks. It doesn’t look flat or chalky, but I wouldn’t characterize it as truly ‘matte’. The color is a very cool, very deep purple-plum, but it goes on my cheeks a brighter, rosier pinkish-plum shade. It just looks like naturally flushed cheeks. I use it on its own, or sometimes over a cream/gel blush in the same color family. It is quite pigmented, I only need to ‘dab’ my blush brush in the pan 2x to pick up enough color, and I just swirl it on the apples of my cheeks. It blends perfectly, and I can easily apply another layer if I really want to play up my cheek color. I really like a strong cheek color, so I have to restrain myself with this, or I risk overdoing it. The lasting power is good on me (for a powder)- I get about 8-10 hours. I might reapply after a workout or if I’m going out later in the day, only if I want to ‘refresh’ the color. This is a versatile product for me, because it looks nice with a bit of a tan, yet I can see it looking equally good on my super pale winter skin tone (and paired with a darker, more dramatic lip color). I also use this as an eye shadow since I do purple-plum shades on my eyes often, too. I love the charming, LoL packaging, and I love the product itself. A worthwhile purchase, for sure!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Sexy Curves
2ksmom 6/8/2012 10:51:00 AM
This is a good mascara, not my favorite, but a decent one nonetheless. I’ve used it off and on for the last few years. I like the ‘bubbly’ (for lack of better description) shape of the brush, and the short, rubber bristles. The brush does a good job of grabbing every lash and separating/defining my lashes. This mascara also lengthens and lifts my lashes. The formula is thin, somewhat wet, and buildable for darker color and length. It does not volumize, despite my applying 2-3 wet coats. It leaves my lashes somewhat stiff. Clumping and flaking is minimal, and it lasts through heat, humidity, and workouts with minimal smudging. It’s a bit stubborn to remove. Bottom line, this is good if your looking for lift, length and definition; not so good for softness and volume. It’s a good summertime mascara for me, but it doesn’t hold a candle to my HG L’Oreal Bare Naturale. I would repurchase, should I have the need.
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Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle
2ksmom 6/8/2012 10:47:00 AM
I thought I’d had all Revlon Lip Butters I needed with ‘Sugar Plum’ and ‘Fig Jam’. But I’d read so many rave reviews of ‘Pink Truffle’ and I like the lip butter formula, so I swapped for this, and ‘wow!’ do I like it! The color is great, a pinkish-brown MLBB shade (it’s the slightly warmer counterpart to ‘Sugar Plum’, but no so warm that is turns orange-y on me). The color just makes my lips look plump and lovely. The formula is semi-sheer and creamy. It sinks into my lips and lasts for a few hours, fading into a soft stain. I can apply a couple of coats for fuller coverage, or a single coat topped with a bit of gloss/balm, for a more sheer look. I am always pleased with how lovely my lips look when I wear this (and wonder why I don’t wear it more often!) This is not without a (few) complaints, though. The formula is quite soft, and doesn’t hold its shape well in the tube, even when exposed to the slightest bit of heat. And you get quite a small amount of product (.09 oz) compared to other lipsticks and tinted balms, I’m surprised how quickly I’m working my way through the tube. *But* this is still reasonably priced for such a great product, plus you can almost always finds sales or coupons for these, I will gladly buy ‘Pink Truffle’ again and again!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -MAC - Lipglass in clear
2ksmom 6/4/2012 9:03:00 AM
As far as clear lipglosses go, this is about as good as it gets. Pretty much every product line has one, yet of the many dupes I have, the original is still the best IMHO. Sure, you’re paying a little more just because its MAC, but the tube I have is probably 5 years old and I still have about 75% left, so it was well worth my money. There’s no scent and no taste. It’s thick & sticky, and lasts a long time on my lips. It’s surprisingly non-drying (though not particularly moisturizing, though I wouldn’t expect it to be). I use a tiny, pin-point sized amount over my sheer lipcolors to give them a little more shine and longevity. I get a good 2-3 hours before reapplication is needed. I don’t wear this every day, though I’m getting more use out of it as of lately. It’s versatile, as it can be worn on its own or over other lipcolors, applied lightly for just a bit of sheen or more heavily for full-on glossy lips, and even mixed with a more pigmented lipstick to ‘sheer’ it out. There are many dupes readily available for a lower price, but this is a quality product worth its price, for its supremely concentrated formula & exceptional staying power. I would repurchase, should I ever have the need.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HIP Loose Pigment-Intrepid
2ksmom 6/4/2012 8:58:00 AM
This was my first HIP loose pigment purchase, a few years ago. I’m pretty sure I got it on sale or clearance somewhere, because I am not a big user of loose pigments (I generally find them messy and too hard to use). In the pot it looked like a nice, deep taupey shade, so I was surprised (unpleasantly so) when it showed up as a reddish-green on me. So it sat in a drawer unused all this time, until recently I’ve started looking into getting MAC Blue Brown pigment. When I found out I had this so-called ‘dupe’ in my collection all this time, I became determined to make it work. The most interesting thing I’ve found about this is it is such a complex mix of colors that it really takes on a very different look depending on what other shades I pair it with (and likewise, I think it will show differently on everyone depending on your eye color, undertone, etc.). I get hints of brown, red, and green from this. Oddly enough, I consider it a neutral, because it really does go with many colors. I like this best applied over a taupe base shade, as this seems to cut down on the undesirable (for me) red tones and reflects more of a teal-green. I also like this over a champagne/gold/khaki base shade, and it reflects more of a hunter green. Because it’s a loose pigment, its bound to be a little messy. I’ve found the best way to apply is to tap the jar upside down, and then apply the product that has collected in the lid using a dense, smudge brush. I buff it right along my lashline, and then just lightly blend upwards over my whole lid. It lasts all day over a primer/base shadow, with minimal fading, and without creasing. I am glad I didn’t dismiss this shade all together, though it took a little experimentation to get it to work for me. Even though the jar is tiny, I use such a small amount at a time, that this jar should last a lifetime. I would repurchase, should I ever have the need & it was still available.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Infallible Eyeshadow in 408 Gleaming Bronze
2ksmom 5/30/2012 9:36:00 AM
I picked this up as an afterthought, since I already got Bronzed Taupe, and didn’t really think I ‘needed’ 2 new bronze shadows. I detected a slight hint of khaki/green in this, though, and since I got such a good deal on these Infallible shadows at CVS, I couldn’t resist, and I am sooooo glad I got it! Sure enough, as others described, the khaki/green tones are much more noticeable on my lids than in the pot. This is a beautiful mix of khaki, gold, and brown, and it pairs beautifully with other shades in these color families. The texture of this is like a pressed, loose pigment. The little plastic insert, while kind of annoying, seems to help the shadow hold its form. This feels like a creamy powder. I apply using my fingertip (I tried with brushes, first, but find the application too sheer & uneven. I really think using my fingertip is ideal). I just blend a light layer all over my lid (or over a base layer of Infallible e/s in ‘Iced Latte’ to lighten it up a bit). The khaki-bronze shade is super flattering with my brown eyes. Its definitely a ‘warmer’ shade, though I think it would be flattering to many eye colors and skin tones. I don’t use a primer with this, as it lasts all day (a good 12+ hours on me) without fading, creasing, etc. I think this may be a LE shade (I found it in a special summer display) but its definitely worth picking up/seeking out. The shade is stunning, the texture is unique, and the staying power is superior, I highly recommend this shade & this line of eyeshadows! EDIT 6/4/2012---I have been experimenting with application techniques. If I want vibrant color, a crème-shadow finish, and if I am using it as a base, I still prefer applying with my finger. But for a softer effect and a wash of color (over other powder shadow+primer), I use my ELF eyeshadow brush to apply all over my lid. Either way, the color is beautifully dimensional, and the lasting power is awesome. I am loving the versatility of these!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No