Eye Shadow -Almay - intense i-color smoky-i kit for hazel eyes
777designz 10/24/2011 5:04:00 AM
This eye shadow trio looks like the perfect fool-proof collection for smoky eyes. There's a light almost white shimmery silver with green and pink microglitter, a medium dusty taupe with subtle shimmer, and a smoky gray with the same green and pink microshimmer as the light silver. Sadly only one of these colors is very good. The light silver is barely noticible other than a little shimmer. The taupe has a very hard texture and I could barely get any on my brush. After lots of going back and forth with my brush to load it up with eye shadow I tried to really pack it on my skin and it was pretty much invisible. I can hardly believe how horrible the pigmentation is since it's not a pale color. The smoky gray is very pigmented and goes on nice and smooth but the texture is a little off. Even with primer it seems like it's not blending into my skin, almost like it's floating above it. Because of this it creases very easily unless you put on a very small amount of it. The best thing about this color is how it looks if you apply it wet. I tried using it as an eye liner with a damp eye liner brush and wow! It looks so gorgeous; all the pretty pink and green microglitter just pops and it really stays put. I wouldn't buy this kit if you're looking for smoky eye shadows. But if you want to use it as a beautiful gray eyeliner with tons of sparkles you might want to look into buying this.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Burt's Bees - sensitive daily moisturizing cream
777designz 10/19/2011 5:19:00 PM
I've been using this cream for about 2 weeks now. I'm happy to say that so far I haven't broken out or been irritated by this product. I don't have super sensitive skin but my face does react negatively and/or breaks out quite easily from the ingredients in products. This cream isn't scented but it does have a fairly obvious smell that some might not like, kind of like oats or grain. I believe this is from the cotton and rice extracts. If I put it on dry skin it takes a while to soak in, but when I apply it right after washing my face it absorbs right away. I like that it doesn't feel greasy even though it has many natural oils in the ingredients. I'm kind of undecided if I would buy this again. On one hand I like that it doesn't irritate my skin and it leaves my face very soft. But I don't find it moisturizes much. I have some dry patches on my face and they still haven't gotten much better after using this. Even minutes after putting the cream on I can see any dryness and flaky patches show right up again. So I don't feel this does enough for my needs. I think it's very nice for during the summer when you want something lightweight and for anyone with sensitive skin who can't tolerate most lotions, but I wouldn't recommend it if you want something very moisturizing. * I recieved a sample of this product to test as a Bzz Agent.
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Lipstick -Revlon - ColorBurst in 070 Soft Nude [DISCONTINUED]
777designz 9/23/2011 9:22:00 PM
This must be one of the most over-hyped lipsticks I've ever seen. It's so hard to put on evenly and makes your lips look dried out, even if they're not. It accentuates every fine line your lips have. I tried wearing it over lip balm, which often helps with dry lipsticks, but it didn't help. It just make my lips look like a mess. I'm really shocked anyone can wear it and like it. I'm not going to base my rating on the color since that really depends on your skintone. But it looks very orangy-white on me. Not very natural. I'm very pale and I could only imagine it would look even whiter on someone who is darker than me. So I wouldn't recommend this for anyone looking for a nude lip color.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous in Coral Reef
777designz 9/23/2011 7:02:00 PM
This is my 1st super Lustrous lip gloss and so far I'm very impressed. Coral Reef feels very nice on my lips, smooth, moist, and not too sticky. It is semi-opaque and doesn't have any shimmer or glitter. For those that like bright colors you will love this because it opaque enough that with a couple swipes you'll have a bright corally color. For those of us that like our lip color to be more subtle (like me) you can do that too. What I found is that if I put a thin layer on and then press my lips together I get a nice warm tint that doesn't look too orange on me. If it does look a little too orangy I blot the excess off and then it looks perfect. I can't wait to try more colors from this line.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Pressed Powders -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Mineral Powder
777designz 9/15/2011 11:28:00 AM
Let me start off and say the Light 220 shade is great for us really pale ladies who have a hard time finding powder that is light enough for us without looking white. I was really shocked how well this matched my skin; other than translucent powders I've never had a powder truely blend in with my skin so well. Part of it too was that it didn't leave that obvious powdery texture on my skin, which is amazing. Sadly this is where my praise ends for this product. It is labeled "Mineral Foundation" but it has less coverage than most face powders. I really expected it to be more pigmented. So as a foundation it is a failure. I have not tried it as a powder to set my foundation, but I think it would work best for that. I think $14 is way too pricey for a drugstore powder. Because of the lovely texture that might work well as a powder I give it a 2. Otherwise it is a 1.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Gel Creamliner - Glam Collection - Hazel Eyes
777designz 9/12/2011 3:52:00 AM
It seems like with every set of these Shimmer Strips Gel Creamliners there are 1 or 2 amazing liners and at least 1 with horrible quality. The Glam Hazel Eyes are no exception. The black with gold shimmer is one of the best cream eyeliners I've ever used. It glides on so smooth and creamy but quickly dries to a smudge-proof finish. Besides the amazing texture is the gold shimmer. I was worried it wouldn't be noticeable since I couldn't see it from the outside of the package, but it is loaded with tons of gold glitter! The best part is if you want it very subtle you can just swipe it on. But if you want the glitter to really pop just smudge it with your finger or a Q-tip and all this glitter shines! Now to the negative.. the Antique Gold is pretty unique because it is more muted or neutral toned i.e. not too yellow but obviously not silver. The Metallic Amethyst is also very unique as is is a dusty purple loaded with pink, purple, and gold shimmer flecks. However they apply like they are dried out. They are very crumbly, making it hard to get a nice line with much color. All I get is some sparkles on my skin. I thought maybe it was old so I wiped off the top layer and the product underneath was just as dry. If it weren't for the black being so creamy I would have thought they were dried out and returned them. It's such a shame since they are such gorgeous colors in the package. I'd give this a rating of 1 except for the gorgeous black liner, which is a 5, so I'm giving this a 2.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Unlisted Brand - Confetti - My Favorite Martian
777designz 8/13/2011 6:34:00 AM
I love this color and I'd love to give this a higher rating but the formula is a letdown. The good: This is very unique, a green jelly base with fine glass flecks. Unlike a lot of greens it isn't too yellow toned, or have that "swampy" look to it. It's vivid without being bright. It reminds me of leaves. So pretty! The bad: The formula is very sheer and goes on really streaky. At 3 very generous coats I can still see my nail underneath. It's thin but kind of goopy at the same time. I'm tempted to add thinner to it but I'm afraid then I'd need at least 5 coats to make it opaque. Because it's hard to apply and requires 4 or more coats I would not buy this again.
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Yogurt Mask
777designz 8/10/2011 2:48:00 PM
I've been using different variations of the yogurt mask since I was a teenager. What I have discovered is it is great at making your skin soft and smooth, moisturizing dry skin if you use regular (not low-fat or non-fat) yogurt, and if mixed with honey can have a temporary tightening affect. However I find it does nothing for helping acne, decongesting pores, lessening fine lines, any tightening effect doesn't last, and using anything but non-fat yogurt leaves a greasy film on your skin that can make you break out. In the long-term I really don't see any difference in my skin, this only should be as a temporary skin pick-me-up. So if you want to try a yogurt mask here's what I recommend: - On your face only use non-fat yogurt. Mixing it with oatmeal and honey accentuates the softening effects. I find it only really works if you leave it on 30 minutes or more, it needs to be completely dry. - On dry hands or feet you can use regular yogurt and the oils don't seem to cause any breakouts. Like the face mask you can add other ingredients like honey, and you need to leave it on till it dries completely to see any difference.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Neutrogena - Naturals Lipbalm
777designz 8/9/2011 6:51:00 PM
This is the best lip balm I've ever used! So many chapsticks feel like you're applying a stick of wax to your lips *cough Chapstick cough,* make your lips even drier after a few days of use (like EOS), or are oily and don't last on your lips *stares at Vaseline Lip Therapy.* This has a nice smooth texture that somehow isn't very oily or waxy, it's soft and melts into your lips. It has a light natural peppermint flavor. But what I really appreciate the most is after repeated use my lips are so much healthier and softer and any peeling or cracking disappears! If I use it everyday my lips never get dried out to begin with. I love wearing it to bed; I wake up with super soft lips!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorburst Lipgloss 002 Crystal Lilac
777designz 8/9/2011 1:46:00 PM
Crystal Lilac is a neutral pink with pink shimmer that shifts color to purple in certain lighting. Because the shimmer is super fine and in a very opaque base the shimmer is not noticeable unless you look at it up close. Instead it makes the whole lipgloss look different colors depending on the lighting. Very interesting... The base color of the lipgloss is very milky and opaque which makes it settle into fine lines in your lips and gives a strange look, like you applied a pink-ish concealer to your lips. Not so flattering. The texture is horrible, thick and goopy like you're putting paste on your lips. Maybe the worst aspect of this lipgloss is the smell. It reminds me of when you get a new product and you open up the package and you get assaulted by a strong chemically plastic smell. It almost scares me to think of what kind of chemicals it must contain that I'm putting on my mouth. Even if this color is more flattering on you than it is to me, I can't imagine anyone would be happy with the Elmer's paste consistency, toxic chemical smell, or the accentuating every fine line on your lips. Highly UN-recommended!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Peony Colorburst Lipgloss 008
777designz 8/9/2011 1:06:00 PM
After being amazed by the smooth texture and amazing pigmentation of another Colorburst lipgloss, Strawberry, I picked up a couple more colors last week. Unfortunately Peony is not as high quality as Strawberry. Peony is a pinky-peach nude with gold flecks. It is very un-pigmented, if not for the slight sheen and gold shimmer you wouldn't even know you have lipgloss on. It is not very shiny, and the gold flecks look like barely noticeable gold microshimmer on the lips. It starts disappearing from my lips in about 30 minutes.The texture is goopy, comfortable but not moisturizing, and not sticky. It smells like playdough with a hint of vanilla, yuck. The applicator is strange as it flexes when you use it. I would not recommend this lipgloss because for around $8 I would expect more pigmentation and longer lasting wear.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - ColorBurst Strawberry
777designz 8/8/2011 9:21:00 PM
Because this is a lipgloss I did not expect it to be so bright and intensely pigmented. For me that may be a bad thing because I think it's a little too bright for my pale skin, but I'm going to try some layering experiments to see if I can pull it off. I'm giving this a very good rating however because I think most people will love how pigmented it is and it has a nice smooth feel to it. While I don't find it moisturizing, it feels "moist" and doesn't leave my lips dry later. The shimmer is not as visible on the lips as it is in the tube. It has sort of an odd, slightly perfumey vanilla scent to it, but it isn't too bothersome. The applicator is really unusual; it flexes when you apply pressure and has a curvy almost hourglass shape to it. If you are looking for a bright summery lipgloss I think you will love this!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Sally Hansen - Instant Cuticle Remover
777designz 7/19/2011 9:06:00 PM
I finally found out what was making my nails peel and break more often - Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover! I had heard that the basecoat I was using could cause this so I stopped using it for a couple months and my nails never got better. I used to use this cuticle remover regularly but it seemed like my cuticles were getting dried out so I haven't been using it very often. My nail peeling had been getting better, but I couldn't figure out why. Yesterday my cuticles were a little stained up from dark blue nail polish so I used the cuticle remover for the first time in weeks. Well low and behold when I removed my nail polish today I had really bad peelies again, right next to my cuticle, shaped like a U (like my cuticles). The rest of my nails were fine, just peeling around my cuticles. I'm so glad I finally figured this out! I tried using this like the directions but it just seemed to make my cuticles more raggedy looking. The only way I got good results is to soak my hands in warm soapy water for a few minutes until my skin is softened, dry hands and apply cuticle remover, after about 20 seconds it starts looking cloudy I'd gently push back my cuticles with a orangewood stick, wait about 20 more seconds and then use the edge of the cuticle stick to gently scrape the dead skin and cuticle remover off my cuticles. Wash thoroughly with soap and water for a minute. Apply a thick cream afterwards. This really does get rid of dead skin and any polish stains, but it really dries out your cuticles. Even with regular moisturizing I notice about 3 days after use my cuticles look really dry. Although this is better for your cuticles than cutting, I really think it's better to just regularly push back your cuticles after a bath or shower and use lotion all the time to get nice cuticles.
4 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Milani - Pink Rocks!
777designz 7/19/2011 5:02:00 AM
Pink Rocks is a beautiful fuchsia based bright pink polish. I wouldn't call it a neon as they do, but it is definitively a very bright, in-your-face pink. The formula is a jelly, so if you don't like having visible nail line then I would avoid this polish. I tried 3 coats and it was still see-through. I really only needed 2 coats, which I think would make it look more jelly-ish and squishy. It went on really smooth without the typical streakiness of most jellies. Although this isn't my normal kind of color it is really cute for the summer, especially as a pedicure! If you're looking for a bright pink jelly I think you'll absolutely love this one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Lumene - Lift Touch Rejuvenating Cleansing Oil
777designz 7/19/2011 4:49:00 AM
After I started using Revlon Colorstay foundation, which is pretty much waterproof, I realized my old makeup remover wasn't cutting it. I then went on to try various makeup removers and wipes, but I felt that they still didn't leave my skin 100% clean. After checking reviews here I thought the Lumene Cleansing Oil might be a good choice, especially since people have said it helps with clogged pores, which is a big problem I struggle with. First time I used it I massaged it on my skin for a few minutes, then rinsed with a warm washcloth and cleanser. My skin felt like it had a coating on it and I was pretty sure it made me break out. 2nd time I washed my face twice but I still broke out. 3rd time I rinsed twice again but followed up with a toner. I barely broke out that time but it really dried out my face using toner. Final time I used a face mask (Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask) after washing my face and finally my face felt nice and didn't break out. *phew* This is way to difficult to get to work out right! So why do I keep trying to use it? It is the only product I've tried that completely gets off my waterproof makeup. I'm still looking for a better product though. It makes my skin really soft and moisturized. I haven't noticed any improvement in unclogging my pores though. The packaging is horrible. The oil keeps leaking out of it. I keep the cap in the "closed" position after use and always wipe it off after I use it. But somehow oil keeps leaking out of it, getting all over the bottle and on everything else around it in my medicine cabinet. I really like the idea of cleansing oils but this one isn't for me.
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