Loose Powders -Laura Mercier - translucent loose powder
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:53:00 PM
Been using this for about 4 years now--LOVE it! I understand why it wins so many awards and so many makeup artists love it so much. It sets your makeup, but never looks powdery or dry, just smooth and polished and beautiful. I use to set my LM mineral powder, too. It has no fragrance and comes in a sifter tub. I apply it by pressing it into my skin with the LM velour puff, then I brush off the excess. Gaaahh-juss!A little price-y, but worth it. Will repurchase, for sure.
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Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Concealer - #3
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:48:00 PM
I've been using this for a few weeks, and it's a perfect color match. It's not too thick and it's nice 'n' creamy and blends so easily and beautifully. It doesn't conceal my dark circles 100%, (which are the kind Mediterranean women get as we age--the brownish-gray rings around the eyes...so lovely), but it comes closer than any other concealer I've tried. The only drawback is that I've notice creasing into the little lines under my eyes after a few hours of wear, probably b/c it's so emollient. But I think I would repurchase this, unless I find something better, of course. And so it goes....
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Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Photo Finish Primer
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:40:00 PM
Okay, I've been using this off and on for about 3 years and I've finally decided that I love it and it does, indeed, make my makeup not only last longer, but wear more beautifully. I wear Laura Mercier either mineral powder or Oil Free Foundation, and I've definitley noticed a difference in how they both wear when I apply this primer first and LET IT DRY!! That is key, I have found, at least for me. After a few hours, the makeup is still on, and it's not the least bit cakey, or orange-y or pooling into my pores---I'm just left with a nice, natural, dewy look. It does NOT control oil, so if you're looking for that quality, you will be disappointed, but it will make your makeup last longer and look better, for sure. I can't say it will do that will all brands of foundation, esp. the drugstore ones, but with my Laura Mercier products, it is terrific. Will repurchase, for sure, and maybe I'll even try the luminizing formula---any opinions about that one?
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Brows -BeneFit Cosmetics - Brow-Zing in Dark
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:33:00 PM
Great product--you have the brow wax/cream, which is very thick and stays put, and then the brow powder, which I use more than the wax. They come in a little compact with two little brushes which are nice and stiff (one is slanted, one is rounded) and a little pair of tweezers which I found useless, so I gave them to my niece, but otherwise, this is one of the best brow products I've ever used. The dark ashy-brown color is perfect for my brows, too--so many browns are red-based and look unnatural, but not this one. Definitely will repurchase. Give it a try!
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Ultra Liner Waterproof
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:25:00 PM
I like to use this eyeliner as the basis for a super smoky eye. I have it in carbon black and it really lasts all day and I haven't noticed it flaking at all. I'll line my eyes with Bobbi Brown eyeliner, then smudge eyeshadow over that with my smudge brush, then take this and dab it into my upper lash line so no skin is showing in between my eyelashes, (does anyone else have that problem?) It's great for filling in little gaps in your lash line b/c the brush is so teeny. I like it! I would definitely repurchase. UPDATE: Nope. This eyeliner flakes and chips off my lids. Will never repurchase.
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Lip Gloss -Lancome - La Laque Fever Plum Savvy
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:19:00 PM
You know, I've never been much of a fan of Lancome's products (except for a mattifying moisturizer that actually controlled oil, but has been discontinued, of course), but I must say, this gloss is actually long-wearing---for a gloss, that is. I have it in this shade, Plum Savvy, and also in Golden Sunshine, and I love them both. This is a soft, neutral, pink-mauve with a slight gold sparkle. It's very feminine and very pretty. It lasts, oh, about 4 hours and actually stays glossy for that long. I love the applicator--it's one of those flat, spongy type applicators that allows to coat your entire lips easily (take note, Bobbi Brown!) and it has no scent (I'm fragrance-averse when it comes to makeup). The only drawbacks are that it's very sticky and will actually get a little stringy around the corners of my mouth about 15 minutes after applying, but it's nothing that a napkin can't take care of. The other slight drawback is that when it fades off, it leaves tiny specks of gold glitter around your mouth and on your lips. Again, not a deal-breaker. After all, it is long-wearing, right? I don't like to spend a lot of money on lip gloss in particular, but you often get what you pay for, and I feel this is worth it. I am curious to try L'Oreal's Infallible Lip Gloss and see if it's the same formula! I would probably repurchase this, though--good stuff. UPDATE: I still think this is a good long-wearing gloss, but I just can't move past how it gets stringy around the corners of my mouth, as I mentioned above. I gave it away to my flight attendant girlfriend who absolutely loves it.
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Mascara -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Plump Mascara
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:08:00 PM
This is one of the worst mascaras at the drugstore. It doesn't do anything in the way of curling, lengthening or separating and smears after a few hours. Will not repurchase.
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Mascara -Lancome - Cils Booster
Cristy1970 3/4/2011 5:05:00 PM
This is one of those white mascara bases you put on before you apply your mascara (like those by L'Oreal and Revlon) and frankly, IMO it's nothing but a gimmick to make you spend more money. Any mascara worth its salt will have this built into its formula. I got this in a free gift--thank God I didn't pay good money for it!--and I'm using it, but I would not re-purchase,since I'm sure it's pretty expensive. Don't waste your money, either.
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Moisturizers -Olay - Age Defying Anti-Wrinkle Replenishing Night Cream
Cristy1970 12/26/2010 5:49:00 PM
Been using this cream for about 2 weeks now, and I'm liking it--light fragrance, but not intrusive, moisturizing, but not greasy at all and I swear, my skin looks better in the morning: smoother, softer, more even. Or maybe it's just my imagination? Who knows, but for $13 and some change, I'll buy this again in a heartbeat. I don't care for the jar packaging, only because it's not the most sanitary. (For reference, I have very oily skin, large pores and sun damage, so wrinkles are low on my list of skincare concerns)
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Powder -Laura Mercier - Mineral Powder SPF 15
Cristy1970 10/10/2010 1:51:00 PM
Okay, let me start by saying that I am so NOT a fan of most mineral powder makeup in general; it's messy, it accentuates my pores, it looks cakey and chalky and heavy and just gross. This mineral makeup changed my mind. It is messy, yes, (took off one lippie for that) but it also has a sifter thing-y that you can close for when you travel---pretty clever, Laura! As for the color match, mine is perfect: Rich Vanilla (for reference, I wear LM Oil-Free foundation in Vanilla Beige and MAC Studio Finish in NC35) The finish is sublimely gorgeous; luminous, but not shiny, covers everything, but not too heavy. No fragrance (I hate fragrance) and it has SPF 15. I get compliments when I wear this makeup; friends have told me my skin just looks so pretty and smooth and luminous (yes, they used the word 'luminous'!) I feel it is worth shelling out the money for. And it has lasted me, like, a year and a half. I buff it on with a kabuki brush then, go through with a makeup sponge and work it in on and around my nose, hairline and chin. It goes on well over Smashbox PhotoFinish primer, too- just make sure you let the primer dry first. It doesn't control oil very well, but nothing does; I've got about 25 years of foundation-wearing experience to know that! If you want it more matte, you can dust a light, matte loose powder on top. (I sometimes do that with LM Loose Powder, but not always) So if you want to try mineral makeup, but don't like Bare Escentuals or some of the others, like me, you may want to give this one a try!
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Mascara -Clinique - High Impact Mascara
Cristy1970 10/10/2010 1:36:00 PM
Wonderful mascara, thickens, lengthens, holds curl, doesn't flake, smear or fade throughout the day, plus it's easy to remove with regular facial cleanser and water. Love it and would definitely re-purchase!! (Although it often pains me to shell out $20something for mascara...)
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Liquid -Maybelline - Dream Liquid Mousse
Cristy1970 10/10/2010 1:33:00 PM
Wow-I was pleasantly surprised by this foundation's quality, especially being that it's by Maybelline (never been a fan of their foundations). I have it in Natural Beige-Medium 2.5 and it is a dead-on color match for me (I am half Lebanese, half English with yellow undertones, but some slight redness around nose and chin--I wear MAC NC 35, Laura Mercier Oil-Free in Vanilla Beige and Stila Illuminating Powder Foundation in 40 Watts). The pump is very nice, hygienic, and it blends beautifully. Almost reminds me of a tinted moisturizer. It covers very well, but is definitely not full coverage--I'd say medium cov. at best. It does not last all day, so I took off one lippie for that. I have found, however, that if I prime first with Smashbox PhotoFinish, then apply this with a damp sponge, then dust Stila IP Foundation on top, it leaves an absolutely gorgeous finish--it rivals Laura Mercier Oil-Free over primer any day. It doesn't oxidize nor does it make me breeak out(I'm pretty oily) and I love that it has no fragrance. Definitely worth a try!! And yes, I would buy this again, but I'm a schizoid-makeup junkie, so I will probably try the next new thing to come along.....you know how it is.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Pixi - Lid and Line - Plum
Cristy1970 5/17/2010 3:06:00 PM
I have this in No. 6 "Plum" and really like it. It gives you a nice, smudged, smoky lid, which I prefer to the razor-sharp, thin liquid lined eye, but hey, that's just me. The plum is a beautiful, natural color, not a bright purple at all. My only complaint is the staying power--it fades after about 3 or 4 hours. I've found it stays on better with a primed lid. Also, it's a tad pricey; I mean, for Target? I know it's one of their "designer" makeup brands, but I still think $18 is a bit much. But I still love it, and will probably repurchase not only the plum, but the bronze as well. If you like a smoky eye, this is definitely worth a look-see.
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Concealers -Cover Girl - Olay Simply Ageless
Cristy1970 5/17/2010 3:00:00 PM
First of all, I want to give a big shout-out to my friends at Cover Girl for making such improvements in many of their products (see my review for Lash Blast Fusion mascara). That being said, for a ds concealer, this is rather good stuff. I bought it in the corrector shade,but the only problem is, it accentuates the bluish-greyish circles under my eyes. So I use a skin toned concealer on top of it and the results are beautiful. It's creamy but not so creamy is settles into fine lines, has staying power and looks natural all day long. If it were a corrector and flesh-tone concealer in one, I would give it 5 lippies. But I think I would probably buy it again regardless.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion
Cristy1970 5/17/2010 2:52:00 PM
OMG-I love this mascara. I thought I loved the orange Lash Blast when it came out, but this is so much better! Not only does it thicken, but it lengthens and separates. And it washes off easily---a big bonus for me when I'm tired at night. When I use my Shu Uemura lash curler first, watch out! Good stuff--would definitely repurchase.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No