Concealers -American Beauty - Perfecting Concealer
Plinko 3/10/2012 7:32:00 AM
This concealer really is a hidden treasure. I have broken capillaries under my eyes, and I've found very few things that actually cover them and won't migrate into my fine lines and settle. SK hidden agenda is very good, but often out of stock at my Target. My Josie Maran concealer compact is also great, but expensive. This is a fantastic, inexpensive alternative to both. Plus, I love the tube packaging and creamy, lightweight consistency. I wear "fair". The $15 price tag may still be steep for some, but it is almost ALWAYS on a 15% off sale at Kohl's.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Illusion D'Ombre - Illusoire
Plinko 2/28/2012 8:07:00 AM
I almost choked when I plunked down the money for this, but hot damn it is gorgeous. I know of nothing else like it. On my fair, cool skin it is a soft, shimmery lilac/grey color. The shimmer is very fine, not at all glittery or sparkly. This can be built up so you can intensify the look if you like. It is office appropriate, but again, this can be built up for a dramatic evening look. I wear this over Too-Face primer and line with Laura Mercier's shadow in Midnight. It is a stunning look for brown eyes. It does crease after a few hours, and it does fade quite a bit by the end of the day, even over shadow primer. For those reasons I'm giving it four stars. based on color and effect alone it would be a five star product.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -First Aid Beauty - Ultra Repair Cream
Plinko 2/28/2012 7:57:00 AM
I'll start with the positives. This is a gentle, affordable moisturizer with a great texture that absorbs beautifully. That being said putting words like "Ultra, Repair and Intensive" on the jar is a bit of a stretch. This is not all that hydrating at all. It's fine to wear under a tinted moisturizer, but that's about it. Forget wearing this at night if you have dry skin. I wanted to love this cream, but I'm disappointed. I will not re-purchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan Illuminizer
Plinko 2/27/2012 5:37:00 PM
I have been using a Smashbox highlighter for years, but picked this up in a fairly recent Josie Maran haul. This line is really working for me, and this highlighter is so fantastic that it will be replacing my Smashbox for good. What I like about the JM highlighter is that it melds beautifully with my skin. When pumped out it seems bronzy, but, when smoothed on my cheekbones, nose and cupid's bow, it is flesh-toned. There is no pearly or silver cast, it just GLOWS. My skin looks incredibly luminous and healthy. I'm very impressed.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Sunscreen -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan Protect SPF 40+ Natural Daily Sun Protection
Plinko 2/24/2012 3:08:00 PM
I swear I don't work for JMC, but I'm having such wonderful results with her products that I want to spread the word in hopes that these products will remain on the shelves for a long time. This is a multi-tasking product that really delivers. It is a silky (not greasy) moisturizer, an excellent sunscreen and terrific primer all in one. For reference, I have dry skin. For most people this would be a sufficient moisturizer. I apply my normal moisturizer, let it sink in, and then top with this sunscreen. I've been using JMC's Matchmaker foundation and concealer over this sunscreen. I swear my normally large pores look airbrushed. I love the lightweight feel of the product. I love that it imparts absolutely no cast. I love that it doesn't sting or feel sticky. I love, love, love this. This will replace my Shisheido and my LM hydrating primer (which I did love, but no longer need.)
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Matchmaker
Plinko 2/23/2012 7:10:00 PM
I fell in love with JM's tinted moisturizer and concealer, so I got up the gumption to go back to the store and ask for a sample of this. I am a big believer in the benefits of oils, and I was very intrigued by JM's line. I was afraid to pull the trigger on this product for two reasons. First, I was put off by the poor reviews, and second, the whole "matchmaking" concept seems very gimmicky. Well, I'm impressed. The texture is supremely silky and feels incredible on my dry skin. The color match for me (fair/light) was seamless, and the finish was absolutely luminous. I really appreciate that because my skin often looks very dull and flat do to its dryness. The whole "color match" thing still seems like a gimmick, but it does turn the right color, so, I won't complain. Also, this did not oxidize on me in the least. It did not make me orange, and nearly everything makes me orange. I'm dying to finish a bottle of foundation so that I have an excuse to buy this.
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Crème -Laura Mercier - Silk Creme Foundation
Plinko 2/23/2012 6:02:00 PM
Well, I thought I would love this. The words "silk and creme" almost had me at "hello". I'm glad I tested this before hand, because it was seriously awful. The color match and packaging were great. However, the coverage was so completely obvious, all I could think of was grabbing a paint scraper and scraping it right off. It did not look skin-like at all. The SA also said this was for drier skins, but I believe it only emphasized the dryness. Thoroughly disappointing.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Concealers -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Argan Blend Concealer (duo)
Plinko 2/23/2012 5:54:00 PM
I've been using this (Sand) for a while now, and I'm so pleased with it. The consistency is perfect. It is very creamy and easy to blend. It doesn't migrate into the fine lines around my eyes which I really appreciate. The salmon colored corrector makes me look bright-eyed and rested and covers all of my icky broken capillaries. The concealer evens out my tone and does a great job of covering the ruddiness of my chin and around my nose. I'm so happy I've discovered this line and this concealer.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Kat Von D - Painted Love Lipstick
Plinko 2/23/2012 5:38:00 PM
Kat Von D's personal style is not even remotely close to mine, so I never expected to find something that I would love in her line. I happened past her display of lipsticks at Sephora, and found the colors quite intriguing. I was especially struck by the shade "Lovecraft". It is a beautiful shade of muted berry. Sephora calls it "berry-beige", and that description is spot-on. The hint of beige makes it a perfect "jeans and t-shirt" low-key lipstick. As a woman with fair, cool skin, nude lipsticks are a no-go. This lipstick is my version of "nude", and I suggest it for those like me who like the idea of "nude", but have trouble executing it. At first glance, it may seem like there are a million lipsticks like it, but, I'm telling you, it is quite unique. But, enough about the gorgeous color. It is a fantastic creamy formula with somewhere between a satin and matte finish. It wears a fairly good amount of time (4-5) hours. I plan to buy several back up tubes to stash strategically about.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -L'Oreal - Skin Expertise Collagen Moisture Filler Daily Moisturizer Day/Night Cream
Plinko 2/20/2012 10:28:00 AM
I have been using this product for a year, and I kick myself for not having tried it sooner. It is absolutely divine. I have dry skin with fine lines around my eyes and several creases in my forehead. This is the only cream that keeps me hydrated and plumps up my skin all day. I use this as my day cream, and primer, foundation and concealer glides over it beautifully. The fresh scent doesn't bother me at all. I was so impressed with this that I bought L'Oreal's Golden Balm as a night cream and I've been thrilled with the results. For years I've been trying to make Olay work for me,and this was sitting on the drug store shelf all along. I hope it is never discontinued.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Josie Maran Cosmetics - Tinted Moisturizer
Plinko 2/19/2012 10:09:00 AM
I went to Sephora intending to re-buy LM tinted moisturizer, but decided to give this a test drive. As soon as I squeezed a bit on my hand I had a feeling I would love it. I should be clear that my reasons for loving it are probably the same reasons why others will hate it. My super dry skin absolutely loves the thick consistency. This is a cream, not a lotion, and it works best when you spread it with your fingers rather than a sponge or brush. I use Creme, the lightest shade, and I find it covers quite well. It is not full coverage, but enough so that it covers my ruddiness and evens out my skin tone while looking very natural. I also love the inclusion of argan oil which I think makes my skin glow. Best of all, this does not have the yellow cast that the LM tends have on me, nor does it have the dreaded white sunscreen cast. This will replace my LM on days I'm not looking for full coverage.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Estee Lauder - Youth Dew
Plinko 2/17/2012 8:12:00 AM
Skin chemistry is fascinating. Fragrance SA's always try to steer me to light, fresh, sweet, floral or citrus scents. I'm a willowy blond, and I guess I don't look like the type that can pull off a bodacious fragrance. However, on my skin, paler scents disappear and are almost pointless. It is the full-bodied, voluptuous scents that really bloom on me. This particular blend of balsam and spice works beautifully with my chemistry. Like most Lauder fragrances, it is a silage power house, and just a dab will do. I would never characterize this as an "old lady" fragrance. I've never understood that description. My grandmother is 93, and she smells fantastic. I know some sixteen -year- olds I wouldn't want to be stuck in an elevator with. At any rate, Youth Dew is a very puzzling name to me. When I think "dew", I think fresh. I think of freshly picked bouquets. Youth Dew does not conjure freshly picked anything, but rather ancient spices that have simmered and brewed. I'll let someone else have the sweet. I'll take the spice, thank you.
14 out of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Redken - Body Full
Plinko 2/16/2012 4:22:00 PM
I love Redken's All-Soft shampoo, so when my husband received this gratis at an event, I was excited to try it. For reference, I have baby fine, chin length hair, and not much of it. I have mixed feelings about the results. Right after washing, my hair was horribly unmanageable. It was extremely hard to comb and style. However, for some reason, afterwards I could actually get away with not washing my hair for two days. As a person who must wash their hair daily in order not to look greasy, this was pretty cool. I'll probably alternate this shampoo with my others until it runs out, but I will not repurchase.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -MAC - Cosmo Lipstick
Plinko 1/29/2012 11:26:00 AM
The second I applied this I thought, "this is what I've been searching for". I'm sure this color would not work for everyone, but for me it is PERFECT. I am cool toned and fair with platinum blond hair and dark eyes. Nude lipsticks wash me out, brown tones do nothing for me, and dark berries and reds overwhelm me. Bubblegum and Barbie pinks seem to young. This pinky/coral shade is just the right amount of color. It looks professional and polished at work, and it lights up my face. It is suitable for any setting. I love the finish and texture. If this is ever discontinued, I will cry.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Maybelline - Volum' Express The Falsies
Plinko 1/3/2012 10:22:00 PM
My local drugstore did not have any black LashBlasts in stock, so I grabbed this in a pinch. I did not expect to like it, as I have very little luck with the Maybelline brand. I am actually surprised by how much I like it. Once I got used to the strange flexible wand, I was impressed by how full this made my lashes. It even seemed to curl them, and my lashes never curl! I did not find this clumpy at all, and in fact, I think the weird wand thingy helped separate them. Also, it isn't at all smudgy. What a pleasant surprise!
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