Moisturizers -Unlisted Brand - Eminence Organics Naseberry Treatment Cream
Quilley 2/23/2013 7:55:00 PM
I was given a huge jar of this by a friend. It's really made for super dry skin, however I was really happy that it did not irritate my sensitive skin! It made it soft and smooth and was very helpful in restoring moisture levels after a Vitamin C Peel. The only problem is that the jar is so large the product becomes less than fresh before I can use it all up. I wish for a few updates for this particular product, although I am sure that the other creams that Eminence makes could use a packaging makeover as well. 1. That it be packaged in a bottle with a dispenser and made to be air tight. 2. That it were not so expensive. 3. That if were available in more sizes to help control freshness vs. frequency of use. In the meantime, a sample costs $2.50 and will last you maybe a week. Then there is a travel size ($20.00 US) that is still quite expensive. That said I plan to keep right on using it until it is gone or smells "off". The packaging does not match the quality or the price point of this product.
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Blush -NARS - Sin
Quilley 2/21/2013 12:08:00 PM
Wow. NC40/42. A gift from a friend. How in the world did I not try this sooner? It is amazing. It's not a bargain at $26.00 US, but fortunately this was a freebie and much appreciated. I'm shocked at how good it looks on my (golden olive) skin. Just the right amount of shimmer and what looks like - berry? I hope it lasts forever but I will be wearing this everyday as my "go-to" so I'd better make room for this in my budget. It's amazing.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -St. Ives - Oatmeal and Shea Butter Body Wash
Quilley 2/20/2013 9:06:00 PM
Shocked at how well this works. Purchased a bottle out of sheer desperation when the drugstore was out of my Aveeno. I was so worried that it wold irritate my skin because of the reviews I'd read here but I got really lucky with this one. It's creamy, it's rich, a little goes a long way on my Salux. The results did not really kick in for me until after my shower and after I applied my Aveeno Lotion. Then I could really feel the benefits. Just super super soft skin, much softer than with the Aveeno Body Wash AND it was under $3.00. So of course I've now got to go back and see if I can find a matching lotion. It would be pretty great if the lotion worked as well or better than the Aveeno - I would give it up for this product for sure - cheaper and more moisturizing. What a happy surprise!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Unlisted Brand - Apple Cider Vinegar
Quilley 2/20/2013 4:23:00 AM
I'd never considered reviewing this product until I saw the other reviews. I thought I'd add my thoughts. 1. This has been used in cooking and salads for years. We already know that. 2. Diluted into a plain shampoo, it cuts grease and product build-up like a boss. A few drops works really well. 3. It can be used to clean your home (1 cup to one gallon of water cuts grease, is easy on floors, counters, etc. and no film) 4. Diluted into a spray bottle with water cleans mirrors to a high shine with zero streaks. I use newspaper. 5. I use it during colds - it breaks up mucous in the body without over the counter medicines and saves money. I drink it as a tonic with cayenne and Grade B maple syrup. 6. It can be used to clean soap scum and residue from the dishwasher - 1 cup in the base of the washer, run for a full cycle. 7. It can be used to disinfect and de-germ tub jets. Really great for those with sensitive skin and will not damage the pipes in the machinery. 8. In the bath - 1 cup in a warm tub of water rejuvenates the skin and perks me up. I cannot explain why this works, all I know is that when I don't get enough sleep or feel sluggish or lethargic, this gives me a lift. 9. I've read that it clears acne, contact dermatitis, warts, varicose veins, and other skin problems. I can only vouch for the effect it has on pimples. It dries them out without drying out the skin or making matters worse. 10. Kills Candida (and yeast infections) and fungus, and populates the gut with friendly microflora (good bacteria and yeast). This usually stops sugar cravings as well. THIS I have tested and with regular use it works for me. I think it's important to note that the only brand I use is Bragg's Organic. I buy two bottles at a time; one for the house, one for personal use.
11 out of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -China Glaze - Holly-Day
Quilley 2/20/2013 4:01:00 AM
China Glaze Holly Day is my very first non-nude polish. I bought it for $3.00 and am thrilled with the shade, which is a dark, bottle green cream, no glitter, no shimmer, just deep, rich green. It took three coats to get that depth I wanted and it's so gorgeous that I took my time letting it dry - I was too busy looking at it. This is also my very first CG product and I'm impressed with the quality of the polish - it applied very smoothly and dried to a high gloss shine - even before I applied a top coat. Would I purchase again? No. I don't see myself wearing this shade that often. But I cannot deny my delight with having a polish that is truly unique looking - at least compared to my normal nude shades.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Caresse Wet Shine Stain
Quilley 2/18/2013 11:13:00 PM
Gift from a fellow MUA'er who has the same exact skintone, NC40. I would classify this as "supermarket gloss' meaning it's what I like to grab on Sunday mornings to run errands in. It's sheer, it's long lasting it does not dry out the lips and the color is the exct same shade as my natural lip color; a mauvy/pinky/nude. It took a few minutes for my lips to "get" the texture...it's moisturizing but there is a sticky component to it as it wears off. Because it is the same tone as my lips, the shine stays, but the color pay-off I cannot vouch for as this is literally the same colour as my lips. It's shot through with a fine gold sparkle which is great since my skin tone naturally as a a lot of gold in it. The packaging is very compact and clean, high-end looking and is small enough to fit in a pocket or even the tiniest make-up bag - another plus. I would love to purchase one in a deeper shade so I can really test out the formula for staying power. For now, I'm really happy to have had this as a gift as I'd always wanted to try it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Bare Escentuals - Flawless Definition Curl & Lengthen
Quilley 2/18/2013 11:05:00 PM
My criteria for the "perfect" mascara? Does not need to be waterproof, but does need to be smudge proof. Should have depth of color, meaning black. Fibers or no fibers are fine with me, however I'm more interested in a formula that is rich and creamy and that does not make my lashes absolutely stiff. Stiffness = hard to remove for me and at my age (50) I don't need anything that may cause me to lose even one eyelash. This mascara is so beautiful - it's just perfect in every way. I can add as many as 3 coats and it just makes my lashes look thicker, more dense and perfect. The brush took a little getting used to - it's one of those elongated "figure 8" brushes; skinny in the middle. It's just fine - not clumps, no sticking together of lashes, easy to do the "wiggle and insert" move at the lash line to get the color depth. I gave it a fill 5 lippies for each category because it deserves every one! The brush comes out of the container smoothly, not too much excess on the brush, the brush is not too narrow or too WIDE so there's no dotting. It does not feel excessively dry once the product sets. It's just all around really great. $18.00 US IS expensive, but this is worth it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Christian Dior - 3-Couleurs Smoky Palette #481 Smoky Khaki
Quilley 2/12/2013 8:19:00 PM
My goodness this is beautiful. It's really perfect! I'm NC40 as a reference and find that managing colors in pallets is sometimes confusing because not all shades necessarily go together. These do. They shades are very pigmented, apply very easily, are extremely compatible. Dior blew it on the packaging, which to me makes absolutely no sense, lol. All they had to do was house the shadows in a regular pallet with a mirror. This pallet has a sliding mechanism that is a waste of plastic and gives a false impression that there is way more inside of the pallet than there actually is. Because the colors are so beautiful, I would buy again. In the mean time I've got to figure out how to depot these without ruining them.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Kate Moss 14
Quilley 2/12/2013 7:50:00 PM
Another NC40 WINNER! I'd read Kate Moss's article in Elle about why she chose these shades and how hard she worked to get them right. She worked hard! I was given the Nude (14) and it is PERFECT for my skin-tone! The pluses - texture, color payoff, staying power, price point. The minuses - drying and requires a perfectly smooth lip skin in order to not make dry lips look and feel even worse. Will I buy it again? Yes. It's just too perfect! I just make sure to exfoliate first and re-apply balm and a bit of balm or gloss on top every 3 hours or so. Worth it for me.
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Lipstick -Estee Lauder - Pure Color Lipstick- Rose Tea
Quilley 2/12/2013 7:32:00 PM
Wow. Instant love. A soft, fleshy pink that is perfect for my NC40 skin tone. It's really tough for me to find great shades for my skin tone and this is perfect. I guess the "tea" in the name is the fact that it is a brown-tone and the rose the pink part. This is does not show up as having any peach on my lips, unlike the other posters did. Imo this is what makes it special! $25.00 is pretty steep for lipstick, however according to the website it indicates that the lipstick is "enriched with lip-loving ingredients, including apricot kernel, shea butter and murumuru butter that leave lips soft and creamy smooth". I can't vouch for the "long lasting" aspect of this product. It does get a little bit drying so I wear a balm underneath it and a little gloss on top. This is a yay for be none the less.
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Eye Shadow -Chanel - Quadra Eye Shadow - 19 Enigma
Quilley 2/11/2013 4:57:00 PM
Another gift from a pal! Had to look up the price point. It's high end alright, lol. I didn't think these shadows would work because they are powders, however I now wear a creamy base underneath them and they really hold on to the skin without drying it out. The shades are neutral enough for daytime/office yet can be deepened for a bolder eye if I need it. The fall out is considerable imo. I do better patting these on than brushing them on. Careful blending makes them look gorgeous the peach patted along the brow bone and blended. My skin-tone is NC40 which can take the deeper tones. There is a considerable amount of shimmer, but they shimmer wears off quickly. I'm really happy that all four shades are so wearable.
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Blush -Rouge Bunny Rouge - Original Skin Blush-For Love of Roses in Orpheline
Quilley 2/11/2013 11:42:00 AM
I received this shade in Orpheline from a good friend who adores makeup. She's so familiar with my coloring that it was a winner for my NC40 skintone. Because I'm not familiar with the brand at all, I did a little research. I love reading about what I'm putting on my face - especially ingredients! http://www.laduree.fr/en/fabricant/produits/chocolats Link here for ingredients list - lots of stuff in here including 'cones, so those with sensitive skin, be advised! The brand also claims "technology" in the formula citing "A medley of active ingredients, including Uhaloa from Hawaii, (also known as Velvet-leaf) and modern technologies impart a long term brightening effect. Indian Gooseberry Extract stands guard against free radicals. Sheer pearls amplify the creamy soft touch and ensure a limpid glow" - ok. The description is a pretty fairy story about elves and such. Lol. I agree with the formula - there is something very silky and plush about the product. It almost feels like a cream but it's a powder. Would I buy it again? No. Too expensive. Do I love the shade the look and the feel? Absolutely. This shade is excellent for warm/med.olive skin tones. It is a coral hue, aka light rich pink/peach with a glow to it. I cannot wait to try this out come summer when I get a little sun on my face.
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Blush -Rouge Bunny Rouge - For Love of Roses Original Skin Blush in Florita
Quilley 2/11/2013 11:36:00 AM
I received this shade in Florita from a good friend who adores makeup. She's so familiar with my coloring that it was a winner for my NC40 skintone. Because I'm not familiar with the brand at all, I did a little research. I love reading about what I'm putting on my face - especially ingredients! The brand also claims "technology" in the formula citing "A medley of active ingredients, including Uhaloa from Hawaii, (also known as Velvet-leaf) and modern technologies impart a long term brightening effect. Indian Gooseberry Extract stands guard against free radicals. Sheer pearls amplify the creamy soft touch and ensure a limpid glow" - ok. The description is a pretty fairy story about elves and such. Lol. I do agree with the formula - there is something very silky and plush about the product. It almost feels like a cream but it's a powder. The shade is a rich raspberry, which brightens my complexion and makes me look awake and happy. Love that. Would I buy it again? No. Too expensive. Do I love the shade the look and the feel? Absolutely. This shade is excellent for warm/med.olive skin tones.
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Masks -Mario Badescu - Azulene Calming Mask
Quilley 2/6/2013 8:45:00 PM
This was a gift from a wonderful MUA pal so I had to look up the pricing. Not bad at $18.00 US for 2 full ounces. The mask is aqua in color, thick smells fresh and clean. It applies very easily, a little goes a long way. It has been a God-send for my skin which in addition to being aging/acne prone is super sensitive and often for no reason at all becomes, itchy, dry, blotchy, can erupt in breakouts...crazy skin. This really is calming and cool. I apply as directed to a clean face, wait 20 minutes while I go about getting ready and I rinse if off in the shower. it also hydrates which was a really nice surprise. It has carnation oil in it very close to the top of the list of ingredients. I looked up carnation oil and learned that it is very helpful in normalizing skin conditions ie skin rashes and eczema. I use it every 3-4 days before my makeup and/or as needed. List of ingredients: NGREDIENTS: PVP, Seamollient,Methylparaben,Protol, Castor Oil, Balsam Peru, Kaolin, Wheat Starch, Zinc Oxide,Quaternium-60, Titanium Dioxide, Talc,Boric Acid,Polysorbate-80,Propylene Glycol, Azulene. Website Link: http://www.mariobadescu.com/Azulene-Calming-Mask Pros list: A little goes a long way Not too expensive Full 2 ounces of product reputable manufacturer calms the skin conditions the skin quality ingredients Cons list: No dispenser to eliminate or reduce germs container gets messy because of the viscosity of the mask Yes I will buy it again. Hopefully the packaging will be updated by that time.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Wet 'n' Wild - Megalast in "Private Viewing" #204A
Quilley 2/6/2013 9:44:00 AM
I'm taking better care of my nails these days and am growing especially fond of nudes that compliment my NC40 skintone. I picked this up from the drugstore for $2.00 (USA retail) only because of the price because I was really not sure of the shade at all. I would classify this as a mauvy (pink) peachy nude shot through with very fine shimmer that keeps the polish from looking too flat. The shade is surely a mannequin hands shade for me - golden medium tones will love this IF you are seeking out a neutral with a little bit of a glow. The only drawbacks I can think of are 1) the "pro-mani" brush which is wide and a bit hard to work with, as I only wear natural nails and my fingers are fairly narrow. As per loodie's website "little strokes" are key when applying this polish to avoid the dreaded streak application. The second drawback might be the fact that it took a whopping 4 coats to get opacity. Still you cannot beat the price for what you are getting; smooth application, shiny finish, large bottle which makes it easier to grab imo. I can see this as a year round shade for sure. Will I repurchase again? No - only because there are so many more nudes I want to try.
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