Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Lemon Juice
admilly101 1/13/2013 3:21:00 PM
So, I think it can be safe to say the lemons are my favorite fruit now. I was desperately trying to find a remedy for my acne scars, when someone told me that lemon juice was the answer. I read the glowing reviews here on makeupalley, so I thought "Hey, why not give it a try?". I had a lemon tree near my house, so I just picked a few of those. I squeezed one lemon into a container and diluted it a bit with water. For the past week I put it on my skin, left it on for 15 minutes then washed it off. That helped the current acne I already had, but I wasn't all that impressed. Last night I was getting ready to do the same procedure, except I accidently fell asleep for 2 hours. I woke up thinking "Crap! I need to wash this off!" I looked in the mirror, thinking that it probably burned my skin, but instead I saw quite the opposite! My skin was softer, healthier, smoother, and more even than it was 2 hours prior. I was amazed. So now I am going to leave it on overnight instead of just leaving it on for 15 minutes, because I feel leaving it on will work better for my skin. I am so happy with the results, I am positive if I keep this up I will have amazing skin. Yay for lemons!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Revlon - Nearly Naked Foundation
admilly101 1/13/2013 12:39:00 PM
Overall Rating: 3/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $7-$10 US Dollars, which is a good price for DS foundations. COVERAGE: Light-Medium FINISH: As many have said, I find this to be a satin finish. However, I find that it can be very streaky, even when I used my fingers. TEXTURE: VERY liquidy SCENT: Yes, there is an odd scent that I dont like very much SPF: 20 LASTING POWER: I was surprised how well this lasted, considering how liquidy it was. However, as the day went on, I could definitely feel it on my face. It was very goupy and gucky feeling :( SHADES: I bought this in Vanilla which ended up being too light. I don't think they have an accurate amount of shades that can cater to those with deeper skin tones. DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: No, I dont believe so PACKAGING: I hate the packaging. I usually dont mind open top bottles, as long as they have a secure top... Which this one doesn't. I feel like I can't travel with this, because the foundation would leak and get all up into the cap. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Sadly, no. FINAL VERDICT: I don't hate this at all, but I really just wasn't all that impressed. Probably will just give this to a friend to try.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Cover Girl - AquaSmooth SPF15 Make-up
admilly101 12/30/2012 9:51:00 PM
Overall Rating: 3/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. I bought this in hopes to find a dupe for the Cle de Peau Cream foundaion. PRICE: $10 US Dollars COVERAGE: Light-Medium. Don't even bother using the sponge, it will not give you the coverage potential this stuff has. Use either a flat brush or a stipple brush. I use the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush, and it works well. FINISH: Soft-powder finish, which is my favorite kind of finish for the winter! CAN accentuate dry patches though, so be careful! Exfoliate and moisturize. TEXTURE: Creamy and smooth and light :) SCENT: Yes, it has the faint scent of sunscreen SPF: 15 LASTING POWER: Because so many people had problems with lasting power, I didnt bother testing it without primer/powder. I used the Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro primer, and the CoverGirl Simply Powder on top. I was pleasantly surprised that I did not get shiny within an hour, like I do with many foundations. I have not worn it while doing anything vigorous though, but I will say it lasted on me for about 8 hours. It also kept my skin hydrated, which is nice. SHADES: This is ofcourse, the one main flaw this foundation has. Not only is it difficult to find your shade, but a lot of the shades seem strongly pink-ish toned. I found my match the "725 Buff Beige", which has some yellowness to it. However! Don't judge the color of the foundation when swathed on the back of your hand. Many foundations look different on your face than they do on your hand, because the skin on your face has a different PH, so the color will adhere to THAT kind of surface, as apposed to your hand. Also, your face is usually paler than your hands... Ok, that was my mini rant :) DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: This does tend to clog my pores :( PACKAGING: Another small gripe with this foundation. Not only is the packaging a bit bulky, but its kind of old and retro looking... Kind of out-of-place looking on my vanity. But hey, I would rather pay for a good product then pay extra for fancy packaging. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: No FINAL VERDICT: I am still impressed with this, even though I probably wouldnt buy it again. It was 100 times better then I thought it would be. Would be amazing for dry skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Shiseido - Refining Makeup Primer spf21
admilly101 12/29/2012 5:13:00 PM
I got this as a X-Mas gift. I have never really been a strong believer in face primers. I always thought they were pointless, a scam, just more unnecessary chemicals on your face, that foundation should just work on its own. Well, this stuff has definitely changed my mind! It is not a silicone based primer, which I like, because I HATE silicone primers. They make me feel oily. Anyway, it comes out a peachy shade, but goes on clear. It is a little thick, and you kinda have to use a lot for your whole face. It tones down my redness, erases my pores, makes my skin look brighter, and helps control my shine. My foundation definitely stays on longer with this stuff underneath. I am so glad I got this for x-mas! Great product.
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Crème -Cle de Peau - Cream Foundation SPF 18
admilly101 12/26/2012 6:30:00 PM
UPDATE: Actually, this DID end up breaking me out.... I am almost glad it did, now I don't have to be sad that I can't buy it because its so expensive! XD 3/5 ******** Overall Rating: 4/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $90 flippin' US dollars. I got this as a present from a woman who works for the company, and she gets this stuff for free! COVERAGE: Medium-Full coverage! Covers all my flaws, except large active pimples. FINISH: Semi-matte natural finish. Its very natural, but flawless looking at the same time. You must exfoliate before applying though, it can accentuate dry patches. TEXTURE: Creamy, but not thick and greasy like other creams. SCENT: Yes, it smells like sunscreen SPF: 18 LASTING POWER: This is why I love this so much! It honestly lasts a great long while, although I do use primer. Probably keeps me from getting oily for about 6 hours, but stays on my face for 10 hours. It also keeps my skin very hydrated. SHADES: I think I have this in B10? Its waay too light for me. From what I see on their website, their range of shades are not too impressive :/ DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Nope! WOULD I REPURCHASE?: No :( TOO EXPENSIVE FINAL VERDICT: If this wasn't so ridiculously expensive, I would repurchase this over and over again. I love it so much! WHY CANT I BE RICH! T~T If you can afford this, definitely try it out. I think it is great for all skin types.
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Powder -Everyday Minerals - Foundation Matte Formula
admilly101 12/17/2012 10:50:00 AM
Overall Rating: 3/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $12.99 COVERAGE: Light-Light/Medium coverage, not extremely build-ab;e. It covers my uneven skintone and minor imperfections, but doesn't do anything for my active pimples. FINISH: I would say this is a natural matte. Just like any other MMU, it has a slight sheen to it, which is what I like about MMU's. TEXTURE: Its creamier than most other MMU's, not as creamy as Lucy Minerals, but close. SCENT: None SPF: None LASTING POWER: This lasts about 8 hours on my skin, but I do have to blot, and the product tends to ball up in places. SHADES: This brand offers a great diversity of shades... But I wish they had organized them on the website into "warm", "cool", and "neutral". It was hard to figure out which ones were best for my undertones. I got 7 free samples (I like how they give free samples!) and the shade "Light" fits me perfectly. Same tone and depth of my skin. DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Nope PACKAGING: Just a jar with a sifter, like all MMU's. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: No FINAL VERDICT: You only get 5 grams of product per jar, which is waaay less than most mineral makeups provide, plus I need to use a lot to get the coverage I need. I liked it, but not blown away.
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Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo Buffing Brush
admilly101 12/16/2012 11:00:00 PM
I feel like this brush is a step up from the ELF Flat Top Powder Brush. They are very similar, but the reason I like this more is I feel that it is a denser and the bristles are more concentrated, creating a more full-coverage look. I use this for my mineral foundation, and it works wonderfully! Its fool-proof.
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Powder -L'Oreal - Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation
admilly101 12/13/2012 9:06:00 PM
I think it should be known that this is called "L'oreal True Match Mineral Foundation" now. Overall Rating: 3/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $12-16, which is a bit expensive for a drugstore to be honest :/ COVERAGE: This gives phenomenal coverage for a MMU. Light-High Medium, not quite full, but close. It definitely covers all my scars and discoloration, but as others have said before, this won't cover any large active blemishes- atleast not completely. You really dont need a lot of product to reach the high medium it gives. FINISH: Very soft-powder matte finish, but still gives that sheen in the sunlight that most MMU's give, which is why I like MMU. TEXTURE: I know I have claimed other foundations to be "light" and, "I can't even feel its there!" but when i say that, I usually mean that Its barely detectable, but I can still feel it. However, this is TRULY weightless, and soft. SCENT: No scent SPF: 19 LASTING POWER: This is one of the only 2 gripes I have with this product. It is in no way, shape or form an oil control MMU. I definitely need a primer underneath. It starts to wear off around 3 hours, which is a bit unfortunate :( SHADES: I fist bought that shade "Soft Ivory", because the other shades looked too dark, but this shade turned out to be very VERY white and pale. So I bought "Light Ivory" instead, which matches me a whole lot better :) I think they provide an almost adequat amount of shades, although they could add some darker shades for our darker women out there :) DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Nope! Gentle formula, just as it claims. PACKAGING: As everyone else has complained, the brush is pointless. I have no intention of using it. I wish they had skipped the brush and just put the product in a normal jar, with a sifter and a sealer for the sifter. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: No :( Even though I like it, it does not stay on my face. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: One other thing I appreciate about this mineral makeup is they do provide quite a bit of product compared to other MMU's. You get 10 grams of product, which is more than Bare Minerals gives you. PLUS a little goes a long way, so this jar should last me a long time! FINAL VERDICT: If it had better lasting power, and was more mattifying, it would be my HG.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Physicians Formula - Eye booster eyeliner + serum
admilly101 12/12/2012 10:42:00 AM
Overall Rating: 5/5 If you love the look of precise, perfect, polished eyeliner, you need this. This eyeliner is phenomenal. I have always been searching for the perfect liquid eyeliner. Something that would not fade, something that was easy to use, something that I could make perfect winged eyeliner with. This is that! PACKAGING: It is a silver pen-like eyeliner, except the end is NOT a felt tip. It is flexible. It is more like a very thin, precise paintbrush FORMULA: It is a little watery, but not to the point where it is getting all over the place. Its just the perfect inbetween of watery and thick. SHADE: I got this in "Ultra Black", because I heard all the other colors were not as pigmented. But ultra black is very black! FINISH: This is not a matte eyeliner, it does have a bit of a sheen to it, which I dont mind. If you are the kind of person who likes super matte looking eyeliner, this may not be for you. LASTING POWER: This does not budge. I have worn this for 12 hours and it never fades, or creases or smudges. Yay! EASE OF USE: It used to take me so long to do winged eyeliner, because It was so easy to mess up with other eyeliners. This performs so well with such ease. It takes me about 20 seconds to do each eye. PRICE: I got mine at walmart for $11 WOULD I BUY AGAIN: YES FINAL VERDICT: HG eyeliner!
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Powder -L'Oreal - True Match Super-Blendable Powder
admilly101 12/9/2012 7:25:00 PM
UPDATE: Yeaah, it broke me out :( knocking off a lippie for that~ ********* Overall Rating: 5/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, NW20-25ish. PRICE: $10-12 US Dollars COVERAGE: I use this as a setting powder for my foundation, and I feel it adds an additional light layer of coverage. I have not yet worn it alone, but I definitely think it would make a great light-coverage foundation too! FINISH: Soft-powder finish. I honestly look like a porcelain doll when I wear this. TEXTURE: Soft and blendable, as the product claims to be SCENT: Nope SPF: None LASTING POWER: This doesn't exactly keep my skin super matte, I do find I have to retouch every 2 hours or so, but I never get super shiney or anything. So I would say it stays on my face for 5 hours if I don't touch up. SHADES: The L'Oreal True Match line comes with many shades, with 3 different undertones: warm, neutral, and cool. I got mine in Warm 2, which is a little pale for me, but I think the next shade W3 will match me fine. DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: I am not quite sure... I did get a few bumps on my forehead after wearing this, but my skin has been temperamental lately, so I don't think this was the culprit. PACKAGING: Its a compact. On the top is the powder, then there is a mirror and sponge compartment on the bottom. I actually did not even realize there was a bottom compartment untill a few months after I bought it.... *facepalm*. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes FINAL VERDICT: I really like this. I think I might try wearing it as a foundation, or maybe over a TM or BB cream. Great little powder! Definitely exceeded my expectations.
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Blush -E.L.F. - Studio Blush Tickled Pink
admilly101 11/23/2012 2:26:00 PM
This is a fabulous blush for just $3! I love the packaging. It's very sleek, similar to NARS. Although the color at first glance looks very basic, just another pink blush, it's much more than that. It gives the most natural glow on your skin. It has VERY minimal shimmer, creating a beautiful luminous finish. My only gripe with this is that it is not very pigmented, so you have to use a lot of product. This is still one of my top blushes!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup
admilly101 11/18/2012 5:08:00 PM
Overall Rating: 4/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $10-12 US dollars COVERAGE: On initial application, this provides a high-medium coverage, which I like for everyday. But on days when I need a little more coverage, I just concentrate the product on those areas by patting it into place, as apposed to blending. I don't need concealer! FINISH: I would say its a soft-matte finish, but as my natural oils set through, it begins to look a little more luminous in some places, which I love :) Doesnt need to be set with powder. TEXTURE: I think they changed the formula when they changed the packaging of this foundation, because it is not nearly as thick as it used to be! It doesnt feel as thick or dry to the touch like it used to. Still a little goopy, but its not uncomfortable. SCENT: Yes, and I hate it. I feel like I am putting paint on my face, because it smells like wet paint! Gross! SPF: 6 LASTING POWER: Definitely lives up to its name. Lasting power for me is up to.... 12 hours I think! SHADES: I bought the shade 200 Nude, which is a pretty good match. This foundation offers a plethora of shades! DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Sadly, if I wear this too much, it tends to cause some break outs. So I cant use it for everyday :( PACKAGING: Not a fan. I definitely feel like this foundation, with its thickness, would be better with a pump. Pour bottles are SUCH a pain! What I do to avoid making a mess is covering the open bottle with my finger, shake it up really hard, then use whatever product dispenses on my finger. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes, I would FINAL VERDICT: Love this for special occasions :)
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Rimmel - Clean Finish Matte Foundation
admilly101 10/18/2012 10:32:00 PM
Overall Rating: 4/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, beige skin with dominant yellow undertones. PRICE: $3.79! Such an amazing price for such a great makeup! COVERAGE: I would say the coverage is definitely light- a light medium. It conceals most of my old acne scarring but doesn't do much for my big red blemishes. FINISH: This stays true to its name. It has a great soft-powdered matte finish, and I don't even need to set it with powder. It DOES eliminate pores. It also sets REALLY fast. You think Revlon Colorstay sets fasts? Haha, no, the second you are done blending this out its DRY. So, I suggest using a damp brush or sponge to slow down the setting process. TEXTURE: It is sort of thick and whipped, similar to the Revlon Whipped Creme Makeup, but not quite as decadent. It doesn't feel thick when applied the skin though. SCENT: Yes, there is a slight scent, but nothing major. SPF: None LASTING POWER: This foundation DEFINITELY beat the original in this department. This last an impressively long amount of time. I apply it at 7:00AM and it has barely faded by 5:00PM. SHADES: I got this in "True Ivory", the same shade as I got in the original Clean Finish. But for some reason, the shade in this formula is a LOT lighter, way too pale for me.This is why I took a lippie off. The shades are funky looking in the jar, but then a completely different color when on the skin. It also does not have a wide variety for those with deeper skin tones. DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Nope! PACKAGING: Packaging is the same as the original. Little glass bottle, with a plastic spatula connected to the lid to scoop the gelatinous product out. It comes with 1 ounce, which is, considering how little product you need for the entire face, a lot of product. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes, I think I might, in a darker shade :) FINAL VERDICT: Definitely an improvement on the old Clean Finish! Definitely one of my top 10 favorite foundations.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Unlisted Brand - Lucy Minerals Foundation
admilly101 9/22/2012 9:53:00 PM
Overall Rating: 4/5 SKIN BACKGROUND: Oily, acne prone, SUPER sensitive, mild scarring and discoloration, NW20-25ish. PRICE: $15 plus shipping, which is VERY cheap and VERY fast!!! COVERAGE:This is definitely a high medium coverage foundation, which is hard to come by with powder foundations. As many others have said, do NOT pack a whole bunch on your face! Or it will crease and cake! FINISH: The trick with this powder is to let it melt into your skin first. Once it has sort of melted with your moisturizer, it looks luminous and very natural, but still maintains a polished look. I highly recommend wearing moisturizer underneath this, because it gives the makeup something to sort of stick onto! TEXTURE: The consistency is quite creamy for a powder, which is great because it prevents it from flying all over the place like other powders (cough-bare minerals-cough). SCENT: I didn't notice any scent. SPF: None LASTING POWER: I got this in the OCS formula, because I had previously tried the OCC formula, and that just didn't work on my skin. But the OCS formula actually lasted QUITE some time! I put it on at 7:00AM and it was still there when I took it off at 11:00PM. That's pretty flipping fantastic! SHADES: I always have a hard time picking shades. I would say I have sort of beigey skin, with prominent yellow undertones. I previously tried the shades Light and Cream, which were ghostly on me. But after reading some reviews and looking at some swatches I decided the shade Shell Beige was the best fit, and I am so glad I was right! It is a perfect match for me! AND this brand offers such a fantastic range of shades. And guess what? You order sample and mix them together to create a perfect custom blend for your skin, and they will make it for you! Talk about amazing customer service. DID THIS BREAK ME OUT?: Nope! PACKAGING: I liked the old packaging a bit better (the jar was larger, but you still receive a full 10 grams), but it's still cute. WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Already planning on it :) FINAL VERDICT: This may have just replaced my old fav foundation, CG Natureluxe....
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Trader Joe's - Aloe Vera Gel
admilly101 9/15/2012 7:04:00 PM
Why didn't I find this sooner?! This, surprisingly, makes an excellent mattefying primer. I wouldn't say this works with all foundations, but paired with my CG Natureluxe, they are a match made in heaven. I used to not like the idea of a primer. The main purpose of a primer was to fill in your pores so your foundation wouldn't, however... Why would I want to fill my pores with even MORE chemicals? So I looked for natural primers, and heard that aloe vera gel makes a great primer. And indeed, it does. It dries fast though, so you need to work quick. I suggest blending into the skin in sections. Definitely wear moisturizer underneath, because this is very drying! My foundation stays matte WAY longer with this. It gives my make up something to stick to. This is affordable, natural, great for healing acne, and does the job wonderfully. Whats not to love?
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