Mascara -Shiseido - Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On
chikababy 4/7/2011 5:20:00 PM
Fabulous mascara, beautiful packaging, like from a gothic romance novel. It lengthens and adds volume. I was initially turned off by the unique brush, there are only two sides: one with small teeth and another with longer, thinner teeth, but they do a great job of combing and adding product to the lashes. I'm surprised the western cosmetic companies haven't made one like this yet-- it's a great brush, very clean, never any build up on the tip. The product itself is fantastic, the only thing I don't like is that it IS difficult to get off. That said, if you're a crier or you have an oily face, fear not, it will not harm this mascara. No flakes or smudges when you rub your lashes, no raccoon eyes at the end of the day, doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes, keeps the curl. I wear this on my bottom lash too. I do wish the separating comb would separate a little bit more (I don't have many lashes) so it's not exactly HG for me but it's definitely deserving of a 5!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Make Up For Ever - HD High Definition Foundation
chikababy 4/4/2011 9:47:00 PM
I love this foundation! It's the closest thing to HG (since I haven't tried a lot of foundation). The only thing wrong with it is the price (46CAD). It's a bit on the expensive side for me but I had a gift card. It has good, buildable coverage. It's the only foundation I've tried that actually looks like skin. It also feels like my skin! I like the pump bottle. I don't detect a scent. I don't find this moisturising (it says it is) but I wasn't looking for that. For reference, I'm NC20 at MAC and I was a really good match for #120
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Moisturizers -Sephora - Instant Moisturizer
chikababy 4/4/2011 9:40:00 PM
I wanted to like it but we just didn't click. The package was large and unnecessarily bulky. Half of it was class; 50ml for a tub that looked like 100ml. It wasn't moisturising enough for my dry skin. The scent was alright, I prefer unscented but the scent wasn't too strong. I hated the fact that it had micro-shimmer. Yes, it's fine for people who like it, but it is not mentioned on the packaging. If something has shimmer in it, I think that the product packaging should say so. The only thing I liked was the texture; it's light but not too light, not oily either. I say this would be good for people who have normal skin but all you dry skin girls, stay away~
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Lips -Joe Fresh Style - Lip Stain in Watermelon
chikababy 3/21/2011 9:22:00 PM
This is my third tube of Joe Fresh's lip stains. I think they're well worth the money! I've had some terrible stains from MAC and the Body Shop and this $6 stain beats them all! Watermelon is a beautiful pure red (on my lips). I like it on a day where I'm not wearing any other makeup. This dries instantly (like water on your lips) and applies very evenly. That said, I regularly exfoliate and moisturize my lips so be sure to do that beforehand. It lasted the whole school day (even through lunch and lip balm application). It definitely looked faded, but I ate lunch and snacks and my lip balm has oils in it so that wasn't very surprising. I appreciated that there was still a hint of colour left. I got this for $3 because I had a buy one get one coupon.
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Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation
chikababy 2/5/2011 4:45:00 PM
I really like this foundation. I haven't had a lot of experience with foundations but this is quite nice for the winter season if you have dry skin. It's very creamy and very opaque. The finish isn't completely matte but it's not dewy either. This is definitely full coverage. I'm NC20 for reference and I used 103 True Ivory. It's a bit on the pink side but quite neutral compared to many other drugstore foundation (which is often too pink/beige if you're of Asian descent). I also found it a bit difficult to blend because of that; I apply with a foundation brush but blend with my fingers. It does stay on better than other foundations I've tried which makes it slightly harder to remove. It comes in a squeeze bottle which is nice and sanitary. A little goes a long way-- not that it matters. I bought it for 6CAD on sale! I might buy it again just for its price and product, although I am hoping for something more yellow undertoned. I will update if it causes my skin to break out.
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Eyeliner -Milani - Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil - brown
chikababy 1/28/2011 7:53:00 PM
This is very hard to find in Canada. I did manage to find it for 6CAD. It's a very dark brown, which is good because I was originally looking for black but they were sold out (I bought the last one). It applies extremely creamy and pigmented which is both good and bad. Good because it doesn't tug at your skin; bad because the product doesn't last this way and i can't seem to sharpen it to a point! I do see the metallic sheen but only close up and not at all in a normal mirror. It is more difficult to remove than what I usually use (MAC's Fluidline) but I use eye makeup remover. I will definitely buy again! If I ever see it again..
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Lotions/ Creams -The Body Shop - Buriti Baby Body Butter
chikababy 12/26/2010 6:30:00 PM
What a lovely body butter. I'm not a baby but I wanted something that was gentle enough for one (since I have sensitive skin). I found the scent comforting-- but a little strong. I don't know if that fragrance is suitable for a baby. Also, I found the colour to be alarmingly yellow. Then again, I am used to body butters that are white or pale in colour. I got it on sale for 10CAD which I found was a good deal but I would probably not buy it at 20CAD as TBS goes on sale quite often. I really enjoy the texture. It feels like softened butter melting into your skin; spreads very well, very easily. It does not leave a residue on the skin-- which I love! It's so hard to find a cream that doesn't. Definitely recommend and would definitely buy again-- on sale hopefully!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Eucerin - 5 percent UREA face cream
chikababy 12/26/2010 5:10:00 PM
I was really surprised at the moisturizing ability of this thin lotion-like moisturizer. My skin did not feel dry after; the scent is similar to many products geared towards sensitive skin. I really like the hygienic tube form. I haven't really noticed a change in skin texture but it's only been a few days. It was on sale for 14CAD which is reasonable for a nice facial moisturizer. I've found it difficult to find one for extremely dry and sensitive skin.
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Lip Gloss -Lancome - Juicy Tubes in Moulin Rose
chikababy 12/23/2010 12:40:00 AM
I got this as a part of a gift set; I don't usually use Juicy Tubes because they're very sheer for their price. This was the same thing. It's a opaque light pink in the tube but applies quite clear. I do like how it gives me a nude glossy look, but there are other options to achieve that look. There's no shimmer or sparkle which I really enjoy. It lasts quite a while-- throughout my work shift until I had a lunch break. But it does last through water and time fine. The tubes are a bit hard to work with. They're slanted, which is nice, but I do prefer the wand/brushes over the messy squeeze tubes. They're 20CAD so I won't be buying this again.
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Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose
chikababy 12/23/2010 12:32:00 AM
I got this in a gift set; I don't actually use department store mascara. I just don't think it's worth it for something you have to replace every few months. After using this, I really don't think it's worth it. This mascara runs on the promotion that it makes your lashes 6x thicker. It doesn't do any volumnizing at all. I only see improvement in length but my L'Oreal Voluminous does a much better job at 6CAD. There are good points though: the mascara is lightweight and very non-irritating. I love Prestige's My Biggest Lashes but they feel so heavy and make my eyes hurt. I can't feel this mascara, it's great that way. It also does not flake or smudge and it's very easy to remove! I find good drugstore mascaras such as L'Oreal or Maybelline very difficult to budge, even with eye makeup remover. I would not buy it again, but it's pretty good length wise~
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Concealers -Physicians Formula - Gentle Cover Concealer(green)
chikababy 12/20/2010 12:23:00 AM
I wasn't a believer of green correcting redness-- I'm probably still not. But this stick does what it says. This is very gentle (it's creamy to apply) and blends in well with your finger. I started with a concealer brush but that didn't go over so well. This neutralized the redness by turning my skin lighter in colour. It's not that big of a deal for my NC25 skin especially since I plan to use foundation over it (I have not found a corrector that works by itself). But then I feel that I can't just smudge it over my red cheeks; I'd have to go over most of my face with it so the 'lightness' matches. Don't get me wrong, the skin tone change isn't dramatic. It's like dusting powder over your nose. I got the trial version because I was very skeptical and that was 4CAD. It's smooth, creamy, does what it says. I might even just use it to brighten my eyes sometime.
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Moisturizers -The Body Shop - Aloe Vera soothing rich night cream
chikababy 12/19/2010 8:31:00 PM
My almost-HG cream. I haven't found another cream suitable. I hate scented moisturizers; they can be so over-powering. This has a great consistency. Not too oily (I also loved Lancome's Nutrix Royal, but much too oily!), not too thin. My skin feels fine after, not too moisturized but comfortable. This costs 20CAD but I've never bought it full-priced. TBS has a lot of 50% off sales/promos, so I always stock up during. I'm still out for my perfect night cream but with my scent-aversion, it'll be a long journey. Also, I find jars and tubs to be less hygienic but creams rarely come in tubes.
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Lipstick -MAC - Rebel Lipstick
chikababy 12/19/2010 8:20:00 PM
What a gorgeous berry colour. It looks very dark in the tube but on the first layer, it's a beautiful berry stain, like after eating blueberry. I find that on my lips, layering creates a redder look than purple. MAC lipsticks are just beautiful in general. They don't have a significant scent, they last a reasonable amount of time (in fact, I love the staying power of MAC lipsticks over other brands) for this satin finish lipstick. If anyone's looking for a berry stain, this one's a great try. They're hard to find in other lipstick selections and the only other one I've tried had sparkles in it! The classic MAC tube is black and sleek; also I do personally prefer the Revlon tubes with the clear window to see your lipstick. Those are just little personal things though. This is 17.50CAD, tax not included. I will probably repurchase if I never find a similar berry lipstick.
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Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HiP Bright Duo - Showy
chikababy 12/19/2010 8:13:00 PM
I love this shadow! I don't own a MAC shadow-- I would love to, but every time I see the little pan for $14, I move away from it. I got this duo for 6CAD and the colours are so vibrant. They look great together and last all day without a primer. The turquoise/teal is just gorgeous; it's multi-dimensional. I'm surprised I haven't reviewed this yet. This is a great line, very department store worthy. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything else from this collection in Canada, but in the US there are so many great choices from the HIP line. The packaging is your usual eyeshadow casing with a little sponge I don't use and a little mirror. Bring more HIP to Canada!
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Shampoo -Jason Natural Cosmetics - Natural Sea Kelp Shampoo
chikababy 12/19/2010 8:06:00 PM
This is my first natural shampoo (something without the harsh detergent of sulfate laureth sodium). You can really feel the difference. It doesn't lather as much, to my disappointment, so it was harder to spread. It came out as a transparent brown gel. The smell is not very noticeable; it's clean and light. What I love is that this keeps your natural oils. Sometimes I overdo the shampoo part and it makes my hair squeaky clean-- which is terrible. My hair feels moisturized after-- I am tempted not to even use conditioner. But it does clean your hair; I do not see a difference between the cleaning of this and other shampoos. Also, I got this on sale on London Drugs for 6CAD at 500ml. The first two ingredients are aloe vera and a flower extract. My great-grandmother washed her hair with aloe vera (shampoo was expensive in her days) and her hair was rich and black until she was late into her 80s.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No