Mascara -Yves Saint Laurent - Everlong 
dollfaced41 11/12/2007 10:13:00 AM
I was sadly disappointed in this mascara. I purchased it, because it combined a day mascara with a vitamin lash treatment. I'm not unreasonable enough to believe the treatment would make my lashes grow faster or longer. I was hoping for more of a lash-fortifying effect and fewer fall-outs during removal.
I really dislike the spiney rubber brush in this mascara. I know they're all the rage, but they are so close together that it removes the mascara as you go to apply it. Even if I apply three coats, it leaves my lashes with the same volume as my natural lashes. It's also very square, so you get a product blob at the top. You have to remove it with a cutip or tissue, so that you can get in close enough to get the corner lashes.
The formula isn't lengthening at all, which is surprising for a mascara named "everlong." It's very goopy, but the rubber brush pulls product off as you apply, so you're left with a very thin coat on each lash. No volume, no length. I suppose it would be good if you had light lashes and wanted a natural lash tint, but my lashes are already black, so this is basically nothing for me.
This also tends to dry out my eyes and make them feel itchy. It flakes after 10 hours or so, so I can't apply it to my lower lashes and I have to be vigilant about checking my undereyes throughout the day.
In conclusion, this is a blah, blah, blah mascara. The best lengthener I've ever found is Maybelline lash discovery. For only $6, it blows this junk out of the water.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Estee Lauder - Idealist
dollfaced41 11/12/2007 9:52:00 AM
I used to use the old idealist, before I became knowledgable about AHA/BHA exfoliants and the use of retinoids to fight acne and dry skin buildup. My skin was also much oilier back then, so I would use idealist has a moisturizer (this was also pre-sunscreen obsession). It made my skin smooth and appear more even. It didn't really get rid of my acne, but seemed to make it disappear a bit faster.
It was a bit pricey for a 15 year-old's budget, so when I ran out of the hand-me-down bottle from my aunt, I had to stop using it. I moved on to an endless number of exfoliants to help combat my blackheads and acne. Had I rated it, I would probably give it 4 lippies. It really did make my skin feel and look better.
Flash foreward five years. My skin is now combo-dry. I've learned so much about skin care from MUA. I realized I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide and started using BHA and AHA-retinoid. My skin is the best it has ever been. I also know it will last, since I'm using high PPD sunscreen on my face and body.
When the new idealist came out, I had to have it. I remembered the velvety feel it used to give my skin. I knew my skin was great as it is, but I just couldn't resist. I bought a BIG 1.7oz and used it every morning with my BHA (you're not supposed to use retinoids like Diacneal during the day, since they can make you sun-sensitive).
I waited for it to do...anything. The product didn't feel as silky as it used to. It's more watery and less gel-like. It didn't make my skin velvety upon application. It basically disappeared into my skin, leaving it looking exactly the same as before. I wonder if the heavy duty exfoliants I use have made my face immune to the miniscule exfoliant properties of this. I decided to be patient and used about 90% of the bottle. Still nada. I don't know if it's the new formula that's lame or if it was always lame and my young skin was more easily altered. Either way, don't waste your money.
My best advice is to get on the skincare board and read up prior posts on exfoliants, retinoids, and vitamin C/antioxidant serums. Get yourself a photostable, high PPD sunscreen for daily use.
My routine for dry-combo skin (dry everywhere with slightly oily T zone) with blackhead and dullness problems:
*AM*
cleanser: Chanel precision blanc essentiel cleansing oil
exfoliant: Neutrogena stress control triple action moisturizer (salicylic acid BHA)
antioxidants: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum
moisturizer: Shiseido white lucent emulsion
SPF: Diorsnow Pure UV Perfect Brightening Protective UV Base SPF 50
*PM*
cleanser: Chanel precision blanc essentiel cleansing oil
retinoid: Avene Diacneal (Glycolic Acid AHA and retinaldehyde retinoid (better than retinol and less irritating that perscription retin-A))
exfoliant: Neutrogena stress control triple action moisturizer (salicylic acid BHA)
moisturizer: Shiseido white lucent emulsion
5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Becca - Pencil Sharpener
dollfaced41 11/4/2007 3:33:00 PM
I can't agree more with the previous reviewer. This is the WORST pencil sharpener ever. The parts holding the sharpeners are loose, so the pencil twists the sharpeners against the casing as you try and sharpen them. It also doesn't sharpen very effectively. You get half sharpened pencils and breakage. I wish I could find a sharpener to take its place. I didn't find any drugstore sharpeners and the Sephora duo sharpener doesn't work either. In the meantime I have to use Mustique sparingly - and it's so lovely!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Chanel - Golden Sun
dollfaced41 11/4/2007 1:01:00 PM
I bought this for a VERY dorky reason - it's listed as Anya's blush for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Emma Caulfield and I have similar colouring, though she may be a bit deeper-toned than me. When it arrived, I was so disappointed. It was BURGUNDY with red and gold shimmer. This was a blush for an NC45 or deeper! I tried applying it and it was just so dark.
I was ready to pack it up and send it back, but I decided to give it one more chance. I got out my biggest, fluffiest powder brush and buffed like there was no tomorrow. I used tiny dips of colour each time and buffed in a circular motion up and down my cheekbone. Voila! It became an instant favorite.
I'm a neutral PPP and Golden sun is a deep burgundy-rose with finely milled gold and red shimmer. I use it mostly in fall or winter to warm up my complexion. It's a perfect blush for making high cheekbones pop. I usually place it under my cheekbone and add a highlight shade on top of the bone, like Becca pressed shimmer powder in Angel or Benefit moonbeam.
I especially like using it with Chanel twinkle glossimer and qudra eyeshadow in influences or les mattes naturels. It's also great with a berry lip like Chanel casablanca aqualumiere lipstick or Clinique black honey lipstick.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Flirt - Flirtatious
dollfaced41 11/3/2007 9:55:00 PM
This fragrance is a fruity floral. It would be a great option for a younger wearer. It's advertised as a mix of wildberry, honeysuckle, and vanilla. This is very similar to Philosophy falling in love (which, made me ill) in terms of berry notes, but it doesn't have the gut-wrenchingly cloying note. The berry is light-handed and well-balanced with the other notes. It also has very good staying power and lasts over 8hours after dry down. It's not really my cup of tea as far as personal use, but it is a nice scent for someone fun and fresh.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Olay - Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer
dollfaced41 10/18/2007 2:16:00 AM
I have very fair skin with exfoliation issues. I tend to have dry skin cling on for dear life, causing blackheads and a dull complexion. So, when I saw this advertised, I was happy to see a d/s alternative to my uber pricey Diorsnow and Shiseido White Lucent.
Unfortunately, this is not the brightener I had hoped for. It has no Kojic Acid or Hydroquinone or Vitamin C. It is light in texture, but it tends to be oily and sits on top of the skin. It's HIGHLY comdeogenic and took my regular blackheads to the bigtime, turning them into full-blown acne. It may be cheaper than my h/e brighteners, but who cares if it doesn't work?
I give it one lippie, mostly because I can't give it none. But I guess this product does have a few good points. The foaming delivery mechanism is fun and novel, but serves no real purpose. It also smells nice.
I used this nightly for a whole month and got nothing but more blackheads. I couldn't justify throwing such an expensive product away. So, I squirted it aaaalll out in my hands and used the big ball of marshmallow fluff as a body lotion. Highly diverting : D
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Vaseline - Intensive Care Daily Skin Shield Protective Moisture SPF 15
dollfaced41 10/17/2007 12:37:00 AM
I'm on the search for a broad spectrum, photo-stable sunscreen for daily wear on my body. There are many major obstacles. Access to good sunscreens is rediculously hard in the US. Drugstores and department stores are allowed to down right lie about coverage efficacy and completely ignore UVA coverage. Most nice sunscreens come in packages of one or two ounces with huge price tags. While I'm willing to spend $45 to get 1oz of SPF50 PPD 10+ sunscreen from Hong Kong for my face and neck, that's an unfeasable expense when application for body sunscreen should be about 1oz ($45 day? No Way!). Many of these quality sunscreens are also greasy, sticky, and itchy for dry-skinned ladies like myself. They can also leave spots on more delicate clothing.
This moisturizer is light and non-sticky with a vaguely coppertone-ish scent. I find that the scent disappears quickly. The lotion does not "float" on top of my skin, but sinks in nicely with some massaging. Overall it's a very pleasant product to apply and wear.
It's also a winner in terms of price. For around $6 at any drugstore I can get 20.3oz of lotion. A daily full body application is about 1oz. So, this lasts a good 20 days.
However, in terms of sun protection, even for limited-exposure daily use (I spend most of my time indoors), this product is not ideal. SPF 15 is a bit low and I would prefer UVB coverage of at least SPF 30. It's also a bust on UVA coverage. According to the PPD info on nora80's notepad, this has about 2.5 ppd. Recommended daily PPD is 10+.
So, my search continues. While I look, I'll continue to use this. I figure some protection is better than nothing. I may have to just give in and go through a tube of summer sunscreen every week. Stickiness is better than sun damage and skin cancer, right?
EDIT: I knocked off two lippies, because I realized that this product contains Oxybenzone, which has questionable safety for daily use (see sunscreenFAQ's notepad under "Are sunscreens toxic?"). I also found an economical alternative for US buyers: Cetaphil SPF 15, which has a PPD of around 8 and contains no hazardous materials.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Becca - Line and Illuminate Pencil in Mustique
dollfaced41 7/9/2007 4:53:00 AM
I ADORE this eye pencil! For day, I usually just use the pearlescent pink side on my tear duct and water line. Add a swipe of mascara and I'm good to go. The pearl really lightens my dark circles and gives a lovely halo of colour that opens up my eyes.
For night, my favorite look is tightlining with black liquid liner and then using the pink side on the tear duct and inner 1/3 of my upper lid. Then I take the bronze side and line the outer 2/3 and mudge it along the outer corner and outer 1/3 of my lower lash line. Add Lancome Fatale or Diorshow and you have a sultry, but subtle smoke eye.
I also like to use the pink side on my cupid's bow to highlight my mouth.
The pink side is very soft and can either be used to line or as an eyeshadow. The bronze side is a bit more firm, but still blendable enough to smoke or sheer out for shadow. If applied too heavily, some creasing and transfer can occur, but after a bit of practice, I haven't had any creases. I'm now coveting Ibiza and Capri...Curse you Becca - You snared me at last!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -MAC - Tinted Lip Conditioner Stick in Sun Under
dollfaced41 7/9/2007 3:45:00 AM
Great product all around. Very moisturizing with a soft, non-sticky, non-gritty feel. Stays on the lips for hours. Excellent nude tint with soft golden shimmer. Delicate vanilla scent - nothing overwhelming. Here are some pics for reference:
Sun Under (natural light)
Sun Under (artifical light)
Bare lips (natural light)
Sun Under in stick form
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Max Factor - More Lashes Waterproof
dollfaced41 7/9/2007 3:14:00 AM
YAWN. This mascara definitely doesn't give you "more lashes." Pros: A little more color and some definition. Doesn't smudge or run when my eyes water. Cons: No lengthening. No volume. This would be an excellent choice for a woman with light lashes who wants a natural look with no smudging. It did nothing for my lashes. Even with three coats, it barely looked like I had applied mascara. As it's billed as a lash multiplier, which it isn't, I have to give it a ho-hum review.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Clarins - Liquid Eyeliner in Black 01
dollfaced41 7/9/2007 3:01:00 AM
I got this after a couple weeks on a trip to Jordan, land of big-eyed beauties with out of this world eyeliner. I'm usually a devotee of Lancome Artliner, but as I had a brand new one waiting for me at home, I decided to try something new (and cheaper).
While the application brush in this product is excellent - just the right length and bristle consistency (firm, but not like a spike in the eye), I was disappointed with the product itself.
It takes FOREVER to dry. I am familiar with Artliner, Guerlain Divinora, and all manner of drugstore liquid liners. I realize liquid liner needs time to set properly - this was 10 minutes plus.
Once it does dry, it can smudge very easily. It's NOT recommended for tightlining or water line (my favorite places to line). Even with no rubbing or tears, a black haze forms beneath the lashes all day long. It's mostly good for a short term upper lash line (like a 60s wing).
Is it a horrible liner...No. Is it the best? No. Especially not for the price. L'oreal lineur intense felt tip or brush tip are far longer lasting and more versatile and go for about $5-7. My heart still belongs to Lancome Artliner - shame on me for forgetting it!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Fresh - Lychee Sugar
dollfaced41 4/5/2007 4:36:00 PM
I got this as a sample with my Sephora order and I'm sooo glad I didn't purchase.
This smells like lemon and lime skittles... Not exactly the scent I'm going for. If you were, there are tons of cheap body splashes available at drugstores and BBW that have much more product.
This did have a lot of staying power...but I didn't want that. I wanted it to go away!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -LUSH - Buffy the Backside Slayer
dollfaced41 4/3/2007 6:00:00 PM
I was, in general, under-whelmed by this product. The scrub was too coarse for me to use as a general body scrub without irritation.
A slimy residue is left over on the shower and tub, making everything slippery. This would be a-okay with me if it moisturized, but mostly an oily film lingered on the surface of my skin. It didn't appear to sink in and moisturize at any point. It did leave oil stains inside my jeans however. I tried doing a post-Buffy lathering with my regular body wash, but this didn't get rid of the goo.
I'm finishing up the last chunk on my feet and not repurchasing. There are so many better smelling and more effective scrubs out there (many at drugstores) that don't have the yucky slime monster effect this one has.
This didn't factor into the ratings I gave this product, because it's mostly my own silliness, but I don't see Buffy using such a hippy, granola smelling fragrance. Very pungent and incense-y, this seems more up Willow or Tara's alley. But, that's just me, as I said, being silly.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Burberry - Burberry Tender Touch
dollfaced41 4/3/2007 11:35:00 AM
After being dissappointed by the ephemeral Philosophy Amazing Grace, I've been on a fragrance search that's led to zillions of decant purchases off ebay. This is definitely *the ONE*!
Tender Touch is a sublte white floral with just enough sweetness and warmth to make it uniqe. It lasts all day, but isn't cloying or over-powering.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Christian Dior - MaximEyes - Maxi Black
dollfaced41 4/2/2007 8:41:00 PM
Said in Captain Norrington voice: This is, without a doubt, the worst mascara I have ever seen.
Next to Maybelline Great Lash and Rimmel Lycra lash extender, this easily eeks out the spot for worst mascara ever. It does NOTHING. I already have black, thick lashes, so really I was looking for length more than anything. This gave me neither length nor extra volume. It looked like I wasn't wearing mascara at all. Then, mid-day, I had a microfine smudgey black mist below my eyes. I returned it lickety split and got Diorshow unlimited instead. This is utter crap.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No