Lip Gloss -NARS - Chihuahua 
etooz 11/29/2010 11:40:00 PM
Okay, it's totally story time. I first bought Chihuahua in 2006. I reviewed it here on MUA. I liked it, but I had yet to realise its full power. My review was short, and I only gave the gloss a 4 out of 5 rating. I'm here to rectify this and re-write a (hopefully) better review. A year after I bought my first tube, I moved to Maine. I went on a trash frenzy, throwing out all kinds of things...INCLUDING CHIHUAHUA. At the time, I figured I didn't need it. In hindsight, who the hell throws away a lip gloss that costs 24 USD? A moron, apparently. Anyway, in my travels and lip glossing, I realised that the juicy, bright-but-not-so-bright-it-can't-be-neutral pink was the absolute bee's knees on my NC 20/25 skin/Italian coloring. It lights up my face, and makes my light brown eyes sparkle. If you are of similar physical appearance, this simply is a must-try. Try layering it with Nars Niagara lipstick for something else that's amazing, too. Nars lip glosses are among my favorite because, as far as I'm concerned, the lasting power, relative lack of scent and smooth texture set them apart from the others. I actually prefer them to Chanel Glossimers, as well. So, to wrap my story up, after hemming and hawing about replacing my poor, tossed-out Chihuahua, I purchased a shiny, new tube at the Portland Sephora. I take it with me everywhere and haven't looked back.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Wet 'n' Wild - MegaSlicks Lip Gloss in #568 Bronze Berry
etooz 11/29/2010 11:26:00 PM
I've been using Bronze Berry on and off since 1998. Over time, I've graduated to pricier glosses like Nars Chihuahua (HG), and Chanel Glossimers, but I still will pick a tube of this up when I see it on sale at a drugstore. Sometimes I'll pick one up even if it's not on sale-- at 1.99 USD, it's really not a big purchase; I probably have that much laying around in my car seats. Anyway, the color is very pleasing. It's slightly metallic, but not so much that it's overwhelming. It's a good balance between metallic and luminous. The shade is pretty neutral. It looks almost like a shiny, new penny in the tube, but it certainly isn't that harsh once it's on. The pigmentation is good, but neither too sheer or too opaque. I will say that on particularly dry days, this will run and feather a little bit, but it's nothing terrible and it really will only do it after several hours. In short, this is what I generally end up using as a "car gloss," which means that I keep it in the little cup holder thing in my car for when I need gloss, but have forgotten it. This color goes with pretty much any look I might be sporting, so I won't have to worry about it clashing. I don't think this gloss will rock your world, but it is a solid buy you most likely won't regret. I will issue a caveat about the scent, though: it's kinda gross, and I took one star off for it. It's chemically...melon-like? I don't know, but I'm not fond of it.
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Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
etooz 7/14/2010 8:16:00 AM
This is, without a doubt, the best palette ever to grace the Earth. No palette will ever be this amazing. Does this sound like hyperbole to you? Well, it's not. Okay, if you don't like neutrals, this isn't for you. For the rest of us? This is the best thing EVER. Twelve full-size UD shadows, every bit as amazing as their 17 dollar a pop counterparts. I love how smooth and creamy the mattes are. I have a feeling Naked and Buck are gonna be gone before anything else in my palette. There is a color for every purpose, and I found the gunmetal shade a nice touch. For 44 dollars USD, this is a crazy deal. I had shied away from buying UD shadows because I felt 17 bucks per was too much, and I thought part of the price went into their horrendously gaudy packaging-- which brings me to another point: the package. It's flocked velvet/felt brown with gold lettering. It's very chic, kind of like Urban Decay for adults. Usually, UD caters to almost clown makeup, so I'm super happy to see them tap into a more subdued demographic. Before you factor in the dual-ended eyeliner and the UDPP, this is a great deal. When you factor in the whole thing, it is a tremendous deal. If you can get your hands on one, buy it. The versatility is great.
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lipstick - Softsilver Rose
etooz 6/6/2010 2:44:00 PM
So, tell me, HOW did this win Allure readers' choice 2010? They describe it as a muted mauve that "beautifully" catches light. Um. What? This is not mauve, this does not "beautifully catch light." This is a BRIGHT, cool-toned, frosty pink. It reminds me of those women in their mid 80s at a church social. It's almost purple, it's so pink. This is a really atrocious color...very 1993. No, no, NO.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Conditioner -Organix - Nourishing Coconut Milk Conditioner
etooz 5/23/2010 10:38:00 PM
Wow, I cannot believe all the bad reviews! I adore the Coconut Milk line. I've been using it for quite some time now-- it makes my hair SO soft. I have color-treated, highlighted, thick brown hair. The conditioner definitely lacks slip in the shower, but my hair is manageable, soft and shiny after I get out and dry up. I never have a problem with tangles using this, and the scent (which is beyond heavenly) lasts all day. Wal-Mart just started selling bigger bottles, much to my happiness. I love the gentle, natural formulas. It's a little more expensive than most brands, but it's well worth it.
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Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
etooz 4/26/2010 5:23:00 PM
This foundation is my work horse. My true love is MAC Studio Stick, but it's a bit expensive and not so good for long days of work. Let me start by saying I worked a 14 hour day this past Friday-- 6:45am to 9:45pm (there were two breaks in :p). When I used a makeup wipe at 10:30 that night, there was still foundation on my face. Actually, it still looked good after that much time. It didn't look like I'd just put it on, but it looked GOOD, considering especially that I applied it at 6:20am. This is a great everyday foundation. It also doesn't break me out, luckily. The one thing is that you need to be sure not to apply it with a brush. When I bought this, I tried to apply it with a brush and it looked awful, so it just sat on my desk, unused. One day I was in a hurry and slapped it on with my fingers-- and I fell in love. Just a great work horse. I took one star off for the the bottle...it would benefit from a pump because when I pour it on the back of my hand, it's very hard to control the flow. This is such a steal, though. Great product.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Nails -Rimmel - Lasting Finish PRO - Lava Red
etooz 4/5/2010 8:52:00 PM
This is SUCH a sexy color. It's a black base with a very prominent red shimmer. It sounds very simple, but what I love about it is, unlike other "vampy" colors, you can see the red shimmer even in dim light. It is simply gorgeous...I keep going back to the adjective "sexy," because it just is such a sultry color. I have yet to see a color like this out there. Other deep darks like this just look black unless it's seen in direct sunlight. The packaging for this is good...it's a sturdy, square glass bottle. The brush is wonderful for avoiding your cuticles, which, with a polish this dark is important. It's a very broad brush, so if you've got small nails this may bring you grief. I was able to, however, get a nice round shape at the base of my nail with minimal effort. The color lays down smoothly, and with two coats I got full opacity. The drying time isn't bad, and with a good base and top coat I get decent wear and shine. Rimmel frequently changes their products, but I have no complaints on this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -New York Color - extreme lip glider lip gloss [DISCONTINUED]
etooz 4/5/2010 8:46:00 PM
I've had this obsession as of late with an NYC nail polish (see reviews), and while picking up a second bottle of that, I noticed these. I picked up 522U/Carnegie Melon. Corny New York City names aside, this is a decent gloss. Carnegie Melon is a medium pink with some shimmer. It's skin-brightening (I'm an NC25) and cute without screaming, "HAY GUYS, I'M 18!" I don't have time for that, heh. The color's very flattering. As others state, there is a vague watermelon flavor. The formula is so-so-- it's not sticky, but it's not as long-lasting as say...MAC Lipglass. I tend to prefer the texture of Lipglass to the more slippery, non-sticky glosses. When I wear this, I feel like it slides around my lips a little. All non-sticky glosses migrate. Have you ever seen a woman who's worn one all day? You can usually spot them a mile away because it looks like they've been drooling. I took some stars off for that-- I don't like to mind my lipgloss. Also, the long, narrow packaging is odd to me, because only the vaguest pressure from your fingers will make product come blasting out of the tip. Also, if you run dry on gloss while applying, the rubber nib will "grab" your lips and pull painfully. It's not that this is a bad gloss, it's actually decent, and a great deal...but I just think you can find better things. I'd recommend this if you are on a budget, though...of all the drugstore glosses, this is probably one of the best.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Sugarpill - Burning Heart 4-Color Palette
etooz 4/2/2010 6:43:00 PM
I know that independent makeup brands can be hit or miss: I've heard the tales of woe regarding people who just repackage bulk colors and mica. I was a little wary about ordering this product based on those stories, but I have to say I am very impressed with this item. I'll start with a quick rundown on the colors: Flamepoint, which is a bright, true orange that has no detectable shimmer, Buttercupcake which is an almost-primary yellow, with just the SLIGHTEST leaning towards orange. This one also has no shimmer to it. The other two colors are Love+, a vibrant, scarlet red, and Poison Plum, a deep and shimmery purple color. All of these colors lay down smoothly and are highly pigmented. I use them over MAC's Painterly Paint Pot, and they blend well together. The photos on the website don't really do justice to these colors! They are mind-blowingly bright both in the pan and on the lid. Regarding the size, 34 bucks gets you four pans that are all noticeably bigger than MAC pans. MAC quad: .20 US OZ. Sugarpill quad: .54 US OZ. Huge difference. I'd also say that these colors are unique. You can find other yellows, but the orange, red and purple are all quite unique in their brightness. The red also makes a good blush if you use a tiny, tiny amount. The packaging contains a mirror and is cardboard-based. It has magnet closure. I took one star off for this-- I am not a fan of this type of packaging. While it is solid, the magnet can weaken over time, causing the top to flap during travel. That aside though, this is just a stunning set of shadows.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Creative Nail Design - Limelight
etooz 3/28/2010 3:04:00 PM
CND, why on God's green earth did you overhaul your line? Your stuff was amazing. Depth of color, unique finishes, you name it. The new stuff sucks. Really, I'm not a fan. Anyway, Limelight. I adore this color. I don't recommend it for something to stand alone, but over a pink, indigo or black polish, this is really something special. I love flaky glitter polishes, but they're hard to find. This has various-sized flakes and tiny flecks of green and blue shimmer. The best part about it is that it dries smooth as glass, no rough bits. I hear it's black light reactive, too. I can't stop staring at my nails when I use this. As with all old CND polishes, the dry time is pretty slow, but I find the end result is worth it both in the look and the superior weartime. Why, CND, did you try to fix something that wasn't broke?
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Polishes -New York Color - Chinatown - 210B
etooz 3/1/2010 8:30:00 PM
Maybe I'm still on the "it-color" thing from fall 2009 where indigo was all the rage, but I am just in love with this color. I bought it about two weeks ago, and I have not used another color since I purchased. It is a gorgeous, dusty navy/indigo blue with a surprisingly deep silver shimmer. The color is even in two coats, and one coat of Out The Door speed dry makes it very shiny. Wear-wise, I can eke about four days of decent wear if I use Orly Bonder as a base, so that's good. I don't mind reapplying frequently as I can have the entire manicure dried and done in about fifteen minutes. The brush is great for keeping cuticles clean-- slightly rounded, just broad enough. Yeah, as said, the wear isn't the longest, but for a buck 72? I'm sold. I have not found as good a navy/indigo blue by any other brand. Oh, and it doesn't stain. Plus!
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Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Sexy Little Things Noir
etooz 2/28/2010 5:04:00 PM
Upon discovering this perfume, I actually got rid of a lot of the bottles I owned at the time. I understand that an individual's body chemistry can affect greatly the way a fragrance smells, but I will say this is the best perfume I have smelled, ever. It's a fruity floral spiked with a nice vanilla note to sort of enrich the overall effect. I can't speak for others, but on me, Sexy Little Things Noir just smells amazing! In short, it's a fruity floral with a little extra "oomph" from the gourmand-y vanilla. As mentioned in other reviews, the bottle looks exactly like something you might find in some kind of victorian budoir, which only sweetens the deal for me. The 3.4 oz size of this scent retails for 49 USD, which is a great deal. I hope this is never discontinued. If it is, I'll wear it until it's no longer made.
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Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - LIFE IS PINK. HOPE (BLUE)
etooz 2/27/2010 10:49:00 PM
When I found out about the new VS PINK perfumes, I got pretty stoked. The bottles are very cute and stylized, which I always find refreshing. Based on looks alone, I found Wish Pink to be my favorite, but upon actually testing the scents, Hope Pink turned out to be the stunner. Whereas Wish was cloying and cheap, Live was almost too sharp. Hope is a nicely rounded scent-- the strawberry brings a sort of sparkle and crispness, while the jasmine mellows and softens the fragrance without making it powdery at all. I initially was wary of the strawberry aspect, but Hope Pink has a great wear and drydown. There is nothing about it that assaults my nostrils, it just lingers pleasantly. This is a winner for days where I feel like Sexy Little Things Noir is a bit intense. The bottle is precious-- I love the vibrant blue peace sign, and the enamel flowers are a cute touch. I might pick the lotion up soon.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - LIFE IS PINK. WISH ( PINK)
etooz 2/27/2010 10:35:00 PM
Okay. I wanted to love this fragrance, because the bottle is quite possibly the cutest bottle I've ever seen. The perfume, however, smells like play dough. I do not understand why they chose a cheap vanilla and cloying peony scent for this. It smells cloudy and cheap and awful. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I just know if I smelled this on someone, I'd want to get away. It is not creamy or sexy, it's overwhelming and cheap-smelling. I do not recommend this to anyone. It's a shame, because again, it has the most adorable bottle I've ever come across.
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Liquid -Cover Girl - Clean Makeup Oil Control
etooz 2/18/2010 10:24:00 AM
I decided to give this product a try when I saw the new packaging. My immediate reaction was one of joy, because Cover Girl has removed that nasty, disgusting "fragrance" from it. As I've reached my mid-20s, I have noticed my skin is more oily, shine-prone and yucky overall. :( I thought it was supposed to even out in your 20s! Anyway, I snagged this in 525 buff beige, along with the oil control powder in the corresponding shade. It's a pretty good foundation-- I wear it for every day because I don't wanna burn through my expensive MAC foundations. :) I apply it with my fingers or with a MAC 188 (powder with 187), and I get a pretty good coverage. I'd say medium leaning towards full, but without the mask-like tendencies. I feel like this is a no-nonsense kind of foundation: no annoying "light-reflecting" particles or anything. I feel like, along with the removal of the terrible stench that they updated the formula as well. When I wore Clean Make Up in the 90s, it always kind of had this powdery, almost flaky drydown. The (supposed) new formula is kinda creamy, and looks very natural. I took one star off for Cover Girl's main flaw: color matching. I am a c2/c3/nc25, and 525 Buff Beige was the most yellow tone I could find, and it is STILL a little too pink on me. Next time I buy, I'll try to find a warmer shade, but overall, you really can't beat this on BOGO.
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