Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Concealer Brush
garstrieper 4/10/2013 11:35:00 AM
I always keep a spare of this, this is a top-notch, cheap as hell brand. Highly recommend!
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Styling Products -Dove - Style+Care Nourishing Amplifier Mousse
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:56:00 AM
This product is fab! Thank you, MUA, for saving me from wasting money on a much more expensive mousse that I almost picked up on impulse at this fancy new Target by my work last week. I looked up reviews for this after aforementioned product was only rated 2.0/5, and this had much better ratings. I've been using it all week, and when I blow dry my hair, it is the shiniest, sleekest, and has body and a swishy quality I don't usually have. When I put it in and don't blow dry it, my hair holds whatever style I've pushed it into, and is not crunchy or anything. Love, and will repurchase FOREVER, probably.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Murad - Clarifying Skin Cleanser
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:51:00 AM
I love the clinical packaging of this line! This cleanser smells nice to me, minty, medicinal, and feels cooling. It does tend to dry my skin out, and I only use it at night, after I've removed my makeup, with my Clarisonic Mia. I do see an improvement in my spots and redness left behind by old spots, and I would buy this again, although I love the vit c cleanser a bit better.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Skincare - Face -Murad - Clarifying Mask
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:48:00 AM
This is a pretty great product. I don't mind the smell (it's far less offensive than the Pro Activ sulfur acne mask), and it reduces and dries out my spots without drying out the surrounding skin. It doesn't sting and rinses off quite easily. Will definitely repurchase. Also great as an overnight spot treatment.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Murad - Oil-Control Mattifier
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:45:00 AM
I have extremely oily skin naturally...although it's been quite dry since I've started aggressively treating some hormonal acne (with Murad's acne kit) and this lotion was simply too matte. I couldn't even wear it, it was difficult to spread and started flaking when I tried to blend makeup over it. Oh well!
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Masks -Unlisted Brand - Homemade Strawberry Mask
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:41:00 AM
Ok, you guys...so I just figured out that strawberries are a natural source of Salicylic Acid...so I picked some up from the grocery store and decided to try to make a mask. It's a lot of work, as I don't have a blender, but the results make it so worth it. I used to two days in a row, and my skin has never been smoother, clearer, or less red. I usually have these perma-whiteheads on my chin and they are now gone. I don't mix this with anything, I did buy plain yogurt to mix it with originally, but I accidentally got non-fat, and I didn't see any recipes that called for non-fat yogurt. I just take a fork and mash the hell out of these until they are sort of a juicy paste (again, this would be way easier with a blender!) and then stick it on my face. It is messy, it will stain clothes, and it does slide quite a bit, but it really works! I suggest applying it and then getting in the bath and having a rest. To make my life easier ( and because it's very recommended by high profile make up artists), I've decided to order the Strawberry Rhubard Masque from Eminence. I will write a comprehensive review once I've used that a couple of times.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -MAC - Harmony
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:29:00 AM
This was another birthday present from my best friend, one that I requested. I LOVE it. My skin is so pale, that there is not a corresponding MAC foundation that I could list here, but if there were, it'd be something like NC 5. I use this to contour my cheekbones and my nose, and my jaw and hairline. It's very subtle, but very pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit and please swipe it over the back of your hand before it touches your face! The color is lovely, and does not look as brown on my skin as it does in the packaging. Highly recommend for pale girls who like some definition to their features.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Vidal Sassoon - VS Volumizing Hair Wash
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:26:00 AM
This is ok. It cleans my hair, but it does feel like it strips it a bit. It smells...clean. Meh, this is basically interchangeable with most drugstore shampoos. The one thing it's got going for it is my hair does seem fluffier and fuller after use.
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Mascara -MAC - Extended Play - Endlessly Black
garstrieper 3/20/2013 10:21:00 AM
My best friend who works for MAC got me this new mascara for my birthday, and while it's not quite as stupendously amazing as my HG mascara (Chanel Le Volum), it is quite amazing and I would definitely buy it and recommend it to anyone. It makes my lashes spidery and extremely long with some super cool buildable "tube" technology. It's basically lash extensions in a tube. It's very black, and easy to use and get close to the lash line as the wand is quite small. It's just not as inky black, glossy, and thickening as my Chanel mascara. That's my only issue. But this is well worth the price, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's like Maybelline mascara on steroids.
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Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - Bag Balm
garstrieper 2/1/2013 12:15:00 PM
I don't know when I'll ever need to buy this again, because the tin lasts practically forever. I use this for a myriad of issues, dry elbows, dry feet, dry anything. I also use it as a barrier when I am coloring my hair and eyebrows. This is one of those multi-use, relatively cheap products that are just plain handy to have around.
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Candles -Yankee Candles - White Christmas
garstrieper 2/1/2013 12:12:00 PM
I scored this goody at Dirty Santa at my office party this year, and man was this a treat! It smells like...snow, creamy, powdery light vanilla ice cream, and has a hint of spice and tea mint. Just lovely.
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Candles -Unlisted Brand - paula deen-candles
garstrieper 2/1/2013 12:10:00 PM
My mom bought me one of these candles in "French Toast" and god does it smell amazing. Even if I just keep it lit for half an hour, my room smells great for days. I was surprised to find that these aren't very expensive, and probably will buy these from now on, as opposed to the costly Yankee candles.
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Styling Products -Garnier - Full Control Hairspray (ultra strong)
garstrieper 2/1/2013 11:06:00 AM
This is currently my favorite hairspray, not that it's perfect, mind you. But it smells delicious ( like sugary apples!) and does a great job of holding curls in my fine, thin hair. I just wish it weren't so...wet and hard when I apply it as liberally as I need to get the hold I need. And don't try to brush through it either!
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Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free Cleansing Wipes
garstrieper 2/1/2013 10:59:00 AM
I am LOVING these wipes! I don't use them as makeup remover, and I'd never put these around my eye area...because they're a bit harsh. I "discovered" these babies by accident. I did a photo shoot for an indie horror film I'm in, and had to use this horrid fake blood that stained my face and chest and hands-yikes! One of my good friends, who is also in the movie, let me come over to her apartment to take a shower, which I gladly accepted. I scrubbed, I used baby oil, I used grainy exfoliators and a wash cloth...and still had pink skin. Once I exited the shower, I'd given up hope of ever looking cute again, with my pink chin and pink tatas and red right hand. Then I saw these wipes. I tried one and Voila! I was lily white one mo' gin. It was barely short of a miracle. I also noticed the next day that the whiteheads on my chin were smaller, so, out of curiousity, I purchased a pack of these wipes, and have been hooked ever since! I use them after I wash my face with Cerave, and before I moisturize, so, sort of like cloth toners. They slightly sting but really seem to get any excess oil or makeup off of my skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -MAC - Prep + Prime Skin
garstrieper 2/1/2013 10:51:00 AM
This is by far the best primer I've tried. Other formulas have been too drying, too oily, or just without any benefit that I've noticed. This stuff goes on like a mattifying moisturizer, sinks in fast, has a pleasant, not overwhelming smell, and really does seem to make my concealor last FOREVER. My only gripe is that the pump always spits out too much product, like, twice as much as a I use. Oh well.
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