Makeup Brushes -MAC - 163 Flat Contour Brush
jjay7381 10/8/2012 7:31:00 PM
I had the lady at the MAC store use this brush on me before I got it so I would know how it worked and what it felt like on my face before I bought it. It applied the contour cream beautifully, even blended it wonderfully. But, when I took it home and tried it myself it was a mess. I think this brush works the way it says it does (because I saw it), it just takes some practice to get a good technique going. Having said that, I'd only use this with cream products, but I like working with cream products for contouring anyway because using powder is messy and tends to just make my face look dirty. EDIT: So, I've been working with this for a few weeks and I think I've figured it out. Before I do my foundation, I use this brush (with a very light hand) to apply the sculpting creams and blend them out just a little bit. It looks crazy but the trick is to take a soft, fluffy powder brush (I've been using an Eco Tools one) and use a powder foundation on top to blend everything together. It tones down the warmth of the sculpting creams and everything winds up looking VERY smooth and natural. Overall, I'm really happy with this purchase now. Having said that, I could definitely see why some people wouldn't want to deal with this brush or the sculpting creams.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Michael Kors - Island Very Bali
jjay7381 1/5/2012 7:39:00 PM
Words can't describe how much I love this fragrance. It's very feminine, but also very clean and sophisticated. It's one of those rare fragrances that you can pull off in any season, in my opinion. The only down side is that the high price and tiny bottle are extremely difficult to justify if you don't have money to burn.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Toners -Neutrogena - Pore Refining Toner
jjay7381 12/1/2011 9:52:00 AM
I can't believe I found something that actually works! For months now I've been trying to find anything that would help my gigantic pores. I spent tons of money on high end products that did nothing for me. I ran out of my regular toner and saw this when I was at the store. I really didn't expect this stuff to help, but I figure it couldn't hurt. Literally two days later my skin looks flawless. My pores have have shrunk so much just from using this once a day. Now that I know it actually works, I'm going to start using it twice a day, especially since it's so cheap I don't have to feel like I need to make it last a long time. Honestly though, I would be willing to pay 5x as much for this now that I know how well it works.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Neutrogena - Eye Makeup Remover Lotion
jjay7381 11/28/2011 6:46:00 PM
I found this at ULTA and after using it for a couple months now I can honestly say that this is really one of the best makeup removers out there right now. I would never use this to take off lip products, but it does do a fantastic job taking off face and eye makeup quickly without making me scrub hard. Unlike most makeup removers that either dry my skin out or leave an uncomfortable layer of oil on top of my skin, this lotion leaves my skin soft and hydrated without feeling greasy at all. I just wish it came in a larger size. Hopefully Neutrogena keeps this stuff around permanently and doesn't discontinue it.
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Eye Makeup Remover -MAC - Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover
jjay7381 11/28/2011 6:31:00 PM
Way too overpriced for makeup remover, but I love bright red lipstick and this stuff removes all traces of lipstick better, faster and easier than anything I've used before. I would never use this on my eyes/face because there's so much oil in it. I only use this to take off lipstick, so I figure it will last me a long time which the only reason I'm willing to pay the high price for it. Victoria's Secret also makes an equally amazing makeup remover that is less expensive and gives you more product. That would a good alternative to this if you can find it (it always seems to sell out quickly). VS Pro Clean FX Instant Makeup Remover: $13 for 4 oz. MAC Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover: $19 for 3.4 oz.
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Lipstick -Clinique - Almost Lipstick - Black Honey
jjay7381 11/28/2011 6:10:00 PM
This is an all-around winner. It's a great color that looks good on EVERYONE. It's semi-sheer but you can build up the color really easily with a few extra swipes. This is a superior product because it also has an awesome formula that leaves your lips moisturized without feeling sticky. This gets bonus points for not being too expensive and for being relatively easy to get no matter where you go.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -BeneFit Cosmetics - That Gal
jjay7381 11/28/2011 5:55:00 PM
I love this stuff, but I definitely think that it looks best on pale skin. I had the hardest time finding a good product to brighten up my dark face without bringing out my strong yellow undertones, but this works so well! If you're into Pin Up looks or matte bright red lips with toned down eyes, this is absolutely a must have. Unlike "Girl Meets Pearl", this has much more of a smooth matte/satiny finish. It gives my cheeks a very subtle glow and a slight pink flush that is really pretty. After I use MAC's Wedge to contour my cheeks, I tap this into the apples of my cheeks starting from the side of my nose and blending my way out. It sets into my skin so nicely and never looks cakey. It has definitely become a staple in my makeup routine and I'm going to keep buying it.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #231 Small Shader Brush
jjay7381 11/28/2011 5:24:00 PM
This brush looks like a really cool brush when you first see it, but having had it for a while now I'm finally ready to admit that it's a huge let down. The only reason I'm giving this a 3 instead of a 2 is because it's extremely well made and it's not completely useless. I recommend getting a 228 brush instead of this one, especially if you're planning to use it as a lip brush. Leave this brush to the YouTube gurus because it's really not as easy to use as they make it look. PROS: - GREAT QUALITY. It's extremely well-made. The synthetic fibres are nice and stiff. Unlike the 228 brush, the handle is big enough so that you don't have to worry about snapping it in half if you throw it in your makeup bag or drop it on a hard floor. It's also must sturdier in your hand than the 228 brush, which gives you great control over it. It dries VERY quickly, which is really nice because if you're using this for cream eyeliner you'll be washing it a bunch. - MULTI-USE: Some people use this for a few different things, but I mostly find that it's only really useful for 3 different things: Applying cream eyeliner, smudging eyeliner on the upper lash line and applying lipstick. If you're going for a really thin eyeliner line on your upper lash line, this brush makes it pretty easy CONS: - EXPENSIVE: Yes, it's nowhere near as expensive as most MAC brushes, but $18 for this TEENY TINY brush is still hard to swallow, especially if you already have good brushes that do the same thing. Also, this brush isn't super easy to get. It's only available at MAC stores or online, which I always find really annoying. - OTHER BRUSHES DO A BETTER JOB: Eyeliner: Lots of less expensive brands make great eyeliner brushes now and they're much easier to get your hands on. I like to have a few different eyeliner brushes because I use cream eyeliner and I don't feel like washing a brush every day. Lips: This really is NOT an amazing lip brush. No matter how smooth my lips are, this brush kind of skids across my lips rather than glides. Get a 228 brush instead. It is small and stiff enough to still be precise and it glides well. Smudging: Same with lips. It doesn't blend as well as you'd think and really tugs on my eyelid no matter how creamy the products I'm using are. That tugging can get painful after a while. STAINS: It's impossible to get stains out of this brush when I use bright lipsticks, even if I use a really good cleanser. I've washed mine 3 times since the last time I used it and it still has lingering traces of red on it. The 228 brush is really easy to clean and also dries very quickly. ***EASY TIP*** If you decide to pick up this brush (or any other MAC brush), take some clear nail polish and swipe it over the silver MAC # lettering a few times. Redo this every year and it will prevent the number from rubbing off and keep your brush looking like new. Lots of people already know to do this, but I constantly see tons of people with brushes that have labels nearly rubbed off so it's worth mentioning.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - #228 Mini Shader Brush
jjay7381 11/28/2011 4:18:00 PM
This is one of the few brushes I think EVERYONE should have at some point even though it is not a brush I would recommend for someone just starting out and looking to invest in those absolutely necessary basic brushes or casual makeup wearers who don't like spending a ton of time doing their makeup. I definitely think everyone could get A LOT of use out of this brush though so to me, it's worth it to have at least one of them. I only wish I had looked at this brush before I bought a 231 brush. PROS: - YOU CAN DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WITH IT. It's one of the few true multi-use brushes in my opinion. It's flat, thin and just stiff enough for defining the outer V, smudging eyeliner, putting color on the lower lash line, filling in brows, etc. - IT'S AN AMAZING LIP BRUSH. Applying bright red lipsticks and working them into my lips is what I use this brush for more than anything else. The brush is small enough to be precise and give you good control. It's really important to work red lipstick into your lips if you're going to wear it and this brush does that really well without being too scratchy. - EASY TO CLEAN. The thing that pushes this from a 4 to a 5 in my opinion is how shockingly easy it is to clean. It's much easier to get all traces of lipstick off of this brush than the 231 brush or the regular lip brushes which are actually designed for sticky products. - GREAT QUALITY. I've washed it several times and I've had absolutely no shedding. It's very sturdy and it retains it's shape perfectly. It also dries pretty quickly so I don't have to wait around for it for hours. Bonus points for the fact that unlike the 231 brush, this one is available at MAC counters so you don't have to go all the way to a MAC store or buy it online. CONS: - IT'S EXPENSIVE: This brush costs $19.50. Yes, it's not as expensive as the vast majority of MAC brushes, but $20 for a teeny tiny brush is kind of hard to swallow, especially if you already have good brushes that do everything this one does. On the other hand, you could pay $22.50 for MAC's lip brush which isn't nearly as versatile or easy to clean as this one. - IT'S DELICATE: Unlike the 231 brush, the handle on the 228 brush is SO thin that I'm always terrified that it's going to snap in half if I drop it on a hard floor or put it in a bag while traveling. ***EASY TIP*** If you decide to pick up this brush (or any other MAC brush), take some clear nail polish and swipe it over the silver MAC # lettering on your brush a few times. Redo this every year and it will prevent the number from rubbing off and keep your brush looking like new. Lots of people already know to do this, but I see tons of people with brushes that have labels nearly rubbed off all the time so it's worth mentioning.
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -eos - Lip Balm Sphere - Summer Fruit
jjay7381 11/24/2011 3:42:00 AM
When I first put this on it reminded me a lot of MAC Prep + Prime Lip in terms of smooth application, maybe even a little less greasy. I used it for the same purpose. I like that it doesn't have that nasty tingling feeling and that it doesn't come off too shiney or shimmery like most lip balms. I usually hate scented products, but this one's really nice. Also, I can find it almost everywhere, which is great. I really wanted to like this, but I have pretty good skin and this made me break out around my mouth HORRIBLY and that's a deal breaker.
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Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - pointed foundation brush
jjay7381 11/16/2011 4:02:00 PM
This is a great dupe for the Stila #33 brush. It's not quite as soft, but it's still very soft and very dense. For a $10 brush, the quality is amazing, I haven't seen any shedding. I use it for under eye concealer and putting foundation on around my nose. It works great!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Wedge Eyeshadow
jjay7381 11/13/2011 6:22:00 PM
This is by far one of the best products MAC makes. It is my favorite contouring product. I have NC25 skin and I mostly use it to contour my cheeks but it also makes a really nice natural looking eye contour shadow. It has sort of a taupey-pinkish undertone to it and I love that it has a matte finish like my foundation. I seriously don't know how I lived without it before. Be advised though, it looks way different in the pan than it does on your skin.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Tarte - Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Mosturizer (Smooth Operator)
jjay7381 11/5/2011 6:03:00 PM
Even though I don't need much in the way of coverage, I've always used foundation because of the redness on my cheeks and around my nose. I never really felt the need for moisturizer before, but I moved to the Northwest from Southern California a couple years ago and my skin started getting SUPER dry because of the weather. Putting on foundation got to be difficult unless I wore a moisturizer because my skin would be so dry. So I was basically putting on a ton of product every morning. I started thinking about a tinted moisturizer, but I could never really find one I really loved until this one. Now that I have this, I don't know how I lived without it before. It's very light weight and keeps my skin hydrated. The coverage is better than other tinted moisturizers and is perfect for getting rid of the redness on my cheeks and just evening out the color of my face. It has none of the nasty products like mineral oil that are bad for your skin. Best of all, it doesn't look cakey and there's no gross synthetic smell with it! Yes, it's expensive but it's one of the few products that is actually worth the cost! I've tried just about every foundation you can think of from high end to drugstore looking for the right amount of coverage and color, but I've never really felt 100% satisfied with any of them the way I am with this tinted moisturizer.
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Soft Brown
jjay7381 10/13/2011 12:33:00 AM
I've been desperate to move away from shimmer eyeshadow but still make my brown eyes pop. This stuff is freaking amazing. For daytime I put Quite Natural on my lids, blend some MAC Soft Brown eyeshadow into my crease, slap on some mascara. Looks so soft and beautiful! For nighttime I do the same thing except I add thick black eyeliner on top and blend it up to make a really classy smokey eye. So easy!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Quite Natural
jjay7381 10/13/2011 12:31:00 AM
I've been desperate to move away from shimmer eyeshadow but still make my brown eyes pop. This stuff is freaking amazing. For daytime I put Quite Natural on my lids, blend some MAC Soft Brown eyeshadow into my crease, slap on some mascara. Looks so soft and beautiful! For nighttime I do the same thing except I add thick black eyeliner on top and blend it up to make a really classy smokey eye. So easy!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No