Palettes -Sleek - Ultra Matts V2
Ancatje 2/24/2013 4:17:00 PM
How great to find a drugstore palette of more than 2-3 matte eyeshadows that are also well pigmented! In the UK at least, I think this is one of a kind and I would recommend it to anyone. Granted, I use some shades more than others - who doesn't?! - but apart from the forest green (Fern) and the turcoise (Orbit) I use all of them on a fairly regular basis. It's great to have all of them though, even just for one-off looks where you want to use one of the colours, it's handy to already have it in an £8 palette rather than have to buy it for more individually. The shadows also have less fallout than the other Sleek palettes I own, probably down to the fact that they're matte. I have no trouble opening the lid, never have with any of the Sleek palettes, however I do wish the lid was transparent or there was some other way to distinguish this palette from the other Sleek palettes I have. Overall, thumbs up from me!
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Palettes -Sleek - Sunset palette
Ancatje 2/24/2013 3:46:00 PM
I really love this palette for all the pretty warm bronze-y shades. They are great for summer and also for autumn, but I do use them year-round and find they compliment my hazel eyes and pale yellow-toned skin well. You can find a good selection of warm colours in here: a yellowy gold, a bronze, a copper, a peachy pink, a cranberry, a couple of reddish rusty shades, a warm purple-y brown-y shade and a bright orange! There's also a cold baby pink in here, a bright blue and a black - the only matte colour. The pigmentation is very good and they last a long time even on my oily eyelids, over a primer that is. But there are some negatives that annoy me and that you should be aware of: - lots of fallout! as the eyeshadows are quite powdery. This means that I have to do my eyes first when using this, or be prepared to clean up the mess after. I find that there is less fallout if I pack the colour onto the lid by patting it on, and a lot more when I try to blend it by say a windshield wiper motion etc. - not enough matte crease colours! There is the one matte black, which to be honest I find too harsh and I think doesn't go well with the shades in this palette. I wish there were 2-3 matte browny shades that would go much better with the warm colours here. - the packaging. I like the sturdy packaging and don't have an issue with the lid being hard to open at all (on none of my Sleek palettes!), but what I do have an issue with is that all their palettes look the same from the outside so it's hard to pick the one that you want. I wish they either had different packaging or that they had a transparent lid so you can see the colours. Overall, it's a good palette at a great price point. I use all shades apart from the black, orange and blue on a very regular basis - including at the office, and I'd repurchase in a heartbeat.
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Palettes -Sleek - Original
Ancatje 2/24/2013 12:17:00 PM
I do like this palette, There is a good selection of colours, the pigmentation is very good and they last a long time even on my oily eyelids, over a primer that is. But I can't give it more than a 3 because of the following: - lots of fallout! as others have mentioned. This means that I have to do my eyes first when using this, or be prepared to clean up the mess after. I find that there is less fallout if I pack the colour onto the lid by patting it on, and a lot more when I try to blend it by say a windshield wiper motion etc. - not enough dark matte crease colours! There is one matte black, which to be honest I find too harsh for daytime, and even for nighttime I often prefer browns/greys etc unless I do a very dark smoky eye. There is also a shimmery navy, which I suppose even though it's not matte, does work as a crease colour with certain eye looks. I do use a couple of the other colours in my crease ocassionally (mostly the coppery bronze), but I alyways add a bit of a matte dark eyeshadow if I do, to make my crease a bit deeper. - the packaging. I like the sturdy packaging and don't have an issue with the lid being hard to open at all (on none of my Sleek palettes!), but what I do have an issue with is that all their palettes look the same from the outside so it's hard to pick the one that you want. I wish they either had different packaging or that they had a transparent lid so you can see the colours. Overall, it's a good palette at a great price point, and I would repurchase, but it's by no means a must have.
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Eyes -Sleek - i-Divine Primer Palette
Ancatje 2/21/2013 9:34:00 AM
Probably better called "cream eyeshadows" or "bases" because they are not primers that prevent creasing. I tried them without a primer under them, either on their on own with an eyeshadow on top, and they creased on my oily lids (and hooded eyes) within the hour. Everything creases on my eyes without a primer though. With a primer, on their own or with eyeshadows on top, they last quite well. I do get some creasing after maybe 5-6 hours but as I said with my oily lids that always happens. What I am impressed with is how easy these are to work with and how vibrant the colours are! Most of them are very pretty even just on their own, and it's so convenient to have so many colours in such great variety in such a compact palette. And for so cheap! I really think you can't beat these for the price! I use these all the time and love them.
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - MUA - Undressed Palette
Ancatje 2/19/2013 5:19:00 PM
This must be one of the best bargains out there. Most shades are shimmery, with only 2 mattes. There's a good variety of colours (dupe for Naked Palette 1) and pigmentation is good, apart from the 2 matte shades which I find don't have great colour pay-off. You can easily do a good number of looks with this. I actually like the packaging, hasn't broken on me and I like seeing all the colours - reminds me to use this more often! The one negative in my book, and it's a big one for me, is the fallout! With this, you must do your eyes first, then your foundation, because I for one end up with loads of shimmer all under my eyes every single time without fail, no matter what technique or brush I use, or even if I use a tissue under my eyes as a shield - the shimmer just gets everywhere! And the only way to clean shimmer is with makeup remover, end of. Since I prefer doing my base first, this fact prevents me from using this palette as often as I'd like. I'd repurchase in a second though!
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Eye Shadow -Unlisted Brand - MUA Heaven And Earth Palette
Ancatje 2/19/2013 5:14:00 PM
This must be one of the best bargains out there. All shades are shimmery, but there's a good variety of colours otherwise and pigmentation is good. You can easily do a good number of looks with this. I actually like the packaging, hasn't broken on me and I like seeing all the colours - reminds me to use this more often! The one negative in my book, and it's a big one for me, is the fallout! With this, you must do your eyes first, then your foundation, because I for one end up with loads of shimmer all under my eyes every single time without fail, no matter what technique or brush I use. And the only way to clean shimmer is with makeup remover, end of. Since I prefer doing my base first, this fact prevents me from using this palette as often as I'd like. I'd repurchase in a second though!
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Lips -New York Color - Smooch Proof Lip Stain
Ancatje 2/18/2013 8:07:00 AM
I am surprised at all the good reviews. I have this in Persistent Pink, but mine dried out after 1-2 uses! It was a pretty baby pink, same colour as the tube it comes in, but I can't use it anymore as nothing comes out unless I press very hard for a good few minutes. Did I get a bad batch?! The couple of times it did work, it was a bit drying but fine with a balm on top. But t did not last at all, not even 1 hour, let alone 16! And that's without eating or drinking. I'm thinking of getting a new one, see if it works better, since I do love the colour.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Eyeshadow Brush
Ancatje 2/17/2013 5:51:00 PM
This picks up colour fine but why I would not recommend it is that is it very scratchy! I own 3 of these and they are all harsh on my eyes, not soft at all. The shape is not great either, all 3 that I own have hairs sticking out because they're not all cut the same size.
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Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Blending Brush
Ancatje 2/17/2013 5:47:00 PM
I bought 3 of these thinking if they're good it will be worth it. But they're not. All 3 of them are scratchy and they shed, not a lot, but they do. The hairs are also not cut properly, so that they are not all the same shape and some of them stick out. The first picture is also inaccurate, the brush looks the the one in the 2nd and 3rd pictures, so it's not tapered like the 1st picture would make you believe but more rounded. I personally prefer a more tapered shape for blending brushes, so thought I'd mention it, not that I would ever recommend this brush to anyone.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
Ancatje 2/13/2013 8:45:00 PM
This curler can make your lashes look beautiful, with the right method. For me I find it best to start at the roots of my lashes and then "walk" the curlers up towards the tips, while at the same time changing the angle of the curlers so that you get a, well, curl. At each "stop", I only hold the curlers down for about 2-3 seconds but don't press too hard because if I do, I get a crimp in my lashes. However like a lot of other curlers, it can pinch your lid (maybe easier on my hooded eyes?), it can crimp your lashes if you're not careful, and the shape is not "one-suits-all-eye-shapes", as they'd have you believe. For my eye shape for example, this curler doesn't catch the lashes at the very end of my outside corners - no matter what. I bought the Shiseido curlers to try them out and see if they work better, and surprise surprise, THE SHU UEMURA AND SHISEIDO CURLERS ARE IDENTICAL! In shape, size, design, how they perform, in absolutely everything but the brand name inscripted on them. While the full price is the same for both (£18,) I felt I should mention it, in case you find one rather than the other on offer someplace. In conclusion, a very good curler but not a miracle worker and not unique.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Illegal Length Fiber Extensions
Ancatje 2/13/2013 5:16:00 PM
Gives no volume whatsoever (not that you should expect any from a mascara that talks about "length") but it doesn't lengthen my lashes either. AT ALL. In fact, the fibers in this either 1. don't show up at all/ don't stick to the ends of my lashes making them longer OR 2. do stick to the ends of my lashes but wonkily, so that I end up with a wonky bent tip at the end of my lashes, looking a bit crazy if I'm honest, a bit like my lashes had split ends! It's also not very black, even though I do have this in Black and it looks kind of gloopy/ crumbly once it's on. It doesn't flake, but the lashes themselves look like there's some sort of nasty residue on them left from a heavy night out. I've tried different application methods with this, from wiggling it, zig-zagging it, just applying it straight from roots to top - nothing works. Probably one of the wors mascaras I have ever tried.
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Treatments (Eye) -Garnier - BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Eye Roll-On (Light)
Ancatje 2/12/2013 8:27:00 PM
I agree with the reviewer below, I bought this in Light and for my NC15 skin, even with quite bad dark circles where peach tones help a lot, this is too dark of a peachy tone. About a shade too dark. Off a lippie for poor colour selection. But what bothers me most and why I take off a second lippie, is this: For any of you who tried their regular tinted eye roll on, this is almost the same product, just slightly thicker and with different shades (the Fair in that one was a touch too light for me, and pure yellow rather than peachy). But while the other product is �10 for 15ml, this is �10 for 7ml. So you pay the SAME PRICE FOR LESS THAN HALF THE PRODUCT!!! Does Garnier take us for fools?! Otherwise it's light, gets absorbed quickly, only creases a bit and not at all if set with powder, and covers well. But what a rip off!! UPDATE: I started mixing the 2 products that I mentioned, the BB eye roll on in Light and regular tinted roll on in Fair to get a shade that's perfect for my under eyes.
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Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - Bamboo 5 Pieces Brush Set (Mineral Makeup)
Ancatje 2/8/2013 5:22:00 PM
1. The supposedly "blush" brush is way too big for blush - it's just a tad smaller than the RT blush brush, which as we all know is massive, and it's about twice the size of the blush brushes I'd usually use. I'd say it's more of a powder brush and in fact this is the brush I carry with me to touch up on my powder, and I think it works very well for that. 2. The baby kabuki brush is too fluffy to buff in foundations properly. I used it both for mineral powder foundations and for liquid foundations, and while you can make do with it if you have to, it ideally should be denser and firmer. It is just too flimsy. (A great alternative is the Everyday Minerals baby flat top brush, which is fab for buffing anything in!) 3. The concealer brush is fine, just a regular old concealer brush, nothing to write home about. 4. The blending eyeshadow brush is a bit too big for my hooded eyes with not so much lid space, so I can't use it but it would probably be better for other people. It's also ok for buffing in concealer under the eyes, which is what I ended up using it for, but it's a bit too fluffy for that purpose. IN CONCLUSION, the bristles are soft and don't shed and this kit may come in handy when travelling, but I feel like the design is not ideal for what these brushes are meant to be used for.
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Treatments -OPI - Nail Envy
Ancatje 2/8/2013 4:59:00 PM
This did NOTHING for my nails. It was about a year ago that my previously always healthy and strong nails started breaking and peeling very easily, something that had never ever happened before. I had 2 nails on each hand that were constantly peeling, no matter what I did. I tried Nail Envy on them for months and months on end, following the instructions exactly, almost finishing one bottle, and saw no improvement. My nails were not stronger at all, and the same 2 nails on each hand kept breaking, to my dismay. (At least it didn't turn my nails yellow like some other revieweres experienced!) Then completely randomly, I heard from a dermatologist that actually what makes nails soft and easy to break is nail polish remover! Even if it is acetone free, the remover softens the nails and makes them easier to snap, so the more you use it the weaker your nails get. So I stopped using Nail Envy and stopped using any nail polish on my nails so that I don't need to remove it. In TWO WEEKS my nails were back to normal and healthy again, all peeling gone! Please ladies, don't waste your money on this "treatment", all it is is a base/ top coat for your nail polish but does not make nails stronger. And it's a whopping £18.65! I'd suggest if your nails are breaking and you are a frequent user of nail polish or you change your polish often, try leaving your nails bare for a while and see if not using nail polish remover on them helps.
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Makeup Brushes -Ecotools - 6 Piece Eye Brush Set (5 brushes + case)
Ancatje 2/7/2013 7:03:00 PM
I'm giving this 2/5 because 3 of the brushes are usable (but 2 interchangable), while 2 are not usable at all. What I am talking about: - The two small brushes, the pencil brush and the flat liner brush, work well for smuding eyeshadow close to your lashes or applying highlight in your inner corner. None of them can work as an eyeliner brush though as even the liner brush is not thin and precise enough. And both do exactly the same job - I can't think of something one could do but the other could not - even though they are different shapes. - The middle-size highlighter brush is fine for applying highlight to your eyebrow bone, but too big for highlight in the inner corner of the eye. What I find it good for though is using it as a crease brush, for blending! - And the two MASSIVE brushes? The angled crease brush and the blending brush. Well, let's just say unless you have loads of crease space, these are just useless. My eyes are hooded so what was I thinking even buying this in the first place?! I tried finding alternative uses for them, but they're too small for contouring the face, too big for contouring the nose, not great for highlighters... Ecotools, might be an idea to test these brushes on actual regular size eyes before releasing them into the world. Just sayin'.
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