Makeup Brushes -Coastal Scents - Pink Duo Fiber Powder Stippler
Dinahout 3/27/2009 1:46:00 PM
Let's start with the description of this brush, directly off of the Coastal Scents website. "Contains duo length fibers, works extremely well for applying sheer finish powders such as veil & blush for a natural airbrushed finish." I purchased this brush to apply a light dusting of color and to highlight my cheek bones. It looks pretty and it is super soft! It applies my blush and highlighter so much better than a regular blush brush. I'm a little heavy handed, so it helped with my overall technique. I washed my brush before using it and it did shed. A lot of the shedding was short hairs, like they were the little snippings when the black bristles where being trimmed. It dried nicely, kept its shape and I was ready to use it after an overnight drying. Because reviewers mentioned shedding, even on the CS website itself, I was kind of expecting some hairs to fall out. UPDATE: It's been 10 months and I'm still using this brush for cheek color but it still sheds which annoys me. I was hoping it would stop at one point. Initially the dye did not bleed, but every time I wash it it bleeds. I would not purchase again.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Mary Kay - Eyesicles - Island Bronze
Dinahout 3/22/2009 5:28:00 PM
I forgot I had this and came across it by accident while cleaning out a drawer. My DH wanted to run out to a movie and gave me 15 minutes to get ready. I slapped a bit of Island Bronze Eyesicles on my lids as a pretty, warm coppery wash, then added a dark brown powder e/s to add shape to my lid and line my bottom lash line. Super fast and easy, didn't crease at all with the help of e/s to set. I'll use it more often now!
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Blush -LORAC - Cheek Stamp - Pink Paradise
Dinahout 3/10/2009 10:37:00 PM
I love this Cheek Stamp in Pink Paradise! The bright pink color shocked me at first so I tested it out on a day that I didn't have to go to work. I stamped the apples of my cheeks, once on each cheek, and blended. Wow! I actually looked healthy and fresh! I was very happy with how it blended, felt on my skin and looked. The concept is also very clever with the spring loaded applicator. UPDATE (8/1/09): Not bad, but I find that I'm just not using this at all. Yes, clever concept but not too practical. It takes a while to blend out the dot stamped on your cheek. I took off 2 lippies. This is on sale on the LORAC website for $5 if you want to get something to play with.
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Primer/ Corrector -LORAC - Aquaprime
Dinahout 3/10/2009 10:31:00 PM
I wanted to like this, but it failed me every time I tried it. Aquaprime is basically useless to me. I didn't help my makeup application in any way - not smoother, not longer lasting, made my fine lines more noticable. It actually made my face oily and shiney within an hour and I couldn't wait to go home and wash my face. It's very light and non-greasy upon applying and is super runny - it kind of spills out of the tube. Not worth it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tools -Unlisted Brand - Artemis Woman - Shea Butter Paraffin Spa
Dinahout 1/17/2009 5:05:00 PM
This is a review for the Artemis Woman Shea Butter Paraffin Spa. This was my first experience with a paraffin treatment. Winter has been very harsh on my hands (they're like sandpaper), but with a treatment once in a while (when ever I have some down time) it makes my hands soft, smooth, warm and comforted. The unit is very simple with just an on-off dial and purple plastic cover. The opening is 9" by 6.5" so I think it's just meant for hands and elbows. The set came with 20 liners, hand mitts and 3 lbs. of shea butter paraffin wax. You just break the wax in pieces for it to melt - takes around 90 minutes. I dip my washed and dried hands into the wax 3 times, cover with the plastic liner (I reuse them) and slip my hands in the mitts. I leave it on for about 20 minutes and just relax. I love the smell of the lavendar coming through the mitts - very soothing and relaxing. Although they recommend tossing the wax after peeling it off, I reuse it. I tossed the wax the first time and it seemed like such a waste. I'm the only one who uses it and my hands are clean when I start the process. I really enjoy this paraffin treatment! It's not essential to have, but such a nice little treat when I have the time. Definitely a luxury for me, but worth it! (It may be snowing again, so I may be using it several times this weekend.) UPDATE, 4/26/2009: So, it's been a few months of using this paraffin spa on my hands and I still love it. In attempts to get my feet ready for Spring sandals, while trying to be DIY and not spending money I don't have in a salon, I decided to try it out on my size 8.5 feet! Ooh, tight fit for these puppies... I dipped the toe-half of my foot first, then the heel-half, and repeated the process a couple of times. To do a "full'ish" cover, I had to flex my toes and carefully dip. My feet are very flexible (thanks to yoga), but it was a tight squeeze. I covered my feet with the baggies, slipped on booties, quickly walked over to my bed and relaxed. After 30 minutes, I removed the wax and threw it away. (I won't recycle feet wax.) My feet were soft, clean and refreshed. I was very pleased with the softness and texture of the skin on my feet. I think I will be using this for regular maintenance as the skin on my heels get really thick and dry from wearing sandals.
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Deodorants -Unlisted Brand - Crystal Body Deodorant Stick
Dinahout 12/14/2008 3:33:00 PM
This is the best deodorant ever! All natural, non-staining, lasts forever, and keeps you from smelling bad! I use is right after my shower when I'm still wet under the arms. It can be used on freshly cleaned feet too! No more stinky shoes! Another wonderful thing about this Crystal Deodorant Stick is that your body won't get immune to it. That always seems to be the problem with regular type deodorants and you have to keep changing to another brand. I have gotten my husband to use it in the spray form and he's completely sold on it. He's even gotten our 11 year old girl athlete to start. Over the 12 years since I've been using it, I only dropped it once. It chipped a little but with regular use, the chip is smoothed over.
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Eye Makeup Remover -Rimmel - Gentle Eye Make Up Remover
Dinahout 12/14/2008 2:46:00 PM
With sensitive eyes and allergies, this has been the only eye makeup remover that I can use and it's been my HG for years. Most removers would break me out in a rash around my sensitive eye area, especially the dual-phased type. I have no negative things to say about it. It feels like water, leaves no residue whatsoever, it doesn't sting my eyes and it's super cheap. I love how it removes everything, including waterproof mascara and eyeliner. I just saturate a cotton pad, hold it on my eye for a couple of seconds and gently wipe off. I always rinse my eyes after using.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Too Faced - Retractable Kabuki Brush
Dinahout 12/14/2008 2:08:00 PM
I love this Retractable Kabuki Brush! It's super cute and has a wonderful design! I'm not sure how much a spent on kabuki brushes in the past 10 years, but I am so over natural bristles. All of the natural bristles have ended up scratchy (some worse than others) and I will not tolerate it anymore. The synthetic "teddy bear hair" bristles of this kabuki brush are super smooth and excellent for applying and blending mineral makeup.
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Foundations -Bare Escentuals - bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation - Golden Medium
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:53:00 PM
I used to wear this in Light until I discovered the Golden Medium a few months ago. It's a much better match for me and seems less shiney. In conjunction with Mary Kay's Medium Coverage foundation in 302, I have found my HG foundation!
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Liquid -Mary Kay - Medium Coverage Foundation
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:49:00 PM
I think this is the best liquid foundation around that also works as a concealor for me. Even if I don't apply it to my entire face, it does a great job covering up the dark circles under my eyes and the redness around my nose and lips. (I have food allergies so I'm cursed with redness around my lips after I eat. I always have to use a foundation to tone that down or my face will blend into my lips.) It's easy to layer on top of itself and is seamless. I use Medium Coverage 302 and it blends perfectly into my yellow-toned skin. Also great for covering up some annoying hyperpigmentation (large freckles) on my face and an occasional blemish. I use BE Golden Medium over it and for the rest of my face. Together, they are my HG.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Japonesque - Mini Heated Eyelash Curler
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:37:00 PM
I've been using this Japonesque heated eyelash curler for years and still love it! I'm on my second one, actually. The first one cracked when I forced the cap on instead of turning it off first by sliding the power switch down. I used a rubberband to fix it until I eventually got another one. It uses 1 AAA battery and I always keep extra batteries in my makeup bag. It's the size of a tube of mascara and is very easy to travel with. I turn on the curler to let it heat up while I apply my first coat of mascara on both eyes. I use the heated curler to then curl the mascara'd lashes and it also clears off any clumps of product. I can easily add another coat of mascara after that. I usually don't have to curly it again after the second coat. Forget the crimping lash curlers! My Asian lashes are short, sparse and stick straight so this saves me every time!
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Mascara -Too Faced - Lash Injection
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:27:00 PM
Lash Injection did what it said it would do - made my lashes much fatter and longer. I like the blackness of it too. I'm not a huge macara fan because I wear so much eyeliner (no one could tell if I'm wearing mascara anyway), but I would consider purchasing it again. Dries quickly and works well with my Japonesque heated eyelash curler.
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Blush -Smashbox - Blush & Soft Lights Duo - Smashing Warmth / Luminance
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:15:00 PM
I've had this Blush Duo for years, but only bring it out during winter. The Warmth gives me healthy color and the Luminance give me a bit of a glow. I use the Luminance with other cheek colors I have to tone them down and give some warmth. I have a yellow-toned complexion so I have no problems with Luminance being yellow/goldish.
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Eyeliner -LORAC - Eye Liner in Midnight Sparkle
Dinahout 12/14/2008 1:07:00 PM
This was part of the Ulta Croc Makeup Collection. Nice, creamy pencil with tons of sparkly glitter, but I don't think I can carry it off. It was fun to play with at home, but I'm realistic with who I am and how I can present myself. I'm a total smokey eye kind of woman, but the all the glitter, I am not. It's hard to get all the little bits of glitter out of my lashes too. Not for me. I'll give it to my 16 year old. UPDATE: Actually gave it to my 11 year old. She wanted to play with makeup and wanted to look "emo."
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Palettes -LORAC - Croc Palette
Dinahout 12/14/2008 12:51:00 PM
I've been wanting this Croc Palette for a very long time and I'm so glad that it was part of Ulta's Croc Makeup Collection. I love the selection of colors in this sleek, shiny black croc-pattern palette! I'm not too keen on colors and wear a lot of browns and neutral e/s, so I was happy to find these which are in my "safe" range but which also give some extra color, brightness and pop! High pigmentation and super smooth. I also can wear the blush easily with a light-handed application.
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