Polishes -Butter London - The Black Knight
Julia941 3/6/2012 11:28:00 AM
I love ButterLondon polishes and this is no exception. It is a deep black with subtle flashes of multi-coloured glitter and it lasts roughly forever on my nails. I used BL base and top coat with it and it has been on for several days with almost no signs of wear. Not even tip wear. It was kind of thick and gloppy going on but I think cleaning the neck of the bottle and maybe a drop or two of thinner would easily fix that. I applied this right before cooking dinner, which I thought would ruin it, but it didn't. The following day there were no sheet marks and I was thrilled because I really didn't think I gave it enough time to really dry and harden. I proceeded to do chores all weekend, folding towels, cleaning out closets and drawers, opening boxes, dealing with the cat box, etc and nothing. Still looks great. Then it became an experiment to see how much abuse it would be able to take digging in my purse for keys, showers, nothing fazed it so far. It is growing out but still not chipping. It has a slight ding from a drawer being closed on it but it's not really visible to the naked eye, but I can feel it. I know the colour isn't super unusual, it can be frankened, and it's expensive but if you are looking for long lasting polish for a trip or something this will probably hold up the entire time. I want to take it off soon because I have untrieds I want to use and I'm afraid it will be more difficult than most glitter polish because it's bonded to my DNA or something. Highly recommended.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Top/Base Coats -Sally Hansen - Hard as Wraps - Acrylic Gel
Julia941 3/6/2012 11:14:00 AM
I really like this product. I started using it when I was having some health related nail issues (with my doctor's permission) and it really helped protect them while the damaged part grew off. I also like to use it as a base coat. I like the slightly opaque pink tint, especially when I'm using a pale colour with a cream finish because it gives it a little head start. Other colours apply beautifully over it as well and my mani/pedis seem to last forever, or until I get tired of them. My nails feel hard and protected and I've never had any colour bleed through, even the darkest vamps and blacks. When I take my polish off my nails look pink and healthy. I've seen this compared to Instant Artificials and I've only tried that once so I can't really compare them for myself. The sheer pink tint is also lovely on its own.
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Polishes -Butter London - Marrow
Julia941 3/3/2012 3:38:00 AM
I love this colour. It's a kind of greyish purple, darker than it looks in the bottle and the shimmer really isn't visible except in direct sunlight. I love the formula, it goes on very smoothly with opacity in two coats. Beautiful. I've already purchased a backup and would purchase again if needed.
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Polishes -China Glaze - Hook and Line
Julia941 2/29/2012 12:25:00 PM
I bought this polish before I ever read a blog or saw a picture of it on somebody's nails. The buzz is that it is very streaky. I'm very new to this, and have nowhere near the skills do many of you do. So, let's begin. Pros -It is a really beautiful colour. A gorgeous warm grey with mossy green pearly/metallic finish. It is the kind of colour I imagine Chanel introducing. It is quite sophisticated and does remind me of a deep grey/green river. Very pretty. -I think it looks better in person than from the photos I've seen of it. I'm not great at applying polish, and though it was streaky going on but as it dries and settles it is less streaky and more pearly. -I had good coverage with just one coat, two makes it opaque and I think it evens out nicely. Cons -It is streaky going on. It settled down but it was frustrating to apply. -It might give you lobster hands. Or toes, in my case. -It apparently photographs poorly. Conclusions It's a tie. I like the colour and I don't regret buying it, but if you already have a polish you like in a mossy grey with that kind of finish that you likeI think you can skip it without feeling like you're missing out on something. If they sell a set of minis and this is in there but you like all the other colours give it a try. It looks like it would be beautiful with a coat of something else like sparkles. The more I wore it the more I liked it. It is a medium dove grey outside (cloudy day) and more mossy under indoor lights. It's very pearly, almost reminds me of those multi-colored freshwater pearls. I gave it the benefit of the doubt with four stars. If I could give it three and a half I would.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Cetaphil - Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar
Julia941 11/28/2011 12:45:00 PM
I have been using Dove unscented for sensitive skin or Neutrogena bars or liquid for years. My dermatologist recently recommended I switch to Cetaphil bars and I'm very pleased with it. I don't generally use it on my face as I prefer a liquid or oil makeup remover and facial cleanser, but this is fantastic on the rest of me. I like to use it with a Salux towel (another great MUA recommendation) to generate a little lather and it leaves my skin feeling clean but not tight or dry. The bar is generously sized and hard-milled and I find it lasts longer than other bars as long as it is kept out of sitting water. I use a wire soap dish suction mounted fairly high on the wall opposite the shower head and it works great.
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Moisturizers -Cetaphil - Moisturizing Cream
Julia941 11/28/2011 12:26:00 PM
I never in a million years imagined that this would become my favourite facial moisturizer. I've always used Eucerin for really dry or irritated areas and thought Cetaphil was the same thing since it came in a similar tub. It is not the same and now I know why it gets such rave reviews. It is creamy like night cream while Eucerin is more ointment like, IMO. I've tried a zillion moisturizers, night creams, and eye creams that have treatments in them like retinoids, AHA, BHA, etc. and I've liked some of them very much. Then I started using Retin-A and needed something that was moisture only because applying treatment products only served to irritate my skin more. I decided to give it a try since so many people here say they use it on their face because it is non-comodogenic and non-irritating and I have had fantastic results. It isn't as heavy as some of the expensive creams I've used and it sinks into my skin leaving it feeling soft and clean rather than coated and sticky to the touch. I bought it to wear primarily at night but since it's cold I've been using it during the day, too, and it works fine under makeup. I tend to get a shiny T-zone even when my skin is dry and flaky and Cetaphil doesn't make that worse as I feared it would do. I haven't broken out since I've been using it and I also haven't had any more irritation, red spots, or flakiness from the Retin-A. They seem to balance each other out nicely and now I'm thrilled with the simplicity of my skincare routine and of course I love the price. Another big thank you to MUA!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorburst Lip Butter
Julia941 11/20/2011 9:37:00 PM
I passed the display of these several times at my local CVS before caving to MUA's recommendations and I picked up Fig Jam, Red Velvet, and Pink Truffle. I really like the formula and the colours are better than I expected. They show up nicely with a single coat, unlike Burt's Bees tinted balms, and you can build the colour up to pretty much full coverage. I am a fan of brownish pinks and really like Pink Truffle. It reminds me a lot of Bobbi Brown's lipstick in "Brown" but with a lighter texture. A light coat of Red Velvet reminded me of Lipstick Queen's Medieval and a heavier coat is very flattering and not too pink - more of a brick red. I've only worn Fig Jam a couple of times and it shows up as a plummy brown on me, similar to Nars Gipsy, if I remember Gipsy correctly. I like the texture, it feels moisturizing but not greasy, and I can't really detect a smell or taste. I'm looking forward to wearing them during the colder months when my lips are dry and hope that they become part of the permanent Revlon line-up.
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Crème -Cover Girl - Simply Ageless
Julia941 11/1/2011 2:40:00 AM
I am very unhappy with this product. I bought it on sale and was really looking forward to a "moisturizing" foundation that would glide over wrinkles and not settle into fine lines like Ellen said. I've also been using the yellow under-eye corrector from this line so I thought it would be great. No dice. This looked terrible on me. I've used Cover Girl powders and foundations before and classic ivory is my color but it is much lighter in this formula. Maybe it has something to do with the swirl? Anyway I cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized before applying and it brought out every line and really accentuated some flaky patches I have. I don't need a lot of coverage, I usually just use a little powder foundation to even my skin and it never looks as flaky as this. It looked like a strange see through coating on my skin that is hard to describe. It sort of looked as if I put a thin layer of white zinc oxide sunscreen. I guess it's back to dots of concealer blended out with pressed powder.
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Lipstick -NARS - Gipsy
Julia941 10/12/2011 10:38:00 PM
I was surprised to see this described as warm berry on the Sephora website. I find it to be more of an orange/red that is somewhat glossy and sheer with one coat but can be built up for a deeper, more opaque colour that isn't matte. I was in the store to try Dolce Vita but it didn't do much for me. When I tried Gipsy next my face lit up despite the fact that I had no other makeup on - none. The SA said it really brought out and complimented and my pale green eyes and I received a couple more compliments as I wandered around the store with it on. My skin is quite fair with yellow undertones and my hair is currently a neutral medium/dark brown. It reminds me a lot of my beloved Chanel Rouge Coco in Talisman which is darker and rather matte. It also reminds me of Viva Glam Cyndi but a bit deeper and less pink. Really very nice.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Revlon - Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
Julia941 6/8/2011 1:06:00 PM
This is a great mascara. I have tried practically everything from HE brands as samples, GWP, or part of a set. I'm prone to eye infections and styes and usually toss an open tube after about 6 weeks so I don't like to pay more than $10. I buy the one in the green reflective tube and I don't know if it has really made my lashes grow but I love the way it makes them look. It isn't waterproof but it has held up well through tears and rain. It is lengthening but doesn't give much volume so I like to wear it with a black tightline or add a coat volumizing mascara. I had medical hair loss and when my lashes started growing back they were very light and this product coated the entire lash without clumping at all. They've grown back now and I think they look darker and longer than they did before I got sick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Freelove
Julia941 3/28/2011 10:59:00 PM
This was my first Urban Decay shadow and I am very happy with it. It feels very creamy and it is easy to apply. The beautiful peachy/coral with a little bit of gold shimmer is very flattering to green eyes. I like to use BB Bone or Ivory (matte) all over then use this as a wash on my lids with a brown or black liner. It is perfect in the summer. Edit: I've tried many other coral/peachy-pink colours from MAC, Smashbox, Jane Iredale, etc. and this one is the best, hands down.
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Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Medieval
Julia941 3/17/2011 12:51:00 PM
I love everything about this lipstick. It is a beautiful, true red that is truly neutral - it doesn't pull pink or orange on me. It is very emmolient and it is my go to when my lips are dried or chapped. It is sheer - I would say the texture is between a balm and a gloss. The packaging is fabulous and the card explains that it is meant to look like Victorian ladies who put colour in their lips by stinging them with lemons. You can apply it lightly and it looks like that. You can apply it over lip liner or a matte red lipstick for more lasting power. Highly recommended.
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Gels/Soaps -Dove - Beauty Bar
Julia941 3/16/2011 8:26:00 PM
My husband's dermatologist recommended Dove unscented for sensitive skin and my whole family has been using it for years. It is much more gentle than something like Ivory or a deodorant bar. Even though it contains "1/4 moisturizing cream" and doesn't cause additional irritation to dry skin it isn't moisturizing enough for me to skip the lotion after I use it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -E.L.F. - Eyeshadow Brush
Julia941 3/16/2011 7:56:00 PM
Well, this is one of the best $.99 I've ever spent. I've been planning to buy new eye shadow brushes and picked a couple of these up at the grocery store just for fun. I'm very pleasantly surprised with the quality of these brushes. The short, soft yet fairly firm bristles are perfect for packing on eye shadow and minimizing fall out which I've been frustrated with for a while. I still want to try some other brands of brushes that also get raves here, but I will probably get several more of these so I will always have a fresh brush, to toss in my bag for traveling or touch ups, etc. I noticed some variation in the cut of the brushes when I was looking at them and some are better than others. Still, a nice brush for an excellent price. *Edit - The ferrule comes off quite easily and I've had to add a dot of glue to keep them together.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorburst (All colors)
Julia941 3/16/2011 2:00:00 PM
Revlon has really upped their game with the new Colorburst glosses. The new packaging almost looks like a Chanel Glossimer and some of the shades are very similar, too. The formula is nice - no taste or smell and they are not sticky at all, which is okay but they don't last as long as some of their stickier counterparts. They have a nice selection of colours, some with shimmer and some without. My only complaint is the applicator. I prefer a doe foot wand, which they have, but it feels very cheap and they are not tapered like other brands and just don't apply as well, IMO. Still, it is a great product and I recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No