Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Synthetic Flat Top Multipurpose Brush
MissusJones 1/11/2013 6:51:00 PM
Functionality-wise, I love this brush. It is the perfect firmness and density for buffing softer creme foundations and liquid foundations. I used to use it with my creme compact foundations...but that's the reason I now have one negative thing to say :( However I do adore it for use with my Chanel Lift Lumiere an USED to like it with my Vitalumiere Compact...but (and keep in mind, I baby my makeup and brushes BIG TIME so this wasn't a result of jamming the brush down into the foundation or being too rough when picking up product on the brush) I started to notice tiny dark flecks in my compact foundation. At first I thought I had gotten a defective batch of makeup, but considering it was Chanel, it was highly doubtful. They got progressively worse and one day I got frustrated and decided to pick them out. I realized it was the tiny ends of my brush bristles broken off in my makeup. They were so bad by then, the makeup was a horrible pain to use because no matter how I applied it after that, the little hairs came with the product :(. $58 bucks down the crapper on that deal! I'm always more than willing to consider "user error" but I am ever so gentle with that foundation simply because I wear it very sheer, and well, it's not the cheapest stuff on earth! I ended up having to toss the pan but kept the compact...waiting for Chanel to release refill pans! (Keep dreaming, right?). Anyhow, like I mentioned before, I love the way it buffs in my Lift Lumiere, my Armani Cream Foundation, and my other softer creams. I just keep it AWAY from stiffer emulsions and compact foundations now. I actually probably would repurchase because it is a lovely product for the price. It's all trial and error, right?! :). Happy makeup-ing everyone!!
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Concealers -Maybelline - Dream Lumi Touch
MissusJones 1/8/2013 6:22:00 AM
I don't love this pen... I want to so badly though! I bought it after hearing rave reviews from YouTube guru Missglamorazzi...she has never recommended a product I didn't like (and I just adore her!). I got it in the pinkish shade, radiance, as I already have YSL Touche Eclat, Dior's skinflash, and Chanel's Eclat Lumiere in flesh tone colors for concealing. This pen from Maybelline just doesn't suit me at all...and it's not totally the product's fault...I'm finding that most highlighters in this color show up very artificial looking on my skin. The product is very blendable though and I do like using it on my Cupid's bow. My biggest issue is that this particular highlighting pen's formula definitely sinks into fine lines around my eyes no matter how much I go back and blend. I do, however, like the packaging better than Dior's, YSL's, and Chanel's versions of these pens. The Maybelline version may not be encased in heavy metal or expensive lacquer, but I LOVE that I can see how much product is left in the pen. All the high end versions seem to find joy in making us guess how much we have left! LOL! I may try it in the other shades before in totally give up on it...but for now, I'm gonna have to say thumbs down :-/
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Moisturizers -Simple - Kind To Skin Vital Vitamin Day Cream
MissusJones 1/7/2013 11:18:00 PM
I really like this cream! I love being pleasantly surprised by drugstore products...and this one was a great find! I had run out of my regular day cream while out of town for work, and where I was staying only boasted a Walmart Supercenter and a few dollar stores. I chose this because the night before I had read an article by a renowned MUA who was very excited by this line of products. The cream seems a bit greasy at first, but in about 10 minutes time it all sinks in and my face is left extremely soft...and I swear this stuff makes me glow! My husband even noticed (which is pretty big news lol! He never notices things like that). I've actually been using it as my day moisturizer quite frequently lately...passing up what used to be my high end HG day cream! This cream does have a scent but I find it very pleasant and clean. Only two complaints: if you get too close to your eyes, watch out because this stuff stings and makes my eyes water forever if I slip up...and secondly, the packaging isn't super. It comes in a thin, cheap, plastic jar and the lid unscrews easily if its jostled too much...but for $9.99, Ill overlook the container to use the wonderful product inside! Would definitely recommend!
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Primer/ Corrector -Good Skin - Z-Pore
MissusJones 1/6/2013 7:31:00 PM
So...Kohl's has started carrying some lines of cosmetics and skincare. Not a bunch, but a few, and I'm not sure if they're exclusive to Kohls or simply just product lines that haven't gained much popularity as there was only one brand I'd heard of (Candie's). Anyhow, I felt since I had braved Kohls during holiday madness, I HAD to at least try something from one of the lines...maybe it would change my mind and leave me surprised? I chose a product from the Good Skin labs line of skincare, honestly because it was 1 of only 2 skincare collections...meaning I was safe from the horror of tester messes at the other cosmetic displays. (Open product displays with countless testers and no SA's to assist...you can imagine the nasty, untidy, unsanitary yet colorful places the Kohls "makeup counters" are...then throw in the kiddos whos parents liken this area to a Mcdonalds Playland...yeah, its not a good setup lol!). The Good Skin products are packaged to look almost "prescription" grade for effect, and there was a pleasing range of creams, correctives, serums, primers, skin care, etc. I chose Z-pore for its claims to "completely fill and conceal pores all day" and reviews on the web showed it to be listed as having a Good Housekeeping seal of approval yet i couldnt find input from any real person that had actually used it...interesting. I was satisfied with the GH seal of approval so I plopped down my $27 bucks and was on my way. Ok, I have huge pores (yay genetics!)and am always on the hunt for the perfect primer, so I do NOT expect miracles. Z-Pore is a slightly tinted slightly thick substance (think Perfekt perfecting gel). When I first applied it, I was actually impressed! It appeared to conceal some of my pores and make others less noticeable. This is not a whole face primer, just a pore corrector, so it's only to be used in problem areas. It did NOT agree with my moisturizer (Chanel Hydramax), but I allowed it to dry, primed the rest of my face, and began my makeup routine...only to come to a screeching halt. It was business as usual with my foundation except the areas where I used Z-Pore. Those areas were cakey and stodgy and just gross. Ok, I thought, it just doesn't like my foundation...so I washed my face and started over. Used a different moisturizer (this time Origins Starting Over w/Mimosa) and different foundation. Same result. It became a pilly mess over my moisturizer (yes I had allowed my moisturizer to absorb completely) and cakey mess under my foundation. Totally disgusting. I've since tried it with 5 other foundations, same thing with them as well...and the only moisturizer it agreed with was Simple's Vital Vitamin Day Cream. It also gave my tiny whiteheads every morning after I had attempted to use it the day before. I never break out...so it takes something nasty for me to complain about clogged pores. In short...if you're looking for a product to wear alone and have skin in the lighter range of tones, this may be for you...but watch out for the pore clogging nightmare that follows the day after use. It hates foundation, is thick and pasty, and does not blend well at all. A total bust. I can get Laura Gellar's Spackle in this price range and its 10x the product...just to name one. Looks like my first swing at Good Skin Labs was a foul ball...this stuff is just awful :(
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Foundations -Perfekt - Skin Perfection Gel
MissusJones 1/6/2013 10:18:00 AM
Ok, so there are certain hyped up products out there that for some reason I just get sick if hearing about and ultimately set out to debunk the buzz...I don't know why...I just do! :). This was one of those products. On the search for a good working high end primer, this stuff kept popping up almost every time...it seemed over glamorized and trumped up, however people seem to either love or hate it. I wasn't even willing to try it at first, so you can imagine my discern when I received one of my hauls one day...and inside the box, a teeny sample tube of this stuff was smiling at me from inside as to say nah nah na-na nahhhh! I had not chosen this as a sample, so I was like, ok karma, I get it! I tossed it in a makeup pouch and forgot about it. ::FFwd to a few weeks later:: I'm up one night bored and decide to play makeup (don't lie, you've alllll done it!). I was running low on my primer of the moment and didn't want to waste it on a late night makeup experiment, so I went digging thru my bag of primers to find one that'd do. That blasted tube of Perfekt was the first thing that fell out...so I figured I'd try it. Also, the sample was in the shade "radiant" which looked scarily dark brown. It blended out on my hand pretty light though, so I proceeded to apply it like a bronzing primer...on my nose, out to the apples of my cheeks, under my eyes, and on my forehead. I used a colorless primer in the other areas and let the two dry. I used my Chanel Lift Lumiere foundation, and as it dried I noticed a "glow" that wasn't there previously. I'd been having problems with that foundation making my face look somewhat dull, especially around my eye area, but this time it looked radiant and glowy...hmmmmmm I thought...maybe because I exfoliated earlier that night? I applied the rest of my makeup, then my son got up sick so I had to dash to the local 24-hour Walmart. While there (under the horrible savage fluorescent lights even) I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and was stunned at how soft and radiant my foundation still looked. I love Chanel foundations, but the LL ALWAYS seemed to go flat on me after a bit no matter what I wore over/under it. This particular night, that did not happen. Th days and weeks following I tweaked and played and obsessed trying to get my LL to look that good again and then I remembered using the Perfekt. I got it out, used it agin, and boom! Glowy, healthy looking face with no dull foundation. I was so shocked!! Needless to say, I begrudgingly moved my Perfekt to permanent status in my makeup bag and the rest is history. Again, note, I do not use this on my entire face! I use Korres anti-aging primer with this product. Ok now that I'm done blabbing, my actual review: PROS: -I am VERY fair, and the Perfekt gel in the shade "Radiant" is an excellent under foundation bronzing primer for me. -does add a softness to skin and allows foundation to glide on easily. -comes in a "to go" size and a full size product. (The To-go size has lasted me forever and is much cheaper). -comes in tinted and colorless versions -blends very well, kept my foundation fresh and glowy for a good 8 hours. -a little goes a long wayyyyyyy -feels light on the skin...not masky at all CONS -full size bottle is a bit pricey considering there are higher end, better performing products available for less. -did nothing to minimize look of pores or fine lines. -is silicone based (which could actually be a pro, depending on whether silicone primers are your thing....they just don't seem to suit my skin when used on my entire face) -I could see this product possibly becoming an oil slick on someone with oily skin. Will I repurchase?...still deciding. I may try some other bronzing primers before I make up my mind.
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Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - Lip Junkie 
MissusJones 1/4/2013 9:23:00 PM
Got ths as a sample size with my Naked2 palette and loved it instantly! Within days, I had ordered a stash of full size tubes, including 2 tubes in the color "naked" because it's perfect to complete a dewey glow look, an every day look, or layered over lip color for a glossy finish. When I don't feel like taking the time for lip liner, lipstick, etc, I simply wear this and it compliments my makeup perfectly as well as my bare skin. The color is subtle, the glossiness is perfect, it's not overly tacky, and it lasts a while (not a long while...but what gloss really does?). I never leave the house without my tube of Naked...PERFECT gloss for me!! The only reason i didnt give it 5 lippies is because i dont love the packaging...but its not totally horrible either. Love the product inside though!!
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Conditioner -Bumble & Bumble - Creme de Coco conditioner
MissusJones 1/4/2013 7:15:00 PM
If I were to have reviewed this conditioner after only using it a time or two, I would probably have ranted and complained about it, but I wanted to like this stuff so much that I stuck it out and used it for about a month before I developed an opinion...and I'm so glad I did!! I have come to like it very much and it has become my go-to every day use conditioner. More importantly, it stopped the severe breakage from all the bleaching, The reason I think so many people are initially put off by this product is that it does not contain the silicone or dimethicone that is found in most conditioners claiming to provide softness, detangling, shine, and smoothness. These ingredients coat the hair giving the illusion of soft tangle-free hair, but in the long run, they keep the body's natural oils from coating the hair and ultimately result in drier mane..not a healthier one. B&B Creme do Coco does not have these, therefore does not have that initial "WOW" factor...however, patience is a virtue and given some time and regular use (with a good moisturizing shampoo of course...the corresponding B&B shampoo is wonderful) this conditioner WILL improve the overall health and appearance of hair. (Well, it did mine at least...and mine was BAD). It allows the hair to soak up the natural oils it needs fom the scalp, is super mild, and over time it made my hair just wonderful! I have coarse, naturally curly, thick platinum hait that I flat iron almost every other day...so you can imagine the condition it gets in if I don't baby it a LOT. People are always asking me how I keep my hair so healthy even though it gets pummeled with bleach once a month...I used to "fake it" and use a TON of product to make it look healthy. Since I've made this shampoo and conditioner a part of my regime, I don't need hardly any product except one for heat protection and one to finish (which are both B&B as well), Give it a shot, but remember that even though ya won't have luxuriously transformed hair after just one washing...beauty takes time!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Revlon - Colorstay Liquid Lip in Citrus
MissusJones 1/4/2013 1:04:00 AM
Bought this product in this and another color...dedinitely did not like it. The colors are quite pretty, but that's where my compliments end. It was super drying to the lips and application is tricky because the color goes on inconsistently. If you mess up and go out of the line, forget a quick and neat cleanup. It also faded thru the day and I was left with a ring of lip liner and "stripes" on my lips where it sunk into the tiny lines but faded everywhere else. It was super noticeable, especially when I smiled. It's a good concept, but unfortunately the execution is no good for me. Will not repurchase.
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Concealers -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles
MissusJones 1/4/2013 12:53:00 AM
I was pleasantly surprised by this product! In a last ditch attempt to find a decent undereye concealer to fill in till my regular concealer replenishment arrived, I picked this up. I had bough probably 10 different concealers and hated them all...this was one of the few at my local Walmart I hadn't tried. I LOVE IT!! It not only hides my DARK dark circles (thank you genetics!) but it brightens my under eye area, is super light feeling, and blends very well! I am seriously considering replacing my high end undereye concealer with this Maybelline product! It lasted fairly well and didnt cake into my lines and wrinkles...I also inherited my mother's crepe-y undereye skin, and this product had a smoothing effect on those areas. I am curious about the matching foundation now and am definitely going to try it too! My only complaint is the packaging...the "sponge" or "pouf" on top doesn't come off so there is no way to sanitize it...I wouldn't care but it's going terribly close to my eye and could easily become a germ factory. Just going to be super careful, and it's definitely not bad enough to make me not use the product. Yes, I will certainly repurchase!
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Eye Shadow -MAC - Bare Canvas Paint
MissusJones 1/2/2013 10:34:00 PM
This little gem has been a staple in my makeup arsenal for quite a while now and I don't know what I'd do without it!! I've heard folks say "it's a paint pot in a tube" but I think it's much more blendable, applies easier, and is WAY less drying than the paint pot formulas (although I do adore them as well). I love using it as my eyeshadow primer...it makes my shadow last forever, have amazing color, and they don't crease at all during the day. It's such a beautiful color, I usually let a bit peek out on its own as well! (It is somewhat shimmery, so just keep that in mind in case you're not into shimmer). Lemme tell you, it will last till ya wash it off! It's also great for light makeup days because it brightens and covers just enough to take the "dull and dark" out of my lids. I have always applied this product very light handed and sheer whether I'm using it for primer or shadow...I've found that applying it too thick had a bit of a drying effect on my lids, but I've heard that some people remedy that by applying it on a damp lid or with a damp brush? I haven't braved that territory just yet, but this stuff is definitely worth the money and I imagine it would flatter just about any skin tone, even if just as a highlighter. Happy MAC painting!
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Blush -MAC - Sheertone Shimmer Blush - Ambering Rose
MissusJones 1/2/2013 10:09:00 PM
I am sooooo in love with this shade! I was iffy about whether or not it would work for my fair freckled skin, but applied sheerly, it looks great! Just the right amount of subtle shimmer..does not accentuate large pores or imperfections like some shimmery products. I have to be honest though...on days when I'm rather lazy and wear a super sheer foundation or BB cream and skip the concealer, this blush tends to be a tad too red for my already ruddy Irish/German cheeks. I'm naturally somewhat red...so I have to be light handed on those days...but this blush is so pretty, it's worth a little extra effort to be able to wear it!
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Liquid -Revlon - PhotoReady Makeup
MissusJones 1/2/2013 9:31:00 PM
Was very disappointed by this foundation :(. When the HD foundations rolled onto the market by the truckload, I was excited to see a version by Revlon (love their Colorstay foundation)...but my excitement was short-lived. Snatched it up along with the Photoready perfecting primer, LOVED the primer but HATED the foundation. No matter how I apply it, this foundation sets up very cakey on my skin and dries to a finish that's far from "photo ready". It sinks into fine lines quickly, making them super noticeable, is difficult to blend, and looks "makeup-y" no matter what shade I try. It seemed to magnify every imperfection I have! I've tried different primers, brushes, sponges, etc...nothing makes this product look natural on me. My powder even sits on top of it and looks awful...this one just doesn't work for me I guess...oh well, on to the next great thing! ;-).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Foundations -Chanel - Lift Lumiere Fluid
MissusJones 12/29/2012 7:29:00 AM
I am in a love-hate Battle with this foundation right now! When I first apply it, it looks terrible...patchy, uneven, yellow...BUT about 15 minutes later it sinks into my skin beautifully and the finish is quite nice. Even my husband commented on how pretty it looked, which is what made me hang on to it because he never notices things like the finish of my foundation. I've found that finger application is working best for me so far...I tried my trusty MAC 187 brush and for the first time, it was a no go. I haven't tried a beauty blender yet, as I need to grab a new one in a bad way. I'm partially to blame for the application frustration I think...I've gotten so used to the sheerness of most of the recent "raved about" foundations, I have become rather rusty at applying a full/medium coverage fluid. The shade range is not great here in the USA (but we have a better rage than the French release of this formula thankfully!). I'm usually the lightest shade in most formulations/brands, but the 14 Ivoire in Lift Lumiere made me look sick and sallow. The shades then jump up to 20 Claire here in the States, and although it was a better match, it was the tiniest bit too deep so it's taken some tweaking with powder to get it right. I really wish we had the shades between 14 and 20 available to us like the lucky folks in Sweden! Anyway, Lift Lumiere is a keeper for now...it is a bit heavier than Vitalumiere Aqua liquid and compact, but that's to be expected with a full/medium coverage product. It's not so heavy that I'd be deterred from wearing it. As I said before...if you apply it and hate it, wait about 15-20 minutes before you throw in the towel because it totally transforms as it dries and settles onto the face. I wait that long before applying any powder/blush/concealer, and it makes a big difference. Will I repurchase? Probably....I'm still on the fence with that decision and will update when I'm sure :) Happy Holidays to everyone!
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BB Cream -Skin79 - Super+ BB Cream Pink Label
MissusJones 12/27/2012 8:57:00 AM
**I apologize for the lengthy review, but a bit of back story is necessary I think** I am totaly blown away...I LOVE this BB cream!! I've been on a rather daunting quest to find my perfect foundation, and kept failing miserably. After countless hauls from Chanel, Armani, Sephora, Shiseido, Dior, Laura Mercier, ect., I was literally in tears at times because even the most touted products were less than optimal for me. THEN my Skin79 arrived. I had ordered it on a whim with no expectations (honestly, HOW good could a $13 cream really be, I thought) and had totally forgotten about it when it arrived. When I first saw the product itself, I almost tossed it in the trash. A creepy grey-ish foundation-y color was staring back at me from the bit I squirted on my hand...but I said what the heck and applied it anyway. I had nothing to lose at this point. LADIES AND GENTS...DONT BE PUT OFF BY THE INITIAL COLOR!! It glided on my skin like a dream, blended beautifully, and within seconds the color matched my skin perfectly. My chin actually dropped!! The coverage is amazing, it feels like silk, the color correction was spot on, it wasn't grey at all, and my skin appeared smooth for the first time in years. I was left in tears of joy. I'll be honest...just that morning I had ordered yet another high-end foundation to try and wished I could have cancelled it. This product is just that good. ***A little bit of history about my skin and why I'm so excited about this product*** I am a 35 year old woman who has put her skin thru hell and back. I have very a very fair Irish/German complection that blesses me with a red cast to my face most of the time (especially my cheeks), yet my neck and decolletage are snow white. I have tons of freckles on my face and a bit of hyperpigmentation on my lower cheeks, which make foundation matching a nightmare because in order to make my face match my neck, I have to buy very light shades that are often too light for my face (and we all know how nasty that effect can be...even worse than too dark depending on the product!). Im a bit backward, in that, when I'm NOT wearing makeup, my face is darker than my neck! Even most professionally matched concealers have been somewhat visible on my skin for some reason...so covering all these spots is a battle in itself. I have combination skin with dry cheeks/chin and oily T-zone...and last year I was blessed with a broken capillary right below my left eye...YAY! :( Just in the last few years I have developed some pretty crappy self esteem issues stemming from the damage I've done to my face, but I do NOT want to take the plunge into resurfacing or cosmetic surgery, as I feel I am still too young. I dont wanna break out the big guns this early in life! LOL! Anyway, these are the things that drive my search for the HG of foundations/BB creams/imperfection correctors. ALONG with the above, I was tomboy in my youth and teenage years and never had a problem with acne, which led me not to give a hoot about skincare/makeup. While my friends were hawking the Clinique and Lancome counters after school, I was on the ballfield..it wasnt till I started dating and went off to college that I even began to care, and even then, I was concerned soley with the end result, i.e. what looked good, rather than what was good for my skin. Late night study sessions and your average college party nights often led me not to wash my makeup off till the next day in the shower...all the while I was baking myself in the tanning bed daily and not giving a thought to the future of my precious face. Eventually I started to take better care but the damage was done. Even the best primers haven't helped much (except one from L'Oreal...see my review). Long story short....This BB cream is a dream come true so far!!!! It gives me good coverage, balances out my redness, hides my imperfections, does NOT settle into my fine lines, and my face matches my neck! Ive only been using it a few days...so I'll edit if anything adverse pops up....but for now, this is a DEFINITE THUMBS UP!!!!!
23 out of 24 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Chanel - vitalumiere Aqua Fresh and Hydrating Cream Compact Makeup
MissusJones 12/26/2012 7:44:00 PM
Let me first just say I MUCH prefer this version of VA over its liquid counterpart. The coverage is better, staying power is longer, and it doesn't settle into my fine lines. It does tend to separate on my oily days (I'm combination...dry cheeks and chin, oily T-zone). I've found that a good mattifying primer solves that problem though. Application was tricky at first, the sponge provided in the compact gave a heavier, thick coverage...but then a flattop buffing brush did the trick! A regular flat foundation brush is not optimal for this formula, it makes for streaky and uneven application. I do have to set it with powder, but that's typical for my skin. Just make sure to have an SA match you if possible....I am a pale nc10 and ordered shade b10 as it was the lightest available. It seemed to match, but left "dots" on my face from sinking into my pores and after 20 minutes or so I looked almost sick and unhealthy. Frustrated, I drove 2 hours to the nearest Chanel counter and found that my shade was simply too light and once she matched me, the sallowness and paleness went away and I didn't have the pore problem anymore! The beige rose (BR22) was much better! I had previously avoided it because I was scared of the "rose" tones emphasizing the natural redness in my fair Irish skin...but it was a great match! I've found when it comes to Chanel foundations, trying to counteract redness with yellow tones never works for me! As for the compact, I'm still deciding if I'd repurchase. Like it much more than Vitalumiere Aqua liquid, but it's still not my favorite. Still hoping to fall in love with it though!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No