Eyeliner -Prestige - Total Intensity Eyeliner Deepest Black
ShiverWithAntici 12/16/2011 10:30:00 PM
I am so impressed with this eyeliner. It's a very intense black (much blacker than Zero by Urban Decay), has a creamy application but isn't smudgey, doesn't tug on the eyelid, and stays on a long time, even on the waterline. I never expect anything to last on the waterline, and this blew me away. My only problem is that I'm a contact lens wearer, and this stuff makes my eyes water and get cloudy when I use it on the waterline. I don't know if that's inevitable with all eyeliner when you wear contacts. It's mildly uncomfortable and annoying, but tolerable. I would definitely recommend this product and would repurchase it in a heartbeat!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Aveda - Color Conserve Shampoo & Conditioner
ShiverWithAntici 12/15/2011 1:13:00 AM
I'm not really sure what to say about these products. I'll start off with the positive: I really like the smell - it's very aromatherapeutic and reminds me of my childhood when my mom used Aveda products. I don't care for the smell on my actual hair, however. Unfortunately, these products didn't seem to conserve my color, albeit any red shade is synonymous with "difficult upkeep". The shampoo lathers fairly well (a little does NOT go a long way), but is nothing special, and the conditioner is not particularly effective. I also think that this stuff causes me to breakout, but I'm not sure about that. I don't wash my hair more than twice per week anyway (and have been alternating with other products), so it's tough to give a really descriptive review. But based on my experience thus far, I think these products are overpriced and will not be repurchasing.
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Fragrances -Christian Dior - Miss Dior Cherie
ShiverWithAntici 12/14/2011 1:04:00 AM
I really like this fragrance, but it's difficult to critique it objectively, having had the chance to smell the version that came out in 2005. I think Dior made a very big mistake when they reformulated this. It's not nearly as whimsical and playful as the original version and that makes me mad! They removed every note that made it unique. If they brought the old version back, I'd purchase it without hesitation. Okay, okay, rant over. I still think this is a lovely fragrance. This version is more universally wearable, which may have been what Dior was going for. It's very soft and feminine, and gives the sense of being wrapped in a velour blanket. The mandarin and jasmine notes are light, pretty, and slightly sweet, while the patchouli is woodsy, but far from your overbearing, unwashed armpit patchouli (not that that is always a bad thing). Honestly, I could describe it as the type of fragrance a girl could wear to meet her boyfriend’s parents during the day, then go home with him and have sex all night. The patchouli, which becomes more dominate as the fragrance develops, but remains soft and inoffensive, gives it a sexy, earthy, intriguing depth. I personally find this perfume to have a subtle ingénue/sex goddess duality to it, although it's still sophisticated. I also like how it doesn't entirely scream, "I'm wearing perfume!" Sometimes you don't want to smell strongly of fruit, candy, or something blatantly unnatural. There is a humanness to it that is warm and sensual, but still clean. The staying power is also better than many other perfumes I’ve tried, and I enjoy the way the fragrance develops and think it works exceptionally well with my body chemistry. It’s not as interesting and complex as the original version (GRRRRRR), but I would still buy this fragrance.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Donna Karan - Be Delicious
ShiverWithAntici 12/13/2011 4:19:00 PM
Okay, this is slightly embarrassing, but I have been wearing this on a consistent basis for the past 7 years. It was literally love at first sniff. This was probably my first fragrance purchase that didn't require a "think it over" period. I knew this was me. I was instantly smitten by its fruity, watery, lightly floral freshness. It sounds incredibly cheesy, but it was like biting into a fresh, juicy, green apple on a warm, spring day. Since my first Be Delicious purchase, I have tried many other perfumes. I have come to the realization that while there may be many different perfumes that I enjoy smelling - from the extremely gourmand to the orientals - there are few things that I actually want to smell LIKE. For me, this strikes the right balance of citrusy freshness, fruitiness, and floral. Yes, I have strayed at times, but I always come back to it. Oh yeah, and might I add that I have NEVER encountered anyone who didn't like it (or if I have, they weren't vocal about it). I get a TON of compliments when I wear this - everyone from a former co-worker, to a random guy in a restaurant, a relative of mine in her mid-fifties, and my friends have complimented me. And they aren't just the generic, "You smell nice" compliments. I've gotten, "What are you wearing?? I really like it!", "You always smell SO good!", or "You smell so clean and fresh!" I generally wear perfume for myself, not to receive compliments, but I still appreciate them, and it's a major plus that others aren't offended by the smell of this. I don't find the staying power to be outstanding, but I have applied it in the morning and still gotten complimented on how I smell at the very end of the day. Also, I do love the packaging, but have noticed that the atomizer is not the best quality and can be slightly difficult to spray after a lot of use. But other than that, after all these years, I still love this perfume.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Naked Palette
ShiverWithAntici 12/13/2011 12:56:00 PM
So yes, after reading countless rave reviews and watching numerous makeup tutorials using this palette, I finally gave in. It seems like a lot of money to spend on eyeshadow at one time (and it IS), but the value is incredible here. My palette came with the brush instead of the eyeliner, but I don't mind because it's actually an even better value, and it's a good brush. I can honestly say that I love every color in this palette, although I could live without the glittery fallout of Sidecar. But overall, I am very impressed with these eyeshadows. The pigmentation is excellent and the texture is buttery, and they're easy to blend. I also really love the versatility. Some critics say that it isn't versatile enough, but I guess it depends on one's expectations. I didn't purchase this expecting it to be the ONLY palette I'd need to do my makeup. I purchased this because I wanted several beautiful, high quality eyeshadows for a reasonable price, and that's exactly what this is. I could say that throwing in a few more matte colors would be an improvement, but again, I wasn't expecting this to serve every eyeshadow need (that's what custom palettes are for). Plus, I love all of the colors in the palette and already own other matte eyeshadows. My reasons for subtracting one lippie: 1) The packaging, which I'm sad to say because it's part of what drew me in, and the look and feel is gorgeous. The problem is, I know the velvet is like a dust magnet and not the easiest to clean. Also, the magnetic closure is not secure enough, nor is the cardboard sturdy enough for my liking. I know I'm going to have this palette for a long time and be traveling with it, so these factors concern me. 2) This palette is versatile and suitable for many different people, but it's by no means universal. This isn't as much a criticism as it is something worth mentioning. Maybe this goes without saying, but this palette is not going to be for everyone. Very shimmery eyeshadows can emphasize crepiness and fine lines, so if those are concerns, then yeah, this may not be your best bet (but that goes for ANY shimmery makeup from ANY brand). Overall, I love this palette, think it's a fantastic value, and have never regretted the purchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Treatments -Fresh - Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15
ShiverWithAntici 12/10/2011 1:10:00 AM
See, I think of the ridiculous price as a bizarre, counterintuitive marketing scheme for people like me. I purchased this product out of curiosity BECAUSE it's so expensive. It sounds silly, but I had to experience a $22.50 lip balm for myself. Well, I'm kind of annoyed at how much I like this, actually, because it is JUST a lip balm when all is said and done. But I must say honestly, this is an excellent lip balm. It smells delicious, glides on beautifully, is very moisturizing, stays on a long time, and offers sun protection. Here are my only issues with this product: 1) The packaging, while being absolutely gorgeous, is impractical - the lip balm is narrower than the tube so it kind of wobbles around and you feel like it's going to break off. It doesn't help that the lip balm is so soft (although, the upside is that it's soft enough to where you can take some of the lip balm onto your finger first, and then apply it to your lips, which is what I just started doing). 2) It doesn't last long and the amount of product should be much more generous for the price. Of course I realize that part of what you're paying for is the fancy packaging. I would rather the company simplify (and improve) the packaging and decrease the price. 3) If they're going to add sun protection, it should ideally be at least SPF 30. Also, they should offer a version WITHOUT sun protection to give people options. Otherwise, I really love this product and use it almost everyday. Note: try buying the full size of this as part of a set for a MUCH better value.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Palettes -Prestige - Beauty Bar Eyeshadow Palette - Earthling
ShiverWithAntici 12/8/2011 7:07:00 PM
Beautiful color selection, excellent color payoff, inexpensive, widely available, and the company doesn't test on animals. Ding ding ding! I have these palettes in Earthling and Techno and love them both. The Earthling colors are extremely flattering with my skin tone. My only problems with these palettes are minor, considering how great this product is overall: the dark purple in the Techno palette is not as true a purple as it could be and can get a little muddy throughout the day, especially without a primer. Also, the top of my Techno case cracked and the Earthling top detached completely. But again, minor issues, in my opinion, especially since I have had both of these palettes for years, and they have traveled all over the place with me. These are difficult to beat in value!
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Skincare - Face -Pro Activ - 3-Step System
ShiverWithAntici 12/8/2011 4:52:00 AM
Ughh, I have a love-hate relationship with these products. I used the 3-Step System for a while in my early to mid-teens. I kind of hate to admit it, but this system was the only, and I mean ONLY thing that has ever gotten rid of my blackheads. It also kept my skin consistently clear (but I suspect that any benzoyl peroxide product I tried would have had the same effect). I stopped using it for a while, maybe because of the price, maybe because it started irritating my skin and made it red and itchy. I know once I started back up again a few years later, my skin became unbearably red and itchy, so I had to stop using the products. I then continued to use these products on and off through my late teens and early twenties because I knew that they worked for acne, but without fail, my skin would end up red and itchy, really dry, and I started to get noticeable fine line around my eyes. Over the many years of experience I had with this system, I also came to find that it was capable of bleaching my eyebrows. Any product that is capable of that and causing such itchiness and redness, is not something I'm too keen on applying to my face. I finally said enough is enough in 2009 and haven't touched any of these products since. I had already gotten into gentler, more natural products by then anyway, and my acne is not even close to being severe enough to warrant using products this harsh. It may have worked for me somewhat when I was a teen, but my skin was quite oily back then. I wouldn't dream of using this system now, with my skin being on the dry side and much more sensitive. However, I do miss the positive results that I experienced, and have yet to find anything that eliminates blackheads like this. If anyone has any recommendations on effective blackhead eliminating products that don't contain benzoyl peroxide, please let me know!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Ralph Lauren - Ralph HOT
ShiverWithAntici 12/6/2011 12:15:00 AM
A luscious, delectable, warm, sexy, and unique fragrance, but sadly, as other reviewers have pointed out, it doesn't last very long. The problem I have with many Ralph Lauren fragrances is that they only come in an EDT, so they have very little staying power. It's especially unfortunate because it isn't cheap. Also, I can no longer find it on the Sephora, Ulta, or Macy's websites. I'm guessing it's been discontinued.
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Cleansers -LUSH - Aqua Marina Cleansing Roll
ShiverWithAntici 11/18/2011 2:21:00 AM
I have only been using this for a few weeks, but I'm not sure if I'm going to continue, so I thought I would write a review. After a meticulous examination of all the LUSH cleansers, I decided on Aqua Marina because it's supposedly the most well suited to dry and sensitive skin (I was originally going to try the lauded Angels on Bare Skin, but refrained because I wanted an everyday cleanser and thought it would be too harsh). While Aqua Marina does contain several calming and soothing ingredients, it also contains some unfortunate ingredients like the potentially irritating orange and patchouli oils, sea salt, and perfume, and the highly comedogenic carrageenan. Like I said before, I haven't been using this for that long, so I'm only going on my experience of using this an average of once per day, for the past two weeks. So far, I am not impressed with this product. I cannot conclusively link it to my recent breakouts, but the two have certainly coincided and I wouldn't be surprised if it were the culprit. I guess I should address the fact that I truly enjoyed using this product. Yes, it smells a little funky, but I actually grew to like the smell. I prefer that over some synthetic, flowery fragrance any day, so the smell wasn't an issue for me. I really liked the whole process of pinching off a small piece and mixing it with water to create a paste (I'm not sure why so people have issues with getting a good consistency). It felt like I was back in art class playing with clay as I was washing my face. It was fun! The seaweed just added to the whole experience, although being extra careful to not get it in my hair and making sure none was left on my face after rinsing, did get slightly annoying. The problem I have with the product is that it just doesn't do a good job of cleaning my face. I thought it was effective at first, but it isn't. My face doesn't look or feel clean. I haven't been wearing makeup recently, but this cleanser can't even dissolve my mineral sunblock. It also leaves a chalky residue on my skin and really dries it out. It didn't seem to dry out my skin the first few times, but the more I use it, the more dried out my skin gets. As a result of ineffective cleansing, my complexion is starting to look dull and congested. I'm sad that this product didn't work for me and that I can't give it a rave review. The amount of money I spent on this is unfortunate.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -Tweezerman - Precision Tweezers
ShiverWithAntici 11/15/2011 3:51:00 PM
These are excellent tweezers. They are very precise and really do grab every hair and pull them out from the root. I of course answered "Yes" to whether I'd buy this product again, but I'm not sure I'd ever need to with Tweezerman's sharpening and repair policy. Just take the plunge and buy these tweezers. They're definitely worth the money, considering you may never need to replace them.
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Lip Gloss -Philosophy - Coconut Frosting lip shine
ShiverWithAntici 11/12/2011 3:48:00 PM
So yummm!! Being the self-proclaimed lip gloss FIEND that I am, and considering my love of all things coconut, I figured this lip gloss would be right up my alley. I love the staying power, as well as how it feels, tastes, and smells. The smell and taste don't so much remind me of coconut frosting as they do Rachel Perry's Banana-Coconut Lip Lover, that I used to use as a child (which has since been discontinued). I have never found another product with that same yummy smell and flavor, so I am quite happy. I subtracted one lippie for the long list of chemistry lab ingredients, and also, I find that if I use a lot of this, it pales out my lips too much. Otherwise, I love this lip gloss!
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Lip Treatments -Archipelago Botanicals - Pomegranate Lip Butter
ShiverWithAntici 11/12/2011 3:17:00 PM
This lip butter is made up of excellent ingredients, has a great smell and taste, feels really good on the lips, and gives a pretty, subtle shine, but unfortunately, it just doesn't do its job. It has almost no staying power because of the thin consistency (which is surprising for a lip butter) and doesn't moisturize your lips well. I'm not one to throw money away, so I use this on my lips at night and it's still on in the morning when I wake up (because I'm obviously not talking or eating in my sleep). It seems to work well for that purpose, but this product is definitely not worth the hefty price tag, so I will not be repurchasing it.
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Fragrances -Jo Malone - Pomegranate Noir
ShiverWithAntici 11/8/2011 3:38:00 PM
As my introduction to Jo Malone, I received this as a gift from a relative of mine, after finding the fragrance completely bewitching on her. This is a very elegant, beautifully crafted scent that smells as expensive as the price tag indicates. It is definitely fruity, but not a fresh, crisp fruity - more like a carefully aged pomegranate liqueur. The warm, spicy notes of pink pepper, patchouli, frankincense, and woods do remind me of potpourri, but not in a bad way. Even with all of these earthy notes, the fragrance still smells clean somehow, and not too heavy or sickening, at least not to me. Although this is designed to be combined with other Jo Malone scents, it's still a beautiful, sultry, and complex fragrance on it's own, and I have yet to smell anything like it. The staying power is also outstanding - better than any perfume I have ever tried, high-end or low-end. I have sprayed just a little bit of this on my neck and have still been able to smell it several days later without having to reapply. That being said, I can understand why many people would not care for this fragrance. I am more partial to the fresher scents myself for everyday wear, but the occasional spritz of this (a little goes a long way) is still an intriguing and sexy delight.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -LUSH - Ocean Salt
ShiverWithAntici 11/8/2011 3:03:00 PM
Let me start off by saying that the night I purchased this product from the LUSH website, I literally had a nightmare about it: I was using this to scrub my face, looked at myself in the mirror, and saw that several layers of my skin were peeling off to reveal red, raw skin underneath. Crazy! So needless to say, I was extremely apprehensive about this purchase. I have sensitive skin that is easily irritated and can get pretty dry, but I had never seen this level of praise for a product in my life, so I caved. First of all, I do love the smell - it smells like a margarita, and is very refreshing and energizing. What I do, is splash my face with tepid water, take about a teaspoonful (a little goes a long way), and using my fingertips and small circular motions, GENTLY massage this all over my wet skin, scrupulously avoiding the eye area, then rinse thoroughly. Because I have sensitive skin, I only use this once per week, at the most. I have only been using it for about 3 weeks, but thus far, I am very impressed. It's surprisingly gentle (it doesn't irritate or burn my skin at all), but is an incredibly effective exfoliant. I actually feel like I'm polishing my skin when I use this, which I LOVE. Another fantastic thing about it? Not only does it not dry out my skin, but actually leaves it moisturized and baby soft because of the oils it contains (which I haven't broken out from either, even though I tend to skip the cleansing and toning and just use this scrub followed by my regular moisturizer - although, I could probably skip that as well because this scrub is so hydrating!). It does contain fine and coarse sea salt, but because I don't use this often or scrub aggressively, I haven't had any irritation whatsoever. Being gentle is key! The scrub does most of the work for you, so you don't need to apply a lot of pressure (I would say that it's probably too harsh for people with rosacea or broken capillaries, and should be avoided, used with extreme caution on less sensitized areas of the face, or exclusively as a body scrub). I also think it has helped fade some of my acne scarring. I haven't noticed a difference in my blackheads so far, but no product seems to eliminate those entirely. I use this mainly as a body scrub on my arms a few times per week, and think that it's been slowly improving my keratosis pilaris, but I'll update on that later. All in all, I really like this product!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No