Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow
bnanaphone246 1/8/2012 11:45:00 PM
I was so excited to try this product. Especially after reading all the glowing reviews on here, I wonder if maybe my jar was left out in the sun too long or something, because I'm utterly underwhelmed by this product. Let me start out by saying I did not buy this for the 24 hour crease proof thing, because I've never had an issue with creasing. I used an eye primer until i realized i didnt need it. Anywho, i bought the tough as taupe shade because Im a sucker for those smoky mauve/taupe/grey kind of shades,and it seemed like a great cheap alternative to the Mac and Lancôme eyeshadows I was using and the custom color I was thinking of ordering to replace a beloved discontinued UD shade. However, this stuff has less staying power on my lids than a shadow I found at the dollar store. It melted down my lids and creased within four hours. And i wasnt doing anything crazy physical or sweaty, i was just sitting indoors at a bridal shower. Meanwhile, the ordinary revlon powder shadow I smudged along my lash line stayed the entire day. I'm not going to bother setting it with a powder, or prepping with a primer, because if I use the powder eyeshadows I already have I don't need to do any of that. Maybe I've just got weird eyelids,but Ive had better results with random eyeshadows from Claire's. Right now the only way color tattoo resembles a real tattoo is that I regret getting it. Granted I've only been using it for two days, but still.ill update if anything changes. I really would like to use it, because it's really bendable and I can build up sheer washes of color, but the fading and the creasing defeat the purpose.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Revlon - Grow Luscious Lash Liner - 002 Espresso
bnanaphone246 1/6/2012 8:47:00 PM
Such a love/hate relationship with this eyeliner. The shade is really nice,and I'm pretty sure it made my eyelashes longer than usual, but application is SUCH a pain! It's weird because it worked really well the first week or so, but then it looked like I let a toddler do my eyeliner, and then let that toddler wipe his or her messy fingers in random spots on my face. The problem lies in the smudginess-it's a bit of a double edged sword- because the same thing that helps it glide on and blend really well can also lead to serious raccoon eyes if you're having an off day. I've resorted to applying it with an ecotools eyeliner brush, which gives me more control, but it also adds another step to my already time consuming makeup routine. I also strongly suggest getting one of those sharpeners that cap off the end of the sharpener, because it wears down faster than any other pencil I've ever seen, but all in all it's a nice product,especially for the money, because it's really easy to find a coupon or a sale, and it actually does a lot for lashes.
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Cleansers -Boscia - MakeUp-BreakUp Cool Cleansing Oil
bnanaphone246 1/6/2012 8:10:00 PM
This product is really fantastic. My skin felt so incredibly soft after I used it, and it completely erased my makeup, which was totally fantastic. Unfortunately, it is incredibly pricey, so until I get a better job I have to stick with my trusty cold cream. I would never have even thought of trying it if it wasn't a free sample from sephora. If it did anything for acne and occasional breakouts, I could justify the cost, but as it is I can't afford it. As a makeup remover, though,it is absolutely outstanding,and if you can afford to spring for it you won't be disappointed.
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Treatments (Eye) -Boscia - Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment
bnanaphone246 1/6/2012 8:00:00 PM
I was pretty underwhelmed by it. I don't think it did much of anything for my face.
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Crème -Cover Girl - Simply Ageless
bnanaphone246 11/1/2011 1:02:00 AM
i used this product in college, back when i just got excited if something matched my skintone.(in my defense, it can be hard to do, half of my makeup adventures end with me going with the lightest shade available and finding out it's too dark.) and it was quite nice for a while- very creamy, covered my blemishes in one step, etc.-but after a bit it started getting annoying. it feels hydrating, but then it made my skin really flaky. it also became too light for my skin, which shocked me. i think both of these problems stem from the olay serum, which probably contains retinol, which irritates my skin, and gives some kind of whitish tint to the product that makes it lighter than it would be otherwise, and both of these problems got more complicated as i worked my way to the bottom of the jar, where the colors are less mixed. also, the packaging was a drag-i really dislike having to unscrew the lid AND there's no mirror. i have the same problem with the maybelline dream smooth compact(they are basically the same design) i cant help but think there should be a better way to make a compact. this is america, we put a man on the moon. can we not create a convenient, sanitary way to use cream foundation? so, basically, i think most of the problems with this product lie in the formulation/packaging/fancy swirl department, but its otherwise a nice product. having used it when i was 21-22, i cant really vouch for its wrinkle reduction, but it provides medium to heavy coverage for an okay price.
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Lip Treatments -Neutrogena - Revitalizing lip balm
bnanaphone246 10/30/2011 10:41:00 PM
i used this balm for all of winter,& most of spring, and for a while it was amazing. around late spring, though, i found it started making my lips drier, and i think it made my lips a lot less plump than before, which is weird, so i decided to stop using it. also, the packaging is simultaneously convenient and terrible. because its so small, it can fit pretty much anywhere, but its so plain it kind of reminds me of a stealth jet, it just disappears all the time. the sunny berry color is beautiful- nice and natural with just enough color to make an impact,not too shiny or shimmery or bright, but the shimmer ones are terrible. i couldnt manage to stop them from looking ridiculous. i switched to maybelline baby lips and i feel like my lips have returned to their normal levels of plumpness. i highly suggest that over this, because it wont slowly deflate your lips over time.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
bnanaphone246 10/30/2011 9:53:00 PM
i'm not sure how best to rate this product. i bought it to use for halloween. it works well- i was skeptical about the claims made, but it really does blur various imperfections. i was worried it would be greasy like the smashbox primers, which i really hate, but this felt much lighter. its great for the general complexion, it smoothed out my skin's texture and it was great for hiding any little flaky skin issues, but i wouldnt suggest putting it on your eyelid, because it definitely made it tougher to apply liner. im not sure why people are saying its 15$. maybe they reduced the price recently, because i think it was 12 something at target, but thats still really pricey for a drugstore brand. i could never use it as an everyday thing, because that jar would drive me crazy. it feels so thick compared to my usual primer(boscia), that im really not surprised it causes breakouts for some people. all that aside, for my purposes, it was great-erased imperfections, foundation was a breeze, and it lasted all night. so to sum up: its a great primer for special occasions,etc, but not for everyday use, and never around the eyelid. inconvenient package, somewhat ridiculous price to pay at a drugstore, but generally a quality product that gives pretty good results.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Unlisted Brand - EXTRA VIRGIN Coconut Oil (All brands)
bnanaphone246 10/2/2011 9:00:00 PM
coconut oil is absolutely fantastic. i have struggled with KP(keratosis pilaris) all over my body for so long. i've tried lots of different moisturizers but they never really seemed to have any lasting effect. i read about coconut oil here, and i had some in my kitchen so i decided to try it out by testing it on my arm, where i have a lot of particularly stubborn bumps. the next day it was easy to tell where i applied the coconut oil because there was a very clear line of demarcation-part of my skin was bumpy as always, but on the other part, the bumps had disappeared!! its been several weeks now and im still absolutely thrilled with what it does for my skin. between this, dove visible care bodywash, and salux bath towels, i can finally stop wasting money and energy trying to fix my KP, and stop feeling embarassed about the texture of my skin. as an added bonus, it's done wonders for strengthening my nails. i thought it was normal for nails to grow to a certain length and then get all snaggly,until i noticed how much nicer my nails were getting. im afraid to use this as a facial moisturizer, as it is considered comedonegenic, (or however you spell that) but its great for oil-pulling. i find it helps cure junkfood cravings. still have to try it out as a conditioner.
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Philosophy - Vanilla Birthday Cake 3-in-1
bnanaphone246 9/29/2011 5:44:00 PM
got a free sample from sephora. it smells so-so, its okay as a body wash and im sure its a nice bubble bath(but then again pretty much any shower gel can be a bubble bath, in my experience) but it is a TERRIBLE shampoo. it somehow made my hair dry and tangled, yet greasy. i had to deep condition it TWICE just to get my hair to feel normal again. so, to recap, basically its a 2-in-1, since its the worst shampoo ive ever tried, and since most shower gels will make bubbles in a bath, its pretty much just a 1-in-1, and not such a moisturizing or great smelling one at that. i feel bad because it was free, and it's a little stupid to critique free samples, but on the off chance i can spare someone else a terrible hair day, i will repeat-(without lathering or rinsing)- DO NOT USE YOUR FREE SEPHORA BIRTHDAY PRESENT AS A SHAMPOO!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Bliss Labs - clog-dissolving cleansing milk
bnanaphone246 9/29/2011 5:26:00 PM
I AM IN LOVE. ive been thinking about getting this stuff for a while, but the price scared me off, and i was hesitant to believe that it would really dissolve clogs, but i bought a tiny sample off ebay to give it a shot. i have had stubborn black heads on my nose since i was 9 or 10, and nothing would ever produce noticeable results except for a facial with manual extraction, and then they would just go back to normal in a week or two, so i kind of gave up. the very FIRST time i used this, patches of blackhead-affected skin were CLEAR. like, part of my nose was just normal skin. this has not happened since 1996. i used it again today, and it was even better!! i mist my face with evian before i start, then i massage it in for five minutes or slightly longer, and i can feel what i guess are impurities and whatnot start to roll away.(it may be that part of the product has dried on my face or something, but i really dont care, because my results are amazing anyway.) i use it at night because i dont really have too much time in the morning, and i have a feeling that the act of actively rubbing it into my pores is what helps it work so effectively, but i definitely plan on using it for a long time and buying the full size bottle when this one runs out. i will update if my skin gets upset, but for right now im kind of ecstatic, and i highly recommend it. Pros: clears blackheads/clogged pores better than anything else ive ever seen! (slight)Cons: price is a little high, smells a little too sweet UPDATE:(10/30) still loving it. i use it day and night now. it pulled some nasty things to the surface, so now i do a pre cleanse with noxema, but i cannot stress enough how good it is at getting rid of blackheads. sometimes for a little extra exfoliation i add the bare minerals cleanser powder, and it gives it a little extra oomph. its great for skin that needs exfoliation but cant stand harsh scrubbing or lots of salicylic acid.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Lip Stain- Twilight
bnanaphone246 9/28/2011 10:27:00 PM
i LOVE this lipstain! the trick to getting even coverage is to use the balm before you do anything to your face, then do your whole makeup routine, THEN swipe it on. it would be much better than the covergirl one, if only because of the balm, but the color is so much better than theirs as well. also, the balm helps smooth out the color after its on your lips, kind of like an eraser. and it lasts for like, ever, ive had mine for over a year and im just now wondering if i should replace it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Revlon - Beyond Natural Cream to Powder Eye Shadow
bnanaphone246 9/27/2011 11:31:00 PM
i dont understand why there are so many negative reviews for this product, maybe i have weirdly dry eyelids? or maybe i was expecting them to be really subtle and sheer anyway? because i absolutely loved these shadows. i had been hunting high and low for simple neutral shades that would look natural, and these were absolutely the ticket. i found them to be really blendable, and i really didnt have any problems with the staying power after using them with either urban decay primer potion or tarte lifted eye primer. i loved the shimmer in them, because it wasnt too frosty, but it still had a nice reflective quality that gave a subtle emphasis to the natural eye. i was forced to switch to a different approach when i ran out and couldnt find a replacement, but it was nice while it lasted, and i would definitely have repurchased tham it it was possible.
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Masks -Boscia - Luminizing Black Mask
bnanaphone246 9/25/2011 9:17:00 PM
im kind of on the fence about this. i feel like it pulled a lot of blackheads and things to the surface, but then it couldnt actually remove them from my skin. it looked like it did, but the i realized the lighter spots were just tiny holes, so the mask latched on to the impurities, and then just kind of sat there. i know youre supposed to apply a really thick layer, and i applied it as heavily as i could without it dripping, but no dice. i think if you use it regularly it would probably work nicely, but its a little cost prohibitive for me. maybe ill try the pore strips(?)
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Moisturizers -Garnier - Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream
bnanaphone246 9/16/2011 9:09:00 PM
at first i really liked this product, it smells awesome and it made my face feel smooth. however, as time went on, i found it wasnt too effective at delivering much moisture. i'm really not surprised to learn that it has denatured alcohol in it. it feels nice when you put it on, but then it starts to burn. it sounds like it works well for oily skin, but for combination skin/dry skin, this stuff is decidedly not a 'moisture rescue'. i knew it wasn't working when i got frustrated and applied clinique's dramatically different moisturizing gel over it, and it felt like my skin could actually breathe again. this stuff is more like a thick toner than a moisturizer. definitely not repurchasing, ever.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -E.L.F. - Mineral Blemish Kit
bnanaphone246 9/16/2011 8:54:00 PM
I bought this in the hopes of finding cheaper alternative to bare minerals blemish therapy, and this exceeded my expectations. im finding that it works BETTER than the bare minerals, perhaps because im not trying to ration it to save money. the brush isnt as soft,and the powder doesnt seem quite as finely milled, but it totally gets the job done. there's more product, and the price is WAY cheaper. also, some people reviewing this seem to be confused as to what it's supposed to do. it is decidedly NOT a concealer, but it does make my skin look better, somehow more even, its hard to describe. it's excellent for setting concealer, and its a great way to apply blemish treatment over makeup. i also mix it in with my mineral foundation to counteract the clogged pores that my sunscreen can cause. so glad i bought this! if you like the bare minerals powder, you'll really like it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No