Brows -BeneFit Cosmetics - NEW BrowZings
cgw1 1/15/2013 7:06:00 PM
I'm giving this a 3 because I think it's a great concept/design, but for me it did not work out so I would not buy again. Background: I have VERY thick dark brown brows I have left them naturally thick and tweeze stray hairs because I find it to be more youthful/flattering. I have spaces in my brows that make them uneven, so this is why I bought browzings. I really like the wax/powder combo and I think the quality of these two is great. If you have dark brown eyebrows like me I would recommend medium unless you want darker brows,then you should go for dark. My main issue is that I learned after purchasing this that powder/wax makes my eyebrows wayyy to thick and noticeable. Even just using a little bit. I will stick with my MAC spiked eyebrow pencil to fill in gaps and some hairspray on a toothbrush to keep them in place. It's cheaper, and for someone like me who has naturally thick eyebrows, browzings is probably too harsh looking.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -It's a 10 - Miracle Leave in Product
cgw1 1/15/2013 1:09:00 AM
After reading a lot of the reviews, I literally expected a hair miracle from this product. I am growing out my hair, and it is terribly damaged from relaxing it in Taiwan (bad idea). As a result my hair gets really tangled. I spray about 4-5 sprays in my hand and work through the ends of my hair. I then comb it through. No tangles! I've tried air drying my hair and blow drying/straightening after using this product and both give me shiny, tangle-free hair! The more I use it the more I notice the shine. I think the price is ridiculous, but I Also, I have really find hair and it doesn't weigh it down at all. For fine hair like mine less products is better, so I just stick to it's a 10 and my hair looks great. I gave this a 3 because, honestly, I notice a difference, but my hair looks fine without it too. I'm not super concerned about my hair so I could take it or leave it, but I would still recommend it to people who want to invest in healthier hair.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clarins - Cleansing Milk for dry to normal skin
cgw1 1/11/2013 12:13:00 PM
This is my favorite cleanser of all time. I have dry, acne-prone, sensitive skin (very problematic skin!). I wear a pretty thick layer of makeup everyday, so getting it all off is a difficult task. I first use the water comfort peach cleanser, then follow up by massaging this alpine milk cleanser into my skin. I have tried the clarins method before where you use your fingers sort of like suction cups on your face, but I really don't think it's as effective as just gently rubbing the milk cleanser into your skin. Sometimes I remove with a damp towel, or if there are no clean towels around I just rinse off with warm water. I find both methods to be equally effective. The reason I love this product is because afterwards my skin feels so refreshed like I just got out of a facial. I love the smell, and I love how it makes my skin feel rejuvenated. Honestly, sometimes I use this when I just want to feel relaxed. That to me is the sign of a great product.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Clarins - Water Comfort One Step Cleanser
cgw1 1/11/2013 12:07:00 PM
Due to medication, my breakouts have been out of control. I was fed up, so I decided to go back to Clarins which I used in HS when my skin was perfect. I love Clarins because it's very gentle on my skin and doesn't strip it of necessary oils. I love the peach scent of this water cleanser. I first soak a cotton ball with it and take off my makeup (I wear a pretty thick layer of makeup, so it takes a couple of cotton balls to do the trick). I then follow up with the Alpine Milk cleanser. If necessary I follow up with this peach cleanser as a toner, but I usually don't need to. These two steps effectively remove my makeup without stripping my skin. I then follow up with my DermaDoctor cleanser for acne. My skin has vastly improved. Because my skin is so acne prone, I fine that Using this water cleanser without following up with another cleanser clogs my pores. But, I absolutely love the Clarins milk cleanser, so I don't mind the extra step. This is expensive, and I run through the bottle so quickly, but to me, taking good care of my skin is worth the steep price. I love wearing makeup so much, but if my skin isn't in good condition no amount of makeup will look make me look good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Highlighters -NARS - The Multiple in Copacabana
cgw1 1/11/2013 10:32:00 AM
Did I need another highlighter? Absolutely not. I picked Copacabana up as an impulse buy, mainly because I had heard a lot about it and I just adore highlighters. This has replaced all my other highlighters. It's the perfect pearly white sheen that makes my NC20 skin glow. I dab it with my finger on cheekbones, under brows, above brow arch, down nose, and above lip. Lasting power is good, though I don't mind reapplying if I'm going out at night. It's cream to powder, which I love. All in all, it's everything I've wanted in a highlighter. It looks fabulous in pictures. I adore the packaging too- very luxurious. Clearly I have nothing bad to say about this product. This has replaced MAC Soft and Gentle, NARS Albatross, and MAC Pearl CCB. Best impulse buy ever : )
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Christian Dior - Hypnotic Poison
cgw1 12/24/2012 1:14:00 AM
I though this perfume was "the one". How wrong I was...first and foremost the scent does not stick to me no matter where I spray it (hair, back of neck, behind ears, knees, elbows, clothes...I've sprayed it everywhere and it will not stick) To have an expensive EDT that does not last on me for more than 30 mins is worthless. Secondly, I think they vanilla can be cloying. It's not something I want to smell when I wake up in the mornings so I think it's best suited for night time (for me at least). At this point I can't return it and can't afford another HE perfume so I will just use this up and never buy it again.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Misc Beauty Tools -LUSH - LUSH - Whole Store
cgw1 12/24/2012 1:09:00 AM
My roommate introduced me to Lush. I walked into my first lush store and thought they would have the answers to all my skincare problems and needs. FALSE. Every facial product broke me out and clogged pores causing huge cystic acne breakouts. They know nothing about skincare as all their products were very irritating. Their soaps are too drying, and their bath stuff is wayyy overpriced. I got so caught up in the LUSH craze and bough tons of stuff from there. I regret every single item I purchased. This may work for some, but I have finally learned my lesson and will never step foot in there again.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Sex Appeal
cgw1 12/19/2012 3:06:00 AM
I am so disappointed by this blush. I've been thinking about it constantly for three weeks and I finally decided to pull the trigger. I truly believed it was THE blush for me. How wrong I was. I consider myself very pale, but I guess it's all relative. I'm around an NC20, probably closer to NC15 right now since it's winter. This blush barely showed up on me. It was barely detectable after 5 good swipes. That's crazy. After that may swipes it started to look powdery. I should say that I am used to more pigmented blushes, but I've recently gotten into the nude blush look and thought that would be perfect. I'm going to stick to Giorgio Armani blushes. I know everyone and their mom loves NARS, but I really haven't fallen in love with any NARS blushes and I've owned 7 at some point but always end up purging them. A good alternative to this blush is Cargo Molokai which is also a peachy matte blush that is a great nude and actually shows up.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Cargo - Kashmir
cgw1 11/30/2012 9:42:00 PM
I am not into natural looking makeup nor "your face but better." Ever since I discovered how to do a smokey eye I was hooked (I mean seriously dark smokey eyes). That's usually my daily look, but kashmir changed that. This is the first neutral e/s I've ever really fallen in love with. It's the perfect name and it's a beautiful camel color with pearl finish. It's such a buttery consistency--not too powdery, not to soft. I wear this all over my lid, MAC Shroom as a highlight, MAC Smolder e/l smudged lightly with MAC Carbon, tons of mascara, and BAM! Perfect 3 minute eye. It's my go-to when I'm in a rush but also when I just want that Mila Kunis look. So sad this is discontinued : ( I've already hit pan.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -NARS - Cream Blush in Penny Lane
cgw1 11/30/2012 3:46:00 AM
It took me a while to warm up to this blush. My makeup philosophy is usually "more is more" (bad..I know). I love loud blushes, and penny lane is most definitely not that. After having it for 2 years, I decided to give it another try. Since I do a strong neutral smokey eye pretty much every day, this blush pairs perfectly because it's not OTT. It's a perfect understated mauve-y peachy color that looks amazing on me. I love that it's not too creamy (like some MAC cream blushes) and it dries to a powder. This is my new favorite blush in my collection. I can't stop wearing it. I deleted my original review b/c I never gave this a fair chance. I am NC20, and would recommend this to all pale ladies out there. It makes me feel very sexy/sophisticated in an understated way. Sometimes more is not more (as I am learning!) It's worth ever penny (heeehee). I will definitely re-purchase. BTW, I apply it with a duo-fiber brush (MAC) and then swipe some MAC Soft and Gentle on my cheek bones to really glow.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Vera Wang - Princess Night
cgw1 11/29/2012 2:38:00 PM
I should have listened to MUA on this one. This does remind me of Jessica Simpson Fancy, but I would recommend Fancy over princess night. It dries down to a soft powdery vanilla which I didn't love ( a little to powdery), but my main problem is the lasting power is nil. Seriously after 30 minutes I couldn't smell it. I should have known better buying an EDT. My skin sucks the life out of fragrances. Anyways, this is nothing special. To make top it all off, the glittery bottle sheds glitter anytime you even touch it. Huge miss for me. Returned it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NARS - Night Clubbing
cgw1 11/29/2012 2:30:00 PM
Night Clubbing, Ashes to Ashes, and Corfu were my first Nars e/s purchases. Since then I have collected more and they are some of my favorite e/s. I Don't reach for Night Clubbing as often as I do Mekong, but I Night Clubbing makes for a great smokey eye. Sadly, unless you apply it wet, you don't see the glitter or the green, it really just turns out to be a soft black but still very pretty. i recently did a look with MAC Club and Night clubbing in the crease and it was gorgeous. It pairs well with any e/s. Only complaint is that it does tend to crumble more than my NARS e/s which is a pain, but there's so much product it's not a huge deal. I wouldn't buy again only because I don't think I'll ever finish this. It's so pigmented! If you love a smokey eye I highly recommend this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -Bare Escentuals - Double-Ended Shaping Brush
cgw1 11/27/2012 12:04:00 AM
I hated the smokey eye kit this came in. The only thing I kept from that kit was this brush. I didn't figure out what a gem this was until just recently. I am big into smokey eyes (I wear them everyday). I like my eyes to kind of look cat-shaped so I really emphasize that outer third like nobody's business. This Brush (the bigger end) makes that smokey look SO easy. IT take 2 seconds. I usually use NARS Mekong on the outer v, so I just pat it on with this brush and My smokey eye looks flawless!! Whoever invented this brush is a genius. I'm not a huge fan of the smaller pencil brush though. I wish it was sturdier so that it could act as a smudge brush, but it's just to thin for my liking. But really..smokey eyes are sooo easy with this brush. It makes my makeup look very professional.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Elizabeth Arden - Fantasy Britney spears
cgw1 11/24/2012 6:37:00 PM
I don't get the hype about this perfume. I bought it at Walmart and thought I would like it as I really enjoy a lot of gourmand perfumes. This wore terribly on me, and it disappeared within 20 minutes. My body chemistry sucks up fragrances though so it's not surprising. Smelled cheap. Not a fan.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Kate Walsh - Boyfriend
cgw1 11/24/2012 6:35:00 PM
I was really looking forward to trying this fragrance because I like the concept of smelling like your boyfriend, but better. I get where Kate Walsh was going with this..but she failed miserably in my opinion. Pure sandalwood is what I got. Really harsh smell. My mom said I smelled like an old man. Yeah..definitely not what I was going for. Let me put it this way, I've never run home to take a second shower literally an hour after I just took a shower just so that I could wash off this smell. That is a first for me. Not impressed at all.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No