Eye Shadow -Kat Von D - Beethoven palette
genica 8/21/2012 2:03:00 AM
I've yet to meet a Kat Von D e/s palette I didn't like, and this is no exception. All the colors are very pigmented, smoothly textured, and longwearing. The price is very fair for the amount and quality of the product. The packaging is so luxurious, I love the design! The only reason I give this 4 instead of 5 is I don't think the colors are coordinated as well as they could be. Tequalia (frosty yellow) and Leather (matte brown) are warm neutral shades that are also in the Ludwig palette, but don't fit in nearly as well here. I would've preferred if they put in some more colorful shades in keeping with the theme of the palette. But other than that I'm very happy with this & would recommend it.
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Lipstick -Kat Von D - Painted Love Lipstick 
genica 8/21/2012 1:42:00 AM
I have this in Lovecraft which is a pretty pink/nude color, on my fair complection it's very flattering. The packaging is beautiful, it has the same rose stencil/outline as most of her other products. Unfortunately this is very drying, I have to layer a balm or gloss on top. It's also not very longlasting (2-3 hours). For $19 the formula should be a lot better than it is. It's a shame since the color is gorgeous! Because I've had so much luck with Kat's other products I might try another shade to see if it's just Lovecraft that's so-so. I'll update if I do.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Physicians Formula - Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow and Liner- Nude palette
genica 8/20/2012 6:42:00 AM
This is a very nice little palette! Medium pigmentation and with a primer underneath I get all-day wear. Versatile, well coordinated shades that easily can be worn day & night. The box comes with a mini-tutorial/suggestions on how they can be applied. The packaging is adorable (especially for a drugstore palette)! I can only think of two drawbacks; the finish (shimmer/frost) is the same for all the shades, and some of the shades are very thin and depending on the brush I'm using can be difficult to pick up. Would I repurchase? Probably not (but I rarely repurchase eyeshadows). Still, I'm glad I purchased this and will enjoy it while it lasts.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Bath and Body Works - Country Chic
genica 8/20/2012 6:05:00 AM
This is a dupe of Victoria's Secret Pink Fresh & Clean which in turn is a dupe of Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue, (not surprising since VS and B&BW are owned by the same parent company). I bought the Country Chic body spray, shower gel, & creamy body wash along with some other scents because I wanted to take advantage of a promo (that made this less expensive than VS Fresh & Clean), and Fresh & Clean doesn't come in a shower gel and that was the main thing I wanted. Unfortunately the Country Chic body spray smells slightly chemical-y, whereas the body washes are a lot smoother. When I run out of my Country Chic spray I'll pay the few extra dollars for the VS one, but I was very happy with the shower gels/creams & will repurchase those.
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Powder -Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals ALL
genica 8/17/2012 6:17:00 AM
I'd used this for the past 2 years and while it's an above average foundation, it's not hg status. Before this I'd been using full coverage foundations like MAC Studio Fix (powder) and Estee Lauder Double Wear so this did seem especially natural-looking compared to those. However a few months ago I bought my first tinted moisturizer and with my new & broadened perspective on what coverage is/means, Bare Minerals is somewhere in the middle. It will not look like you're not wearing anything at all, but it is very subtle. For me what made this special is that it was very good to my acne prone skin (unlike my old foundations). And that combined with their Skin Rev-er Upper (also helped clear up my skin) and Mineral Veil (makes application look more natural, diminishes pores) was this perfect combination of great stuff for my skin. Since my skin has improved I've gotten more comfortable with wearing sheer coverage foundations, and I've kind of broken that cycle of; wearing heavy makeup to cover breakouts, and then putting on more heavy makeup to cover the new breakouts that were caused by the makeup, etc. Most of the foundations I've been trying for the past few months have been fine, but if my skin ever acted up very badly again I would switch back to this. For now I am enjoying trying lighter and sheerer products with my improved skin.
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Blush -Korres - Magic Light Contouring Trio in Santorini
genica 8/14/2012 2:39:00 AM
I haven't ever tried another product I can compare this too... It's a compact of 3 shades of pressed powder that resemble; bronzer, blush, and highlighter. They can be applied separately or mixed together. I tend to apply them separately and it makes me look eversoslightly tanned, like I was genetically blessed with definied cheekbones, and gives a healthy glow. This isn't technically a bronzer but on my very very fair skin that's kind of what it comes closest to, but better than bronzer. I have since given my bronzers away because after using this for a month they all looked too dark and unnnatural. I've gotten comments on how nice my skin (not my makeup) looks while wearing this (and my skin is far from perfect). My favorite way to wear this is with tinted moisturizer for a "no-makeup" makeup look. An added bonus is that the inside of the packaging includes a tutorial, which I've found to be very flattering and helpful. I think I might need the other shade (Mykonos)!
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Primer/ Corrector -Bare Escentuals - Bare Vitamins Skin Rever Upper
genica 8/13/2012 6:40:00 AM
This is one of the best skincare products I've ever used. For almost 2 years now it's prevented & healed my persistent breakouts probably better than anything else I've ever tried (and that would be a lot). Bare Escentuals classifying this as primer is confusing since it's definitely not what I commonly associate with makeup primer (like Prime Time), and it states on the instructions to "apply under moisturizer or wear alone day & night" which is not how primer is typically applied (after moisturizer and before foundation). This is more like a skincare treatment. I've tried wearing it alone without moisturizer and found it too drying for that, so I appy it under moisturizer & that works perfectly. I really appreciate the hygenic pump packaging. This product is also a bargain at $21 for 2.3 oz. I've already repurchased 3 times.
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Lipstick -Urban Decay - Naked
genica 8/12/2012 5:50:00 AM
One of my all time favorite lipsticks. The color is the closest I've ever found to mlbb. The perfect mix of pinky/rosy/brown. What it lacks in a long weartime it makes up for with an awesome creamy moisturizing texture. Above average pigment but still goes with everything, never competes with other m/u I have on. Has a strong caramel/vanilla smell that I don't find particularly appealing but doesn't bother me either. The only bad thing about it is the packaging - it's unneccasarily bulky and takes up too much room in my bag, and is totally impractical for putting in a slim clutch. This is something to keep in mind since it's texture does lend it to needing to be reapplied, and therefore putting it in certain bags/clutches can be especially inconvenient (or impossible). The packaging is so much of a hassle that I am not interested in any of the other shades, but I adore this one so much I'll continue to repurchase and keep my fingers crossed that they'll switch to smaller packaging!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Detoxifying Facial Cleansing Towelettes
genica 8/7/2012 11:28:00 PM
I didn't even get to finish my package because the last few wipes dried up. It didn't remove makeup as well as Yes to Cucumbers or CVS brand wipes, it cost more, and for less product. I like most of Salma's products that I've tried but this one's not very good. It didn't make my skin worse but it wouldn't make sense to repurchase when there are better products for less money.
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Lip Treatments -Nuance by Salma Hayek - Hydrating Balm Rose Petal
genica 8/5/2012 3:53:00 AM
I bought this hoping it would be an upgrade from Smith's Rosebud Salve, and it is. For me using petroleum-based lip products can sometimes dry my lips out instead of put moisture in. Since Smith's Rosebud Salve is practically just rose scented vaseline it's not the best lip treatment. When my lips are normal Smith's is fine, but when they're chapped it doesn't help & can make matters worse. Whereas this product helps deeply moisturize my lips no matter what state they're in. And it has a nice rose scent just like Smith's. For what a great treatment it is the price is a bargain. Will definitely be repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Too Faced - Shadow Insurance, Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer
genica 8/1/2012 2:39:00 AM
I remember when I originally bought this it was because I was tired of UDPPs wasteful packaging (this was before they changed it). I liked it at first and was on a frosty/soft/buttery shadow kick at that time (think Stila Kitten, MAC Smoke & Diamonds, UD shimmer finishes, etc). When I started trying to wear this with more matte and satin finishes, TFSI would make my shadows look worse than if I'd worn them without primer at all. It did prolong wear & prevent fading, but if I wore any satin & matte finishes they would go on patchy, spotty, and "grabby". I'd spend a lot of time and work trying to make everything look even, if it could be done at all. A real hassle! So I put it aside for some months and used other primers. When I tried it again it was the same story, and after at least a month of use I noticed it started to dryout my left eyelid. Since UD has changed their packaging (& added colors, yay!) I've switched back to them. Like most products I'm guessing one's personal body chemistry must interact with this to make it work or not. I see bloggers and gurus and other MUAers rave about this, and I'm sure after 1000+ reviews it doesn't have a high rating for nothing. But for me personally it didn't work. If you've never tried TFSI I'd recommend getting a trial size first or if you're instore asking an SA if they'd make a sample for you & trying it with a variety of finishes at home.
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Mascara -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Length Waterproof Mascara
genica 8/1/2012 1:55:00 AM
My primary mascara concern is finding one that will hold a curl in my stubbornly straight lashes. I don't know that I've ever used a waterproof mascara that didn't hold a curl (Water resistant? Yes. But not waterproof). This to my amazement did not hold a curl at all. My lashes would begin drooping even while I was still applying the mascara. It also would sometimes smudge under my eyes if I applied it to my lower lashes & was not very waterproof/resistant either. For what it's worth it did add good length and average volume, but for my purposes (holding a curl) it was useless. Wet n Wild does offer some great products but this isn't one of them.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection - Petal Pusher (736)
genica 7/31/2012 5:16:00 AM
I spot at least 4 dupes in this palette and they are; right side crease = MAC Top Hat (texture & pigmentation are equal) left side eyelid = MAC Trax (equal) left side crease = MAC Beauty Marked (WnW is better) left side definer = MAC Black Tied (WnW is better) Overall this is another fantastic palette from WnW, and I can hardly believe it was only $5. If you've been wanting any of the above MAC shadows, not only would buying this palette save you money, you'd also get 7 extra shades. I haven't tried the blue 8 pan WnW palette, but both Petal Pusher and Comfort Zone are some of the best $5 I've ever spent at the drugstore. Even both palettes together at $10 for 12 quality eyeshadows STILL cost me less than one MAC eyeshadow! To say nothing of Petal Pushers beautiful colors and nice choice of combindations. If you like purples (or the above MAC shadows) it's worth every penny.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - 8-pan Palette "Comfort Zone"
genica 7/30/2012 3:23:00 AM
I never would've thought I'd give a Wet n Wild product 5 lippies. It's been at least 5 years since I've even used Wet n Wild because all my experiences with the brand involved poor quality products. A few months ago on a whim I picked up a Flora & Fauna kit, expecting to be mostly dissapointed, but I was very pleasantly surprised at how great it was. So I picked up a few more items to see if this was a fluke or if the brand had improved overall... I'm glad to say Wet n Wild has really changed for the better! Like the reviewer below me, the color scheme reminds me of the Kat Von D Ludwig palette. I own both and when Comfort Zone is worn with a primer underneath the application, pigmentation, and wear-time is just as good as the Kat Von D palette. As others have noted there are shades in here that are MAC & UD dupes, and they're not just dupes in terms of color, I think they are dupes in terms of quality too. All 8 shades are great. Since I'm on a beauty budget at the moment, (an Urban Decay Naked palette will one day be mine! But not today, not today...) this was money very well spent. This palette has some of the best eyeshadows avaliable at the drugstore, and truly compares with higher-end brands as well.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Avon - Imari
genica 6/11/2009 8:05:00 PM
I've tried to like this fragrance on multiple occasions and it just never works with my chemistry. It always smells like the perfume has "turned" or gone bad from age even though the bottles are new. It smells like stale, old body powder. Or powdery bandaids. It's an interesting olfactory experience but not a pleasant one.
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