Fragrances -Pacifica - Spanish Amber Solid Perfume 
jmp24 10/25/2012 9:30:00 AM
What attracted me to these in the Whole Foods aisle was the cute little metal pots them come in....all different colors with the usual Pacifica designs. It was hard to choose one, I settled on Spanish Amber because it was soft and somewhat spicy. The overall effect is subtle, not in your face. The perfume is in a nice, not too greasy balm that has not caused any irritation or other skin issues for me. Some are much stronger scented than others. Small and portable, easy to tuck into your bag or pocket. Cost was about $7 on sale, think they are normally around $9-10. Staying power isn't great - don't expect these to last all day. I think that with a perfume like this, the fun is in applying. When you want to smell pretty for a little while, you dab a little here and there, like in the hollow of your throat or behind your knees.....It's a short term thing! And there is no waste as there is when spraying perfume on - half of it doesn't dissolve into the air. I'd buy again, but likely in a different scent - so many to try!!! These would make great gifts for a younger girl just getting started on scents, or as stocking stuffers.
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Eye Shadow -Maybelline - Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Tough as Taupe
jmp24 10/23/2012 8:35:00 PM
Interesting product/color. I only have the one, bought it to use mostly as a primer...was hoping to find the LE Barely Beige, but the only place I have seen it is ebay for $20 (no thanks!) I thought the taupe would be lighter, and was initially disappointed when I swatched it on my hand....but after actually trying it on my eyes, I love it. It's a nice color - not warm, sort of like a cool, deep mushroom. I use my fingertip and it goes on the eyelids nice and even. I use my ring finger to dab a bit along my lower lashes, add mascara, and I am good to go. Nice matte finish, but not too overdone. It looks great alone, but another option is to put shadow over it. Probably not every color will work, but it does add more depth to whatever you put on top. For example, Bare Minerals in "Bahama", a sheer pink shimmer, looks light pink on bare skin or nude primer - but over this tuape cream, it's a deeper, more dramatic taupey lavender shade. I have yet to experiment with many shades on top, but so far it's worked well with most of the colors I wear. Lasts all day on me, no irritation...I can't wait to try using it as a brow filler as someone else posted. I just wish Maybelline made it in more matte neutral shades. If anyone knows where I can find Barely Beige at a reasonable price, please let me know!
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Eye Primer -Chanel - Eye Shadow Base (Base Ombre a Paupieres)
jmp24 10/23/2012 2:01:00 PM
I have two of these, Rose and Lilac. They are pretty decent, though like a lot of Chanel products, it's hard to justify the price. They come in a long thin tube, with a brush applicator. You turn the bottom of the tube, and the product squeezes into the brush. It doesn't work very well, trying to get it on your lids evenly with the brush, so I just squeeze the stuff out of the brush and apply with my fingers. It can be worn alone, and stays on nicely all day, and I wear it this way when I don't feel like being bothered with shadow but still want a little color on my lids. It evens out the skin tone. Both the colors I have are almost matte - just a wee bit of shimmer. You can wear them heavy, or sheer - but either way, a little goes a long way, so these should last me a while. Mostly I use it as a base, and I think it works well as one - but it dries fast, so you have to put it on and then put your shadow on right away, while it is still a little tacky. Otherwise, it creates too dry of a surface for my liking as a primer. Not a bad product, but as I said above, it's not really worth the price - there are many comparable shadows and bases out there for much less.
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Skincare - Face -Perlier - Absolute Comfort White Almond Oil
jmp24 10/23/2012 1:36:00 PM
This almond oil can be used on the body as an after shower moisturizer, as a bath oil, on the face, and even on the hair, as a deep conditioner. I haven't used it as a conditioner yet, and probably won't, but I love it on my skin. Sinks in fast, hasn't caused any breakouts, and has a soft, unassuming almond scent. I think I would have preferred no scent, mostly because I am using it on my face, but since it's not too strong, and it moisturizes so nicely, I can live with it! Comes in a 4.2oz plastic bottle for approx. $24. Has the inner lid with the tiny hole that a lot of oils come with, so not too much comes out when you tip it. After washing, I massage a few drops into my still damp skin. Absorbs almost immediately. While I think it is a little pricey for such a small bottle, the way I use it, it should last a long, long time. Not sure if I will re-purchase, because at Whole Foods, Aura Cascia has a much bigger bottle of sweet almond oil for a lot less....but I would buy it again if I could find it for less, such as at places like Marshall's.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon #252B Nutty
jmp24 10/22/2012 9:07:00 PM
Unbelievably awesome shadow for the price. One of the most beautiful shadows I own. Deceiving in the package - it looks cheap to me, the surface of the shadow looks blah, the color in store lighting looks like just another boring mid tone brown...but when you open it up and touch your fingertip to it, it has the texture and feel of more expensive shadows and the color is sooo pretty - a soft, sexy, shimmery fawn shade that will make your eyes sparkle! If you already are a fan of Wet n Wild eyeshadows and have the Silent Treatment trio, it is very similar to the taupe color in that set...only less purple, more gold in comparison. It's worth having them both, but if I had to choose over ANY WnW shadow - or any shadow in general, this would be it. It's not brassy at all, it's more of a silvery taupe - I'd say it's a neutral, leaning towards cool, and perfect for daytime, because even though it is not matte, it is not overly frosty or shimmery. Some of the WnW frosty shades are VERY frosty. Not this one -it just has a sexy gleam to it. Reminds me of UD's YDK - only more wearable, because it doesn't have all that microglitter. The first day i wore it, I checked it in the rear view mirror in the car (not while I was driving, of course ;) and it just looks beautiful, even in harsh daylight. Stays on great with a primer, can be used for an easy all over the lid look, or with a darker shade in the crease. Goes on beautifully, evenly, with very little fall-out. I wear it alone, I wear it as a lid color and then line with a smokey purple all around my eyes, or put more purple in the V area. It also looks great with WnWild's now d/c'd Fine Wink in the inner eye area, and this on the outer and in the crease. Still looks great when you go to take it off before bed. Amazing how cheap this is. I've only bought two of the Color Icon singles, mainly because I don't care all that much for the selection - but this one is worth getting several back-ups of, it's that good. Highly recommended and VERY sexy!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -BeneFit Cosmetics - Eye Bright
jmp24 10/22/2012 11:04:00 AM
A little pricey for what it does. After a while, mine has become dryer and dryer and I have to apply with my fingers, because I don't want to drag a dry pencil around my delicate eye area. Now that mine is down to the half-way point, the product has separated from the wood, so I can't sharpen it anymore. Wouldn't re-purchase for those reasons alone. As for the color, it's a beautiful cool light pink - but I don't notice any obvious miracles when I use it, at least not like they SAID I would! I've used it on no makeup days, just to even out my eyelids - but even then, within a few hours, it creases. Just a blah product, not worth the money. Why do i always fall for the Benefit hype? It's just that it's such a CUTE company...everything looks like so much fun. I'm such a sucker, I could spend hours adding reviews here for Benefit products I have bought over the years.
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Blush -Chanel - Joues Contraste in Malice #71
jmp24 10/22/2012 10:32:00 AM
ahh, expensive make-up....is it REALLY worth it? Does anyone come up to me on the days I am wearing this as opposed to my Mary Kay blush and tell me that they can see that my coloring is worth $45??? No. Never happened.... But there is something about picking up and fondling that gorgeous glossy compact, it opens so nicely, and closes with a beautiful little click. The soft, warm rosiness of this blush, the way it just melds into your skin - it's a treat, no doubt, to pamper yourself with products like this. Yes, there are cheaper alternatives, I have plenty of them - but spending more, buying into the glamour, it just FEELS GOOD. It's the luxury of using Chanel that I think people find the most appealing - well, I know that is it for me. And to think, there are lines that are even MORE pricey than Chanel.... I don't want to blow all my money on "brand" - and I choose carefully..just because something is pricey does not mean it is good - I have thrown away Chanel mascaras, given away foundation and skin care.. But there are a few gems in every line, and every now and then, it's fun to splurge. This blush is one of them, it really is a pleasure to use and leaves your cheeks glowing...staying power for me is the same as with most blushes, I need a touch up mid day. I would definitely buy it again, though more than likely, I will never use this up. Maybe some day when I feel like being good to myself, I will try another color.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Trio - Silent Treatment
jmp24 10/22/2012 10:21:00 AM
Not bad for the price, all shadows usable. The taupe one is a great all over lid color, and good for daytime because it's not too shimmery. The highlight color actually surprised me, I thought it would be really frosty - but it's perfect for low-makeup days when you don't feel like being bothered but don't want to leave your eyes totally bare. A light application leaves a soft, subtle sheen on your eyelids, and lasts all day if you use a little primer. The dark color is less wearable for me, it's a deep brown winey color, with teeny gold sparkles. Better for night time, I think, but so far I have only used it smudged around my eyes as a liner. It stays put, always a good thing! All in all, this is a good buy for the price.
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Eye Shadow -Wet 'n' Wild - Color Icon Single - Kitten 257A
jmp24 10/19/2012 10:15:00 PM
I like this shadow. It's like a purple for grown up girls. I just can't get away with the vibrant or bright purples anymore...but I still love the way they look with my brown eyes and coloring. When I first tried this, i thought it was very powdery, and it can be messy if you get too much on your brush - but it's a beautiful, gentle purple with a subtle gold shimmer, and looks great as a daytime color. I usually wear it two ways - either as an all over lid color and smudged along the lower lashes as well, or just smudged on as a liner all around my eyes with a sheer beige shimmer or sheer pale pink shadow on the lid. Even my MOM complimented me one day when I was wearing this shadow, and we all know how critical mom's can sometimes be of our makeup! I think it could be a little less powdery and messy to use, but other than that, it's perfect - and I may buy a backup.
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Sunscreen -Neutrogena - Age Shield Face SPF 70
jmp24 4/10/2012 9:58:00 PM
Wow, I am amazed at the low rating for this product. I bought the "new look" version, and I think it is one of the best sunscreens I have ever used on my face, and is an excellent under makeup (bare minerals) moisturizer. Sinks in fast, non-greasy, no whiteness, and perfect if you wear mineral makeup. It's been a week and so far no breakouts or irritation. I put it on under my makeup this morning, then around 11am I started spreading mulch in all my flowerbeds...8 wheelbarrels full of mulch and 4 hours later, on a cold windy day, and my makeup still looked as good as it did after I put it on at 9am. Love it!
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Moisturizers -Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford - Day Moisture
jmp24 12/8/2011 10:05:00 AM
Someone I know is an infomercial sucker, and gave me the whole Meaningful Beauty kit. I wasn't impressed. I could find better products at the drugstore. Something, I think maybe the Glowing serum, made me break out, and I NEVER break out. Very average quality for the price. The ingredients are average as well, nothing in these products that should command such a price. And my gosh, look at some of these reviews, especially the one a few down from the lady who filed a fraud complaint. I wouldn't order from a company like this for anything. Yeah, Cindy Crawford looks good - but if you ask me, she is starting to get that "frozen" look that comes with Botox. Good genes or not, there is no way she looks as good as she does without some type of work being done on her - it isn't just these average skin care products she's selling. Oh well, what else is she going to do to make money at her age? She can't act, and modeling jobs can't be as plentiful, so you can't blame her for trying to make money selling skin care....beats starting a clothing line at Walmart.
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Powder -Revlon - ColorStay Aqua Mineral Makeup
jmp24 9/8/2011 2:43:00 PM
I really liked the old Colorstay mineral foundation, and was hoping to like this one too...but I don't. First off, the feeling of putting a cold, wet brush on your face is just....yucky. Sort of ruins the whole point of using a dry foundation to begin with, no? As for coverage, it didn't blend or cover as nicely as the old formula. I also suspect I am getting some clogged pores, but that could be from other new products I have tried recently, so I won't blame Revlon just yet. But, yeah, don't like the new Aqua Colorstay at all - and Lord knows what chemical is causing the "wet" feeling.... Oh well, I got it, and I will use it up till it's gone...but I won't enjoy it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Burt's Bees - Naturally Nourishing Milk and Shea Butter bar soap
jmp24 5/3/2011 5:32:00 PM
I like most of the Burts Bees bar soaps, but this is my favorite. Nice creamy lather, natural ingredients, and a soft summery scent. I use it everywhere, including my face and for shampoo, and for shaving. Not dry or stripping at all. Just a good, basic soap that gets the job done and feels luxurious to use.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion
jmp24 3/17/2011 12:02:00 PM
I don't like this as much as the regular orange tube Lash Blast. I find that it lacks in both giving volume and length, saw no improvement over Lash Blast, the only major difference was the price being about $1 higher. In fact, I think that the regular Lash Blast makes my lashes look much thicker and fuller. And since the LB Fusion really doesn't do much lengthening, it isn't worth the extra money. I'll use it up, but I won't re-purchase. I am taking a point off the packaging because of the stupid little lid they include so that we can see the actual brush. A picture of the brush would be just fine, and considering we have enuff plastic garbage floating around in the oceans and landfills, the lid is pointless and stupid and unnecessary.
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Lip Gloss -New York Color - Liquid Lip Color
jmp24 1/16/2011 11:51:00 AM
oh nooooo....sad sad day. NYC is discontinuing this lip gloss. Dang. Now I have to buy up every last tube I see in all the stores that sell it. They have a replacement product, which some Rite-Aids are selling, but I bet it isn't the same.
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