Eye Shadow -MAC - Paint Pot in Painterly
murflegirl 5/28/2010 5:49:00 PM
I can't believe I've been using Painterly paint pot every day for more than a year and I haven't properly reviewed it! This is one of my must-haves from MAC. It's a slightly cool-toned neutral beige shadow that just blends effortlessly into my NW20 skintone. I use this just by itself sometimes for a more awake, put-together look. Painterly, mascara, and lipgloss. I also use it as a base and get great color payoff and staying power from my shadows. It doesn't crease on me, and it seems pretty sweat-proof. I'm really impressed with the paint pot formula. I was at first a bit worried about bacteria on my fingers getting into the pot repeatedly as I used it with my fingers, but a good stiff brush like the MAC 242 or 252 quickly solved that problem for me. Will repurchase again and again!
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Eyes -MAC - Hey (Veluxe Pearl)
murflegirl 5/17/2010 12:47:00 AM
After weeks of using this eyeshadow, I can honestly say that it's one of my absolute favorites, and a total must-have for me. This is a perfect peachy, slightly pink champagne shade that isn't too over-the-top. The Veluxe Pearl formula is soft and buttery, and the shimmer is soft and gorgeous. Not glittery--just enough to give some definition. :) This eyeshadow is gorgeous in any way that I wear it. It's great as an all-over lid wash, and great as a wash with a matte shadow in the crease. It's great for the inner corners and for the eyebrow highlight. I love this eyeshadow so much that I actually bought a backup of it--and that's saying something for me. I'm a commitment phobe when it comes to makeup--I never buy the same thing twice. However, I repurchased this and I will again and again (unfortunately, it's limited edition).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Murad - Skin Perfecting Lotion
murflegirl 4/25/2010 1:31:00 AM
I can't say enough good things about this product. This is perfect for people with combination/oily skin--because we still need moisture! This moisturizer is great for balancing skin--gives you moisture where you need it, and controls oil in problem spots. The packaging is perfect--all you need is a pea size for your entire face. The smell is light, and neither pleasant nor unpleasant for me. This moisturizer also delivers the best results when it is used consistently. It minimized the appearance of pores for me, and made my skin look fresh and feel super balanced. It makes my MSF Natural look a whole lot better on my face! My skin is clear, and my acne problem is definitely in check. The tone of my skin also looks and feels a whole lot more smooth and consistent. This is a fabulous moisturizer, and for someone with oily, acne-prone skin, $33 is just a drop in the bucket. I've always been searching for a perfect acne-busting moisturizer and this is it. Since you don't have to use a lot, it lasts longer and the $33 is definitely worth it. This does not have SPF though, so you do still have to add that on your own.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Black Line
murflegirl 4/11/2010 3:18:00 PM
This is a fabulous eyeliner, especially for those who feel like flat black liner can be a bit too stark. This is a creamy black liner with a tarnished gold sparkle to it. The Pearlglide Intense formula is especially easy and fun to deal with. They glide right on, are super pigmented, and do not budge once they've set. These eyeliners are definitely comparable to Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliners, on the plus side that they're a bit cheaper. This eyeliner also looks great as a base for more dramatic eyeshadow looks. All in all I'm really impressed with the formulation and pigmentation of these eyeliners, and hope like everyone else that MAC will someday make these permanent.
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Eyeliner -MAC - Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Undercurrent
murflegirl 4/11/2010 2:55:00 PM
I was lucky enough to snag the last one of these at my MAC counter. The color is absolutely stunning--a bright, deep teal with green and gold sparkles. The Pearlglide Intense formula is wonderful. It glides right on, blends well, and lasts ALL day. Looks great as a pop of color on the lower lash line (especially with a natural or taupe shadow). These are as amazing as Urban Decay's 24/7 pencils, but for a bit lower price. Definitely a must-buy if you have the chance. This color is a true standout.
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Skincare - Body -LUSH - Holiday Bubble Bar
murflegirl 4/5/2010 12:18:00 AM
I haven't been feeling well lately and I figured a LUSH bubble bath would help me feel a little more comfortable. I popped this in my bath (well, crumbled it) at the end of a long day and it was a fun, happy experience! The bar is dense, red, and sparkly--and as a lover of all things sparkly, of course I was drawn to it in the first place! I received it in a LUSH gift box, so the price was relatively cheap for me. This had a clean scent--kind of floral--and it wasn't too over-the-top. Since I only had one of these, I figured I'd go all-out and use the whole thing. It turned my bath water a beautiful bright crimson, and produced TONS of bubbles! I was basically wearing a bubble suit. :) It was a very relaxing experience, but not one of my favorite bubble bars from LUSH. The scent just didn't do it for me--it was a bit too weak.
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Tinted Moisturizer -Physicians Formula - Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer
murflegirl 4/2/2010 6:53:00 PM
I try not to give things bad reviews unless I really have to, because I find that people give bad reviews for things they could fix. Color match is the problem here. I'm NW20 and tried Fair to Light, which was dark orange on me. I tried the shade below it, Ivory to Fair, and it was much of the same effect. I have heard such great things about this product that I'm disappointed to say that if you're NW20 or lighter, this probably isn't going to be for you. Besides that first part that's gonna block me from repurchasing, let's go through the other pros and cons of this product. First, there's the SPF. SPF 50 is AWESOME and I love the idea. Surprisingly, it doesn't stink like sunscreen, like a lot of my SPF 15-30 tinted moisturizers tend to do. With this one, as well, a little bit goes a really long way. I found that a full pump tended to be a little bit too much for me. Unfortunately, this was a bit difficult to blend for me, despite the various methods I tried. I found that it just stayed on kind of like a mask. After awhile, it sank in, but because of the poor color match, I was really thrown off. It felt a bit heavy on my face, even after adjusting the amount that I used. Also, when I removed it from my face, it made my face BEET red. At certain points throughout the day, my face actually had a burning sensation. That all aside, this would be a great tinted moisturizer for more medium to deep skin tones, and the SPF is a definite thumbs up. I wish I could give this a positive review, but until they expand the color selection, it's a will-not-repurchase for me.
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Bath Treatments -LUSH - Christmas Kisses
murflegirl 3/25/2010 11:41:00 PM
(I marked the price super cheap because I got it for free during Lush's after-Christmas sale.) Grad school has been getting me down. I have 100 pages of essays to write in about four weeks, and I've been feeling frazzled. I decided to have some "me" time by having a LUSH bubble bath. I picked this one out of my LUSH bin, and that was that. I used the whole bar, just *because*--I was feeling rather indulgent. This instantly turned the water a deep red, and produced LOTS of cushiony soft bubbles! It also had a very unique, amazing smell. It's cinnamon and oranges to me. There was a hint of lemon or lime, but there was a richness to it that I adored. It didn't dry my skin out or stain my tub, and I sit here now smelling amazing :) Love this bubble bar, it's so cute!
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
murflegirl 3/23/2010 2:28:00 PM
I tried to give Lash Blast a chance. I really did. I even repurchased it a few times, telling myself that I would get it right somehow. Unfortunately, this mascara has never worked for me. I don't think it's the brush. I think it's the formula. The brush is great, despite how big it is. I didn't mind the brush at all. I felt like it grabbed every lash and coated things pretty evenly with mascara. What I didn't like was that no matter what, the formula always made my lashes clump together. Sure, that's technically a volumized look, but having six lashes is not the look I'm going for. After putting just one coat of this stuff on, I had to separate my lashes with a comb--mascara shouldn't be this high-maintenance. Luckily I've found a new lover in Prestige's My Biggest Lashes. It does everything for me that Lash Blast could not. If you're disappointed with Lash Blast like me, I encourage you to try out My Biggest Lashes.
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous in Coral Reef
murflegirl 3/22/2010 3:54:00 PM
I searched my city far and wide for this gloss, and was lucky enough to find the last one in my Target. :) It's a gorgeous coral creme, not too orangey, but not too pinky. It's a perfect balance, quite literally. The tube is also quite fashionable, and doesn't scream *drugstore*! I have pink undertones so I have to watch which glosses I wear, and I was so impressed with the color of this. The formula is much like MAC's Cremesheen Glass, but I prefer the Cremesheen just a *tiny* bit more over this. The formula is quite wonderful. Soft and cushy, and lasts a rather long time. I had to reapply after eating lunch, but that's natural. Looks great with a soft pink/coral cheek! So glad I bought this, might have to buy a backup. I'd love to try the other colors in the LE line as well! Definitely recommend this one!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Tinted Moisturizer -Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology - Daily Defense Anti-Oxidant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 in Light
murflegirl 3/22/2010 2:45:00 PM
I've been wanting a lighter foundation look and feel lately, so I picked this up. I have liked most anything from Wexler's skincare line because it has worked so well for me, so I figured I would give this a shot. I use this right after I use the serum. I have it in light since I'm around NW20. :) I found out quickly that a little bit of this tinted moisturizer really goes a long way. Pros: * SPF 30 * gives nice even coverage, looks great when I put my Studio Fix powder on top of it * lasts all day * I get compliments on my skin when I wear it * a little goes a long way * has extra antioxidants that make skin happy * makes me and my skin look awake and refreshed Cons: * overwhelming sunscreen smell. REALLY overwhelming. * can feel a little greasy at first on my oily skin * Gives a glowy look--prefer to have a more matte look * Rather high priced for a tinted moisturizer Glad I tried this, but $30 is a bit high for me for a tinted moisturizer--not to mention I want to try other ones before declaring anything my holy grail. Does what it promises to and has the MMPi technology to boot. :)
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Mascara -Prestige - My Biggest Lashes
murflegirl 3/22/2010 2:19:00 PM
I think I've just found my holy grail mascara. I have very thin, short, wimpy lashes so I'm always on the lookout for the next big mascara. I had tried CoverGirl Lash Blast in all of its different forms, and it never worked for me the way it seemed to work for everyone else. I got a few recommendations to try this mascara and I'm glad I did! It was around $6 at a local drugstore, so the price was low and it was easy to find. The mascara comes in brown and black, and having the black one myself I can say that it's richly pigmented and definitely noticeable on lashes. The brush is really big, but I feel as if it works to the mascara's advantage. It's a classic bristle brush instead of those plastic bristle brushes they have out now. The formula doesn't smell weird like I feel LashBlast does. What was most amazing for me was how well this transformed my lashes into something noteworthy! After the first coat, they look long, lush and thick. After the second coat, the drama is even more emphasized! This isn't clumpy or gross looking after two coats, which I appreciated very much. The mascara isn't marketed as a curling mascara, but I applied it to uncurled lashes and they curled up and looked HUGE on me. This mascara, unlike others, leaves my lashes soft to the touch. It doesn't flake or smudge off during the day. I am very satisfied with everything about this mascara. What's more, Prestige doesn't test on animals, unlike CoverGirl. Love this mascara, will definitely repurchase.
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Eyeliner -Urban Decay - 24-7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero
murflegirl 3/22/2010 12:20:00 AM
I had always had problems with eyeliners smearing and smudging, and wearing off by the end of the day. Those problems ended the day that Urban Decay 24/7 liners entered my life! These gel-based pencil liners smooth on easily and set after 30 seconds. They stay all day and have lots of great colors. Zero is a pretty straightforward, matte black, and after it dries, it really stays all day for me. This is my holy grail eyeliner for tightlining and lining my waterline. It applies easily and evenly, and blends well in the 30 seconds before it sets. There's really nothing else to worry about when I'm wearing this. I have found, though, that I can't sharpen mine in a regular pencil sharpener. I ended up buying the Urban Decay Grind House because it's made especially for their soft pencils. It works wonders, and I'd recommend that to anyone (but that's material for a different review...). After buying the right sharpener, I really had no problems. Sometimes I can't justify $17 for an eyeliner, but my Zero has lasted almost a year and I have a ton left. A little bit goes a long way. Love these eyeliners so much!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze
murflegirl 3/18/2010 8:47:00 PM
I just got this lipgloss in the Continuous Coral after seeing some raves on the makeup board. It was pretty cheap at my Walmart so big YES for that! The color is a bright coral. It's a creme formula, and I don't notice any shimmer. I was a bit scared it would run orange on me, and was fully ready to return it if it wasn't going to work for me. I put it on and was shocked at how bright and mega pigmented this was! After application, though, I noticed it looked much more pretty and natural. Luckily enough, this doesn't pull any orange on me, but more the pink or red side of coral. Therefore, this gloss is a major GO for me. I put it on about two hours ago and it still looks like I just applied it. I highly doubt it lasts 12 hours, but for me 2 hours is long enough to let me know that it's a great gloss! Would definitely recommend. Will repurchase again for sure!
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Treatments -Patricia Wexler MD Dermatology - MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum
murflegirl 3/18/2010 1:22:00 PM
Was fortunate enough to be able to snag lots of deluxe samples of this on the cheap, so the price hasn't been that bad for me. The MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum is the standout product in the Patricia Wexler Dermatology line. You just have to put a pea-size amount of this on twice a day after washing/exfoliating your face, and before your moisturizer. I never get more compliments on my skin than when I'm using the Wexler stuff, and this serum is included. A little bit goes a long way, so those who have complained that this product is greasy have sadly applied it incorrectly. I have terribly greasy, oily skin, and I've never had a problem with this product being greasy. This product helps moisturizers go on better, and is also a wonderful foundation primer--it truly gives the impression of porelessness. I will purchase again when I run out, whenever that may be. This item is wonderful and when used correctly, provides real results.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No