Makeup Brushes -Sonia Kashuk - Bent Eyeliner Brush
nanshi 9/15/2008 3:37:00 PM
Angled and slanted eyeliner brushes, begone! Your eyes are not square! They curve and are rounded! If you have difficulty applying with an angled eyeliner brush, get this one! It has a small tapered point instead of a wide flat line. It gives a much quicker, smoother, and more even line than any slanted eyeliner brush could compare with! Cuts down my eyeliner to two quick swipes (one per eye) and so easy to use! Plus, the ergonomic curve helps you get in really close the eye without banging the handle on your mirror. Gives you the precision of using a pencil liner (which is really the only reason I like pencil), with the consistency and color of gel or cream.!
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Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Sevilla Sangria (551 C)
nanshi 9/13/2008 7:37:00 PM
Sevilla Sangria (551C) is a really great red with strong pink undertones. On my lips, it goes on more like a MLBB-pinkish tone. I thought it would appear a lot more sheer and darker, but I find I quite like this color. I have naturally very pigmented lips that are usually a berry-red color, but sometimes when I'm especially dehydrated (or because of the weather), they get this nasty mauve-gray-purple tone to them that doesn't look attractive on anyone. I have a whole array of lipsticks, but I went to the store today looking for a "makeup bag" essential that I could carry around with me at all times just to brighten up my look and freshen up my dead-looking lips for days like those. The pinks are too overtly pink and vampy colors are ... well, they don't brighten. So I found this for less than a dollar at Walmart and figured, eh, why not? The color is bright and cheerful. Very pigmented and not at all sheer, so apply it lightly. Perfect for just brightening up my lips a bit so I don't look like death...!!
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Hair -Unlisted Brand - Pert Plus 2-In-1 Shampoo + Medium Conditioner
nanshi 9/6/2008 10:09:00 PM
This is great stuff! I like the "Fresh" formulation the most, and it doesn't seem to have been discontinued, but I can't seem to find it ANYWHERE. I may have to scour more obscure drugstores for it (I usually get this at Walmart or Target where it's cheap). Anyways, I just llike how this makes my hair feel "light and fluffy." My hair feels great and soft after I've shampooed with this stuff. The minty tingle is great on my scalp and fantastic for those hot summer days after the shower. My hair dries faster too because I'm not saturating it with water (by rinsing and washing it multiple times with separate conditioners and shampoos). It's just so easy and simple to use. I have virgin hair (and keep it consistently short), so I don't really find it necessary to treat it to a whole lot of frills... so this is just great and simple stuff for everyday use. I need to pick up another bottle...
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Lipstick -Wet 'n' Wild - Silk Finish in Tokyo-a-Pink-Pink 501B
nanshi 9/5/2008 4:32:00 PM
I picked this up today because it caugh my eye a few days ago, and it has pretty good reviews here. Plus, I LOVE the name! Anyways, I love this color! I have pretty pigmented lips that are somewhat of a darkish berry color. What I did was just dab a little bit on and kind of pat it into my lips and sort of dab off the excess and I have pretty flushed pink lips! No shimmer or frost. Just nice creamy color. On me, it's a MLBB-pink look (y'know, some MLBB are a bit nudey or a bit on the flushed red side... this one gives my lips a really pretty pink tint). I think applying anymore would be too bright, but I like how it gives my lips a natural pink flush without looking garish or neon.! Really brightens up my face without looking unnatural! It's slightly darker than a genuine baby-pink-lips look. I could totally seeing this as a GREAT everyday lipstick...
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Eyeliner -Maybelline - Line Works Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner
nanshi 9/3/2008 2:42:00 PM
Purchased for around $6 at Target. I bought this primarily because I read good reviews about it on another board, and I was really in the mood for a liquid eyeliner with a felt-tip brush. I usually use cream eyeliner (L'Oreal HiP), but I'm envious of people who can apply the stuff artfully and perfectly in just 2seconds. I've been using it for over a YEAR, and I still stumble and skip when I apply the cream eyeliner. It's not the formula, it's probably more a problem with my eyelids... so I wanted to give liquid a try (plus, it's more easy to keep in my bag for touchups than a heavy jar and a brush is). In comes this. Gives a quick and easy line in a few swipes. The brush is nice and firm. The first time I used it, because of the nature of the brush, the brush wasn't saturated enough in color and it took a bit of layering for the line to finally show up opaque enough. But now that it's been opened and I've used it for a few days, it goes on fine.! Stays on all day. Only thing is it isn't very lasting on my lower lashline, so I still have to find a good liquid liner for that (cream/gel doesn't work there either).
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Lipstick -New York Color - Ultra Moist Lip Wear Retro Red 308B
nanshi 8/28/2008 12:42:00 PM
It's been ages since I've worn a red lipstick. And by ages, I'm talking about "elementary school ballet showcases," and even then, my mother would be more prone to apply hot-pink lipstick on me than red. But it's been splashed all over the magazines, and I realized how limited my lipstick collection is/was, so I vowed to pick up at LEAST a red lipstick. But since I rarely wear it, there's no point in spending too much money on it. I wanted that classic retro Marilyn-Monroe'esque look. It was stuck between this and another lipstick, but it might've just been the finish of the other because it looked vaguely too shiny whereas this appears perfectly classic and matte in the tube (plus the name is "Retro Red" and exactly what I was looking for). Came home, applied it on my lips and then feathered and blended a bit with a lip brush and WOW! It's gorgeous! Really really neutral red; no discernable undertones just a great rich red that works really well with me. A little too bright for everyday, but a whole lot of fun. I have a great red-tinted lipbalm (Essence of Beauty lip butter) that I dabbed on top of it lightly and it gave it a slightly "juicy" sheen. I can't stop looking at my lips. I love it! (This is from a girl who has naturally very pigmented berry-rose lips)
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Lip Gloss -Rimmel - Vinyl Lip - Eastend Snob
nanshi 8/27/2008 1:50:00 PM
A nude lipgloss. Comes out with a slightly beige tinge to it. Nothing to really write home about. Instead of "glossy," this gives my lips a more metallic tinge to it than I like. I guess it could be considered shiny? Way too overbearingly frosty for me. Alone with one sheer layer, it is bearable, but layered over ANYTHING else (I put it over MAC Cherish, just to experiment) and it made my lips look gray and washed out.
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Lip Gloss -Bonne Bell - Dr. Pepper lipsmackers
nanshi 8/26/2008 7:33:00 PM
I have this in the large jumbo-sized tube because the Walmart I bought it at had sold out of the regular sized version, and I desperately wanted this lipbalm/gloss back.! I'm surprised it's under "lip gloss" though; it's definitely a balm, or at the very least a lipcolor. The only con I have with this is that it doesn't have SPF. Otherwise, it imparts a GREAT dark cherry-red flush to lips that is sheer enough so it doesn't leave a BRIGHT imprint on white porcelain or glasses, but definitely does leave some color (put some on and wipe your lips off with white tissue... there will definitely be some color). I have naturally pigmented lips, and this just kinda brightens them up a bit. If my lips are looking too pale, this gives it a bit of darker color and if my lips look a little dark, this gives them a little bit of shine and gloss to make them look more inviting rather than just... dark and mauvey. Great and versatile product. As a pure lip balm, this isn't what I would choose (I prefer completely non-pigmented items for that). As a genuine lipstick or lip color/gloss, I also wouldn't choose this for that either. But for something right in between? Perfect. Easy, quick, simple, and functional. What more could you ask for. (PS: I don't really like SPFs in my lip balms. They're too thick and waxy. I'll just use my Shiseido SPF lipbalm underneath anything else I wear).
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Gels/Soaps -Dove - Beauty Bar
nanshi 8/16/2008 7:02:00 PM
This is serious HG material. It removes makeup (and sunblock!), cleanses skin, moisturizes lightly for body so it doesn't leave irritated and tight skin, smells delicious, and can be used for face and body-- which saves precious travel space and luggage weight! Inexpensive and widely available. Foams up nicely (a foam cleanser is still reassuring when you get down to it), and comes in a multitude of formulations and scents suitable for virtually all types. Plus, you can get little "sample" bars of the stuff in almost any travel-size section of any drugstore or big-box store. Keeps my skin smooth and soft when I use it. Doesn't perform miracles (and prevent global warming) or clear up my acne or breakouts or fade blemishes or even out skintone, but those are what moisturizers and other topicals are for. For a basic cleanser that you need in the shower or when you wake up, this is it. Simple and classic and... everywhere. I love the Dove beauty bar! If you haven't tried it already (I know there are reviewers that have had bad experiences with this), at most, you'll lose $1... and I bet you'll still end up loving it for your body. [Plus, the new cucumber scent is absolutely heavenly] (( see my Notepad for how I classify my ratings ))
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Blush -Cover Girl - Cheekers Blush in Rose Silk
nanshi 8/13/2008 4:27:00 PM
It's a fairly good blush. I really like the pop of color, and the pigmentation is sheer but buildable (not like Jane blushes that are just too pigmented to use anything but a very very light hand). It gives me a nice dewy and flushed glow, but the sad thing is, by the end of the day, it has oxidized a bit and ends up looking muddy and dark on my cheeks. Looks beautiful and fresh in the morning before leaving for work, but after my first bathroom trip at work... it starts to look a bit dark, and then by the time I get home... yeah. So I won't be repurchasing, and I suppose I'll just use this pan up.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast
nanshi 8/11/2008 8:35:00 PM
I bought this in Very Black for around $7. It's a great go-to mascara when I don't have time to do my full "procedure" with mascara (wrestling with the curler for ~5min, then Shiseido Mascara Base, then metal eyelash comb, then mascara, then eyelash comb again). A few swipes, and my stick straight Asian lashes get a little lift, a lot of volume, and a great wicked black color! Enough so that it's noticeable (and let me tell you, that IS a great feat on my lashes). Great mascara to keep in your makeup bag when you're out of the house for touchups too. You don't have to worry about clumping with it and it delivers the color nicely. No complaints here and it works even better with Shiseido Mascara Base (doesn't keep a curl though, so I wouldn't recommend it for that). (( see my Notepad for how I rate my products ))
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Eye Shadow -Ulta - Eye Shadow
nanshi 8/8/2008 1:11:00 PM
Definitely the best eyeshadows for the best value that you can get just about anywhere. They have a disappointing lack of dark colors though (or maybe I just expect everything to show up luxuriously dark and rich like NARS shadows do), but aside from that, these eyeshadows are great! Ulta frequently has BOGOF or 3 for $10 on their entire line of products... or at the very least: Buy $XX and get a free kit! deals and that usually makes these eyeshadows take the cake! This is a great line to go to for shimmery neutrals or basically those "everyday" colors. Application is smooth and luxurious, not a lot of glitter (more shimmer even though there are a nice selection of matte colors), but depending on your look, you may have to layer it on to get a really rich color. There aren't very many flashy colors in this line (which is nice!) so if you want really rich and deep and dark colors or highly pigmented colorful "rainbow" looks, you may have to go elsewhere. But for what they have and what they do, Ulta eyeshadows are definitely a winner! I own: Lustre (great khaki shimmer shade. Good for highlighting when doing a subdued brown smokey); Silk (ivory shimmer); Mink (bronze brown); and Suede (something of a 'dirty gold' look... especially when put over smudged black).
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Mascara -Shiseido - The Makeup Mascara Base [DISCONTINUED]
nanshi 8/4/2008 10:11:00 PM
This stuff is incredible!! I will rarely grant things HG status, but I think this has just hit the mark. I have never seen or used ANYTHING like it!!! It really holds a curl! I have thick Asian monolids and long lashes, but nothing ever holds up my curl or lifts my lashes so you can actually *see* the curl... until I decided to invest in this. I was a bit hesitant because, well, $22 is a difficult thing to part with especially when I have so many 'mascaras" lying around at home... but wow! This really does make ANY mascara workable. Softens the curl so instead of a harsh angle, it gives my lashes and nice gentle curl and gives them a little bit of a lift. Darkens it a touch too, like a gel or a lash tint would do for my lashes. Comes off easily enough with Neutrogena's eye makeup remover and seems to condition my lashes a bit. Works wonderfully and I can't imagine myself without it! Now I don't really need to buy super-expensive mascara. Just this, and I suspect, even Great Lash would look wonderfully on me!! Run out and purchased it! You'll wonder how you ever existed without it! (get a metal lash comb too while you're at it... they're magical!).
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Highlighters -Wet 'n' Wild - Mega pump shimmer St. Tropez [DISCONTINUED]
nanshi 8/1/2008 3:37:00 PM
EDIT: knocked a lippie off the rating. I wore this today mixed with the WnW tinted moisturizer, and I don't know if this is the culprit, the moisturizer, or just my skin reacting to stress... but I broke out in small pimples all over my cheeks (which is pretty much where I spread this stuff) on top of such extreme redness. Ick. First off, the packaging sucks. The pump has already snapped off twice and pressure application to dispense product is tricky... a lot of it comes out! But eh, if this was a more expensive product that I was scared of "wasting" all the time, I'd probably be a bit more concerned. As it stands, I'm not. Not really. I've been looking for a good skin luminizer and not wanting to blow all my money on Strobe Cream (even though I love it)... and I was surprised to find this. In the bottle/tube, it looks just like a iridescent runny white lotion/cream. Doesn't seem to have any substantial color and I thought it would be more of a white fine shimmer than a pinkish pearl that comes out of it. Nonetheless, I layer this on over moisturizer+sunblock but under concealer and it gives me that faintly glowy and dewy look without being too bright (as most powder shimmers/illuminators do) or cakey looking. Staying power, I can't really contest to because it's summer... so everything melts off my face... but for what it does and the price it does it at: I'm not going to complain. Smell is a bit offputting though, but that goes away relatively quickly. I put this on with a foundation brush along the tops of my cheek bones and under my eyes. Very pretty, very easy to use, and very nice.
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Styling Products -Sunsilk - Waves of Envy Sea Mist [DISCONTINUED]
nanshi 7/28/2008 5:21:00 PM
The only reason I wouldn't buy this again (not to rain on the repurchase percentages) is because I really can't find myself using too much of this and needing to buy it again! True to its word: this stuff does give you the texture like after you've spent a day at the beach or pool. Well, hopefully not the pool... but at least the beach. Personally, I have weird Asian hair that looks straight but is really just fickle. It doesn't lie completely perfectly straight like *real* straight hair does and this is great. It gives my hair texture and mattifies it to give it a chunky piecy look. The effort to wave it up (if you look at the tutorial vids on Sunsilk's site) are way too complicated... but this gives that texture and piecy look without the heavy-feel of wax or other heavier products than this light spray. Has a very light very flexible holding power which is perfect for my hair. I just like how it mattifies my hair. Plus, smells great! I haven't tried it on genuinely damp "fresh out of the shower" hair yet... but I will and update!
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