Mascara -Almay - Get Up and Grow
duncan123 7/31/2011 1:06:00 PM
I only bought this because the Target I went to didn't have my Almay Lengthening Mascara (which I go back to again and again...fabulous), and I was too lazy to make a trip to another store. It made my lashes clumpy and stubby. I tried over a 4 day period to work with it, but finally threw it out and made a special trip to Walgreens to find the Lengthening mascara. I didn't use it long enough to know if it conditioned my lashes. Great that so many people like it, but it was not a good experience for me. :(
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Foundations -New York Color - Smooth Skin Liquid Makeup
duncan123 7/31/2011 12:57:00 PM
This is ridiculously inexpensive. I bought it out of pure curiousity and because I'm a foundation junkie. Pros: - I bought this in 678-Barely Beige. The color was a good match, so no complaints there. I didn't notice that it turned orange or anything through the day, so that's a plus. - Didn't break me out at all, so my skin wasn't sensitive to it. - Cheap, cheap, cheap!!! I think I paid less than $3.00 at Walmart. Cons: - Whoever designed the bottle design should be fired. This formula should be in a pump bottle. This is one of the thickest foundations I've ever seen or used. Literally, you shake it and it doesn't move (and it says to "Shake Well" on the bottle!!!, LOL). Turn it upside down -- it will give Heinz Ketchup a run for the money...it WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE BOTTLE!!! I had to use a Q-tip to get it out. Maybe I should consider that a 'Pro' -- if you tip the bottle over, it won't end up all over your counter, LOL. - Limited range of colors. Very limited. I was lucky to find a shade that matched my skin tone so well. - No Oil Control and no SPF. My face was oily by lunchtime, which isn't unique to this foundation, but just one more reason it's nothing special for me. As for SPF, in my opinion, in this day and age when we all know how damaging the sun can be to your skin, all foundations should have SPF. This one doesn't. I don't use this foundation anymore, but did satisfy my curiousity. If you're on an extremely limited budget, this is a good buy. If you can afford more, I'd move on.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Rimmel - Match Perfection
duncan123 4/9/2011 3:20:00 PM
I am absolutely amazed that I like this because I really had no expectations of it. I had been using ColorStay for a few months and saw this advertised....I believe in the Walgreens ad's. Was 50% off and I had a $1.00 off coupon...I think I paid like $4.50. I have used this for the past week -- 5 day work week, approximately 10 hours per day. It says it has "Smart-Tone Technology"...I have no idea what this is...an ingredient? Have no clue. I am fair skinned and purchased this in "Soft Beige". Through experience, I have found that anything with the word "Ivory" in it makes me look ghostly. Others have commented on the smell, saying they liked it and it's fine...but very light. The bottle does NOT have a pump. Now, this does not affect me because I use a sponge to apply foundation, but if you use your fingers, you may not like this at all. I deducted 1 lippie for this. I apply to different sections of my face and blend in and I'm quite happy with it. It blends seamlessly and my face looks quite clear and even with it on. I have not had any breakouts whatsoever. I think I actually prefer this to ColorStay. I didn't find that it faded or looked oily throughout the day, although I always touch up with some powder around noon time anyway. I think I will stick with this for awhile. If you can find this on sale and with a coupon, you really have not much at all to lose in trying it. Just make sure you find the right shade for your skin. A lot of times I think people judge foundations and give them bad reviews because they just do not know what shade they should wear. I have found that there can be a big difference from one shade that looks like another (or close) but really isn't. If you don't like a shade on you, take it back and get another (lighter or darker). Every single store I shop at will take back a cosmetic item that I just plain don't like or want to swap out (with receipt of course). :)
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Professional The One Sweep Eyeshadow
duncan123 3/19/2011 2:52:00 PM
I'm gonna be blunt. Dumbest. Idea. EVER!!! And I fell for it. I had a coupon and extra care bucks at CVS, so I didn't pay an arm and a leg, but what I did pay was a waste (a few bucks..not worth returning). I bought the color(s) "Playful for Green Eyes", which is a brown, a green and a neutral champagne color. First of all, you get a stupid applicator....it's the same shape as the pallete and and the idea is to sweep the sponge (it's foam, not a brush), across the shadow and apply to your lid. It's not very apparent, but if you look closely on the back of the package, you can peel off the plastic and it tells you how to apply. So I applied this a few mornings ago in prep for work. First sweep...basically nothing. I had to do about 3 swipes across my lid before I saw anything. And what I saw was mostly gray. Didn't see a hint of green anywhere. Hated this and will probably toss it as I have tons of other eye shadows that actually show up and are true to color. My opinion....save your money.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - 24 Hour super stay
duncan123 3/5/2011 4:04:00 PM
I have three of these now: 080-Infinite Petal, 145-Constant Cocoa and 010-Reliable Raspberry. I'm only going to review the 1st two because I just bought 010 today and haven't tried it yet. In short, these are very, very good compared to the various long-wearing lipglosses/sticks on the market, high and low dollar. For the people that find them crumbling or peeling, if you haven't exfoliated your lips, or your lips are already dry (pretty common in winter), it's going to look like crap and that's going to be the case with any brand of any long wearing lippie that you buy. I work for about 9 hours a day, and I find that it lasts really well unless you eat something really oily for lunch and then you may want to reapply. 080-Infinite Petal is a very pretty pinky-red....about two shades darker than my natural lips. I have found with these that they actually go on sheerer than the color in the tube (which I like) and are buildable. I wear Infinite Petal with the balm included. The 145-Constant Cocoa is a sheer brown. I LOVE Milani's Crystal Gloss - "Serendipidy" lip gloss....have bought them over and over and over and I wear this OVER the Constant Cocoa. If the Serendipidy wears off, the Cocoa is underneath and I still look polished...I wore this combo almost all last week at work and today when running errands. I have a pink Milani Crystal Gloss too, so may try that over the Infinite Petal next week. As with all long-wearing lippies, you will want to remove this with some kind of oil-based makup remover. I use Neutrogena Eyemakup Remover (or the Target or Walmart knock-off) to remove and it comes off completely. I really, really like these and I don't have time to constantly be reapplying lip color, so these are perfect for me and they're at the right price and almost always on sale somewhere. :)
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Concealers -Garnier - Anti-Dark-Circle Eye Roller
duncan123 1/23/2011 2:09:00 PM
I bought this with no real expectations and hadn't even gone onto Makeup Alley to see what others said first. I had a coupon, needed a concealer and this was the one I chose. I have the opposite of puffy eyes...I have hollows under my eyes. Not horrible, but noticeable to me and it makes me look tired. Of course, I'm 50 and a workaholic, so most of the time I AM tired, LOL. Anyway, I got the last one of this at Walmart last weekend and have been using it all week. And...it's AMAZING!!! I cannot believe how this blends into my skin and fades the circles. And the roller ball is so cooling on my skin. And the BEST part for me and for other women of an certain age is that it does NOT settle into the fine lines of the eye. I do find that I have to reapply around lunch time and that's probably the only inconvenience with it. I really like this!! Kudos to Garnier...as far as I'm concerned, this is a real winner!!!
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Maybelline - Fit Me Foundation
duncan123 1/23/2011 2:01:00 PM
This product came out of nowhere for me. I was in Walmart looking for nail polish and took a tour down the beauty aisle. I had never heard of this, had never see it before in any magazine...anywhere. But the beautiful bottle really hooked me in...THIS is Maybelline??? Before I got too excited, I took out my phone right there in the aisle, went to Google and got onto Makeup Alley to find reviews. At the time, the reviews were around 70% and that was good enough for me. I bought this in #235 - Pure Beige. The bottle is square glass, 1 fl oz and the writing on the bottle reminds me of a NARS product I once used. It really is a very nice looking bottle on your vanity. I have used this foundation for 1 week. I use a sponge to apply foundation because I like a sheerer look and because I don't want my fingers touching my face. I would say this is a medium coverage -- my face looks airbrushed after applying. The color is perfect for my skin and blends right in. I took 1 lippy off because there's no pump...you have to carefully tip some out or you'll waste it. What I do is to shake the bottle first, get some on the sponge and if I need more, I just take a wee bit from what's around the edge of the bottle. Forgot to mention -- spf 18 for those that want sun protection (I do!). I actually very much like this foundation. It wears well and I love the application. And judging from what I see in the stores, this is a winner....I was in both Target and Walmart yesterday and the displays in both were almost bare...people are buying this up! I do recommend.
11 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - One n' Only - Argan Oil Treatment
duncan123 11/27/2010 2:28:00 PM
Wow. I said I'd buy again but my hair is above shoulder length and I don't know if I'll ever have to buy again anytime in the next YEAR, lol. This was recommended to me by a friend who really, really likes it. Apparently it's a knock-off of the Moroccan Oil that everyone in salons raves about. From what I understand, the original Moroccan Oil is around $40. This One 'n Only Argan Oil can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply and I bought it for $9.99 in a 100 ml bottle. This Argan Oil is "derived from Moroccan Argan Trees" or so it says on the front of the bottle. On the front of the bottle, it also says "Instant Shine - Smoothness Frizz Control - Color Protection". It is also alcohol free. On the back of the bottle, it says the following: "Argan Oil Treatment is a non-greasy, alcohol free formula that is absorbed instantly into the hair, creating brilliant shine without leaving any oil residue. Smooths the cuticle for silky, conditioned and healthy looking hair. Helps protect against damage caused by chemicals, excessive heat from styling and environmental factors. Eliminates frizz". I have coarse, wavy, color treated, thick hair. I use this after showering while my hair is damp and prior to styling. I only have to use the teeniest amount....I'd say pea size or less. I warm it between my hands and run my palms over my hair, concentrating on the ends. I then blowdry and style as usual. I have been using this for about 2 weeks now. I have noticed a few things: 1. This transforms the texture of my hair. My normally, sometimes frizzy hair is a thing of the past. Is like it smooths the cuticle down so I have smooth hair. 2. Because my hair is smoother, it shines....it is noticeably shinier to me. And my hair seems to have more dimension...highlights that were there seem more vibrant. 3. For some reason, my hair seems to dry faster with this. I have no idea what that's all about, lol. Either way, the faster it dries, the less time I have to blow dry, hence less heat on my hair. 4. My hair seems to drink this up. There is no oily feeling to my hair at all. 5. It has a scent that I can't describe. Mild coconut maybe? The smell doesn't linger in my hair, so it doesn't really matter. I would list the ingredients, but I'm sure someone else did further down in the reviews. I can tell you that if you're avoiding silicones, don't use this. There are definately 'cones. But I don't care, LOL....it makes my hair look good! And you can always clarify once a week which is what I do with my hair to get rid of gunk. I would also recommend that you google "One 'n Only Argan Oil" and watch the YouTube videos that are out there of those that have used it and are using it. You can get good tips for longer hair, flat ironing with it, etc...things I don't have to do. I will buy again, but this bottle will last me a long, long time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Rimmel - Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation
duncan123 11/27/2010 2:02:00 PM
I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet....have been using it for about 2 months. I am pale, but I wear this in 201 - Classic Beige. It looks darker in the tube and on the sponge than it actually is because when I apply, it blends seamlessly into my skin. As I said, I use a sponge because I like a sheerer coverage...I just want something to even out my skin tone. It's light, doesn't feel heavy at all. Doesn't break me out whatsoever. This is what it says on the back of the tube: "Sweat, heat and humidity proof for up to 25 hours. Transfer resistant. Enriched with revitalizing mineral complex and moisturizing aqua primer. Skin feels energized and hydrated all day." I CAN attest to the fact that it's sweat, heat and humidity proof. I live in North Texas and we've had a very warm Indian Summer (was 80 and humid just last week...in November!!!!). My foundation looked good through all that. I cannot attest to 25 hours of wear because....who does that?, LOL. I can attest to 11 hours...lasts a full work day and beyond. Seems to be transfer resistant...don't find it on my clothes. All in all, a good foundation and probably a bit lighter feeling than Revlon ColorStay which I've also used in the past. And the price can't be beat...Rimmel is a very affordable brand. Since it's a drugstore find, most stores will allow you to return if you absolutely hate it. Walmart, Target, Walgreens and CVS will all let you return if you must. I do believe I will buy again...am probably about half way through the tube.
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes
duncan123 11/20/2010 2:38:00 PM
I've been using this for about 2 weeks now. Had a coupon plus a CVS coupon, so I didn't pay near the $9(?) they were asking. This is not a good mascara, but it's not a bad mascara either. It's somewhere right in the middle for me. Weighs down my lashes a bit, which I don't care for, but didn't flake or give me any black shadows under my eyes either. I won't buy again just because it's average....not an HG for me at all, but I'll use up the tube.
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Top/Base Coats -Maybelline - Express Finish Base & Top Coat #10
duncan123 11/14/2010 12:57:00 PM
I say I would buy this product again....maybe or maybe not is my more accurate answer. I do my nails in usually two stages....very much a creature of habit because I am not a young girl, my son is grown (21), and I have the time that a lot of other people don't have with young children or an active social life. Hubby and I do a lot of stuff and vacation a lot, but we're at the time of life I think of as "happy and settled", LOL. Anyway, I do my finger nails and toe nails weekly. Saturday night I usually take all polish off and I apply this basecoat (if we're not out doing other things). I like it because it dries quickly, period. The next morning, I apply polish while reading the paper. Now, you young girls out there are thinking, 'oh my god, she is so boring and how sad her life is, LOL'. Nah, just a creature of habit. You'll all be me someday, lol. This basecoat does the job and I have no complaints....my nails always look damn good! ;)
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Mascara -Shiseido - Nourishing Mascara Base
duncan123 10/23/2010 2:09:00 PM
I went to Macy's last weekend to get a new tube of Shiseido The Mascara Base. I've been using this mascara base for like 5 years...it's a basic, MUST HAVE staple! When I got there, the MA, who I think was from the Estee Lauder counter....they never have a Shiseido MA, don't know why....got the mascara base and took it out of the box to make sure it was the right thing. At first glance, I thought she had gotten the wrong thing, which is easy to do because all of their boxes, anything in a tube, look the same. The tube looked totally different...different style. Read the tube to make sure and noticed it said "nourishing mascara base"...didn't remember them calling it that, but OK. I went ahead and shelled out my $24.50 or whatever it was and went home. Got onto MUA because I wanted to see if something had changed with my favorite base! I was crushed! to see that everyone seemed to hate it....new formula, blah blah. But I figured I'd give it a try. And...I LOVE IT!!! The formula is TOTALLY different, which is why I started a new review for this. This formula is much thinner, which I like because it curls my lashes but I don't worry about clumps, AT ALL. Also, they revamped the brush. The brush is not the normal fat mascara brush anymore...it's thinner and makes it easier to get to my inner lashes. I have been using this for a week and absolutely love it! I would urge anyone who used this before and didn't like it, to try the new formula. Everyone has their own opinion, and no one really likes change, but I'm happy to say that in this case I was not disappointed. Will buy again for sure! :) Edited on 03/19/11 -- I still have this tube and am still using, although I will have to buy again soon. Another thing I love about the new formula is that it doesn't get all thick and gloppy as it gets older. The old formula, as you used it, it would get thicker and really hard to manage. And this stuff is not cheap, so I want every last bit of it. Love this new formula!
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -L'Oreal - Refreshing Eye Make Up Remover
duncan123 9/12/2010 2:41:00 PM
I tried this once a year ago and forgot to review it. The reviews are pretty much correct and I have not strayed from my Neutrogena Oil free makeup remover (or the Walmart knockoff that is that same thing) since. When I used the L'Oreal, omg....it stung my eyes so bad and did not take off my mascara. My eyes were so red and splotchy after using this. I used it once and that was it. Wow, I really hated this stuff.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - Pretika Sonic Dermabrasion Facial Care System (Clarisonic dupe)
duncan123 8/21/2010 3:36:00 PM
Like many others here, I did not want to shell out close to $200 for the Clarisonic. And I have the money...but justifying it for a face care appliance...I just couldn't do it. So, I did some research and saw reviews for the Pretika. I got mine from DrugStore.com and I think it cost $49.99 or something like that. It comes with 2 brushes. I have had it for about a month now. Pros: Unlike other reviewers, I have had no problem with it spontaneously running on the base or any mechanical problems of any kind. I charge it nightly along side my SonicCare toothbrush. The brush is easy to remove and clean. After rinsing the brush, I gently dry it and put it in my makeup drawer on a kleenex to air dry...I do not leave it on the unit. It is easy to remove, so there's no reason to do that. About every 3 days, I put a drop of baby shampoo on the brush to thoroughly clean it. I use the Pretika with DHC Cleansing Oil, so want to make sure that the brush is thoroughly cleaned periodically. The unit times how long you're on each part of your face so that you can move to another area. I generally follow this, but not all the time. It will then shut off when it thinks you should be done. If you're not, just turn it back on. Have done this plenty of times. My face feels like glass the next morning when I wash it. I only use the Pretika once a day...in the evening to take off makeup. Have experienced no irritation and have not had a pimple in weeks. Cons: If you have very sensitive skin, beware. The brush does what it is supposed to do....exfoliate. However, if you have sensitive skin, the brush may be too harsh for you. My skin is not sensitive and I use a scrub in the shower in the a.m. and the Pretika in the p.m., so I think I'm used to it. I don't know if the Clarisonic is gentler...that has not been an issue of mine, so I didn't research it. All in all, I'm happy with it. I only use it on days I wear makeup, which is pretty much 6 days a week. Sunday is my day of rest for makeup (unless we have to go somewhere). I would buy again and am glad I purchased an alternative to the Clarisonic because that appliance is SO expensive....at that price, I should have no pores at all using the Clarisonic, but I doubt that's the case, lol.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -L'Oreal - Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
duncan123 8/8/2010 10:52:00 AM
I'm really kind of on the fence about this. I mean, it didn't do anything bad to my skin, but it really didn't seem to make a difference whether I used it or not. In fact, I have to say I've never used a primer that has seemed to make a difference, of any brand (Lumene, Clinique etc.). I am 50 years old and have very good skin for my age. Since a teen though, I have pores on my nose and in the skin next to my nose that I want minimized as much as possible. In a primer, what I want is a product that will do that BEFORE I put on my foundation so I can just glide the foundation on. On the box, this product claims to "smooth lines, hide pores, and banish imperfections". I couldn't see that it did that anymore than my foundation which I'm quite happy with (ColorStay). In fact, I find myself forgetting to even use it and I've had it for over a month. Pro's - It is non-comedogenic and I had absolutely zero skin problems using this. There's no discernable smell at all (unlike a Revlon primer I used once that was the most vile and disgusting concoction EVER). Con's - It's rather expensive for drug store. I had a coupon that justified it for me. The jar is SMALL....thank god I only wanted this for small portions of my face. If you wanted it for your whole face, you'd go through this pretty quickly. It honestly did not make my face look any better than my foundation. Ingredients: cyclohexasiloxane, dimethicone, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicon crosspolymar, silica, acrylates copolymer, disodium stearoyl glutamate, aluminum hydroxide (isn't this what they put in deoderant?) Bottom line....is like all the other primers...loaded with silicones and as many as I've tried, you'd think I'd know better. But, it may work better for you...there are definately reviews that extol its virtues. I however will not buy again.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No