Eye Primer -Lumene - Beauty Base Eye Makeup Base
stephani99 10/25/2005 8:51:00 PM
Another one bites the dust. This is going to be the same as my review for UDPP because I had the same issue due to the ingredients (bismuth oxychloride) - red, inflamed, dry, scaly, swollen eyelids :( Pity because before that it worked great, but apparently I'm allergic to this too. If you're not sensitive to BO (heh), pick this up before trying UPPP because it's a lot cheaper and works exactly the same, if not better due to the blendability factor.
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Liquid -Maybelline - Instant Age Rewind foundation
stephani99 10/25/2005 5:26:00 PM
I first tried this during the summer and it was too emollient for my late 30's skin then (plus I think I was applying too much), but I figured for fall/winter it would be perfect and it is. The second Ivory shade matches my winter PPP to LLL skin nicely which was a pleasant surprise (I'm NC15 in MAC, up to NC25 in summer and lean towards warm/yellow. I can wear a couple of the Light shades and one of the Medium shades as well, depending, and they are pretty forgiving if you blend well. It's easy to apply once you get it out of the dang bottle, blends well, gives medium coverage, has a nice smooth finish, SPF, lasts long enough for my needs and so far doesn't break me out. The only reason I rate it a 4 is that I HATE the bottle. It's very difficult to get the product out- you have to shake and shake, then store upside down or on it's side. They really should replace the cap with a pump. Otherwise, I like it and my skin seems to like it as well. EDIT: I fear they might be discontinuing because it's on clearance or Last Chance at Walgreen's and Rite Aid as of November 2009 :( I'm hoping maybe it's just to repackage with a pump, but who knows.
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Fragrances -J. Lo - Miami Glow
stephani99 10/22/2005 8:54:00 PM
I like this for what I bought it for: a light summer vacation fragrance. To me that's exactly what it is and all it is. I detect coconut, suntan oil, some tropical florals and fruits. The drydown is nice, not cloying or too artificial and the lasting power is good enough (since it's a warm-weather fragrance, I'm not sure I'd want it stronger anyway, although it does last a lot longer layered with the lotion). I'm not normally one to go for celeb-scents (whether JLo or anyone else) and was really thinking Escada Rockin' Rio for my summer fragrance, but that was WAY too sweet (making both me and my boyfriend cringe) so I ended up with this. I took off the stupid bracelet and charm dinglybobs though; much more attractive of a bottle without those IMO. Overall this is nice and I'll use it up, but since I only wear it a few months out of the year it only gets a 3.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Kenneth Cole Fragrance for Women
stephani99 10/22/2005 8:36:00 PM
I picked this up for $10 at TJMaxx unsniffed with my fingers crossed that it would be decent because I'm not fond of his other fragrances. I like it but I don't love it. My boyfriend described it as "Nice! A good in-between seasons scent." This makes sense to me and a good way to justify keeping it around, $10 or not (plus if he liked it, even more reason because he's very particular about scents). I detect strong citrus-y notes with some spices and woods; it dries down nicely and has decent lasting power. I think the bottle is nice because it's not girly, but then, neither is the scent so it works perfectly. Overall it's the crisp classy-but-casual daytime type of scent that I was looking for. I wear it to work often, usually on my "no-nonsense" kind of days. Not a repurchase, however.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Ellen Tracy - Ellen Tracy
stephani99 10/22/2005 7:58:00 PM
Love this! It reminds me a lot of Coco Mlle but without as much sweetness, if that makes sense. I was looking for just that and I found it in this scent, which I think I could wear year-round. It's very feminine but not girly, with just enough spice to liven it up without making it too heady or intense. Dries down wonderfully which makes me wish it lasted longer than it does. Even so, I can already tell this is going to be one of my favorites for daytime wear. Love the bottle as well, a very pretty and unique design. I have people literally stopping me on the street and in the halls at work to ask what scent this is so it can't be that bad.
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Fragrances -Burberry - Brit Gold
stephani99 10/22/2005 7:36:00 PM
This is the first Brit I've liked and I REALLY like it. Makes me want to snuggle in front of a roaring fireplace on a chilly night. I don't have anything else like Gold and if heaven has a scent, this might be it. The notes have already been described and no doubt will be again so I won't rehash it with my lame attempt at an explanation, heck, I'm still a novice. Suffice it to say that it works *very* well with my chemistry and as already mentioned, smells warm, soft, comforting and delicious but not in an overly 'foody' way, nor is it cloying or synthetic. The lasting power is good, and I think it's indeed all it's cracked up to be and more. Try to get yourself a bottle of this bewitching and enticing elixr before it's gone because sadly, it's a Limited Edition for the 2006 holidays (the bottle even looks festive). Why do they always do this to the best scents? (EDIT: ha! I just saw the review above mine and now *I* feel like a tool. My only excuse is that I'm still new at this fragrance thing so don't hurt me, LOL). In any case, I'm still happy I rushed out and got the big bottle, LE marketing tool or not :)
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Fragrances -Bulgari - Blu
stephani99 10/21/2005 12:32:00 AM
At first I thought this was just a 'meh' floral and completly wrong for me (as in, I tend to dislike straight florals, why did I get this?) but in actuality it's a bit more complex. The spiciness tones it down to a clean but warm scent after awhile, granted, it's a long while for me. At first spritz it was almost soapy, nothing too exciting and frankly, my least favorite part. But it's fairly light and evokes a cool watery feeling. I don't notice any 'powdery' scent as some mentioned (thankfully; I leave that to Shalimar Light, bleh). On the drydown I detect the ginger and sandalwood but not so much of the vanilla, which is fine(vanilla overkill these days and I'm tired of it). I'm still not sure this scent is 'me' , but perhaps change is good. This is a feminine, classy, grown-up scent, one that isn't sensual or sexy. It's fresh, which is nice because I don't always need to (or want to) ooze sexuality with my fragrance (I've got other ones for that). Not a repurchase, however, as I hate waiting for the drydown to make it to my liking and I stopped reaching for it long ago.
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Fragrances -Unlisted Brand - Roberto Cavalli EDP
stephani99 10/19/2005 8:26:00 PM
I tried a sample of this and absolutely loved it, but it wasn't easy to find. The notes are far more floral than I usually go for, but you'd never know once it's on. The bottle is gorgeous and the scent is divine, although it could last a bit longer than it does. I feel this can be worn year-round without complaints of being either too heavy or too sweet, but somewhere in between. What I like most about Roberto Cavalli's EDP is that it doesn't remind me of any other fragrance and isn't one everyone is wearing, so it remains unique and mysterious, something I always look for in a higher-end fragrance. It's different and pleasantly off-balance, just like his fashion and the pink snake-adorned bottle is awesome, even if not entirely stable due to its design.
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Lip Gloss -Urban Decay - XXX Shine Lip Gloss
stephani99 10/15/2005 9:47:00 PM
Worst Packaging Ever. I've had four of these and they ALL BROKE and LEAKED everywhere, ugh. Not just oozing out the top leakage, I'm talking full-on split a hole near the threads where the cap screws on leakage. Mini size, full size, didn't matter. All leaky. Before that I adored these (great shine, good texture, minty scent) and Love Junkie was my HG sheer red gloss, until it nearly ruined my SO's jacket one night when it busted a hole for no good reason. Needless to say he was pissed, and I'm pissed so I refuse to buy any more until they fix the packaging (couldn't return, lost the receipt). These are simply too expensive to have that happen and I have tons of glosses of all brands and types that don't leak like these. UD seems to be going down the toilet in a big way lately :(
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Lip Gloss -Revlon - Super Lustrous Lip Gloss (general)
stephani99 10/12/2005 1:49:00 PM
I'm a glossaholic and these are easily my favorite drugstore glosses. In fact, I very rarely buy high-end glosses anymore (or any other glosses for that matter) after finding these gems. Lovely shades (from sheer girl-next-door to well-hello-there!), great texture, superb shine and lasting power, attractive packaging. I'm not wild about the semi-soapy scent, but it dissipates fast and doesn't have a taste. I think my main complaint is they've been releasing way to many collections lately, one right after the other like MAC tends to (hmmmm...) often with nothing but LE shades. I can't walk into any store and not buy at least one. Damn you Revlon, where can I buy stock?
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Mascara -Almay - Almay Bright Eyes Mascara
stephani99 10/11/2005 8:43:00 PM
I recently read in a magazine that that using blue mascara makes the whites of the eyes look brighter so I was curious to try it. However, I didn't want bright royal 80's blue which is all I was finding in the drugstore so I picked this up in Black-Blue (aka Navy). I think my tube was old -it was dry when I opened it which caused some clumpage and required me to wipe the wand first (I've since added some saline solution to liquify it more, will update how that works). Once I got past the dryness and clumping it was just ok. It doesn't do much in the lengthening or volumizing departments, but does separate okay and doesn't pull out my curl. It gets a 2 for that and for color; nice and subtle. It does indeed seem to brighten my hazel eyes a bit (or else it's just wishful thinking!), however, I think it should be less matte & more glossy in appearance which would catch the light more. It didn't irritate my eyes nor flake or smudge. Still, it's not worth a repurcase but I will finish it up by layering over my regular mascara(s) for the color. Next time I might try the Almay I-Intense Blue Sapphire shade for comparison.
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Mascara -Maybelline - Full 'N Soft Mascara Waterproof
stephani99 10/11/2005 7:11:00 PM
Late to the party as usual :) I just tried this after years of hearing about it on the mu board, but not believing because most raved-about things don't work for me (MF Lash Perfection, I'm talking to you). This was different. I got Very Black and it is; then even after 3 coats, I had longer, lusher, separated, fulller and yes, softer lashes than 99% of the mascaras I've used, just like they promised. No flaking, smudging, smearing, irritation, clumping or combing required. It wore well and held my curl nicely all day into the night. I didn't have any problem with it being less-than-waterproof (and I tested it by using eye drops for contacts with no raccoon eye fallout whatsoever). I like the big brush; it even got my small/corner lashes. F&S won't totally replace my va-va-voom Volum' Express Turbo, but it definitely deserves it's very own spot in my my mu case and between these two I'll never go back to high end.
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Lip Gloss -Maybelline - Shiny-Licious - ALL colors
stephani99 10/11/2005 4:39:00 PM
I picked up one at full price (Get Red-y IIRC) and Shopping Spree, Mauvie Star, Yummy-Yummy & Grape-ful at a half-off clearance sale because I find these cheaply similar to MAC's Lipgelees in the sense they have a similar look and feel; a sheer smooth but not sticky tube gloss. I HATE HATE HATE the skinny fuzzy wand-wannabe-slant-tip applicator and I usually scrape off the fuzz if possible, because it looks dirty and gross when it gets stained. These don't last too terribly long and I mostly wear over lipstick or after I color in my lips with liner for some shine & moisture. Although they work by themselves, don't expect much pigment or lasting power payoff- EXCEPT for Yummy-Yummy, which is a gorgeous red-berry. They all have a scent and taste (each is different and damned if I know what they all are. Shopping Spree is sweet & candy-like though and Yummy is sweet berry). These won't replace JT's by a longshot but for a cheapie gloss that I won't mind losing if one falls out of my pocket, they work fine. EDIT: Yummy-yummy, despite the stupid name is replacing my UD Love Junkie XXX gloss tube because it leaks something fierce and these don't.
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Fragrances -Aquolina - Pink Sugar
stephani99 10/5/2005 8:57:00 PM
Nope, sorry. I suppose I've outgrown my vanilla-candy phase. The hype induced me to finally try this (later than everyone else to the party as usual), but alas, it's far too little-girly sugary for me. Cloying cotton candy, period. Which is fine if that's what you want, this would be it. It just smells one-dimensional and cheap to me, although it really didn't last that long. Perhaps I'm too old for these sugary scents, or perhaps just my tastes are because I prefer more adult and sophisticated fragrances instead of ones that smell like nursery school snacktime. Definately for a younger crowd, or those who want to smell like it.
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Cleansers -Philosophy - Purity Made Simple (Real Purity Cleanser)
stephani99 10/5/2005 8:37:00 PM
The only cleanser I use on my very choosy, rather confused combo-sensitive skintype. I first tried a sample & thought "nice, feels good, works wonderfully....but what's that smell? Lemon Pledge?" Once I got used to it (and actually look forward to it in the mornings because it's a refreshing wake-me-up) I use nothing else because nothing else cleans so well but so gently, leaving my skin feeling soft and fresh, not dry or tight, no need for toner or extra rinsing afterwards, and it doesn't break me out. I almost literally glow after I use this. I like the natural ingredients and my skin hasn't looked this good in years. I'm not a huge fan of the rest of the Philosophy line, but this is the one item I always have on hand and continue to repurchase. A little pricey but worth it, especially considering all those horrid detergent-based cleansers I used to use *shudder*
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