Blush -BeneFit Cosmetics - Cha Cha Tint
Arenal 5/23/2011 2:19:00 PM
I'm a long-time user of Benetint (and Posietint, sometimes) and have been looking forward to this latest brand extension. I like it a lot. I don't wear a lot of corals, but this is a nice and fairly neutral shade, and provides the (proverbial) healthy glow. It's thicker and more gel-like than Benetint, and I find it easier to blend.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Alyssa Ashley - Musk
Arenal 5/16/2011 7:58:00 PM
I love the Musk perfume oil. Yes, it's cheap (around $14 at most chain drugstores) and the bottle is ugly. But it smells so good--a warm and fresh skin scent. It melds well with my skin chemistry and simply smells good. It's a perfect everyday/at-the-office fragrance.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Elizabeth Arden - Eight Hour Cream
Arenal 5/12/2011 7:45:00 PM
Intellectually, I understand that this is vaseline + lanolin + Vitamin E in a fancy jar/tube. It shouldn't work any better than stuff you can pick up at the dollar store. But. It. Does. It's kinda magic that way, and therefore worth the money. (I save $$ by purchasing mine on eBay.) I've had a small patch of irritated, red skin in the outer corners of my eyes for months, and have tried the following, all mostly unsuccessfully: Argan Oil Maracuja Oil Soy Oil Vit. E Oil Vaseline Shea Butter Egyptian Magic Cream Erno Lazslo eye cream Perlier eye cream Liz Earle Superskin Oil Origins Eye Doctor Nivea Creme M. Asam eye cream Signature Club A eye cream Rosebud Salve :::::::plus others I can't recall. I remembered the tube of 8-Hour Cream I'd gotten in an Arden GWP last year, and applied it to the irritated eye. This morning, it's normal-colored and all irritation is gone. Magic? I think so.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Moisturizers -Origins - VitaZing SPF 15 Energy-boosting moisturizer with Mangosteen
Arenal 4/23/2011 2:00:00 PM
Like many reviewers, I bought after hearing the raves from Tiffany D, et al. I've been using it every day for a month, and I'm firmly on the VitaZing love train. I'm in my late 50s, with mild rosacea and some brown spots. This really does tone down the rosacea a bit (though I still use a corrector), and definitely gives the promised "glow." It looks very natural, is easy to blend, and only a small amount is needed (good, since it's pricey). It absorbs almost instantly and lasts all day. This is HG for me.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Primer/ Corrector -Smashbox - Anti Shine Compact
Arenal 4/23/2011 1:52:00 PM
I've meant to review this for quite a while, since it's a favorite of mine. I was surprised to see the exceedingly low ratings! I use this every day, and it always does the trick to mattify nose/forehead, etc. This is NOT a powder, but a silicone-based mattifier. Use very little, and PRESS it into your skin. Do not rub it in or use big strokes. I love the packaging, since it's tiny enough to fit into the smallest bag. I've used it daily for more than a year, and still have most of the product left. One compact will easily last 3-4 years.
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Concealers -Joe Blasco - Red Neutralizer
Arenal 3/27/2011 2:10:00 PM
The best anti-redness product I have ever used. Period. Nothing else covers as quickly, or lasts so long. I bought it online from Frends Beauty Supply in LA; under $12. I wish I'd discovered this product years ago!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Laura Mercier - Discretion
Arenal 1/27/2011 2:27:00 PM
The reviews for this product are textbook "your mileage may vary." It's pink, peach, brown, mauve, light, dark, unscented, highly-scented, neutral, warm, cool, etc. For me, it's a lovely neutral YLBB. I am not bothered by any smell. And yes, the Angelina connection is what attracted me initially, but the color keeps me using it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Jordana - Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Black
Arenal 1/19/2011 3:46:00 PM
If I added up the total cost of all the Smashbox/Bobbi Brown/UD/MUFE pencil liners I own, I'd have a tidy sum. And I could have spent just a few bucks for these excellent pencils. The recession has shown so many of us what silly snobs we've been in avoiding DS brands.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Voluminous Million Lashes
Arenal 12/4/2010 2:44:00 PM
I see the reviews on this are almost 50-50. Add me to the no's. As far as I can tell, this is no different than any other Voluminous mascara. The packaging does provide a slightly cleaner brush, but globs of product remain on the tip, so I still had to manually clean that. I've never been a big fan of L'Oreal mascaras, and this hasn't changed my mind. And for $8.95, pricey for a DS mascara, I expected more. I used it for a couple of weeks, was never happy with the result, so into the trash it went today.
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Moisturizers -Ponds - Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Arenal 12/4/2010 2:29:00 PM
Cheap, effective, easily available. What's not to love? After avoiding mineral oil for years, I've discovered that my 50+ skin loves it. I'm done with fancy and expensive products, and sticking to this, Clarant B3, Cold Cream and Albolene for my face. The Clarant has faded the sun spots that nothing seemed to help [including hydroquinone] and Rejuveness makes my face smooth, clear and glowing. Both of these products are made in Mexico. I know a lot of people claim Mexican products aren't good [e.g., Mexican Nivea--which I use and love] but I attribute that to snobbery.]
19 out of 19 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Kiehls - Original Musk Oil
Arenal 11/27/2010 10:30:00 AM
As the reviews indicate, musk oils are a very personal thing. I love Kiehl's Musk Oil and use it every day. I use it as a base scent, very sparingly applied to pulse points. It gives a warm, skin scent and amplifies other fragrances. If it works with your skin chemistry, you'll love it.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Wet 'n' Wild - Natural Wear Lip Shimmer
Arenal 11/26/2010 12:59:00 PM
I bought a couple of these on a whim at Walgreen's. If you really like a shimmery lip, they're a bargain at around $2. Just too shimmery for me, but work well when mixed with a non-shimmer color or gloss.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Gels/Soaps -Unlisted Brand - Cleo - Yogurt Bathfoam Cream Vanilla
Arenal 11/21/2010 2:02:00 PM
I happened upon this product while reading reviews at Drugstore.com, and decided to give it a chance. What a find! I've been using more expensive bath gels, but this is superior in every way. It smells wonderful, cleans well without stripping the skin and is cheap. The packaging looks very dated, but who really cares? I'm going to try the other scents and body creme.
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Conditioner -Suave - Professionals Almond & Shea Butter
Arenal 11/15/2010 11:54:00 PM
I bought this on the recommendation of blogger Afrobella, and it's as good as she said. I've been co-washing for 5 years, and have used WEN for the last 18 months or so. I like it a lot, but it's redonkously expensive. . This a a real find and works great on my thick, dry hair. The price is dirt cheap, and I haven't noticed any buildup. It leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Paula's Choice - RESIST Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel
Arenal 11/15/2010 12:55:00 AM
Did. Not. Work. And I used it religiously morning and evening for several months. It worked a bit on my hands, but was not worth the time or money.
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