Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Chopper Eye Shadow
SHeust 10/28/2012 8:21:00 PM
Like all UD shadows, Chopper has great texture, pigmentation and lasting ability. It goes on smooth, stays put and looks lovely. Chopper is a warm light brown with a noticeable pinkish undertone and some generously sized chunks of glitter. It's flattering on my warm skin; I like to enhance the rest of my eyeshadow look with a little bit of Chopper in the inner corner of the eye. It's not a must have UD shadow for me, like Smog or Half-Baked, but it's a good one and definitely not a "filler" shadow they just throw into palettes.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Tarte - Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara
SHeust 10/28/2012 8:15:00 PM
I got this as a deluxe sample and wasn't that impressed. Despite its lofty claims of increased volume and lash health, this mascara seemed like a pretty basic formula with less than amazing results to me. The brush has short bristles and the formula doesn't coat the brush that well, making it necessary to re-dip the wand a couple times each eye for all the coats needed to start to build this up (although at least it doesn't clump). The formula seems to be thin and on the dry side. The mascara is decent for lengthening but does very little for volume, and doesn't earn any points for pigmentation or finish either. The biggest plus this mascara has going for it IMHO is the cute hippie-style wooden tube it is in. Otherwise, there are plenty of mascaras out there for a third of the price of this that give you twice the impact on your lashes. Update: Used only a few times and every time, I had eyelashes falling out after I washed it off. Have never had this happen with any other mascara. I would literally lose 4 or 5 lashes off each eye. Definitely steer clear of this one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Urban Decay - Maui Wowie 
SHeust 10/28/2012 8:08:00 PM
I don't generally do light colored or cool toned eyeshadows and in the pan this looked like a silvery taupe that I wasn't sure I could pull off. However, once on it was quite pretty. Big chunks of silver glitter top this not gray, not white but something in between color. The pigmentation and texture, as with all UD shadows in my experience, is top quality with little to no budging, fading or flaking (except a few glitter pieces). I like to wear this in the winter for a nighttime look with black winger liner and red lipstick.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Matrix - Biolage exquisite oil
SHeust 10/28/2012 2:35:00 PM
I got a sample of this from Ulta at a time when the ends of my long hair were looking a little split - and I'd just had a haircut and didn't want to get another one so soon. I would put about three drops of oil on my hands and then run them over the ends of my hair before going to bed. I ended up buying the full-size product because this is the one hair oil I've found that doesn't make my hair feel/look greasy or weighed-down. I try to get at least two days between washes because my hair takes so long to do, and this product is great for adding a little shine and health back to my ends without having to worry about my hair getting oily or gross. It replenishes hair but doesn't stay just sitting on top of it; it soaks in nicely, leaving hair still feeling clean. It's also good for styling when I do my hair curly, because it smooths the hair without gunking up the curl with a bunch of unnecessary product. This is a very good hair oil overall, with a variety of uses. Although it is sort of pricey at $22, you get a lot in the bottle and because you only need to use so little at a time, it will last forever. Recommend.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -TRESemme - Nourishing Rituals Rejuvenating Mud Masque
SHeust 10/23/2012 3:43:00 PM
My normal and much beloved hair mask is out of stock, so I got this one after seeing the reviews. It's okay. My hair is very long and reasonably healthy. This mask doesn't really do much for it. My hair doesn't feel any softer after using it than with my regular (not deep) conditioner. It hasn't helped with smoothing or shine either. On the positive side, the texture and scent are nice, and it doesn't weigh hair down. The price is good, especially since you get a lot. But the results are nothing special. I think the Pantene beautiful lengths deep conditioner produces better results, if you can find it.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -Rimmel - Extra Wow Lash
SHeust 10/23/2012 3:36:00 PM
I picked this up after seeing it recommended on Allure as a great "overall" mascara (color, length, thickness). For $4, it's worth it. It's sort of like Great Lash, but not as good (I love GL). It combs through well without clumping (you can build up coats), is a "wet" formula and the shade is a nice dark black. It lengthens fine, nothing spectacular, but doesn't really do much as far as thickness or volume. This definitely doesn't create a heavy "fringe" of lashes. It doesn't smudge or crumble though, is easy to wash off and is pretty good as an every day mascara.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - Insta-Dri in Quick Sand
SHeust 10/14/2012 4:21:00 PM
I am generally happy with the Insta-Dri polishes. The formula is a little thicker than the SH Diamond polishes, but it doesn't become gloppy or bubbly once applied. The polish is quite opaque and has some shine to it. I usually do two coats and one coat of clear for extra shine. This usually lasts over a week as a pedicure polish. Quicksand looked so pretty in the bottle. The color of sand (obviously) with some glitters floating around. However, the glitter does not show up when applied to nails. There isn't any shimmer to this once its on, which is disappointing. The color is okay - a warm nude - but without the shimmer it is sort of flat and boring. Bottom line score: 5 for formula; 2 for color.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lips -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- Romantic
SHeust 10/6/2012 3:37:00 PM
I could write a pretty standard review, but I think this about sums it up: Last night I went out wearing this for the first time. I don't usually do reds and it was a bit bold for me, but it is really pretty so I just went with it. I got hit on by a guy who was at least five years younger than me, in front of both my husband and his girlfriend. In the midst of his come-on, he called me "the girl with the lipstick." When he went to the bathroom, the girlfriend asked me what the lipstick was, remarking, "It looks like gloss, but the color is still there after you ate! I have to know." I whipped it out of my purse and told her. Clearly, this one is a winner. (And I got to see her dump her boyfriend later on, who was clearly not a winner. Good for you, girl.) It goes on a subtle, glossy, bright-ish red that is a really flattering tone. A little shiny at first which fades with wear. It makes my teeth look whiter. The stain part lasts as well as the balm part moisturizes (both very well). The big crayon is fun and easy to use. I seriously recommend these. Both colors that I have (so far) I love, and the formula can't be beat.
21 out of 25 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Sally Hansen - INSTA-DRY in Cinna-snap (18)
SHeust 10/5/2012 9:18:00 AM
Cinna-snap is a gorgeous fall/winter color. One coat is a very dark cranberry red; two coats makes for a vampy, almost black, deep currant color. Very flattering on my fair skin, even though it is such a deep shade. The insta-dri polishes are usually pretty great (this is the sixth I've purchased). They do dry fast and you don't usually need more than two coats, and a top coat for extra shine if desired. They have a fair bit of shine on their own, never bubble, last pretty well (up to and over a week on toes) and the consistency of the polish is a little bit on the thick side but never goopy. I'd rather thick than thin polish anyway. This is a beautiful color, and I would definitely recommend this polish!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain - Honey
SHeust 10/5/2012 9:14:00 AM
I'd been wanting to try these for awhile but the color I was looking for, Cherish, was always sold out (as well as most of the others). When I happened to find a display stand at the back of Ulta with a few colors that weren't in stock at the regular place in the store, I quickly looked up reviews and decided to try Honey instead, as Cherish was mentioned as being a "Nicki Minaj pink" which is definitely too much for me. I gotta say, I love this. The giant crayon is fun, the packaging is pretty and convenient and the product itself is really good. It is a snap to apply and because of its crayon form, you don't even need a mirror to make sure you're "coloring within the lines". I have a fair amount of pigment to my lips naturally, and Honey, which judging by the packaging looks to be a pink/nude, shows up on me as a pretty, medium berry color at first and then fades to a more subtle pink over time. It has a menthol mint flavor at first which is pretty bad, but thankfully fades quickly. The stain works well. It lasts for hours, and through eating. I am really impressed at how good the balm was, because you can't usually have staying power AND moisturization. This one does. It looks a bit glossy when you first apply it, and stays a tiny bit sticky for about five minutes, then blends into your lips. My lips never felt dry; something I can't say for the Chubby Sticks, which these appear to be an (improved upon) dupe of. As far as wear off, there is no gross flaking off, etc. of the product. It simply goes away. They are sort of pricey at $9.00 each but if you hit a sale it's not so bad. They are totally worth it. All of the new stuff Revlon has been putting out lately (the butters, the whipped foundation, these) has really been high quality, on par with drugstore products, so I'm not really upset or surprised that the prices have gradually being going up as well. Definitely recommend!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Prestige - Kohl Eyeliner
SHeust 10/2/2012 9:11:00 AM
Local Targets in my area have been out of my HG Milani eyeliner for a couple of weeks, so I decided to give this one a try. The good: pigmentation is great. I have this in brown-black and it is a very dark, rich color. It glides on pretty smoothly without tugging at the eyelid, so it is pretty easy to create an even line with this. It also smudges nicely, if you're trying to do that. The pencil is skinny, so you can do a very artful thin line with it. The packaging is nothing special, and this pencil is inexpensive. The bad: It doesn't set very well, and ended up transferring onto my eyelids. For me, that is usually the number one sign of a useless eyeliner because if I can't trust it to stay in place, I don't want to use it. Where I had originally applied it, by 5:00 that day, it had faded almost completely, and all the liner that was left were a couple transferred lines on my upper lid. So in this case, the bad overwhelms the good for me. I wouldn't recommend this one.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -mark - Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder 2007
SHeust 9/14/2012 6:37:00 PM
Color Review: Pro-Glow This is a matte, natural, light tan bronzer. The powder is a good consistency (light and finely milled), and you get an average amount for this sort of product. The color doesn't look orange at all, and lasts very well throughout the day. It hasn't caused me any skin irritation or breakouts. It looks and feels great on; truly one of the most natural-looking bronzers I have tried. The price is reasonable and the packaging is simple and chic looking. My only contention with this bronzer is that it is sort of tough to blend. This may be because my foundation hasn't completely set when I'm applying it (though I wait several minutes) or it may not, because I encounter the same blending issues on my neck (bare skin). It tends to want to stay right where the brush hits your skin, and it takes a bit more work than I am used to with powder bronzers to get it blend out evenly. The Pro Glow shade, as far as I can tell from swatches, is sort of the middle ground color (very flattering for my fair skin); Pro Golden seems to be lighter and lean toward the yellow side; Bronze would be the darkest shade. I don't know if the other two colors have any shimmer to them, although I would suspect that Pro Golden would. I might try that shade next time since I like a little shimmer to make the blending blur more easily.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Crème -Avon - Ideal Shade Cream-To-Powder Foundation w/SFP 15
SHeust 9/11/2012 12:16:00 AM
Color reviewed: Nude I have been using this for about two months now and it is entirely possible it is HG for me (though I've said that before, so I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop). I usually use powder foundation (Palladio) but am always looking for a cream-to-powder to give my skin less of a dull finish than the straight powder does. This is the first Avon product I've ever tried, and I just guessed when I ordered the shade online. I am usually second from the lightest in Revlon, so I did the same here and luckily, it worked out. The color leans to the yellow side, just slightly, and matches my skin very well. It may be a perfect match, really. The finish is natural, and definitely not matte; it's actually quite dewy. The dewiness can make it look a little bit too "sweaty" in the summer, but it looks really nice when it's not so hot out. The reason I'm not entirely sure the shade is a perfect match is because the foundation blends so well and so little is needed that it's sort of hard to see the color at all once you've put it on (a good thing). Coverage is light to medium - my freckles still show, yay! It leaves my skin looking like skin, and feels very light on. I don't apply powder to set, but I do wear a powder bronzer over the top. Wait a few minutes to apply a bronzer if you're going to do the same, so the makeup can set a bit. I have worn this foundation starting at 5:30 in the morning all the way until 9:30 at night without it fading, melting or oxidizing. I am really pleased with the lasting power of this; very little touch up needed, just a blotting sheet on my oily spots (chin). I also love the built in SPF, even if 15 is a little on the low side (it's better than nothing). The packaging is bulky but looks nice. The cost - at $11 - is very reasonable, especially for the high-end quality of this foundation. Plus there are often sales or coupon codes to get it for less. Provided it continues to perform so well and doesn't make my skin break out, I will continue to use this, and probably purchase more from Avon in the future based on this experience.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -L'Oreal - Colour Riche Caresse Cotton Pink
SHeust 9/4/2012 9:14:00 PM
I give this a low rating for the color alone. I love the formula of this lipstick (I bought this one because I already had another one and loved it), which is very creamy and lush. It is somewhere between opaque and sheer, depending on the color and how much you layer it, but it looks lovely, very natural. Moisturizes, has a slightly shiny finish and just looks rich on. However, I expected this to be a soft, baby pink and it was a very bright pink. Almost Barbie color, and it clashed very much with my pale skin and brown hair. I ended up returning it for Merino Mauve, which is the pretty, subtle pink I was hoping for.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Maybelline - Super Stay 14 Hr
SHeust 8/17/2012 10:17:00 AM
I am not much of a lipstick person, but I've been wanting a brighter red that wouldn't make my lips look like vinyl (so many bold reds are too glossy). It's usually impossible to just pick up a red at random and have it be flattering and yet that is exactly what happened to me with this line's Ravishing Rouge. Despite it's longwear claims, this lipstick is not drying or sticky like so many other lasting lipsticks can be. The bullet is a good size and goes on easily (no need to fuss with liner, brushes, etc.). This shade in particular is a very wearable; flattering to my pale, warm skin tone and exactly what I was looking for. Slight sheen to the finish but nothing so obvious that it looks unkissable. I wish the formula was a little bit more opaque, but two-ish coats will get you there, or if you want to wear it more sheer, it's great with just one. The formula doesn't feel drying, although it does look in the tube, but not feel, the tiniest bit gritty. I didn't notice any sparkles on my lips from this (a good thing). It doesn't last 14 hours, of course, but it does last pretty well and you'll need less touch ups with this than a lot of other lipsticks. The packaging really appeals to me - cute, clean, modern looking. It's a bit of a steep price IMHO for Maybelline at $9, but if you get it on sale like I did, it is totally worth it. Based on my positive experience with this shade, I think I will be buying more colors in this formula. Recommend overall. Update 2/2/13: The same formula in the shade Never Ending Nude I would not recommend. The nude color is, although just barely there, pretty but mostly what shows up are big specks of silver glitter. I don't know about you, but I am not into glitter lips. Pass on this one if you aren't either.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No