Eyeliner -Almay - Intense i-color liquid liner in brown topaz
scopingforyou 12/31/2012 1:44:00 AM
PROS: Lasts well. Easy to apply. Natural. Brings out my blue eyes. Never bothers my sensitive eyes. CONS: I guess it could last longer, but it's the longest lasting I've found in liquid eyeliners ALTERNATES: Revlon Colorstay liquid liner is nice too.
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Blush -Cover Girl - Cheekers Blush in Pretty Peach
scopingforyou 12/31/2012 1:01:00 AM
PROS: Surprisingly wonderful quality. Blendable and buildable. Subtle on my N(slightly leaning to NC)10-15 skin. The shimmer is extremely soft and barely noticeable. Thank God, cause I hate shimmer on my aging skin and big pores. Very inexpensive. I like the size of the product because I can then fit in in my little purse makeup kit. As another reviewer mentioned, the brushes are great for blending eyeshadow. CONS: Does have that weird Covergirl/Noxema type smell, but it doesn't bother me at all. APPLICATION TIPS: Of course, don't use the little mini brush that comes with it. ALTERNATES: DS would be Revlon Powder Blush & HE would Bobbi Brown or Lorac's blushes.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Cover Girl - Eyelash Curler
scopingforyou 12/30/2012 8:43:00 PM
PROS: Well, it's an eyelash curler. That's about it for me. CONS: Pinches easily. Doesn't curl well. I prefer almost any alternative out there. ALTERNATES: Shiseido has one that has less curve and whose curl lasts a lot longer than this one. You can also buy Shiseido replacement pads without having to buy a curler. If you don't want to spend that much, I thought Revlon's Extra Curl Curler was much better than this Covergirl one.
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Fusion
scopingforyou 12/30/2012 7:37:00 PM
PROS: Gives beautiful length and volume. Can be worn with one coat or can be layered quite nicely. Inexpensive, especially for the quality. Removes easily when washing it off. Doesn't bother my very sensitive eyes at all. CONS: Will flake on me a bit after about 6 hours, but not when I use the primer as described in "application tips" below. APPLICATION TIPS: Shiseido's primer (even the new one) helps this stay on with WAY less smudging/transfer/flaking. I am a recent convert to using Shiseido's popular curler too. ALTERNATES: Jordana's Volumizing mascara and Loreal's Voluminous Million Lashes gives me volume and length that lasts a long time without flaking.
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Concealers -Laura Mercier - Secret Brightener
scopingforyou 12/30/2012 1:09:00 AM
PROS: The first time I've found shimmer/illuminating and subtle in the same product. I LOVE this for highlighter along the bridge of my nose, top of cheekbones, etc. Has two colors to choose from. The original version (not #2) looked better on my N to NC 10-15 skin. (I lean just a little warm.) CONS: Not cheap. I think if you're trying to just use this alone to cover circles, that it wouldn't work well. (I use it as I mentioned in "pros.") I also wish they had one that was just a tiny bit lighter with the same amount of shimmer. ALTERNATES: Trish McEvoy's Correct and Brighten Pen has no shimmer and dries just a little chalky (on my dry skin.) Chanel's Eclat Lumiere dries just a tiny bit chalky too (no shimmer). I love the highlighter in the highlighter/concealer by ELF.
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Concealers -Trish McEvoy - Correct and Brighten "Pen"
scopingforyou 12/30/2012 1:06:00 AM
PROS: Less chalky finish than most of these highlighting pens leave. Pretty wide variety of color choices. #1 was an effective highlighter for my N10 (lean warm) skin. CONS: Price. Strange scent that is kind of unpleasant. Does dry just a LITTLE chalky. Some may not like that it is a very thin consistency. ALTERNATES: Chanel's Eclat Lumiere and Laura Mercier's Secret Brightener is a little shimmery but also doesn't look chalky.
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Mascara -Jordana - Best Lash Extreme Volumizing Mascara
scopingforyou 12/29/2012 4:00:00 AM
PROS: Did I just give a mascara a 5? Yes. Yes, I did.. It is very inexpensive. It is quite long lasting for something that is volumizing. I don't have to fight with this (I barely comb it & that's when I've put on a ton.) I get quite a bit of length from this, being that it's a "volumizing" formula. Doesn't bother my sensitive eyes. Washes off easily when removing. Holds curl quite well. Thank you MUA'ers for making this a top pick so that I could find out about it!! CONS: I am hesitant to ever give any mascara a 5. It never meets my holy grail wishes/expectations. Ever. This one was just too good for me to give it a 4, though. Here's my only cons for this: I wish the brush bristles were just a tiny bit longer. This one could last longer, I guess, before flaking. Although I know of no other mascara that looks this good on, adding volume, lasts as long as it does and also removes easily. (And I have reviewed 31 mascaras on MUA so far.) Besides, when I use the Shiseido lash primer first, the lasting issue is gone. APPLICATION TIPS: The trick to the brush working for me is to drag the brush through the lashes and keep applying and dragging the brush through while it's wet. Doesn't do as well for me if I let it dry in between coats. And I need to not be shy about dragging that brush through. It doesn't do as well when I use a very light hand. I need to really brush through the mascara that's on there while I apply more. Shiseido's primer (even the new one) helps this stay on with virtually no flaking and helps the curl stay even more. I am a recent convert to using Shiseido's popular curler too. ALTERNATES: I like L'Oreal's Voluminous Million Lashes too for lasting volume and length. Rimmel's Volume Flash or Volume Max (some name like that) in the pink tube is great volumizing but will also flake sooner than this and leave my lashes looking a little crunchy looking. For HE, MUFE's Smoky Lash lasts a long time and adds big volume. But it is time-consuming to apply.
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Hair -Unlisted Brand - Organic ROOT Stimulator Olive Oil Creamy Aloe Shampoo
scopingforyou 12/27/2012 2:59:00 AM
PROS: Very inexpensive. Super gentle cleansing for my very dry and very fine hair. CONS: Wish it had a yummy scent. It doesn't smell bad at all; it's just that I'm a sucker for a yummy smell. ALTERNATES: L'Oreal's Mega Moisture Shampoo (found at Sally's Beauty Supply) is just a bit more cleansing than this and has a yummy scent, but the price is definitely higher.
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Fragrances -The Body Shop - Dreams Unlimited
scopingforyou 12/26/2012 2:01:00 AM
PROS: Aquatic and slightly floral and slightly sweet. I normally won't wear florals, but this is not flowery or old-lady at all. It's youthful and soft. (Not too youthful, though.) You can get the parfum to last longer or the eau de toilette to save money. Pretty and simple packaging. CONS: I don't have any.
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Brows -E.L.F. - Eyebrow Kit
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 11:35:00 PM
PROS: Love the gel, then powder idea. Incredibly inexpensive. The "medium" color is cool enough to not look silly on my medium brown and ash brows (almost ALL brow pencils, etc., look to warm on my brows, unless they are named something very obvious like "taupe" or "cool ____".) But the "ash" is really the best color fit for me by ELF. CONS: Does show up quite a bit darker than what looking at the color in the pan implies it will be. I just apply with a very light hand and always tap the brush well before applying. The plastic sheet that is supposed to protect the colors can easily poke into the powder color and cause it to crack and break up.(see my usage tips regarding this.) USAGE TIPS: I take out the plastic sheeting that is in there that is supposed to, I suppose, protect the colors in it. I take it out because it can easily poke into the powder color and cause it to crack and break up. Other than that, I am careful to tap off any extra powder from the brush before applying so that it will not apply too heavy/dark.
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Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Baby Lips in Peach Kiss
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 7:49:00 PM
PROS: I LOVE the Peach Kiss for my N10-15 skin (I lean a little warm, if anything, but I am mostly neutral.) This gives me just a little more warmth than my natural lip color. It's almost a nude look, but peachier and quite moist looking, but not really shiny. My lips feel okay after having this on. SPF!! Very inexpensive. CONS: I'm not in love with every color. Most are too cool for me.
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Lip Treatments -Maybelline - Baby Lips lip balm
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 7:47:00 PM
PROS: I like the Peach Kiss for my N10-15 skin (I lean a little warm, if anything, but I am mostly neutral.) This gives me just a little more warmth than my natural lip color. It's almost a nude look, but peachier and quite moist looking, but not really shiny. My lips feel okay after having this on. SPF!! Very inexpensive. CONS: I'm not in love with every color. Most are too cool for me.
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup SPF 15
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 7:22:00 PM
PROS: Med. to full coverage that leaves my skin between matte and satin. Not the worst I've tried for settling into wrinkles and pores. Stays on me pretty well. CONS: Beautiful packaging, but you can't tell when it will be empty. Settles in my lines less than most but more than my L'oreal's Visible Lift Serum Absolute foundation. Perfumey fragrance, but it's not real strong. APPLICATION TIPS: If worried about pores, pat a primer like L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting base into the pores. But let it "set" for at least a minute before applying the foundation. REMOVAL TIPS: If you are prone to clogged pores, you will probably want to remove this with a cleansing oil before your regular cleanser (I like to use jojoba oil before Olay sensitive skin wash.) ALTERNATES: See "CONS" up above. The concealer version of this is quite hydrating and very buildable and good for my wrinkled skin.
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Concealers -Christian Dior - Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 7:17:00 PM
PROS: WOnderful on my aging skin. Great for layering/building. I'm an N10-N15 (I'm a true neutral but if anything, I lean a little warm), and the number 001 works for me. CONS: This would not be good for those that don't need the moisture, but it's right in the name (hydrating), so this shouldn't come as a surprise for anyone. Sometimes needs slight touchups after about 7 or 8 hours, but I'd rather do that than have my concealer dry up my eye skin and make me look lots older. Not cheap, but a little goes a long, long way. APPLICATION TIPS: If you need heavier coverage, this layers nicely. If your eye skin is not dry, you may want to choose carefully when deciding which eye cream to use under this. But I've never had a problem with it running. ALTERNATES: Cle De Peau is a good H/E alternate for quite heavy coverage, but it is quite pricey and the colors are very limited.
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Foundations -Giorgio Armani - Face Fabric Second Skin Nude Makeup
scopingforyou 12/23/2012 6:54:00 PM
PROS: Buildable, light coverage. Better in wrinkles than most foundations Stays on me well. The #1 is a perfect match for my N10 skin. (I'm a true neutral. If anything, I lean warm with a bit of ruddiness throughout my face.) THe #2 was too dark. The finish is between a satin and a matte for me, leaning to satin. I like that I can tell when it's running out (with most pumps, I can't tell.) CONS: You are going to need to stay exfoliated, as this will really show your dry patches, if you have them. Also, if you want a dewy finish at all, you will probably not like this. Will not be enough coverage for most. Price. This has alcohol which has started to affect my sensitive skin. And see "removal tips" for another con. If I sweat or happen to shed any tears, it burns my skin (must be the heavy alcohol content.) APPLICATION TIPS: If worried about pores, pat a primer like L'Oreal's Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting base into the pores. But let it "set" for at least a minute before applying the foundation. REMOVAL TIPS: When I try to take this off with any kind of makeup removal wipes, including MAC's and Equate's (Walmart brand), I get sore red blotches that last a few days. I prefer using jojoba oil right before my Olay Sensitive Skin Cleanser. ALTERNATES: For a similar finish but cheaper, Covergirl Natureluxe Liquid Silk foundation (not quite as nice as this, though.) I'm between the 310 and the 320 (closer to 310) in that. For a heavier coverage and a bit more moisture, I love L'oreal's Visible Lift Serum Absolute foundation.
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