Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Color Infallible Eyeshadow Endless Chocolate 12
BCbabe 7/11/2011 4:09:00 PM
I really, really wanted to like this. The shade is a gorgeous brown shimmer, much less 'warm' than it looks in the pot, and it's so convenient to just use a finger to apply to your lid. Sadly though, I was surprised how much this looked after a workday. I thought being "infallible" meant it would last but it had faded and actually collected into the creases in my lid even though I'd used a primer. My loose mineral shadows have better staying power so unfortunately, this li'l gem is going back. :(
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Misc Beauty Tools -Unlisted Brand - J-B Weld
BCbabe 4/26/2011 6:43:00 PM
J-B Weld... is a glue... that can withstand heat up to 600 degrees F. I had a fancy shmancy story on how I came to discover this, but long story short, you just want the facts. I found an article where someone repaired a flat iron with *this*. The stories on the back of the package speak for themselves. If this works on cookware, farm equipment and engine blocks, it'll no doubt work on a flat iron, and rest assured it does. I had a HAI flat iron that I'd dropped in the sink and out popped one of the plates. At the time I thought there was nothing that could be done, so I bought a new one and packed this one away in the basement... it was a favorite and I couldn't bear to let it go, hoping to find a fix. I was very happy to find that J-B Weld is readily available in automotive stores in the US & Canada. My neighborhood Canadian Tire had it for $10. First, don gloves and use a well ventilated area. (it contains formaldehyde). Clean parts to be glued with acetone. Mix equal parts of the two tubes on a piece of foil and apply evenly to surface to be glued. I used elastic bands to hold the plate in place and it sets overnight. (I know this is all on the back but I, in my excitement to use it, forgot the 'well ventilated area' part... Doh!) So there you have it. I hope this will prevent other flat irons from facing an uncertain fate...
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Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Drama
BCbabe 4/9/2011 11:34:00 AM
Meh! I like the regular Hypnose better. The brush on this one is bent at weird angles and is really pokey and sharp... uncomfortable to use. I'm not sure why they think a brush that looks like it was bitten by a chihuahua would add 'drama' to the lashes, and the weird shape makes it hard to properly get into the base of the lashes (imperative for those with blonde lashes like me) or even attack those little lashes on the inside corners. It doesn't provide any more "drama" or volume to the lashes than regular Hypnose either... in fact, I think it's 'volume' pales in comparison to the original. Back to the drawing board with this one, Lancome.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Mascara -L'Oreal - Telescopic Explosion
BCbabe 3/9/2011 9:50:00 AM
I'm generally a L'Oreal girl when it comes to d/s makeup so I was really intrigued when this first came out. I finally gave it a try and sadly, it does not live up to expectation. The little ball of an applicator may be good in theory but because you can only do a few lashes at a time, it takes a lot of patience (yes, that's been mentioned a lot...) to do all your lashes. I also don't find that the brush applies the mascara any better than any other brush. I typically like to do the upper and lower sides of my lashes (especially since they're blond) and the ball makes it more difficult to to the upper side without getting it on my eyelids as well. Now I'm wondering if my regular Telescopic wand will fit in this tube (mind you I'll probably have to switch stoppers too since the regular wand is so much thinner...) In any event, I won't be buying this version again.
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Liquid -Revlon - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF 6 for Combination/Oily Skin
BCbabe 2/17/2011 2:26:00 PM
I've been wanting to try this revamped (with Softflex) version for a long time and finally caved during a sale and got some. I'd used the original version back in the 90's which to me is *still* THE epitome of indelible foundation which was hard to blend, dried quickly, covered incredibly and lasted through anything you could throw at it... and it messed up your sink, your hands, gah, everything you touched before you could wash it off...if you could. I even wore it during childbirth. I looked flawless the next morning in the hospital... MOVING ON... This new Softflex is no where near as intense as the original version. It's been toned down to a much more usable degree and I'm really quite happy with it! For the record, I use a moisturizer, sunscreen and a silicone gel primer on my normal/combo skin. When I go to apply my *new* Colorstay with Softflex, I cover the top of the bottle with my finger, tip the bottle, go to the next finger, tip the bottle again so I have two 'dots', rub my finger tips together with my opposite hand and with quick sweeping motions, I go over my cheeks, forehead and chin. This doesn't set nearly as fast as the original but I still have time to get it around my eyes and nose and generally get a good blending before it dries. I set with a dusting of mineral veil. I'm quite surprised how natural this looks, and it looks good all day. I might have to add a little powder mid afternoon (I still get a little shiny in my t-zone) but this is so much more forgiving and natural than the original. I know I keep referring back to the original but the difference is definitely apparent and it's so much easier to wash this newer version off my hands (and face). I find the reviews for this a little confusing... Could some people be reviewing the original under the SoftFlrex heading? They are soooo different!
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Stick -Kryolan - TV Paint Stick
BCbabe 2/14/2011 4:52:00 PM
I've been on a bit of a foundation kick lately, stumbled across the reviews for this, decided to try it out, found one on eBay and then used it for a week... and here are my thoughts. I like it! It has great pigmentation but it actually feels light on the skin. It can be sheered out so it doesn't look 'flat' and a bit of your natural skin variances can shine through but it can also be layered for a more flawless look which would be great for pictures. I did not have any problems applying this with my fingers, but I use moisturizer, sunscreen and a primer. I prefer using my fingers since brushes tend to absorb product making you require more for the same coverage, though using a brush for an overall finishing step would be fine, as would a sponge. My skin type is also normal/combo but I have had dryness on my forehead but I don't find this exaggerates that at all. The finish is really quite natural! I do set with a mineral veil because it can have a bit of a shiny finish (depending on climate, your moisturizer...). The most difficult aspect of this foundation is finding the right shade! I googled endlessly for swatches, pictures etc... because the colour chart that Kryolan has is really hard to go by. Some pics of actual product on eBay were helpful but how I actually finally decided on what shade to try was by stumbling on a little blog by someone who had the same MAC shading as me (NC30/C3) and she used the Kryolan shade of FS45, which was pretty much perfect. Next time I'm near a theatrical supply, I'll be checking these out for shades since I might want a slightly deeper shade come summer. While I found it ok to use on a daily basis, by the end of the week I did have *one* small white head? Zit? Oh heaven forbid... on my chin. Now it could have been hormonal so I'm not bashing it for that (and my trusty Vichy Normaderm Active Anti-Imperfection Concentrate took good care of it... but that's another story..) but seeing as it IS a theatrical brand, perhaps not best for excessive daily wear, but I'm still a fan and I'll be keeping this in my rotation. EDIT: I had the chance to see some other shades and I have to say I have a slight preference for the shades ELO and LO (Extra Light Olive & Light Olive) over the FS45, though I could still get away with using any of the 3. ELO is a hair peachier than FS45 so in my educated guess, if you're more of a C3, then got for ELO and if you're more yellow based NC30, stick with FS45. When I have a bit more colour in the summer, LO is perfect. Interestingly, I emailed Kryolan to find out what the letters in the shades stood for and even they couldn't tell me all of them! How weird is that?? I was emailed a few of them so for what it's worth... "W" is for white/light skintones. "LE" is for Light Egyptian. "DE" is for Dark Egyptian. "NB" is for Natural Beige. "LO" is for Light Olive. "ELO" is for Extra Light Olive. "OB" is for Olive Beige and DF is for... Death Flesh! Not conclusive but it's a start. Still floored that Kryolan themselves couldn't tell me all of them, but it's still a great product.
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Hair -Moroccanoil - Moroccan Oil
BCbabe 2/14/2011 12:58:00 PM
I was a doubter, a skeptic, until I tried it. Yes, there are many other wanna be copy cat products out there, but after trying a few and then trying this, I am in love. Unlike many others, this oil is smooth and silky, not thick and gooey, almost sticky. I found the One 'n Only Argan oil from Sally was like that... and it seemed heavier. I have lots of fine hair with natural wave so I do prefer a light feeling oil. Having said that, Moroccan Oil does now have a "light" version, but the "argania spinosa kernel oil" is 4th on the ingredient list in that one and 3rd in the list on the original. If I'm going to spend that much money on a product, I want the most amount of whatever ingredient makes it so special... and I find the original is perfect for my type hair (though if you have fine thin hair, the light might be the way to go). Also, there is now a "limited edition" 125ml bottle with a pump. Why it's LE is beyond me but it's so worth it (and no more expensive than the non-pump version) and the pump is transferable to your next bottle. Bonus! The instructions say to use a small amount on damp hair, but I also like to mix some in with the serum I use to flat iron. Maybe I'm off in thinking that the heat of the iron can make it penetrate my hair but if it's ok on damp hair that's about to be blasted with a hot blow dryer, why not use it for flat ironing too? The first 2 ingredients are cyclomethicone and dimethicone which are pretty basic for protectant serums. So, not that I've rambled I can cut to the chase. I love this stuff (adore the scent!) and will be replenishing when I run out. That's all you needed to know, right? :)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eyeliner -Prestige - Total Intensity Eyeliner Deepest Black
BCbabe 2/9/2011 9:53:00 PM
I pretty much *adore* all of the Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliners and the Deepest Black is no exception. I use this more than any other black liner and it's pushed my ol' MAC Smolder Kohl to the curb. Why? It doesn't smudge, glides on like buttah and stays in place without fading. It even works on the waterline and doesn't bother my eyes (let alone my contacts). There may be other long wear pencils out there but not this good at this price. It is soft so it can be difficult to get and keep a sharp point but I don't find it difficult to get a nice even line across my lid and the fact that it's so smooth means it's also gentler on my lids. (If you want a pencil that stays sharp, you need a kohl but the nature of a kohl is to be smudgeable).
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - HiP Metallic Duo - Charged #910
BCbabe 2/6/2011 1:23:00 PM
Heck yeah, this duo is *awesome*! I'm not sure we ever got these in Canada but they are worth the while to either buy online or go into the US if you have the chance. After reading about these 'metallic' HiP duos on Scrangie's blog, I was intrigued to say the least. I have several of these duos but somehow bypassed these, until now and managed to buy a few for BOGO1/2off at Walgreens. Charged is an amazing foily golden copper/burnished copper duo. Silky smooth, a dream to work with and unlike most copper e/s (Milani Flare, MAC Coppering, Antiqued, etc...), these work with my skintone (C3, blonde, blue eyes) without making me look sick. Copper is supposed to work with blue eyes but many copper e/s are tricky to work with, especially since most people with blue eyes don't have overly warm skintones. This duo is a dream come true.
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Mascara -Revlon - Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara
BCbabe 2/6/2011 11:42:00 AM
OK, I've tried this twice. I really wanted to like it. With that big brush, it looks like it was meant for va-va-va-volume! I have blonde lashes and I like impact when I apply mascara and this one fell short... both times! Is it just me or does the formula seem thick and dry? Trust me when I say, you *notice* the application much more when you have to cover blonde lashes. The brush is very promising but is there really anything on it? It was frustrating to have to dip several times into the tube to get anything to show up (let alone cover) light lashes, but I've found that for me, Revlon (and Almay for that matter) are notoriously dry formulas that require a lot of work. Or am I doomed to always flunk out with dried up tubes? I'm flabbergasted. :(
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -NYX - Deep Brown
BCbabe 1/5/2011 10:28:00 AM
Just for clarification, there may be two shades that are being confused. There is a "Dark Brown - Matte" and a "Deep Brown (Deep Purple)" listed on the Cherryculture NYX e/s page. I'm refering to Deep Brown here but it seems by the reviews that the two are being mixed up... Anywho, Deep Brown (Deep Purple) is a gorgeous shimmered smokey plum. I don't even really see a lot of brown in this but perhaps there is some. It is a great crease shade though and blends like a dream. I'd also picked up "Sensual - Glitter" and the two look pretty similar side by side, but when swiped the Sensual is a little smokier with more "glimmer" (I suppose the microfine glitter.. it's not chunky). So yes, if you're looking for a deep smokey plum with a little brown thrown in, this is your ticket.. If you want a *matte* brown, look for "DARK Brown".
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Primer -Coastal Scents - Shadow Worx Matte Eyeshadow Primer
BCbabe 12/12/2010 10:36:00 PM
Amazing! I've tried several eyeshadow bases, from MAC to Too Faced to L'Oreal HiP to Lise Watier and Lancome but nothing really had me settled that it was "The One". On a whim, I ordered the Coastal Scents Shadow Worx Matte primer and have used it for the past week. I must say this is the closest to being "The One" than anything I've tried. After about 12 hours of wear, everything else keeps me shadow looking fairly good, but I'd still get the collection of shadow in the tiny lines in my crease, and if I had to go out that night I'd have to smooth it out with my finger and/or reapply shadow. This stuff from Coastal Scents comes in a squeeze tube with a tiny tip. Excellent! You use a teeny tiny amount for both eyes and even though it has a peachy look when you squeeze it out, it goes on invisibly and dries as you pat it in. Apply your e/s and it not only helps intensify the shadow but holds it well into the night... like most primers BUT this one just seems to do an even *better* job of it. The reason it's called "Matte" is because it won't add shimmer to your matte shadows. There is a Shimmer version available which I will most definitely be trying next. That one does have a pearly champagne finish that can also be used as a highlighter. The reviews on the site say to "be prepared to be amazed" and I most certainly am!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Unlisted Brand - Nexcare Advanced Foot Balm
BCbabe 12/9/2010 5:22:00 PM
I stumbled across this little gem at BigLots for $2 ~ Nexcare Advanced Foot Balm in the little grey 0.5oz container. I know it's for feet, but it's pretty darn small for a foot product though I'm sure it would help for specific areas. It says "helps improve seriously dry, cracked skin". What I love about this though is what it does for cuticles! After having this sit around for a while I decided to put it by my computer so I could try it out on my cuticles while I fiddled on MUA...and after a week or so of this I'm very pleased to announce that my cuticles have never looked better. It really works at softening hard skin and conditioning my cuticles. It sinks in fairly quickly and has a very light but pleasant scent. The ingredient list is short but includes petrolatum, lanolin, beeswax and lactic acid.
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Eyeliner -L'Oreal - HIP Studio Secrets Professional Intense Eyeliner - Dark Sky 320
BCbabe 11/21/2010 9:10:00 PM
I have to completely agree with the first reviewer below... this little gem is like HG status for me. I finally found a pencil with the rich intensity of a liquid liner that stays put and doesn't smudge, even under the lower lashline. Even after a full day at work, it looks freshly applied. Amazing! This can seriously revolutionalize my morning ritual. It is soft and smudgeable if you smudge it immediately and then it stays until you take it off (which I have no problems doing with my makeup remover ~ being fractionated coconut oil from Coastalscents but that's another HG and another story altogether). I'm going to have to stock up on these though since in Canada, certain L'Oreal products have a habit of appearing and disappearing sporatically as limited editions. FWIW though, this is pretty much BLACK and only named Dark Sky for the Fall Release of this little collection. In any event, this was worth every penny and more of what I paid for it. I just wish I could get a promise from L'Oreal that it'd be a permanent part of their Canadian line....
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Lip Gloss -L.A. Colors - Just Kissed
BCbabe 11/17/2010 2:12:00 PM
Another winner from L.A. Girls and DollarTree. Just Kissed looks to be a shimmery light warm pink but applies very sheerly, leaving just a hint of colour and a very pretty glimmery shine that just makes your lips look moist and full. On me it leaves practically no colour but the shine is very pretty, kind of luminating without looking teeny-bopperish or glittery. Packaging is decent (clear bottom, black lid, doefoot applicator) and the scent is faintly fruity, maybe bubblegummy but not overpowering at all and not chemically like soooo many others I've tried. Wears well, isn't sticky, and I find it IS moisturizing... I can use this on it's own for moisture. One of those little staples you want a few of around the house, in the purse, in the gym bag... And, it's cruelty free.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No