Eye Shadow -Jordana - Eye Fixation Eye Shadow
Nekura 5/7/2009 1:47:00 AM
I like these more than MAC shadesticks... I would say Eye Fixation is similar to MAC Shadesticks released recently from Sugar Sweet which are much softer however compared to previous Shadesticks, these are much better. I find Eye Fixations soft enough to not have to "warm up" before applying however not too soft that it still makes an excellent base for colors. The packaging while similar to MAC, is better too. There's less of a chance of these breaking on the base and the caps are color coded that it's easy to organize. The color selection is small but all the colors are basics that I have most of them besides the blue one. If you want more shades...look into Jordana's jumbo eyeshadow pencils (similar quality only in wood form however the shade selection is doubled if not more). I would also like to point out for some reason Jordana made a mistake packaging two colors from the Eye Fixation line which I read a review on below from another user. "Opal Obsession" and "Insatiable Silver" are switched in packaging.. so the Opal shade (white with purple sheen) is in the Insatiable Silver (blue-tone silver) one, vice versa. The color cap still corresponds to the product inside correctly though.. but the names are written wrong.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Jordana - Sheer Lipstick - Truly Natural
Nekura 4/27/2009 11:25:00 PM
Dare I say this possibly the most universal near perfect nude lipstick I've come across? There's not one lipstick in my kit or stash similar to this diamond in the rough product. Truly Natural is a sheer milky beige/brown based nude color. The best thing about this lipstick is that it's sheer so it will gradually lighten your natural lip color. You can build on it to further lighten your lips without ever getting that pasty effect. The result is a very natural nude lip. Due to the sheer quality of the lipstick, it just lightens your natural lip color making this work on most people without the typical fear of looking washed out or awkward. It's light weight, feels almost like a tinted lip balm, doesn't sink into lines, semi-glossy, and has a very subtle fruity scent (Jordana lipsticks have had better scents IMO but this isn't anything horrific for me to complain about, doesn't taste funky like WnW or NYC lipsticks!). I took one lippy off because it is semi-glossy the lasting power isn't too great and it can make it a bit slippery depending on how much you apply. I suggest wearing a transparent or nude lipliner especially those with thin lips or have a lot lines. The packaging is the standard 80's lipstick sort of packaging so it's easy to knick these (but Jordana caps are more secure than some brands)... however this stuff only costs $1 and is BEYOND AMAZING for the look I get from it.
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Lipstick -Jordana - Matte Lipstick
Nekura 4/27/2009 9:38:00 PM
These are still a tad drying so I recommend exfoliating and moisturizing beforehand or it'll enhance flaking/dry chapped lips but otherwise these have great lasting power, a nice scent (similar to MAC vanilla scent so no cheap lipstick smell here), no taste yet very light weight for a matte lipstick. The look and quality of these are way beyond the price tag of $1-$2. Matte lipsticks in general aren't so easy to find especially outside of a mid-high end brand market, you can't beat this deal! The packaging is that cheapo 80's type packaging but the cap is pretty secure (it snaps close), and since it's really inexpensive I don't mind. For other low end mattes, I've liked NYX and Nicka K but both only offer lipsticks in semi-matte so they build up a slight glossy look if you apply a lot. Jordana's are true to the product name. It's also really nice how they actually seperate their lipstick finish by different packaging color so you won't be confused with what you're getting :)
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Hair Color -L'Oreal - Feria Haircolor
Nekura 3/27/2009 12:58:00 AM
I wasn't particularly impressed with Feria. I have no problems with it really but it's not that great either... There are better or similar boxed hair dyes that cheaper. The quality and results I get from Feria is quite similar to L'Oreal's Garnier. While colors are intially vibrant, the staying power for me is near zilch considering these are permanent dyes, I've had semi-permanents do a better job. Like L'Oreal's Garnier, Feria has similar shade options and really it feels like almost the same product in a different box that costs more. I think it's a decent product if you're not commited to hair color shades and like to switch it up. I took one lippy for the price that's a bit more expensive than Garnier while working too similar for my liking (and never on sale) and another lippy for the lack of lasting color. I have oily hair so I wash a lot and use clarifying shampoos often so the color might last longer on those whom don't use such products (but with this said, I get better lasting colors with Clairol hair dyes).
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Fragrances -Victoria's Secret - Love Spell EDT
Nekura 3/23/2009 4:13:00 PM
I don't really smell this everywhere around me (even though I know this is one of the most popular VS scents) but perhaps my chemistry just reacts differently with this than most that what I might smell often just isn't how Love Spell smells on me. However with this said, the scent is a bit flat but not bad. It's a really realistic peach-mango scent with a minor almost invisible floral note. I can't find it sickening because it doesn't come off very artificial to me however I wish it was a bit more complex... though for $9.50 and from Victoria's Secret I wasn't exactly expecting much. I like this scent during low maintenance days during warmer weather. It's a fresh fruity splash without seeming plastic, fake, or too young. However the strong fruit note to this makes it a very summery scent. Not really something I'd pick up on days to work or nights out but there are days where I want to smell light and more simplistic that I do pick it up. The EDT lasting power from Victoria's Secret is okay in my opinion. It lasts a good few hours before it becomes really subtle however if Love Spell was an EDP it would honestly be TOO much.
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Hair Color -Clairol - XL0 Blonded by the Light - Crème Lightening Kit - Bleach Blonde
Nekura 3/22/2009 2:00:00 AM
Personally I find nothing wrong with this product. If your hair is sensitive, dry, or brittle... one really shouldn't tamper with hair peroxide without any supervision. The XL0 is the lightest bleach blonde shade from the Herbal Essences hair color line. All the blonde "dyes" from this line contain hair bleach and peroxide, as the lightest it's more than likely it contains 40% volume in strength. However with this said, I disagree with the opinion that this is too harsh. 40% hair peroxide exists for a reason. I've been processing hair for about 6 years now. I can say this "straight from the box" hair color is one of the best I've run into including professional hair bleach/peroxides (that are also by Clairol). 40% isn't for everyone especially if your hair is proned to breakage or is light to begin with but for people with dark hair and want to go super light... This little product is can be your god send. Herbal Essences XL0 CREME formula is by far one of the few formulas I've found (especially a drugstore product) that will evenly lift your hair with minimal brassy results. If you have dark hair and ever went blonde you would understand the difficulties to lighten all of your hair and 10%-30% hair bleach just doesn't cut it unless you repeat the process a ridiculous amount of times which is as (if not more) damaging and usually not effective if you start out with hair that's near black. What I like about this product is the even tone you get from it. You will still likely get brassiness and still have to tone it but you don't need to bleach and bleach again. The results are fast and even. The formula while is strong isn't one of the most irritating I've run into and it's really not as damaging as some 40% peroxides are but with the same if not better results. For about 4 years I've used this product on and off. I always come back to it for my personal use only because it just requires so much less "aftermath" work when used. I've gone from deep brown/black to bleach blonde, to white, and also have used this dye as a great color lifter for artificial colors like cherry red, green, blue, purple, etc. My scalp is still intact years later and I still have over a yard of my real hair on my head. If you're using hair bleach you really absolutely should do a strand/patch test and judge if your hair can handle it, then research no the care for it afterwards. But otherwise even for anyone moderately experienced with bleaching, this is a great product. I'm only jealous the price gap seems huge from the reviews. I normally have to pay $11.99 retail for this but it's well worth it.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -L'Oreal - Cream Shadow Paint in Nervy
Nekura 3/19/2009 10:23:00 PM
To be honest, I think this is one of L'Oreal HiP's best products. These paints are packaged exactly like Lancome Color Dose (which is also under the L'Oreal company). Similar texture, blendability, staying power and quality as well. One could say they're almost the same. The only difference is Lancome offered more colors whereas HiP only has a handful of more neutral/smokey shades. Nervy is a great versatile shade. It's a nice neutral taupe. One sheer wash is enough to walk out of the house and look polished with. You can build it a few more layers for a deep metallic taupe. Blend the edges a bit and you get a quick smokey eye that looks a lot more complex than the actual work it takes. Unlike MAC paints, the HiP (and Lancome) are easier to blend and takes a bit longer to dry so you're not stuck with harsh lines but even with this said it still has superb staying power without a primer. This stuff lasts all day for my oily lids that normally can ONLY use Urban Decay Primer Potion but I can use the HiP paints with no worries. It's a bit messy when you first open it so it's good to have an empty jar to keep the excess in for the first few uses because it goops out but otherwise unbelievable item for something at a drugstore. While $12 seems a bit much, for what it is I'd pay it at retail because it's still a bargain. The BOGO sales and ease of finding it are a plus. (Makes a great base too)
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Bonne Bell - Lip Frosting
Nekura 3/16/2009 10:03:00 PM
Lip Smackers reformulated/repackaged these Lip Frostings again (for the 3rd or so time over the course of many years). Currently the Lip Frosting Glosses are in a really 80's retro type packaging; decorated with polka dots, hearts, cupcakes, with each flavor corresponding to a colorful end cap. I personally really like the current Lip Frostings. Subtle but still apparent scent and very subtle sweet flavor. While I love a lot of lip smackers sometimes the scents are too artificial and in my face. The Lip Frostings now are quite low key in scent that no one is going to think you smell like a little kid while standing a few feet away from you. Also now the formula isn't glittery/frosty much anymore. Instead the scents have very subtle sheen. I guess the point is, Lip Smackers reformulated these and put it in an even more "dated" packaging but took out the crazy 80's dated metallic/frost lipstick look. The more you apply these, the more shine you'll get but you won't be building the sheen to it giving you metallic lips. The formula is slick and I find it to be moisturizing. Overall nostalgic and useful for someone that's a little girl to an adult who's still a girl inside :) The applicator is slant with a groove for the gloss to not overly goop out and gives great control.The only downside is that almost all the shades will apply nearly the same now as they're all very sheer and the staying power isn't so great since these are absolutely non-sticky but at $2-$3 a pop and such a pleasant moisturizing balm-like gloss... I'd easily collect them all.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lotions/ Creams -Nivea - Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme
Nekura 3/15/2009 1:41:00 AM
Great product, it's really thick but not greasy for dry skin. I like using this as a body/hand lotion especially during the winter where my legs can feel so dry it itches. Technically Nivea doesn't suggest anywhere on this product that one can use it on the face but I have tried it without much problems though people should keep in mind it's not intended as a face lotion so use it as that at your own risk. I find this a lot less greasier and creamier than the Original Nivea and I also prefer the scent to Nivea Soft. The small disks are great for the purse but personally I like the squeeze tube. Also if people are honestly that worried about parabens in your products you probably should avoid most things carried at your standard drugstore to begin with and shop at a whole foods or etailers. But I'm not going to hold against how well this product works because it contains parabens (like most drugstore lotions).
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Lipstick -Prestige - Rayon
Nekura 3/13/2009 3:26:00 AM
I find Rayon to be a very wearable true pink. It's indeed one of those bubble gum / candy / Barbie pinks however what's special about this shade is that it's quite neutral and only slightly cool tone whereas the typical pink shades within that area tend to have a lot of blue in it. I'm generally neutral-warm in complexion so I can't wear really blue based shades, it's quite rare for me to find a vivid light shade of pink that doesn't look awkward on me. There's a slight silver pearl in this lipstick. Looks more shimmery in the tube than when applied. Semi-matte finish so you'll need a gloss coat if you want shine. Fragrance-free, staying power is excellent which is typical for Prestige lipsticks. I also love Prestige lipstick packagings because it has a color chip under it that actually has some lip product in it so what you see on the bottom is what you get in the tube (much like Sephora or NYX lipsticks). However Prestige has better packaging because it's in a metal tube and has a good weight to it with a very safe/sturdy cap. A truly underrated drugstore lipstick! I think it's unfair to give it a low rating because the shade isn't right.
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Fragrances -Demeter - Vanilla Ice Cream
Nekura 3/4/2009 9:41:00 PM
I ordered this online during a huge sale hoping it actually would be a vanilla musk scent like some of the complaints below. To my surprise, this scent on me actually smells fairly accurate to Demeter's description. This is my first Demeter experience and I didn't really have high expectations for this at all however on my skin-chemistry the vanilla extract, sugar, and heavy cream are very clear in the fragrance. There is a slight musk note to this but it's really subtle and oddly mixed with the top notes, it almost creates an illusion of caramelization of the scents combined. The staying power isn't too bad. I like using this at minimum, if used too much it is a bit cloying and can seem slightly plastic but overall not bad.
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Fragrances -mark - Hello Pretty
Nekura 3/2/2009 7:56:00 AM
I bought Hello Pretty for several reasons... The thought of a scent with cherry blossom and lychee hit home for me as it's something I've grown up with. This with the addition of the simplistic yet very cute bottle plus the nice price tag made this ever so more appealing. However I found this scent to be quite a bit flat though not awful either. While the combination of scents sound interesting, on me it just seems really transparent and unfortunately sugary sweet. The cherry blossom and lychee notes to this is really strong on my chemistry with a very minor hint of pear and musk. There is also something in this that has a very strong powdery note at least for me. You would think with this description that this would be more of a fruity-floral, it's actually a sweet floral scent. You have to be really familiar with lychee to know that mark. didn't capture the fresh scent of this fruit but somehow managed to captured a sugared version of it which is often found in canned lychee, lychee drinks, and the candy. I would have preferred a more fresh scent of the fruit... however with it being the sweeter sugary version, this scent becomes very nostalgic for me and reminds me of crisp summery nights as a child. The scent is definitely not offensive nor too generic on me. If it was a bit less powdery, I'd give it 4 lippies... however that weird powder note behind all the other notes can make it a bit cloying if too much is used.
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Eye Shadow -Milani - Sheer Sand
Nekura 3/2/2009 5:08:00 AM
The color in the pan is gorgeous but this is one of the really fussy eyeshadows by Milani that I don't love. It looks like beigey taupe in the pan however the outcome you'll get from this shadow varies on how experienced you are with eyeshadows... I highly suggest treating Sheer Sand more like mineral/mica powders and use a tacky and sticky type of bas for this or using it wet. If you don't use a proper base or method for this eyeshadow it will essentially be very sheer and obnoxiously glittery. However if you get a hand of it, it can be quite a beautiful color. With this said, this eyeshadow just requires a bit too much work that it's never been a favorite of mine (especially since other Milani shadows I own are much easier to work with). I don't hate this color but I definitely don't love it nor plan to repurchase.
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Cleansers -Clearasil - StayClear Oil Free Gel Wash
Nekura 2/21/2009 2:13:00 AM
Pros: - Appealing packaging and color. Nice lock-in function for the pump when not in use. - Great price. Under $5 with frequent sales. - Salicylic Acid (2%) for Acne Treatment - Cleanses well including removing makeup (even waterproof). - Gentle yet effective. - Nice fresh scent. Cons: - Can be slightly drying. - Can sting a bit if your face has any open cuts (from previous acne or the sort). - Can't twist open the pump if you want to. Overall this cleanser is actually really nice. I don't think it'll provide you miracles but it is one of the nicer standard acne-treated washes out there. While it is slightly drying due to the salicylic acid, that's really expected and in comparison to many facial cleansers out there with the same ingredient.. I find this one to be one of the least drying. It doesn't leave the face "tight" but I do recommend to keep up a regular moisturizing routine with use of this anyway. Originally I bought this for my brother but borrowed it a few times and then started using it myself. I agree with the review below, the scent is a bit on the masculine side but it's nothing bothersome and still a nice faint but fresh scent. My only real complaint is that if your face has any open cuts due to acne or what not, this cleanser might sting a bit but I guess that prevents infection... and it's nothing horrific but something I just wanted to point out. I break out rarely but I do suffer a bit from milia and bumps often and this keeps my skin pretty clear. The results I get from this cleanser is quite similar to Neutrogena's Original Oil-Free Acne Treatment except the Clearasil has a better scent, better packaging, and costs about half the price. Gone through 2 bottles, will definitely buy again. Also, this cleanser washes makeup and sunscreen off REALLY well much like the Neutrogena :)
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Mascara -Cover Girl - Lash Blast Waterproof
Nekura 2/17/2009 1:44:00 PM
I find the Lash Blast waterproof formula is very thick and sort of goopy however it does provide a nice amount of volume. The only way I've made this work decently is to brush inbetween coats with a metal comb. This rids the clumpy effect and also makes my lashes softer whereas it feels a bit crunchy if I didn't do this. I find the lengthening mediocre but decent. Otherwise I'm overall disappointed. CoverGirl offers some of the most dependable waterproof mascaras for me (even with the unfortunate hard lash effect, I can life with this as long as I don't get smearing) but this mascara inconsistently smudges for me yet is unbelievably difficult to remove even with an oil cleanser. The bottle is obnoxiously huge along with the brush and the brush snapped off on mine. There results of the mascara isn't bad if you work at it but it's nothing amazing and still smudges.. Just not for me.
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